5 Best Dating Sites in California

By: Michele Baird
Updated: January 10, 2023
popular dating apps in California

The state of California boasts the largest economy in the US. Maybe this explains why it's so hard to date in this beautiful state on the country's West Coast; people are just too busy with work. 

California may be the most populous, with over 39 million residents, but dating here has never been easy.

Fortunately, connecting singles in California is getting easier by the day, thanks to the best California dating apps.

Read on to learn the best dating sites in California, plus several statistics surrounding the singles scene and online dating ideas that will come in handy for you. 

Top 5 Dating Apps in California

Here's a roundup of the top five dating sites in California:

1. eHarmony - Best Overall

eHarmony

If you're certain you're after a serious, long-term, dedicated relationship or marriage, eHarmony is the dating site for you.

It's undoubtedly a leader in the online dating industry. Millions of people in meaningful partnerships today attribute their success to eHarmony for bringing them together.

This site has an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, a free basic version, and works great on Android and iOS.

The site vigorously vets aspiring members to make sure they're who they claim to be, all to the members' advantage.

eHarmony is the only dating site that employs science to match members with suitable partners based on traits and interests they share in common.

Unlike other sites, which heavily rely on physical appearance, here, members undergo a compatibility test upon signing up. That way, you get connected with the best available partner with whom you have things in common, such as goals and background.  

eHarmony allows video dating for premium members. After messaging for some time, you can meet virtually via a video call.

2. Elite Singles - Runner Up, Best Overall

EliteSingles.com

Class matters in relationships, and Elite Singles take this into consideration. This is the site for men and women, preferably 30 years and above, who are well-educated. About 80% of Elite Singles users have an above-average education—college or university degree.

The signup process is easy, although you must undergo verification, then a personality test, which the site uses to predict enjoyable, long-lasting relationships between matching singles. 

The test employs some psychological science where it measures your personality across five dimensions.

Elite Singles is one site where you'll find some of the highest-quality singles you're unlikely to meet on any other dating site. Members receive potential matches automatically almost daily with recommendations from the matchmaking system.

If you want to make everything easier, you can download the site's app available on iOS and Android. The design is catchy with a user-friendly interface, and every profile you come across is highly detailed.

Elite Singles is a dating site where educated Californians can find partners who are equally educated, serious, and ready to settle.  

3. Christian Cafe - Best for Faith-Based Dating

Christian Cafe signup page

ChristianCafe.com remains one of the most highly-rated dating apps. Though it’s a niche site that caters to the Christian faith, it produces quick matches and offers plenty of filters to thin the options.

Speaking of filters, you can hone selections with denominational preferences and how involved you are in church to find a more compatible connection. The site also allows you to block members you don’t care to see.

The site and mobile app are user-friendly and allow you to conduct detailed searches, but it’s not the most cutting-edge platform. 

Unfortunately, if dating is a numbers game, then you may struggle to find a match within some areas. Even within major cities, ChristianCafe.Com just can’t compete with the larger dating apps.

4. Silver Singles - Best for Senior Dating

Silversingles Online Dating Signup Page

SilverSingles caters to singles over 50 seeking romance and companionship. Like many other dating apps, SilverSingles focuses on compatibility with each member completing in-depth personality profiles. Note that the profile takes time to complete, so you may want to set aside about an hour to sign up.

Singles can expect matches with similar goals and values, and you can filter your searches to better fit your needs and desires. Additionally, the site offers support for setting up your profile, and for a fee, you can get professional assistance writing it. 

You get daily matches on the user-friendly platform, though you should expect some limitations with the free membership package. For example, you can’t see photographs of other members unless you pay. 

SilverSingles is well-reviewed with a decent success rate for the size of the community. Further, since it caters to the 50+ crowd you don’t need to worry about significantly younger people or fake profiles.

5. CatholicMatch - Best for Catholic Dating

Catholic Match

CatholicMatch is a faith-based dating app for Catholic singles seeking committed relationships and marriage. You can sign up for a free membership to get an idea of potential matches in your area. 

When you sign up, whether it’s free or paid, be prepared to answer questions about your childhood, values, work, and commitment to your faith. CatholicMatch does feature multiple filters to help you find the most compatible matches based on values and commitment to the church’s teachings.

The site seems to be a mixed bag, depending on what you hope to get out of it. Some users report negative experiences due to a limited dating pool. However, it seems to be more problematic in less-populated areas, which isn’t as much of an issue for most California singles.

FAQs

Do you still have questions about dating apps in California? Here are some of the most common questions and answers!

Which Dating Site is Best for Serious Relationships?

Head to eHarmony if you are looking for a committed relationship.

What is the Best Hookup Site in California?

Adult Friend Finder is a popular site for singles seeking casual connections in California.

What is the Best Dating Site for Over 50 or Seniors in California?

Singles over 50 do best with eHarmony and Silver Singles.

Which Dating Site has the Highest Success Rate?

eHarmony has the highest success rate and boasts millions of successful matches and more than 600,000 marriages.

Free Dating Sites in California

a city in California

Most of the best dating sites feature free trials and are safe and secure to use. These do a marvelous job in matching many with the lady or gentleman of their dreams. 

With so many dating sites in California, how do you choose the right one?

Choosing the right dating app can be tough, so why not give them a test run for free? Most dating sites offer free trials, including eHarmony, Elite Singles, ChristinaCafe, Silver Singles, and Catholic Match. 

If you’re not sure which app is right for you, then sign up for the free trials and explore your options. You get a taste of what’s to come, and you may even meet your ideal partner!

Here are the free trial links for the most popular dating apps in California:

Rank

Site

Free Trial Link

#1

eHarmony

#2

Elite Singles

#3

Christian Cafe

#4

Silver Singles

#5

Catholic Match

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