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“I was just bawling because I didn’t have the right parts to play,” Kaiser said.

Kaiser is trans, but she wasn’t out when she saw her first derby game. However, she still wanted to get involved and joined her local men’s derby team, where she skated from 2011-2014. 

Kaiser said she was a good skater, but despite earning the respect of her male coaches and teammates, she felt like she was missing something.

She offered to help her local women’s team prepare for the playoffs and soon started practicing with them.

“Everybody else there was very green and hadn’t played before,” Kaiser said. “So I was getting some really nice compliments from the trainers.”

Once the draft for the next season rolled around, however, Kaiser’s name was the only one missing from the roster. 

She later found out that she was excluded for “being too tall,” but at that moment she felt like she needed to train harder—to “become unquestionable,” she said. “I felt like I was unintentionally gaslit by everyone.”

This was the beginning of Kaiser’s entry into the derby world, but she had a long road ahead of her.

A slow evolution

Roller derby has not always been seen as an inclusive space. 

Kaiser said 2014 was “a different time” in the derby world. According to her, skaters were still required to have hormone levels “within acceptable female ranges.” Kaiser said that hormone regulations in women’s derby were a deciding factor when she began hormone replacement therapy. 

The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association changed its policy in 2015 to read: “An individual who identifies as a trans woman, intersex woman, and/or gender expansive may skate with a WFTDA charter team if women’s flat track roller derby is the version and composition of roller derby with which they most closely identify.”

Alice Amell, a trans woman who skates for WFTDA member the Windy City Rollers as Tricky Pixie, bought her first skates the day she learned roller derby existed in 2016. 

“I came out as a woman a year earlier. I wasn’t sure what teams would accept me. I hadn’t even heard of roller derby,” Amell said. “And then just out of nowhere, I was watching some documentary and one of the people mentioned that she plays roller derby and that in roller derby they don’t care if you’re gay or trans or whatever—they just accept you.”

Bat Hit Crazy and Bunny Sanders.Courtesy Alex Anteau

Meeting the moment

For many participants, the intentionally accepting climate in roller derby is an important refuge.

“School’s hard enough, but having a place [trans kids] can go to where they’re accepted without question is incredibly validating,” said Molly Rix, derby name Estra Gen, a trans woman skater with Chicago-Style Roller Derby (formerly known as Chicago Outfit, also a WFTDA member).

Rix was seeking LGBTQ+ community when she joined the team in March. Since then, she said she’s developed an active social life and has even formed a band with some of her teammates. On bad days, derby helps her cope.

Rix’s experience is a reflection of how inclusive sports can go a long way to help trans players’ mental health at a time when gender inclusivity in sports is facing renewed political backlash.

In 2022 alone, 18 states introduced bills banning transgender youth from participating in sports that align with their gender identity, according to the Freedom for All Americans legislation tracker. 

Research from the Trevor Project showed that in 2021, trans youth experienced significantly higher rates of depression and anxiety than their cisgender counterparts. Though, according to the organization, “LGBTQ youth who live in a community that is accepting of LGBTQ people reported significantly lower rates of attempting suicide than those who do not.”

According to the John W. Brick Foundation’s Move Your Mental Health Report, 89 percent of studies examining the relationship between mental health and exercise showed that physical activity improves mental health outcomes.

“I’ll be in a bad mood or something like that, or I’ll have something on my mind,” Rix said. “And then after two hours at derby practice, I’m sweaty and I’m not even thinking about it anymore—it’s great for stress relief and movement really helps. . . . Having those spaces to just exist without question is invaluable.”

Transformation on the track

“I will say [trans inclusion] has gotten a lot better in recent years,” Kaiser said. 

Where Amell and Rix found an outlet to express their femininity, a nonbinary Chicago-Style Roller Derby team member who skates under the name Bunny Sanders (and preferred to be identified by derby name only) is also able to express their androgyny. 

“Changing my derby name and playing with my gender . . . finding out putting on different outfits and hats gives me gender euphoria, and accepting that and not judging myself for it . . . here is the first place that I could try all that kind of stuff out,” Sanders said. 

“Roller derby in and of itself is an accepting and inclusive environment,” Sanders added, describing how the sport has evolved around gender inclusivity even in the last few years. 

The team has been working to update their own bylaws to be gender inclusive, though Sanders says there is still room for improvement.

Skaters from the Chicago-Style Roller Derby team gather during practice. Courtesy Alex Anteau

Current challenges 

According to Grey Noone, a nonbinary skater and one of Kaiser’s former teammates, in their experience, roller derby has been a predominantly white sport with limited racial, economic, and cultural diversity.

“Trans rights are an issue we need to hop on, but if people can’t afford to have a sports life, if they don’t have the time and resources, then their [economic class] is keeping them from roller derby even more than their trans status,” Noone said.

While Kaiser stayed involved with the administration of the Chicago derby leagues and helped shape WFTDA’s gender inclusion policy, she said that challenges and trauma that resulted from lack of acceptance sparked her return to playing on a coed Men’s Roller Derby Association team.

“[At first I thought] I need to play women’s to validate my gender, and through the process of getting discriminated against for my gender, I kind of validated my own gender,” Kaiser said. “I became a lot more confident in where I belong. . . . I got to the point where I don’t want to play women’s derby. I want to play derby.”

However, according to Amell, Kaiser’s work paved the road for future trans skaters in the women’s division.

“By the time I joined, there was no question of whether I was going to be allowed to play,” Amell said.

“You can look however you want when you show up to practice, and no one’s gonna judge you for that,” Rix said. “You know [it’s] going to be a safer space for you to be yourself. I’m wearing a skort right now and I would never wear that anywhere else.”

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“I was just bawling because I didn’t have the right parts to play,” Kaiser said.

Kaiser is trans, but she wasn’t out when she saw her first derby game. However, she still wanted to get involved and joined her local men’s derby team, where she skated from 2011-2014. 

Kaiser said she was a good skater, but despite earning the respect of her male coaches and teammates, she felt like she was missing something.

She offered to help her local women’s team prepare for the playoffs and soon started practicing with them.

“Everybody else there was very green and hadn’t played before,” Kaiser said. “So I was getting some really nice compliments from the trainers.”

Once the draft for the next season rolled around, however, Kaiser’s name was the only one missing from the roster. 

She later found out that she was excluded for “being too tall,” but at that moment she felt like she needed to train harder—to “become unquestionable,” she said. “I felt like I was unintentionally gaslit by everyone.”

This was the beginning of Kaiser’s entry into the derby world, but she had a long road ahead of her.

A slow evolution

Roller derby has not always been seen as an inclusive space. 

Kaiser said 2014 was “a different time” in the derby world. According to her, skaters were still required to have hormone levels “within acceptable female ranges.” Kaiser said that hormone regulations in women’s derby were a deciding factor when she began hormone replacement therapy. 

The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association changed its policy in 2015 to read: “An individual who identifies as a trans woman, intersex woman, and/or gender expansive may skate with a WFTDA charter team if women’s flat track roller derby is the version and composition of roller derby with which they most closely identify.”

Alice Amell, a trans woman who skates for WFTDA member the Windy City Rollers as Tricky Pixie, bought her first skates the day she learned roller derby existed in 2016. 

“I came out as a woman a year earlier. I wasn’t sure what teams would accept me. I hadn’t even heard of roller derby,” Amell said. “And then just out of nowhere, I was watching some documentary and one of the people mentioned that she plays roller derby and that in roller derby they don’t care if you’re gay or trans or whatever—they just accept you.”

