Maybe you’re looking for true love or maybe you’re just looking for someone to grab a glass of wine with this Friday night – either way, there’s nothing more maddening than logging on to an online dating site only to find that 90% of your matches are people who live hundreds of miles away. Online dating websites are meant to connect you with local singles; however, depending on the site, it doesn’t always work out that way. If an online dating site doesn’t have a large user base in your area, often the algorithm will default into suggesting people who are outside your geographic area. If you’re hoping for that glass of wine, this can be a major bummer.
It’s true that location based mobile apps like Tinder are very popular, but they also come with downsides. Although apps like Tinder are tons of fun to play around with (swipe right! swipe left!), when it comes to garnering information about your potential date (other than what they look like) they really fall short. Secondly, because such apps don’t allow you to specify your dating goals, it’s often difficult to gage what the people you’re talking to are looking for. Do they want a date, a casual hook-up or are they merely after a texting pen-pal? With these kinds of apps, it’s often hard to tell.
To find the best singles in your area, it might be best to check out online dating app like Zoosk or Plenty of Fish. Both of these platforms rely on location based technology, and when it comes to specifying what you’re looking for and providing lots of different options for their users, they are leaps and bounds ahead of other apps.
Zoosk is a unique online dating service because it not only connects you with a massive network of other singles, it also allows you to find potential dates within your existing social circle. With over 25 million users worldwide, this huge user base means that you’re much more likely to meet local singles – all from the comfort of your smartphone. One of Zoosk’s main strengths is it’s fun and easy to use mobile app. The sign-up process is incredibly simple and quick, allowing you to cut to the chase and start meeting local singles almost instantly.
Similar to apps like Tinder, Zoosk is a great option for anyone who loves to connect and flirt while on the go. One of the best parts of the Zoosk mobile app is the Carousel feature, which is perfect for singles who want to add a playful spin to meeting local singles. Carousel allows you to look through photos of other singles and “swipe” left or right if you like them or not. If you find each other mutually attractive, you have the option to connect with them instantly using Zoosk’s in-house, free chat service. This means that you can chat, flirt, interact and gage chemistry with a potential date without ever giving out your phone number. However, unlike hook-up driven apps with similar technology, Zoosk gives you way more options.
If you get tired of the Carousel, the site also comes with other more traditional ways of getting in touch with people – for example, straight forward messaging. If you don’t want to limit yourself, Zoosk’s offers communication options for people who are looking to flirt, for a serious relationship or something in between – all under one site.
Plenty of Fish is another versatile option when it comes to connecting with and meeting local singles. As someone who’s used Plenty of Fish extensively, I can attest to the fact that it’s a great way to meet lots of singles, quickly. I initially signed up for PoF when I moved to a new city and within 24 hours I was getting ready to go on my first date. This is due to PoF’s massive user base (Over 32,000,000 members call PoF home – a figure that’s earned it the title of #1 free dating site worldwide in 2011) and the fact that the online dating site relies heavily on location based technology. You can search for local singles in the usual ways, but if you’re in a hurry, one click will deliver a list of age and location matches or a list of users currently online in your area; thus, saving you time so that you can focus on people who are local and actively using online dating.
When it comes to providing matches, Plenty of Fish takes a more innovative approach than any other site. PoF will serve up potential matches based on your clicks and how you behave on the site, not just by what you say you’re interested in. For example, say you’re looking for a 40+, professional with an average body type, but you click on hot, ripped 25 year olds – they will take this into account. You can also search for users based on all different kinds of criteria – age, appearance, religion, and relationship type.
Therefore, instead of rolling the dice with restricting apps or trying to meet local singles in person, both PoF and Zoosk offer a fun and modern take on dating by giving you the tools to not only meet local singles, but meet the right ones.
