Most sites (not just dating sites) that advertise free platforms usually mean they have a free trial. When you scroll down to the fine print, another colorful ad pops up informing you that for an extra $$$, you can increase your chances of finding the love of your life.
While it may sound like I am bashing the whole “free” dating site debate, I am pretty for it, as I feel it gives a potential customer the chance to test the waters before committing to any payment.
So, I have gone through each site carefully, and while there are some genuine free dating sites in Canada without payment, most of them have paid plans too. I have put together a list of the best free dating sites in Canada to help you on your journey to finding The One.
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Are There Really Free Dating Sites in Canada?
Whether you are looking for free dating sites in Canada or anywhere else in the world, it can be challenging to find a site that is 100% free. Very few dating sites are true to their advertising.
Most “free” dating sites offer a free trial with basic features such as:
- Signing up
- Creating a profile
- Browsing profiles (most of the profile photos are blurred until you're on a paid membership)
- Reading the first couple of messages in your inbox
- Uploading a capped number of pictures
This “free” site can become frustrating as you’re limited in the features department. Having said that, a couple of sites do stay true to their word and offer you all the features you need at no extra cost.
Drawbacks of Free Dating Sites in Canada
Anything free in life is a bonus, but what are the drawbacks of using free dating sites in Canada? Let’s take a closer look:
- There are ads everywhere.
- The sites don’t invest in the design and features of the platform.
- Free customer care and services are inadequate compared to the quality you receive as a paying member.
- No data protection is in place.
- The sites are overrun with fake profiles because of no I.D. verification systems in place.
- Features are limited.
- Weak matching algorithms.
Some Canadian Dating Sites in Our Review
Here is my list of the 5 best Canadian dating sites:
Canadian Friends Date
Canadian Friends Date is a free dating platform created in 2017, which is part of the Friends Date Network. The platform helps singles meet other singles in their area.
Canadian Friends Date has no paid services. Here’s a look at some of the free services on this dating platform:
- Daily updates on possible matches in your area
- A matching algorithm based on your hobbies, personality, and likes
- Send messages to potential matches
- Receive messages from other members
- Create a detailed profile
- Browse Canadian singles
- Share your likes and dislikes with others
- Plan dates and outings
Canadian Friends Date is a completely free dating platform that prides itself on the fact that there are no hidden costs, join-up fees, paid add-ons, trial plans, or coins.
- You’re able to report fake or spam profiles to customer care
- There are no hidden costs
- The dating site platform is mobile-friendly
- All the dating profiles are public, so there is no anonymity
- There is no mobile app available
- There is no live-chat option
Lovestruck
Lovestruck is Canada’s favorite dating site for meaningful relationships and has been in the online dating biz since 2006 with members worldwide.
Lovestruck offers free and paid memberships, which gives you access to additional features.
Signing up for the free membership gives you access to basic features such as:
- Creating a profile
- Browsing profiles
- Sending messages (it’s limited)
The paid memberships give you access to all the basic features, as well as additional features like:
- Unlimited messaging
- More advanced search options
- Paid members can add the "Struck by Me" and "Date Explorer" features to their membership plans (at an additional daily or monthly cost)
Lovestruck offers 2 paid membership plans:
- The Gold membership costs around US$87.99 for 1 month and US$204.99 for a 6-month membership.
- The Platinum membership costs around US$164 for 1 month and US$399.99 for a 6-month membership.
Plus, there are two features you can “buy” on a daily basis:
- The "Struck by Me" feature can be added for an additional US$0.99 per day to see who has viewed your profile.
- The "Date Explorer" feature can be added for an additional US$0.99 per day to help find local members.
- Detailed profiles
- Over 90, 000 members
- Matchmaking service to help you navigate the site
- It's not entirely free (but you can send limited messages)
- It takes a minute to create a profile, but 36 hours for it to be verified
- To communicate with members, you need access to email or a live chat system
Canadian Chat
Canadian Chat is another great free dating platform. The site is relatively new and was created in 2019. The platform gives its members a chance to find love locally.
Canadian Friends Date has no paid services. Let’s take a look at some of the free services they offer:
- Detailed profiles
- Over 90, 000 members
- Matchmaking service to help you navigate the site
Canadian Chat is a 100% free dating platform that prides itself on the fact that there are no hidden costs or paid memberships.