Bat Hit Crazy and Bunny Sanders.Courtesy Alex Anteau

Meeting the moment

For many participants, the intentionally accepting climate in roller derby is an important refuge.

“School’s hard enough, but having a place [trans kids] can go to where they’re accepted without question is incredibly validating,” said Molly Rix, derby name Estra Gen, a trans woman skater with Chicago-Style Roller Derby (formerly known as Chicago Outfit, also a WFTDA member).

Rix was seeking LGBTQ+ community when she joined the team in March. Since then, she said she’s developed an active social life and has even formed a band with some of her teammates. On bad days, derby helps her cope.

Rix’s experience is a reflection of how inclusive sports can go a long way to help trans players’ mental health at a time when gender inclusivity in sports is facing renewed political backlash.

In 2022 alone, 18 states introduced bills banning transgender youth from participating in sports that align with their gender identity, according to the Freedom for All Americans legislation tracker. 

Research from the Trevor Project showed that in 2021, trans youth experienced significantly higher rates of depression and anxiety than their cisgender counterparts. Though, according to the organization, “LGBTQ youth who live in a community that is accepting of LGBTQ people reported significantly lower rates of attempting suicide than those who do not.”

According to the John W. Brick Foundation’s Move Your Mental Health Report, 89 percent of studies examining the relationship between mental health and exercise showed that physical activity improves mental health outcomes.

“I’ll be in a bad mood or something like that, or I’ll have something on my mind,” Rix said. “And then after two hours at derby practice, I’m sweaty and I’m not even thinking about it anymore—it’s great for stress relief and movement really helps. . . . Having those spaces to just exist without question is invaluable.”

Transformation on the track

“I will say [trans inclusion] has gotten a lot better in recent years,” Kaiser said. 

Where Amell and Rix found an outlet to express their femininity, a nonbinary Chicago-Style Roller Derby team member who skates under the name Bunny Sanders (and preferred to be identified by derby name only) is also able to express their androgyny. 

“Changing my derby name and playing with my gender . . . finding out putting on different outfits and hats gives me gender euphoria, and accepting that and not judging myself for it . . . here is the first place that I could try all that kind of stuff out,” Sanders said. 

“Roller derby in and of itself is an accepting and inclusive environment,” Sanders added, describing how the sport has evolved around gender inclusivity even in the last few years. 

The team has been working to update their own bylaws to be gender inclusive, though Sanders says there is still room for improvement.

Skaters from the Chicago-Style Roller Derby team gather during practice. Courtesy Alex Anteau

Current challenges 

According to Grey Noone, a nonbinary skater and one of Kaiser’s former teammates, in their experience, roller derby has been a predominantly white sport with limited racial, economic, and cultural diversity.

“Trans rights are an issue we need to hop on, but if people can’t afford to have a sports life, if they don’t have the time and resources, then their [economic class] is keeping them from roller derby even more than their trans status,” Noone said.

While Kaiser stayed involved with the administration of the Chicago derby leagues and helped shape WFTDA’s gender inclusion policy, she said that challenges and trauma that resulted from lack of acceptance sparked her return to playing on a coed Men’s Roller Derby Association team.

“[At first I thought] I need to play women’s to validate my gender, and through the process of getting discriminated against for my gender, I kind of validated my own gender,” Kaiser said. “I became a lot more confident in where I belong. . . . I got to the point where I don’t want to play women’s derby. I want to play derby.”

However, according to Amell, Kaiser’s work paved the road for future trans skaters in the women’s division.

“By the time I joined, there was no question of whether I was going to be allowed to play,” Amell said.

“You can look however you want when you show up to practice, and no one’s gonna judge you for that,” Rix said. “You know [it’s] going to be a safer space for you to be yourself. I’m wearing a skort right now and I would never wear that anywhere else.”

Read More

The Chicago Bears have a weak offense because the talent isn’t there yet. Justin Fields has taken many big steps so far and looks like someone that can be a start in this league. However, he needs some help. They made an attempt to get him some help on Tuesday afternoon.

In a trade, the Chicago Bears added Chase Claypool from the Pittsburgh Steelers. They have up some draft capital to get him but they felt that adding another good wide receiver was worth a deal like that. It just might be.

Fields needs some help. Darnell Mooney and both running backs are good but they need much more in order for Fields to take a big step. Adding someone like Claypool to the mix will really help them in certain situations. Fields now has another good player to throw to.

Claypool was drafted in the second round (49th overall) in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. This was six picks after the Chicago Bears drafted Cole Kmet (also out of Notre Dame). Now, these two are reunited in the same offense once again.

The Chicago Bears are doing what they can to help Justin Fields grow his game.

It is tough to see the Bears give up a valuable draft pick but Claypool can really help Justin Fields grow this year and next year. We don’t know what either of their statuses will be after that point but there is hope that they will both be stars.

Claypool isn’t an elite receiver or anything like that just yet but he has only had a bad version of Ben Roethlisberger, Mitch Trubisky, and Kenny Pickett throwing him footballs. You’d like to think that Justin Fields will help him grow as a receiver just as much.

This is a big trade for the Bears. It came right after the Bears traded Roquan Smith and Robert Quinn in the few days prior. They clearly know that the idea is for the offense to take big steps. They know they are going to get the defense going again but the offense needs to develop.

It is nice to see that they felt the need to give Fields some more help before the season was over. A lot can be learned between now and the end of the year. Hopefully, this is the beginning of what makes Justin Fields truly become a star.

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Steppenwolf for Young Adults brings its acclaimed production of 1919, J. Nicole Brooks’s stage adaptation of Eve L. Ewing’s poems about the “Red Summer” race riots and white supremacy in America, from their Halsted Street venue to a short tour this week with Chicago Park District’s “Night Out in the Parks” program, starting tonight at 6 PM at Mandrake Park (3858 S. Cottage Grove). The performances are all free and all at 6 PM; after tonight, the schedule is Wed 11/2, South Shore Cultural Center (7059 S. South Shore); Thu 11/3, Calumet Park (9801 S. Ave. G); Fri 11/4, Hamilton Park (513 W. 72nd); Sat 11/5, Austin Town Hall (5610 W. Lake). For more information, see chicagoparkdistrict.com. (KR)

Some music options for tonight:

The Dave Specter Band and Brother John Kattke are featured at tonight’s WDCB Bluesday Tuesday event at FitzGerald’s (7 PM, 6615 Roosevelt, Berwyn, $15, 21+, tickets at Ticketweb).The Chicago Symphony Orchestra welcomes award-winning Macedonian pianist Simon Trpčeski to Symphony Center tonight, where Trpčeski will tackle Grieg’s Piano Concerto; the program also includes composer Nokuthula Ngwenyama’s Primal Message, a composition inspired by the 1974 Aricebo interstellar radio transmission. (7:30 PM, 220 S. Michigan, $39-$150, all-ages, tickets at the CSO’s website). The Mississippi-born blues guitarist Jarekus Singleton visits SPACE (8 PM, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston, $15-$25, all-ages, tickets at Eventbrite). Check out Reader contributor David Whiteis’s review of Singleton’s 2014 album Refuse to Lose here. Fulton Street Collective presents the Keith Hall Trio (featuring Andrew Rathbun and Carlo De Rosa) in a record release show at Hubbard Street Lofts (8 PM, 1821 W. Hubbard, free, all-ages, reservations requested at Eventbrite). Metal Shop, a regular night of metal tunes, giveaways, and drink specials at Delilah’s, features DJ Grant from Bucket O’Blood Records tonight as he pays tribute to the legendary band Motörhead (9 PM-2 AM, 2771 N. Lincoln, no cover, 21+). (SCJ)

