“Wait a minute”, you might well be asking, “Isn’t the whole point of online dating to find somebody near you?”. Sometimes, yes, it is. But not always. Some people are interested in a particular culture or nationality. Others are planning or thinking about moving to another country and seeing if they can make some connections and send some messages to locals first. Others want to chat with people from different countries and cultures and see where it goes. International dating sites are great for all these purposes and more.
But you can’t just use any dating site or app for international dating. You need to use the right dating site: an international dating site. Some sites are better for allowing cross-cultural exchange. But what are the best international dating sites? Are there international dating sites that specialize in helping certain kinds of people? Can you find love on an international dating site? This article can answer all your questions about international dating sites.
AskMe4Date
- The well-designed, easy-to-use app
- Extensive database
- Good for finding singles near and far
AskMe4Date.com is an interesting site. Like other dating sites and dating apps, they offer a search function that allows you to find other users nearby. However, they also cater to people looking to make international connections. Specifically, AskMe4Date.com seems set up to connect UK users with members from other countries. It seems like one site couldn’t do both, but AskMe4Date seems well-equipped to help singles find each other whether they’re six kilometers away or six thousand.
Many international users appear to be women, so maybe British men should find international matches than British women. However, this brings up the major drawback to this adult dating site: many of these profiles appear to be fake. Every dating site will have fake profiles, but there are too many on this site. AskMe4Date.com is new, so maybe they’re still working on weeding out the scammers. But since you need to pay for this site to do anything ($4.23 for a 3-day trial) the fake profiles are a concern. But the free trial is cheap, and the app is designed well it might be worth a try.
WantMatures
- Probably the best site for finding older international matches
- The good size user base
- The handy geographical search function
- Has an actual customer service phone number you can call
International dating sites tend to be populated with older-than-average members. Many people seeking international dating are looking to move or sponsor somebody to move into their country with them. It only makes sense, then, that international dating should dovetail with mature dating. WantMatures is perhaps the best site to serve both groups. This site is for older people and younger people who want to date older people. Most people on this site are in their 40’s, 50’s, and ‘60s. To reduce spam profiles, new users must give their full name upon registering, but there are still plenty of fake profiles on WantMatures, more than average, even.
The free version is virtually useless, but the good news is that the trial prices are reasonable (one-day $0.99 trial or a 7-day $7 trial). There is also a mobile app. The profile options aren’t great, so you’ll probably have to decide if you want to talk to somebody based on looks. WantMatures has a good search function that allows you to find people near you or far away.
GaysTryst
- Easy sign-up
- Fun “wink” function
- Reasonably priced
Not everybody interested in international dating is straight. GaysTryst.com specializes in helping men meet other men. Specifically, the site is more geared toward casual or temporary relationships, hence the “Tryst” in “GaysTryst”, so if you’re looking to chat with the love of your life before sending for them to move in with you, GaysTryst might not be the best international dating site. However, if you’re traveing and want to meet somebody new, especially in the United States, GaysTryst could be really fun.
It would be more fun without all the fake profiles spamming and scamming everybody, though. And it would be more fun if you could use more features for free. But the one-day/one-week trials are reasonably priced at a dollar-a-day, so you won’t lose too much if you don’t like it. Just make sure you remember to opt-out if you don’t want to keep using the service. There is an app, and it’s easy to use.
Match Affinity
- Affinity questionnaire is fun and helps with profile building
- You can see who has viewed your profile
- Can search by postcode
- Can block unwanted contact
Match Affinity is a nice dating site, or at least it could be, if not for the bane of existence for all dating sites: fake profiles. Match Affinity wants to protect privacy, which is good. Still, it means you can anonymously sign up for an account without submitting a phone number or even having to do email verification. This means the site is littered with fake profiles and scam artists. This site offers no trial plans, and the free version is not very useful.
It’s hard to justify paying the £44.95 for a one-month membership (automatically recurring). Furthermore, with regards to international dating, this site is not very effective. It’s a shame because if Match Affinity tried harder to eliminate fake profiles and developed an app that works as well as their website does, they could offer a really good dating site.
OKCupid
- Very well-designed
- Easy to use
- Fun sign-up questionnaires
- Can search by location
OKCupid is one of the oldest dating sites out there. They were pioneering internet dating when the rest of us were using the internet to watch cat videos (and occasionally doing work). OKCupid has recently undergone some changes that have annoyed some of their users, such as reducing their free services (you can send messages for free, but you have to pay to see who has liked your profile). But many of these changes make OkCupid better for international dating.
The site isn’t awash in fake profiles, though they do exist. While not the youngest demographic around, OKCupid does tend to skew young; many users are under 30, so if you’re older or prefer a more mature partner, OKCupid might not be great. The questionnaires can be fun to fill out, and they make for some of the most informative profiles in all of the international dating. You can sign up for as little as $4.95 per month, but prices range as high as $24.90 per month if you want all the bells and whistles. The app is great and very easy to use. While it’s not perfect for international dating, you at least know you can trust OKCupid (to a reasonable degree).
What Advantages are there to International Dating Sites?
How are you going to meet somebody from another country? Fly to a new place every weekend and walk around starting up conversations? That might be fun, but it’s very expensive, and you probably won’t find true love that way. International dating sites are the most effective way to find love somewhere else in the world.
How do You Stay Safe Using an International Dating Site?
Always chat on the phone and do at least one video chat before anybody travels anywhere to meet anybody else. International dating is tricky because there’s a lot at stake, but you have to be careful. Don’t plan on staying in the same hotel or home the first time you meet up. Get separate lodgings and meet in public first.
Are there Any Good International Dating Sites for People in the UK?
Yes, there are tons. Perhaps second only to the US, the UK is a very popular place for international dating, so you have many options.
Are there Many Scams on International Dating Sites?
Sadly, yes, there are. Always sign up for a trial membership first, if possible, to check out an international dating site or app. Make sure to cancel recurring payments if you don’t want to keep using a service.
Can You Use International Dating Sites to Find Your Love Online?
You really can. Just be patient, polite, open-minded, and ever vigilant about possible scammers.
