It seems like today, a dating service online is a dime a dozen. There are hundreds of dating services online in the United States alone and new sites are appearing regularly. Your choices of dating service online can be quite confusing.

Before becoming a member in a dating service online site, find the number of matches that fits your criteria. Also, you should be able to view the matches. This way, you can tell if the dating service site has enough members. The online dating service site should also be able to authenticate its members.

The best dating service online should feature real life testimonials from its members regarding how they rate as dating service and in terms of dating success. The online site should allow you to have total control over the point at which you disclose your personal information such as address, email address or phone number. You will also want to find out if the site ever sells your information to telemarketers or allows members to access your personal information. Any breach of your privacy is grounds for choosing a different dating service online. Be sure the site you join is legitimate and is truly in the business of bringing singles together.

Aside from those mentioned above, a good online dating service should provide the following:

• the ability to be anonymous to the respondent
• inexpensive service and only a computer and Internet connection is required to safely meet people
• fast and efficient search devices that are accurate when matching personalities and like minded individuals
• convenient access to the dating world via a computer that is available for communication 24/7, 365 days a year.

A recent popularity survey conducted among Americans and Canadians to find out the best dating service online produced the following results:
1. Match.com
2. spark.com
3. Date.com

The runners-up for the best online dating service are : MatchMaker, FriendFinder, DatingDirect, DreamMates, and eHarmony.com.