School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) Galleries hosts Conversation in the Form of a Hedge Lay and a Cow Lick, a free online presentation featuring a “carefully scored conversation and screening” of Winterage: Last Milk. Winterage is an art film that looking at the history of a farm in rural Derbyshire, UK, infusing performance with animation and observational footage. SAIC professor Mark Jeffery (a performance artist, former member of the Goat Island Performance Group, and cofounder of performance and technology group ATOM-r) collaborated with UK-based interdisciplinary artist Lucy Cash on the film, and they will be joined by writer and code artist Judd Morrissey and theater artist and writer Sara Jane Bailes for the event. It starts at 4:30 PM today; registration through Eventbrite is required to receive the Zoom link. (SCJ)

Read More

Steppenwolf for Young Adults brings its acclaimed production of 1919, J. Nicole Brooks’s stage adaptation of Eve L. Ewing’s poems about the “Red Summer” race riots and white supremacy in America, from their Halsted Street venue to a short tour this week with Chicago Park District’s “Night Out in the Parks” program, starting tonight at 6 PM at Mandrake Park (3858 S. Cottage Grove). The performances are all free and all at 6 PM; after tonight, the schedule is Wed 11/2, South Shore Cultural Center (7059 S. South Shore); Thu 11/3, Calumet Park (9801 S. Ave. G); Fri 11/4, Hamilton Park (513 W. 72nd); Sat 11/5, Austin Town Hall (5610 W. Lake). For more information, see chicagoparkdistrict.com. (KR)

Some music options for tonight:

The Dave Specter Band and Brother John Kattke are featured at tonight’s WDCB Bluesday Tuesday event at FitzGerald’s (7 PM, 6615 Roosevelt, Berwyn, $15, 21+, tickets at Ticketweb).The Chicago Symphony Orchestra welcomes award-winning Macedonian pianist Simon Trpčeski to Symphony Center tonight, where Trpčeski will tackle Grieg’s Piano Concerto; the program also includes composer Nokuthula Ngwenyama’s Primal Message, a composition inspired by the 1974 Aricebo interstellar radio transmission. (7:30 PM, 220 S. Michigan, $39-$150, all-ages, tickets at the CSO’s website). The Mississippi-born blues guitarist Jarekus Singleton visits SPACE (8 PM, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston, $15-$25, all-ages, tickets at Eventbrite). Check out Reader contributor David Whiteis’s review of Singleton’s 2014 album Refuse to Lose here. Fulton Street Collective presents the Keith Hall Trio (featuring Andrew Rathbun and Carlo De Rosa) in a record release show at Hubbard Street Lofts (8 PM, 1821 W. Hubbard, free, all-ages, reservations requested at Eventbrite). Metal Shop, a regular night of metal tunes, giveaways, and drink specials at Delilah’s, features DJ Grant from Bucket O’Blood Records tonight as he pays tribute to the legendary band Motörhead (9 PM-2 AM, 2771 N. Lincoln, no cover, 21+). (SCJ)

School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) Galleries hosts Conversation in the Form of a Hedge Lay and a Cow Lick, a free online presentation featuring a “carefully scored conversation and screening” of Winterage: Last Milk. Winterage is an art film that looking at the history of a farm in rural Derbyshire, UK, infusing performance with animation and observational footage. SAIC professor Mark Jeffery (a performance artist, former member of the Goat Island Performance Group, and cofounder of performance and technology group ATOM-r) collaborated with UK-based interdisciplinary artist Lucy Cash on the film, and they will be joined by writer and code artist Judd Morrissey and theater artist and writer Sara Jane Bailes for the event. It starts at 4:30 PM today; registration through Eventbrite is required to receive the Zoom link. (SCJ)

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With the NFL trade deadline passing Tuesday afternoon, all eyes were on Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears to see if another move would be made.

Already, the Bears have made two enormous trades, shipping off both Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith to the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens, respectively.

In those deals, the Bears acquired extra second, fourth and fifth-round picks — one of each.

Tuesday, Poles and the Bears weren’t done, though. One of their most impactful moves came when it was announced that Chicago was dealing for former Notre Dame standout and second-round pick, wide receiver Chase Claypool.

General manager Ryan Poles is finally giving fans a visible reason to believe he has a plan for the Chicago Bears.

For those fans who have questioned Poles’ methods over his first year in Chicago, this is a welcomed move. There are fans who have remained steadfast in the idea that Poles is in play for 2023 and beyond, which is correct. However, this move is one that solidifies a lot of things.

First of all, Claypool has one more year on his rookie contract. He’s coming from the Pittsburgh Steelers who, historically, can draft wide receivers with the best of them. However, they don’t always hang onto them long-term.

With Claypool never being a true number one wide receiver, this gives the Bears a huge advantage, contractually speaking.

The Bears have plenty of cap space next year (around $100 million) and, with that, will likely extend Claypool if Poles is smart. Trading a second-round pick for any player would require that, first, the receiving team is in on that player for the long haul.

If that’s true, then Poles should absolutely look to extend Claypool before the 2023 season — or, before Claypool’s price goes way up.

In the end, that’s the likely scenario.

Secondly, this trade also shows us that Poles is, in fact, dedicated to Justin Fields.

You do not trade a second rounder for a wide receiver if you do not believe you have the quarterback in place. After all, this league is all quarterback-driven. A team has to have their franchise quarterback in place in order to make moves that affect the future of the franchise.

That is exactly what Poles is telling us with this deal. He believes in Justin Fields.

So, all of the nonsensical takes you have read that are nothing but speculative narratives are dead wrong. Poles is in for the long haul with Fields, and everyone doubting that a few months ago should now be eating crow after the past couple of weeks.

This Claypool trade is great for Fields, for the Bears, and for the future of this franchise.

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Reader senior writer Ben Joravsky riffs on the day’s stories with his celebrated humor, insight, and honesty, and interviews politicians, activists, journalists and other political know-it-alls. Presented by the Chicago Reader, the show is available by 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays at chicagoreader.com/joravsky—or wherever you get your podcasts. Don’t miss Oh, What a Week!–the Friday feature in which Ben & producer Dennis (aka, Dr. D.) review the week’s top stories. Also, bonus interviews drop on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays. 

Chicago Reader podcasts are recorded on Shure microphones. Learn more at Shure.com.

Chicago Reader senior writer Ben Joravsky discusses the day’s stories with his celebrated humor, insight, and honesty on The Ben Joravsky Show.

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Sugar daddy sites have risen in popularity over the last several years as society becomes more comfortable with unconventional relationships. As more and more people seek either companionship or financial security, sugar arrangements have become very attractive.

Unfortunately, the popularity of sugar relationships has caused an influx of sugaring sites to pop up. Some sites do their part in vetting the members, but others invite scammers, leeches, flakes, and fakes.

We’ve done the leg work for you and have found the best sugar daddy sites where a sugar daddy can meet a sugar baby and vice versa. These sites strike the delicate balance between safety and fun. We review what’s best about a site for daddies and what’s best for babies.

These are our brand new rankings for 2022.

