Consumer Rankings dot com: Top 5 Gay Dating Sites of 2011

Top 5 Gay Dating Sites of 2011

Last Update: Aug 26, 2011

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don’t see any mention here of safe sex practices. do you?

—rk

Singles seeking same sex relationships and encounters have countless options to choose from online. Dating sites that are exclusively for gay singles as well as generic dating sites with gay members, offer numerous features and resources that cater to their ever-growing gay membership bases. Below are the top choices for Gay dating based on rankings and reviews of everything these sites have to offer. You can use the comparisons of features and ratings to help you make an informed decision about which dating service is right for you

#	Site	Main Features	# of Singles	Overall Rating	Consumer Reviews	More
1		Offers a large membership base of gay singles Personality matching based on personality and interpersonal chemistry Relies on extensive user feedback to refine the matching process Promotional Offer: Sign up now and get 3 months for the price of 1 Relationship advice from recognized experts Assisted communications to help every user feel comfortable	975,000 GLBTs	9.9/10	Best Overall	Visit site Read Review
2		Guarantees you’ll meet someone special in 6 months! Employs a proven personality-based matching system Offers practical guidance for users who need help creating a profile The fastest growing dating site in the world	650,000 GLBTs	9.4/10	Casual Dating	Visit site Read Review
3		Extensive personality-based matching based on the latest matching technology Free personality assessment Convenient email notifications about potential matches Handy organizational tools to help keep potential matches organized	250,000 GLBTs	8.7/10	Relationship Matching	Visit site Read Review
4		Diverse clientele offers users an interesting database of potential matches Extensive user contact options such as live chat rooms and video options Mobile phone texting services Option to meet relationship and casual minded singles	40,000 GLBTs	8.4/10	Intimate Dating	Visit site Read Review
5		Requires all of its members to upload at least one photo Provides members with a comprehensive personality assessment offers numerous search features for finding matches Ability to send profiles to friends	20,000 GLBTs		Companionship Dating	Visit site Read Review

MEMBERSHIP BASE

With tens of millions of singles using online dating services each month, using an online dating site is an easy way to expand your current options. If you’re looking to get married, you’ll want to choose a service with similarly marriage-minded singles, such as eHarmony or Chemistry.com. If you prefer casual romances or brief encounters you may also enjoy sites such as Lavalife that cater to singles that prefer short-lived pleasure over permanence. And, of course, if just want to meet someone and see where things go, using a dating site with the largest possible user base, such as Match.com, can provide you with endless possibilities. more

PRICE

You may be surprised to learn that in addition to offering reasonable pricing, many online dating sites also offer coupons, discounts or even free extended memberships. Membership fees can vary greatly from service to service. Yahoo! Personals, for example, costs only $15.99/month for a 6-month subscription, while a 1-month subscription to eHarmony or PerfectMatch can cost up to $59.95/month. And, of course, most online dating sites offer free trials or free access to select services so that you can see for yourself which site you enjoy the most. more

NICHE DATING CATEGORIES

If you are set on meeting singles from a particular demographic, you may be surprised to learn that many of the mainstream dating sites, such as Match.com and eHarmony, have more members belonging to specific ethnic and religious groups than most of the targeted niche dating sites, such as BlackPeopleMeet.com and ChristianCafe.com. The same holds true for gay and senior dating sites. Additionally, mainstream dating sites have developed powerful search features that can help you eliminate irrelevant singles and find a partner with a compatible background. more

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

Most online dating sites are relatively straightforward, but it’s still helpful to know that a site offers reliable customer support. With the exception of Chemistry.com and Match.com which offer a customer service phone number directly on their Contact Us page, most online dating sites offer only FAQ pages and email support. We’ve tested the customer support of the top dating sites and ranked them based on timeliness, helpfulness and professionalism. more

SEARCH OPTIONS AND MATCHING ALGORITHMS

Tired of being attracted to the wrong type of person or getting set up with losers? Compatibility matching services offered by sites like Chemistry.com and eHarmony have successfully suggested thousands of long-term matches based on personality, scientific “Dimensions of Compatibility” and other specific qualities. Other sites such as Yahoo! Personals offer powerful search features that enable you to find a match based on the criteria that is most important to you. If you’re not sure which type of online dating will best suit your needs you can also try a site that offers both such as Match.com, which combines extensive search features with compatibility matching technology that provides 5 recommended matches daily. more

SPECIAL FEATURES

While you can do without most of the extra features they offer, some dating sites have features that really stand out and should be taken into consideration when you decide on a service. Match.com, for example, offers mobile dating whereee you can login securely from your cell phone. Chemistry.com offers free help with creating your profile so that they can offer the most relevant matches possible. eHarmony offers a free personality assessment that can help you better understand yourself and pinpoint exactly what you’re looking for in a mate. Lavalife offers video chat functionality which provides a new dimension to the online dating experience. more

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