eharmony
Compatibility matching for long-term love
9.1Excellent
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Serious dating · UK
Best Dating Sites for Relationships UK (2026)
Looking for a partner, not a weekend? These are the UK sites where people actually want a relationship, ranked by who each one suits best.
- Partner links labelled
- UK sites only
- Free to compare
Advertising disclosure: we earn a commission when you join some of these sites through our links, and featured partners are shown first. It never changes what you pay. How this works.
Top 3 serious sites
OurTime
Dating built for people over 50
8.9Very good
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Hinge
The app designed to be deleted
8.8Very good
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All 5 relationships sites, ranked
Best for relationships
eharmony
Compatibility matching for long-term love
- Detailed personality questionnaire
- Matches sent to you, less swiping
- Strong for 30+ and over-40s
- Free to join
- Yes
- Best age
- 30+
- On mobile
- iOS & Android
Best for: People who want a long-term partner
9.1Excellent
Take the test
Free sign-up
Best for over-50s
OurTime
Dating built for people over 50
- Free to join
- Profiles focused on 50+
- Simple, easy to use
- Free to join
- Yes
- Best age
- 50+
- On mobile
- iOS & Android
Best for: Over-50s who want company or a relationship
8.9Very good
Visit site
Free sign-up
Best dating app
Hinge
The app designed to be deleted
- Prompts make first messages easy
- Free version works well
- Popular in UK cities
- Free to join
- Yes
- Best age
- 25–40
- On mobile
- iOS & Android
Best for: 20s and 30s looking for something real
8.8Very good
Get the app
Free sign-up
Long-running favourite
Match
Big mainstream site with search filters
- Free to join
- Detailed search filters
- Good mix of ages
- Free to join
- Yes
- Best age
- 30+
- On mobile
- iOS & Android
Best for: Daters who like to search, not just swipe
8.6Very good
Visit site
Free sign-up
Women message first
Bumble
Swipe app where women make the first move
- Free to use
- Photo verification
- Less spam in your inbox
- Free to join
- Yes
- Best age
- 22–40
- On mobile
- iOS & Android
Best for: People who want fewer, better messages
8.4Good
Get the app
Free sign-up
Side by side
| # | Site | Best for | Age | Score | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | eharmonyBest for relationships |
People who want a long-term partner | 30+ | 9.1 | Visit |
| 2 | OurTimeBest for over-50s |
Over-50s who want company or a relationship | 50+ | 8.9 | Visit |
| 3 | HingeBest dating app |
20s and 30s looking for something real | 25–40 | 8.8 | Visit |
| 4 | MatchLong-running favourite |
Daters who like to search, not just swipe | 30+ | 8.6 | Visit |
| 5 | BumbleWomen message first |
People who want fewer, better messages | 22–40 | 8.4 | Visit |
30-second match finder
Which site fits you?
Apps or sites: which works better for relationships
Apps like Hinge are quick and work well if you're in your 20s or 30s and live in a city. Sites like eharmony and Match ask more questions up front, which takes longer but brings better-suited matches, especially from your mid-30s onward.
Which site for which reader
Over 30 and want a long-term partner: eharmony does the matching for you, so there's less swiping and more compatible profiles.
20s or 30s, prefer an app: Hinge makes it easy to start real conversations.
Like to search for yourself: Match has the most detailed search filters.
Over 50: OurTime is built for you.
Over 40?
We compared the UK sites with the most active over-40s and over-50s. See the mature dating comparison.
Getting the most out of it
Write a profile that says what you want and one specific thing about your life. Message people whose profiles you actually read, and suggest a short first date within a week or two. Long message threads rarely turn into relationships.
Common questions
What is the best dating site for a serious relationship in the UK?
eharmony is our top pick for people over 30 who want a long-term partner. For people in their 20s and 30s who prefer an app, Hinge works best.
Are paid dating sites better than free ones?
Often, yes. People who pay tend to be more serious about finding someone. All the sites here are free to join, so you can try them before paying.
What is the best dating site for over 50s?
OurTime is built for over-50s and is free to join. eharmony also works well for this age group.
How long does it take to find someone online?
There's no fixed answer, but people who message regularly and meet within a couple of weeks of matching get results much faster than those who only browse.
This site earns a commission from partner links. Featured partners are placed first in our lists. It never affects what you pay. More.
Keep reading
Dating after 40 in the UK — a realistic guidePractical advice for dating after 40 in the UK — where people actually meet, what to put on a profile, and how to handle the first few dates.
Best Mature Dating Sites UK (2026)The best mature dating sites in the UK for 2026. Compare MILF and over-40s sites side by side — who's on each one, what's free, and our top pick.