The Best Sugar Daddy Sites and Apps in 2022

RankSiteBest For1.SugarDaddy.comBest overall sugar daddy site2.Secret BenefitsBest mix of daddies and babies3.Our SecretBest for confidentiality4.SugarDaddyMeetVerified income feature5.SugarDaddyForMeQuickest way to find an arrangement6.Ashley MadisonJudgement free sugar dating site7.What’s Your PriceBest for women to set their own price8.Sugar SearchBest database of local sugar daddies9.R/SugarBabyFree way to find sugar babies10.Elite SinglesMeet intellectual sugar babies and daddies11.Established MenBest for daddies seeking a long term arrangement12.RichMeetBeautifulMost secure and discreet site13.Miss TravelBest for sugar babies who like to travel14.Wealthy MenMost straightforward sugar dating site15.AgeMatchFind younger women16.SudyBest sugar dating app17.SugarBookBest sugar app for babies

1. SugarDaddy.com – Best overall site

Sugardaddy.com is one of the most reliable sugar daddy sites around and has been around for quite some time. The site is hailed as one of the greats because it verifies all of its members (daddies and babies) and there are almost 10 million members and counting. At any given time, the site is active with several thousands of users and nearly 2/3rds are babies looking for someone to take care of them.

Free members can actually enjoy tons of features (like sending kisses, using the advanced search feature, and responding to paying members), but a membership is well worth it and pretty affordable compared to its competitors. It’s a credit-based system and costs around a quarter per credit. Privacy is a top priority on Sugardaddy.com, making it easy to discreetly enter into relationships.

What it’s like for daddies:

70% of the users on sugardaddy.com are babies looking to be spoiled. With millions of users, this makes being a daddy on the site extremely easy and entertaining. Credits can be used to get in touch with the babies and they won’t cost you much. Because privacy is taken so seriously on this website, there’s no need to fear your identity being revealed. Furthermore, daddies can rest easy knowing they won’t be scammed by any members given that they are all verified.

What it’s like for babies:

Sugar babies tend to love the ease of this site and how slick it is. Other sugar baby sites tend to look shady or seedy, but sugardaddy.com is slick and modern. It makes it easy to layout exactly what you’re looking for in a daddy. One drawback is the fact that most of the users are babies, so there’s some stiff competition out there. But with millions of daddies online searching, finding the right one shouldn’t be too difficult.

2.  Secret Benefits – Best gender ratio

SecretBenefits.com is one of the most popular and stylish sugar daddy dating websites. It has a modern and fresh look along with an easy-to-use interface which has encouraged millions of attractive and wealthy individuals to join and search for a positive sugar dating experience on the site. Due to its popularity and stellar reputation among the site’s members, there is a constant flow of new hopeful sugar daddies and sugar babies as well as a very active member base.

Anyone can signup, create a profile, and search for free. Sugar babies can enjoy the site and its features for free. If a sugar daddy finds a sugar baby of interest, they need to purchase credits to open a chat with them. There should be no lack of potential candidates among the millions of members as the gender ratio is about 50/50.

What it’s like for daddies:

Signing up as a sugar daddy is very fast and painless. You can also choose to start a very basic profile to search for potential sugar babies in your area before committing too much time or money. Another great feature if you’re looking for a discreet relationship is you can hide your profile at any time as well as go invisible for 24 hours and browse profiles in secret. These features help maintain your privacy while discreetly allowing you to find your perfect sugar baby.

What it’s like for babies:

Sugar babies love using Secret Benefits not only because it’s free, but also because the site’s outstanding support team keeps the riffraff out which provides a safe platform full of serious and active sugar daddies that are not looking to waste anyone’s time. Getting your profile verified via a short intro video also encourages daddies to reach out once they see that you are the real deal. The success rates for legit, happy, and ongoing sugar daddy relationships are extremely high on SecretBenefits.com, so it’s really just about getting signed up and putting yourself out there to find exactly the type of daddy you’re looking for.

3.  Our Secret – Best for confidential sugar dating

Whether you are in a current relationship, a celebrity, or simply a private person that would rather not have your friends or colleagues discover you on a dating site, you might want to consider signing up to the most discreet site on our list, OurSecret.com. Although the site is fairly new, they’ve done a great job delivering exactly what private people are looking for in an effective dating site.

Our Secret has hundreds of thousands of members looking to find their ideal secret relationship with about 50% of its members in the US. The goal of the site is to streamline the online dating process by providing easy signup and profile creation, precise search filters, and an excellent private chat function that also allows members to share additional photos with each other.

What it’s like for daddies:

The discreet sugar daddy will enjoy many of the features that mainstream popular dating sites provide without all of the potential public overexposure. Sugar daddies have the option of creating a basic profile, searching for their potential new secret matches in an incognito mode, as well as hiding their photos in secret albums for choice matches eyes only. All daddies should be pleased to know that creating a profile and searching for matches is totally free. Only if you find someone of interest will you need to purchase credits in order to open a chat, which will remain open and unlimited once the chat is opened. There are no monthly fees so you can come and go as you please as well as hide your profile from sugar babies in search if you find someone you like and want to pursue.

What it’s like for babies:

OurSecret.com understands that many sugar babies are active university students and social media influencers and might not want to be broadcasting their dating profiles to the masses on frequented sites such as Tinder. With this need for privacy and discretion by their sugar baby members, Our Secret has made it easy to streamline the online dating process and help you find exactly the kind of sugar daddy relationship you’re looking for without all the fuss. Using all of the site’s features is totally free to sugar babies. Getting started and adding photos and videos of yourself is a cinch and can also be kept in a private album only available to those daddies that you give permission to, and with the majority of daddies on the site seeking a discreet arrangement, keeping your relationship on the down-low should never be an issue.

4.  SugarDaddyMeet – For rich men who can spoil

SugarDaddyMeet, one of the original sugar dating sites, doesn’t sugarcoat its true intentions. According to the site, it’s only available to men who live in the 20 richest countries in the world. By attracting affluent men, it also attracts beautiful young women. Verifying income and wealth are two major features on SugarDaddyMeet, making it one of the best sugar dating sites for the ladies.

What it’s like for daddies:

For one, you’ll need to actually be rich to get approved for SugarDaddyMeet. Those who meet the requirements are introduced to a world of beautiful females. The platform itself feels like other social media sites that you may already be familiar with. It’s very casual and generally a breeze finding a mutually beneficial arrangement.

What it’s like for the babies:

This site has plenty of features that make women feel safe using it. You can verify income and let the site know what you’re looking for in a sugar daddy. Using a handy algorithm, it’ll match you up based on your preferences. A free membership is all you’ll need!

5.  SugarDaddyForMe – Speedy matching process

This chic site is slick in design and even better in matching capabilities. It doesn’t hide the fact that it’s a tried and true sugar daddy site designed for arrangements. This is made clear for both the women and the men who join SugarDaddyForMe.

What it’s like for daddies:

You should know first that the payment structure is unique. The membership tiers are based on how much time you want to buy rather than what you have access to. SugarDaddyForMe will want to verify your income, but there’s not much to it after that. You’re essentially brought into the SugarDaddyForMe world within minutes, making this platform one of the fastest ways to find a date.

What it’s like for babies:

This is a free sugar daddy site for you! Signing up takes only minutes and you’ll be glad to know that SugarDaddyForMe will want to know what your ideal arrangement would be. This can all be altered later if you change your mind.

6.  Ashley Madison – Find a casual companion

Ashley Madison is the site that people hate admitting they love. Sure, it’s received some shady press over the years, but it works marvelously. Though linked to affairs, it’s a perfect site for those in open-relationships to find fun arrangements with other folks. It’s a completely open-minded and judgment-free space for people to explore sensual relationships.

What it’s like for daddies:

Ashley Madison can be used as a sugar site. It follows a credit-based payment structure that allows men to communicate with women. There’s nothing on Ashley Madison to weed out the sugar babies from the rest of them, so you’ll need to use the age preference feature to find the ladies and chat to see if they are interested. Women are free to join, making it a great breeding ground for relationships with younger college-age women.