- Great customer service
- An even men-to-women ratio
- A mobile app is available
- The site is very new (3 years)
- No I.D verification of profiles
- It’s more for singles who are looking for serious relationships
eHarmony
Another great dating site to try is eHarmony. The site has been around since 2000 and has developed a good reputation for being a good dating platform for singles looking for a serious relationship. Read our review: eharmony Review: Is eharmony.com a good dating site?
eHarmony offers a free basic membership and a paid membership, which gives you access to additional features. Related read:
Registering for the free membership gives you access to basic features such as:
- Create a profile and add a couple of photos
- Read through other members' profiles (their profile photos will be blurred)
- Send winks and smiles to potential matches
- Complete the site’s matching quiz
eHarmony’s Premium Plan (paid) membership provides access to:
- Unlimited messages
- Video date feature
- See who's viewed you and customer service
- Customer service
- Enhanced search features
- Conversation starters, winks, and smiles
The eHarmony Basic Plan is free but limited (read also: eHarmony Cost: Pricing Options). The eHarmony Plan has 3 types based on the length of the membership (the features are all the same):
- The eHarmony Premium Light (6 months) costs around US$65.90 per month.
- The eHarmony Premium Plus (12 months) costs around US$45.90 per month.
- The eHarmony Premium Extra (24 months) costs around US$35.90 per month.
- User-friendly interface
- Customizable filters
- Advanced matching algorithm
- Sign up and profile creation is a lengthy process
- Free membership is pretty limited (but there are eHarmony free trials available)
- The site caters more for over 50 years, looking for a serious relationship (read also: Best Dating Apps for Serious Relationships)
PlentyofFish
PlentyofFish was created in 2003 and is a popular dating site with over 90 million registered members worldwide.
PlentyofFish has a free membership and the option to upgrade to a paid membership for additional features.
Signing up for the free membership gives you access to basic features such as:
- Creating a profile
- Option to filter your search
- Use the live streaming function
- Browsing profiles
- Sending messages
- Download the app for free
- Compatibility predictor test
- Send voice messages
Upgrading to a paid membership gives you access to additional features such as:
- Extended profile content (does someone want children, etc).
- Unlimited amount of "likes"
- Unlimited messaging
- Read receipts
- Upload 16 photos to your profile
- Search by username
- See who likes you
- Access to the "Meet me" feature
- Send 3 virtual gifts a day
Signing up to PlentyofFish is not too expensive and costs around:
- US$20 per month for a 3-month subscription
- US$15 per month for a 6 months subscription
- US$10 per month for a 12-months subscription
The site also offers the option to purchase tokens, which you can use to send gifts to other members:
- 1 Token is US$3.99
- 5 Tokens is US$2.99 per token
- 10 Tokens is US$1.99 per token
- No advertisements
- Pretty decent variety of free features
- Colorful and easy-to-use interface
- No contact details for customer service
- Several fake profiles present
- Credits and tokens expire after 180 days
Is Facebook Dating a Good Alternative to Free Dating Sites in Canada?
Facebook has many draw cards and setbacks. But there is one thing the social media giant has that other sites don’t, and that is a massive number of members. In Canada, the number of Facebook users amounts to 29.44 million, which is predicted to increase to 35 million by 2027.
Regarding setting up a dating profile, Facebook Dating has an advantage as your profile is already loaded. All you need to do is activate the dating site (it’s an app within the general Facebook app on your phone), and you can tailor your profile too.
Let’s weigh up a few pros and cons of the Facebook Dating site:
Pros of Facebook Dating
- The site is 100% free
- A familiar and user-friendly interface
- You can block your friends on Facebook from seeing that you’re on the dating site
Cons of Facebook Dating
- Way less secure than other dating sites
- Not as popular as other dating sites
- Plenty of scammers and catfishing on Facebook
I think Facebook Dating is a good alternative if you are looking for casual relationships and if there are people on Facebook Dating in your area.
Final Thoughts
If I picked up on anything while reviewing these sites, it’s this: many of the advertised “free sites” aren’t always as free as we hoped. There always seems to be that “but wait, there’s more element” (or catch).
I think it’s wise to try out the free option and get a feel for the site. Besides, almost all of the sites allow you to send limited messages. That way, you will quickly pick up if there’s a real person on the other side or a bot.
Sometimes the free version is good enough, and it’s not worth signing up for a paid membership. Maybe you enjoy the free site, but if you want a little extra, it’s simple to upgrade to a paid membership.
When you sign up for a free membership, there’s not much to lose (as far as money goes).
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