What it’s like for babies:

Men on Ashley Madison are usually looking for excitement, and sugar babies know how to have fun. There are a lot of wealthy men looking for younger women on the site, so if you specify that you are looking to set up an arrangement, you’ll have no problem finding a handsome catch.

Want even more about Ashley Madison? Check out our full review.

7.  What’s Your Price – Bid on dates

On many sugar sites, the idea of an arrangement is implied but not always enforced. In other words, SDs don’t feel like spending or SBs ask for too much. On What’s Your Price, the intention is clear. It’s about an agreement or arrangement that works for both parties. What’s Your Price will set everyone up with their ideal situation so that the minutiae of finances don’t cloud the fun! And it was created by the established folks behind Seeking, so you know it’s legit.

What it’s like for daddies:

You will feel like you are shopping for gorgeous women through an online marketplace. We hate to boil it down to an online shopping experience, but that’s kind of how it works! You will be shown tons of ladies who have a price in mind. Then, you can bid on anyone you find attractive or worth your time. You can also send virtual gifts and make bids as low as $10. You don’t have to be “wealthy” to join.

What it’s like for the babies:

What’s Your Price puts you in total control, which is a nice alternative to the chaotic free-for-all approach that other sites have. The only negative to What’s Your Price is that there is a lot of competition. There are 3 million members and counting, which means that your ad is going to have to be competitive.

8.  Sugar Search – Check out “Members Currently Online” before chatting to avoid flakes

It’s just as it sounds. Sugar Search is an easy to use search engine to find a local sugar daddy.

Sugar Search only operates in a few cities. Sorry babies and daddies, if you’re not in NYC, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio, or Philadelphia, this isn’t the site for you.

Sugar Search goes to admirable lengths to ensure all the accounts are legit. Some slip through the cracks, but the moderation team is pretty on top of it.

Best of all, the site has great customer service and makes it easy to cancel a membership if you’re over it.

What it’s like for daddies:

It’s a super simple sign up process for daddies. Fill in a few fields, verify some personal info, and you’re set. Sugar Search has a great daddy to baby ratio, so it shouldn’t be too hard to meet a baby. The chat feature is slick and easy to use. If you want your profile to appear toward the top of search results, opt for the Diamond Membership. It really does increase the amount and quality of matches.

What it’s like for the babies:

Babies, you won’t be disappointed. Sugar Search is the ultimate sugar daddy search tool if you’re in one of their cities. Sugar Search requires daddies to verify their personal information, so you won’t encounter too many fraudulent accounts. Do your own due diligence by chatting with a prospective daddy first. The sheer volume of options means you’ll likely connect with someone shortly after you sign up.

9.  Reddit (r/SugarBaby) – Top sugar forum

Reddit is a site that gets a ton of volume. As a general forum for a huge range of topics, people come to Reddit to get information about virtually anything you can think of. It works for sugaring, too, on the subreddits that are related to the subject. If you don’t already know, a subreddit is a specific message board. For the best sugar daddy action, visit the /r/SugarBaby board. We should also warn you that sexy photos flood the page!

What it’s like for daddies:

This subreddit has over 80K users, making it more intimate than most but still giving you a ton of options. The best part is that it’s one of the only free sugar daddy sites on this list. Men aren’t allowed to post, but you can browse through the photos and proposals of the women on the page.

What it’s like for the babies:

You can post on this forum photos and a description of your ideal relationship. If a guy sees you on the page and is interested in pursuing you, he will direct message you through the platform! To post, you will need to go through a verification process, but it’s not complicated.

10.  Elite Singles – Dating site for educated daddies and babies

Elite Singles was not designed specifically for sugaring. It’s a premium dating site that caters toward educated and successful individuals looking for someone who is like-minded. As a baby, you should be seeking something serious when you join Elite Singles. This site is made for real relationships, not a one-time hookup. A majority of the people on this site are college-educated, regardless of age, so that’s another thing to keep in mind.

What it’s like for daddies:

Elite Singles is ideal for the man (or woman) who is interested in meeting an intelligent, independent person to shower with affection or anything else. One of the best things about Elite Singles is that nobody is flakey. People are genuinely searching for their other half and they aren’t greedy for cash because they are successful themselves.

What it’s like for the babies:

This is an app best suited for the baby who isn’t just in this for the money. You don’t need to be wildly successful to get on Elite Singles, but you should have a semblance of independence and perhaps a college degree (or working towards one). This isn’t the quickest way to find a sugar daddy, but it is a place where you’ll meet successful people.

11.  Established Men – Great for long-term sugar dating

If you couldn’t gather from the name, Established Men is a dating site created for successful men looking for a relationship. Men who are established and wealthy often don’t find much time to date around. This site makes finding a partner very simple. It’s not a hookup site but rather a place that caters directly to wealthy guys who want a relationship. Though not exclusively for sugar relationships, women aren’t charged for a membership, making it feel like a free sugar daddy site for them.

What it’s like for daddies:

Established Men is not a free sugar dating site for men, but that shouldn’t be a problem if you are, in fact, established. Through the platform, you are able to send gifts and interact with the beautiful ladies that this website attracts. There are new members daily, so you’ll never run out of options!

What it’s like for babies:

Step into the world of Established Men. These are individuals who know their worth, so they might be tough to please. What’s nice about the site is that these guys aren’t expecting you to come to them with a set arrangement. They just want to spoil someone special with bags, shoes, and more.

12.  RichMeetBeautiful – Encrypted sugar daddy site

Contrary to popular belief, RichMeetBeautiful is not just for rich men. Anyone who is reasonably well off can still engage with beautiful men and women through the platform. It’s also one of the most secure sugar dating sites because it uses encryption security.

What it’s like for daddies:

RichMeetBeautiful claims to be rich in several ways: experience, romance, passion, style, and so on. It also explicitly says “no sugar dating” on the homepage. You’re probably asking yourself why it even made the list. It’s a site for successful individuals to meet one another through a scientific matchmaking algorithm. If you want to find a younger woman to spoil, you will absolutely be able to.

What it’s like for babies:

RichMeetsBeautiful is not explicitly for sugar dating. It is a site where you can converse with men who enjoy spoiling their significant others. It’s built for long-lasting relationships, so be prepared to meet people who want to find real love.

13.  Miss Travel – Best for the adventurous

Miss Travel puts an exciting spin on sugar dating. Rather than finding a companion locally, this site encourages people to find partners from places they’d love to travel to! It adds a whole new element to the fun of sugar dating, and women can join this site for free.

What it’s like for daddies:

SDs in open relationships or looking for fun outside of a relationship love to use this site while they travel for business. However, it’s also convenient for men who want foreign women to come to them. There are a ton of beautiful women who use Miss Travel because they are looking for an adventure with a well-to-do man.

What it’s like for babies:

Ever wanted to travel the world? This is one of the best ways to make that happen. The daddy you find will likely pay for the entire trip. There’s also an exciting “Create a Trip” feature that allows you to plan a wonderful vacation right there on the site.

14.  Wealthy Men – A no-frills approach to sugaring

Wealthy Men is the most straightforward sugar daddy website available to users, and it’s very reliable too. It promises young women that they will meet the wealthy man of their dreams. And, it has a guarantee for its paid members that they’ll find someone in three months. Members can rest assured that Wealthy Men will absolutely work for them.

What it’s like for daddies:

We’ll be honest: Wealthy Men does not make it that easy on the guys initially. You will have to prove that you make at least 85K by providing documentation stating so and comment on how much you’re willing to spend on a baby. While this is annoying, it maintains the integrity of the site.

What it’s like for babies:

This is one of the best sugar daddy sites out there. The financial aspect works in your favor. But you’ll want to pay for it, as the free version doesn’t allow for messaging.

15.  AgeMatch – Best for relationships with significant age gaps

AgeMatch doesn’t market itself as a sugar website. Instead of sugar daddies and young models, it pins itself as a dating platform for people with a very large age gap between them. This works for arrangements because most of the companionships on this site are between successful older men and stunning younger women.

What it’s like for daddies:

Some men don’t want arrangements and prefer the idea of spoiling someone who enjoys their company. For those types, AgeMatch is perfect. You will feel like you are on a real dating site and not a shady or seedy arrangement site, which is a nice alternative to the normal setup.

What it’s like for babies:

The expected age gap works in your favor, but the fact that sugaring is more implied than explicit does not. You won’t be asked about your preferred arrangement. However, there are plenty of wonderful successful older men at your disposal and you are welcome to present them with your terms.

16.  Sudy – A sugaring mobile app

Sudy is a fantastic app in terms of usability. It functions really well and is set up in such a way that makes it easy to meet someone new. There are some things about Sudy that aren’t perfect, which is why it’s at the bottom of our list, but it’s certainly a great option for someone who would rather use their phone than a desktop to find a date.

What it’s like for the daddies:

To join, you’ll need to make over 200K. Once you verify this, you will be introduced to the world of beautiful ladies (there’s a 4:1 male to female ratio). Gorgeous women like to know that you make enough to entertain them, so the verification works in your favor. Sources report having trouble deleting their profiles though, so that might be a turn-off for you.

What it’s like for babies:

There are more women than men, which means it’s competitive. But at the same time, Sudy is also very safe. The Sudy staff work tirelessly to moderate the platform and remove suspicious or fake profiles.

17.  SugarBook – Great for alternative arrangements

Sometimes arrangements aren’t all money-based. There are ambitious women (or guys) out there who desire connections, advice, opportunities, and financial help. Sources say that SugarBook is ideal for that type of relationship with a sugar mama or sugar daddy because each interaction begins by laying out expectations for one another.

What it’s like for daddies:

You will need to verify your income before getting accepted to SugarBook. This is technically a free sugar daddy site for men, but the premium option will show you many more profiles. We’ll admit that it’s limited on the free side.

What it’s like for babies:

You can join for free or pay for more features, that’s totally up to you. Try the free version first, though, because the features just include access to more daddies and a more specific search. You might find what you’re looking for on the free version alone. You’ll have a chance to create a profile where you can explain what you’re interested in.

How  To Be A Good Sugar Daddy

Don’t be stingy – If you want to be a sugar daddy, then you have to be prepared to give a little—okay, a lot—of “sugar.” In other words, you’re going to have to open up that wallet and be generous, giving without necessarily expecting much in return. This is your part of the deal as a sugar daddy. Have fun – Surprise gifts, dinners, trips, etc. are a way to inject some fun into your life and the life of your sugar baby. The more you treat it from a light and laidback standpoint the better.Don’t obsess – Sugar babies will get turned off if you’re super obsessive and act like you’re deeply in love. This is supposed to be a casual relationship where you spoil them, not something meant to last a lifetime like a conventional serious relationship. Be transparent – If you only want sugar babies who will have intimate relations with you, then you better make that clear upfront. There are many sugar relationships that don’t get very physical, and the last thing you want is to get rejected after you’ve gotten your expectations up. Being clear from the start saves everyone time and hurt feelings. Be smart – As a wealthy person, you may have a significant public profile. Discretion is highly important. Don’t send compromising pictures or messages of yourself unless you’re absolutely sure that you trust this person. In general, be discreet, or else you may seriously regret it.  

How To Be A Good Sugar Baby

Try to be engaging – A sugar daddy wants you to act like he’s the most interesting person in the world. He doesn’t want to spend time and money on you only to have you stare at your phone or ignore him.  Watch your physique – Although it depends on the daddy, many of them are superficial. Your physique will be an important feature drawing these daddies in, and so it’s important to maintain.  Don’t be a headache – Sugar daddies generally want something light, playful, and fun. They’re looking for a distraction from work stress or simply a good time. If you are constantly overdramatic, emotional, etc. they will be turned off and want to end the relationship. Be funny – Everyone loves to laugh. And while it’s important that you laugh at your sugar daddy’s jokes, it really helps if you can make them laugh as well. Be up for anything – It’s totally fine to have your limits as a sugar baby, and you should think about what those are ahead of time. But the more you can be “up for anything,” the better. Sugar daddies often love to be spontaneous and spoil their babies almost randomly. So, the more you’re game for surprise gifts and trips, the better.  

Have Questions About Sugar Daddies and Babies? Here Are Some FAQs

What Does a Sugar Daddy Do?

A sugar daddy’s role is relatively simple. His “job” consists essentially in using his wealth to spoil the sugar baby. This might include fancy dinners, high-end alcohol, even vacations all around the world. In return, the sugar daddy expects a certain degree of companionship. 

Where Can I Find a Sugar Baby?

Finding a sugar baby is basically the same process as finding a sugar daddy. You simply need to leverage the sites and apps that exist specifically to unite would-be sugar babies with sugar daddies. One of the best sites for this is Seeking, though there are many others (the reviews for which you can see in the above article). 

What Does a Sugar Baby Do?

A sugar baby simply provides companionship to a sugar daddy. In exchange for being spoiled and receiving gifts, dinners, vacations, etc., a sugar baby is expected to provide companionship and affection to the sugar daddy. This isn’t necessarily always sexual, as that depends on the sugar daddy and the terms that you establish. It’s a good idea to be upfront about expectations from the get-go to ensure that everything goes smoothly. 

Is It Ok to Have a Sugar Daddy?

Some people may be wondering if it’s morally okay to have a sugar daddy. Well, that depends. Is the sugar daddy married with kids and doing this on the side without anyone knowing? That’s definitely a questionable thing to do morally speaking. But if no one else is at risk of being hurt by the relationship, and everything is consensual, then it’s perfectly okay to have a sugar daddy. 

Are Sugar Daddy Sites Legit?

Sugar daddy sites can definitely be legit. That said, sugar relationships have become more popular and so many sites have popped up lately. Not all of them are legitimate, so it’s important to be careful. A good idea would be to stick with the sites reviewed above, especially the biggest and most well-established ones. 

Read More

It’s never been easier to meet someone online. There are more singles than ever in the dating pool. Most are in search of a meaningful connection that could lead to a long-term commitment. Landing a real catch in a traditional setting feels like fishing in the Dead Sea: impossible. But dating apps and websites have softened the blow and made it possible to scope out your options from the safety and comfort of your own home. With life online becoming an omnipresent reality, it’s one of the best ways to date. The best part? They actually work.

Now, this isn’t true of all dating sites, and there are plenty to comb through. While it’s nice to have options, digging around for the top dating sites can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Additionally, veteran daters know that modern dating culture has become murky at best.

Which apps will introduce you to singles who are serious about commitment and not just another hookup? Tinder might be the big dog of swipe-based dating apps, but you likely won’t find anything beyond a hot make-out session or a one-night stand. While most dating sites attract a mix of serious and casual daters, some options generate more success for long-term relationships.

Here’s an overview of the best dating sites that will give you the best chance at finding a real partner. When it comes to love, these apps do their best to find you the perfect match. Whether it’s a particularly advanced matching algorithm, personality analysis, or select group of users, these apps do more for you than your average hookup app ever could.

14 Best Dating Sites To Meet Someone Online For A Real Relationship in 2022

RankSiteBest ForRating1.eharmonyMeaningful connections5/52.MatchLasting relationships5/53.ZooskThose who love travel5/54.FriendFinderMix of casual and serious5/55.BumbleBest for women5/56.HingeBest for quick, serious matches5/57.OkCupidBest for progressive dating5/58.The LeagueBest for educated singles4.5/59.HappnBest for meeting someone in your social circle4.5/510.HERBest for femmes4.5/511.Silver SinglesBest for older daters4/512.Coffee Meets BagelBest for dating site newbies4/513.AdultFriendFinderBest for open-minded daters4/514.Plenty of FishBest for rural daters4/5

1.) eharmony 

Ok, so eharmony puts some cheesy ads out there that might deter you from trying it out, but if you’re tired of dating around, looking for a real connection and maybe just want to put a ring on it, you’re going to want to give it a second chance. Why? Well, eharmony is allegedly responsible for around 4 percent of all marriages in the U.S. today. Wild, right?

So what gives eharmony its secret sauce? We guess it has to do with the revamp of their model. Back in the day, eharmony would put you through the wringer with a lengthy sign-up process and lame alienating questions. Today, the questionnaire is around 30 questions long and very practical. It’ll ask you how you feel about moving in with someone or how you feel about arguments.

It should be noted though that eharmony hasn’t always been the most welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community and some users believe that it’s truly a place for the heteronormative. They’ve been working on fixing this major issue, but it seems that it hasn’t yet been totally resolved.

Tip for using eharmony to find a long-term relationship: Use eharmony if you are genuinely ready for commitment. Don’t be afraid to set up dates quickly and emotionally open up earlier than you normally would.

2.) Match

Match.com is a dating site that was launched in 1995, and it has been helping daters find long-term relationships ever since. Match is comforting to a lot of people because it’s so familiar and has pretty much provided the blueprint for other dating sites. Not to mention, it has worked hard to perfect its strategy over the years. There’s even a guarantee that you’ll be dating someone within six months, and if you’re not, they’ll give you six months free of charge! That’s how confident they are.

There are two factors that make Match best for long-term partnerships.

Number one is their matching algorithm. When you sign up, you will be put through a rigorous personality quiz. While it can feel a little cumbersome, know that Match is only doing its job. You’ll be asked about your basic preferences along with some gushy romantic stuff (which is important in a relationship).

Number two is that, though it’s technically a free dating site, most users end up paying $20 per month. Yeah, it’s a lot. But love is an investment you should be making for yourself, right?

Tip for using Match to find a long-term relationship: Match is known for their intense matching algorithm, so take your time with the questionnaire and try to make your profile as detailed as possible.

3.) Zoosk

For some, travel is one of the most important aspects of a relationship. Zoosk takes the concept of online dating and allows users to connect internationally. But this isn’t one of those “fly me out to hookup” sites. Zoosk utilizes behavioral matching to facilitate genuine connections between folks who may live thousands of miles apart. If you want your first date to involve a plane, this app is for you.

Rather than dragging you through a tedious questionnaire, Zoosk synchs up your social media profiles to analyze your behavior. It’s a unique way to determine personality, but arguably more accurate given that it takes your actions into account.

Zoosk is a crowd favorite because it doesn’t try to distract you with any bells and whistles. It’s got a smooth, modern interface that makes international dating feel like a breeze.

Tip for using Zoosk to find a long-term relationship: Clean up your social media profile. Zoosk uses it to determine your matches. Your matches will likely be able to find your socials as well. If you come across as a player, you won’t land a serious relationship.

4.) Friend Finder

Friend Finder is one of the biggest dating communities on the Internet. It has the feel and ease of a social media platform but ultimately aims to set up romantic connections between singles. There’s a wide range of connections to be made on Friend Finder, from the flings to the wedding bells. You are more likely to meet someone who doesn’t want to commit right off the bat, but knows they want to meet someone special. Friend Finder also caters to all genders and sexualities, giving it a really warm and welcoming feel.

The users on Friend Finder tend to be in their 40s, but anyone who is 18+ is welcome to give it a shot. They also take your safety very seriously and run a tight ship as far as regulating profiles and banning fakes, catfish, and bots. You do feel like you’ve got a matchmaker on your side when you use Friend Finder to find a mate.

Because Friend Finder is more of a community than strictly a dating site, there are various ways to meet people and other ways to enjoy the site. For instance, you can take a look at their interest groups and forum pages to learn how users in the community are feeling about Friend Finder and dating in general.

Tip for using Friend Finder to find a long-term relationship: Treat this community like a social media platform rather than strictly a dating app. It will open up the possibilities for you by introducing you to more people!

5.) Bumble

There’s a lot we don’t love about Tinder. The platform allows ghosters and players to run rampant. That’s why Bumble is the perfect alternative for women seeking a serious relationship with a man.

Bumble is swipe-dating with a twist. It’s a free dating app that requires women to break the ice first. If the man doesn’t respond to the initial message within 24 hours, the match goes away. It’s one of the first dating apps to really hold daters accountable for their ability to follow through. Flakiness doesn’t survive on Bumble.

The women-message-first concept also combats those incessant creepy messages that ladies on dating apps are used to getting. While the profiles are limited and there’s no major questionnaire, the rules laid out by Bumble make it a great environment to start a long-term relationship. Oh, and there’s also an Astrology filter for the horoscope buffs.

Tip for using Bumble to find a long-term relationship: If you are a woman, reach out to all the men that you match with. Remember, they can’t get in touch with you. You need to make the first move before those matches disappear. You swiped right for a reason, right?

6.) Hinge

Many daters cite Hinge as their absolute favorite dating app. While Hinge has introduced a ton of successful couples to each other, the draw to Hinge has more to do with the fact that using the app is fun! The app was originally supposed to match you based on mutual friends you had through social media platforms. But it has evolved since then to be the ultimate icebreaker dating app.

Setting up a Hinge profile takes some time, but it’s entertaining. Once you pick your photos and basic preferences, you can choose through dozens of hilarious or serious prompts to add to the profile. One reads, “A life goal of mine is. . .” while another reads, “We’re the same type of weird if. . .” Hinge users can “heart” someone’s photo or their prompt answer. They can also comment on it, which makes initiating a conversation so much more interesting than on other dating apps.

With engaging profiles and an in-depth matching algorithm, Hinge is the cocktail party that sets the scene for long-term potential. The crowd is generally young, cool, and interested in dating. Its slogan is, “designed to be deleted,” which is kind of awesome!

Tip for using Hinge to find a long-term relationship: Add some humor to your profile by picking funny prompts. This will give your potential matches an icebreaker when they reach out to you.

7.) OKCupid

OKCupid is the woke dating app geared towards socially conscious millennials. It’s been around for a while, but in 2017, OKCupid saw a massive redesign both in aesthetics and operations. Now, it’s incredibly modern and perfect for the liberal-minded dater who is seeking a likeminded partner. With 12 gender identities and 20 sexual orientations to choose from, it’s not hard to see why.

The questionnaire helps to weed out folks who you wouldn’t get along with by asking questions like, “Is contraception morally wrong?” They also get into your sexual preferences and dealbreakers. That’s when the algorithm takes over. At first, it feels a bit like Tinder. That would make sense as the two are owned by the same company, but it takes the more in-depth serious approach that goes beyond swiping based on appearances.

One critique that OKCupid gets is the feature that allows you to message someone who you haven’t matched with yet. They won’t see that message unless you match. While it keeps creepy messages at bay, it also lends itself to a bunch of unanswered messages and a strange feeling of rejection.

Tip for using OKCupid to find a long-term relationship: Don’t bother using this application if you are ultra-conservative. You likely won’t find anyone who meshes with your views. Also, show more than you tell. In other words, pick profile photos that communicate who you are as a person.

8.) The League

If all the apps were personified, The League would be the most narcissistic. To get on the app in the first place, you must apply by submitting your LinkedIn profile, current job status, and what university you attended. So yeah, it’s a little full of itself. However, for people who think that education and job status is a dealbreaker, it’s a nice change of pace from the randomness that apps like Tinder supply.

The League allows you to be very picky with your preferences, even allowing you to select which races you prefer to see. That makes our stomachs turn a little. If you’re willing to ignore the cringeworthy-ness, The League is a pretty decent dating app. It has a high success rate, so we think it deserves a review.

Members span all age groups but tend to be on the younger side. There’s also no way for catfish to get onto this app. You must link both your Facebook and LinkedIn for approval. Unless a catfish is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to land someone, they aren’t going to slip through the cracks on these dating apps.

Tip for using The League to find a long-term relationship: The League tends to be a tough crowd and the app comes across as a little judgmental. You can ease the tension by sending a message to someone who you have something in common with. Perhaps you’ve been to their university, hometown, or have insight about their career choice.

9.) Happn

Some people believe in fate and others believe in the “Proximity Effect.” There’s a strong correlation between proximity and attraction, which Happn takes into account. Rather than setting you up with people who live in a five-mile radius from you, Happn actually matches you with someone you’ve crossed paths with in the past. It’s a neat concept in that it shows you and your match have similar habits and interests. It’s also the most convenient way to date.

We’ll be honest though, there aren’t a ton of people who use Happn, so there might be slim pickings. There have also been reports that the daters you’ve apparently “crossed paths with” are hogwash. This is coming from users who never stepped foot outside of their homes and were told they had a handful of missed connections. However, there are also folks who say the exact opposite.

Regardless of whether or not the proximity feature is a placebo, it sure makes for a nice icebreaker when you finally do go on that first date!

Tip for using Happn to find a long-term relationship: Don’t rely too heavily on the proximity feature. Try to get to know the people who you match with and then decide if you want to meet up with them!

10.) HER

Nearly all dating sites claim to be inclusive of all sexualities and genders; however, many people in the queer community don’t completely agree. Some sites just don’t feel all that welcoming or provide enough options, especially to queer women. Grindr was there for queer men, but what about the ladies? That’s where the app HER comes in. It’s a tailored dating site and community for women in the LGBTQ+ community.

According to their members (currently 4 million and counting), HER is a really fun space. Profiles can get quite detailed with the ability to put your diet preferences (like vegan) on your profile, along with your astrological sign and pronouns. There’s also an entire element of HER that doesn’t really have to do with dating but rather operates as a social media platform and shows you what queer events are going on in your area.

HER is great, but it’s not perfect. In the past, users have reported some glitches that make the user experience a bit frustrating and annoying. However, they are actively working to evolve their functionality in a positive way.

Tip for using HER to find a long-term relationship: HER is all about empowering women and LGBTQ+ dating. Mimic that energy by always shining a positive light while you are chatting with new friends or matches.

11.) Silver Singles

Dating over 50 can be quite a challenge. Many of these online dating apps focus so much energy on catering to millennials that they don’t take time to consider the older daters. Silver Singles is a dating app that’s exclusively for daters who are age 50 and above. Knowing that you’re in the company of others who are your age and looking for love can be really comforting.

Silver Singles takes matching seriously and uses a personality test to break users up into the Big Five personality traits, and then matches you accordingly. There’s an expectation on Silver Singles that the dating is taken seriously, so it’s not for the person looking for something casual. The users who are old enough to be completely over dating games that tend to be consumed by them see this as a benefit.

Tip for using Silver Singles to find a long-term relationship: Make it clear that you are seeking a long-term relationship. You can do this by posting it in your profile or by opening each chat by explaining what you want out of the app. The mature daters will appreciate the transparency.

12.) Coffee Meets Bagel

The concept behind this dating app was to set up a casual online dating experience. It’s likened to grabbing a cup of coffee with someone, but online. The vibe is meant to feel low-key, so that pressure doesn’t get in the way of your dating experience. A Reddit review actually noted that “Coffee Meets Bagel helped me find someone, which I never thought would happen because I am cripplingly introverted.” So, we know it works!

Other dating sites will throw a bunch of options at you, leaving you swiping through tons of photos or scrolling through an indefinite amount of prospects. While this can be nice, it also can deter you from really investing in one person and might make you feel overwhelmed. It’s not exactly the easiest way to make a real connection. That’s why CMB sends you seven options a day that are carefully selected based on their matching algorithm. These matches are called “bagels,” which frankly is a little strange. But hey, we’re not here to judge CMB on anything but their success rate as a dating app. To encourage followthrough, the bagels only last for a week. If you really like someone, you need to reach out.

Another reason why CMB works so well is that the algorithm takes your previous swipes into account when curating the next batch of fresh bagels for you. It learns your trends and preferences based on actual activity rather than just a questionnaire.

Tip for using Coffee Meets Bagel to find a long-term relationship: Give each “bagel” a chance. You might be used to apps that give you tons of options; however, there’s a reason why these bagels were suggested to you. Don’t be afraid to do a deep dive into each of their profiles!

13.) AdultFriendFinder

Ok, so AdultFriendFinder isn’t exactly great for finding your soulmate, but nothing is impossible! The reason it makes the list is that some people like to approach dating in a casual way before getting into anything super serious. Physical intimacy is an essential part of any relationship, and AdultFriendFinder has no problems in that department.

While millennials rely on Tinder to help them find friends-with-benefits, AdultFriendFinder caters to an online dating crowd that’s a tiny bit older. It’s sort of the Tinder for Gen X. Given that there are so many users on AdultFriendFinder, it’s nearly impossible to not find someone interested in talking to you. But be warned—AdultFriendFinder is not for the faint of heart. There’s no telling how raunchy your inbox will get.

AdultFriendFinder is an adult site, so that means explicit photos are welcome and encouraged. You won’t find that on other dating websites. In a time where isolation is more familiar than physical touch, it’s a nice change of pace.

Tip for using AdultFriendFinder to find a long-term relationship: Keep an open mind, sexually. AdultFriendFinder has a lot of raunchy undertones. By going in without judgment, you open yourself up to a world of dating potentials on this site.

14.) Plenty Of Fish

Plenty Of Fish is a popular free dating site, but they’ve been known to have just as many bots as they do genuine users, so that’s why it sits at the bottom. This doesn’t mean that POF doesn’t work. It has been known to foster a ton of successful relationships. There are even some celebs who have found love on POF. It simply might get annoying attempting to dodge the folks who aren’t real.

One of the best aspects of POF is the volume of users. They have so many. Bots aside, even if you live in a small town or rural area, you will find plenty of prospects. Most apps function best in urban cities, but POF does the job well anywhere. Another thing we love is that POF, and all features like unlimited messaging, is totally free.

Because there are so many daters on POF looking for all sorts of relationships, POF has implemented a pretty advanced search feature that allows you to whittle down the crowd. The quality of daters doesn’t seem to be as top-notch as some other apps on this list, but there are definitely some catches who make their way onto the site.

Tip for using Plenty Of Fish to find a long-term relationship: POF is known for having a ton of users. With that in mind, be selective with who you decide to reach out to. Too many options won’t help you land that soulmate you’re after.

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