We have all more or less taken for granted the top subscriptions dating sites such as Match.com and Eharmony.com as it towers over all other paid dating sites. Their formidable positions only increases with time as they re-inject capital back into aggressive marketing strategies. You will probably have seen many of the TV advertisements coming from these two top dating sites. However, there are some websites that will always be a thorn in the side for the top dating sites and they come in the shape of free dating websites.

Free Dating Websites Can Be a Thorn in the Side for Match and eHarmony

Free dating websites can be considered a mixed bag for the top dating sites since they are effectively competing for the same user. Their presence was felt when OkCupid, another free dating site that came up rapidly in the ranks to command a top 200 position of the most visited sites in the US. Match.com spent no time in acquiring OkCupid in early 2011 for a princely sum of $50 million dollars. Here is the news snippet from techcrunch.com.

Match.com Acquires Online Dating Site OkCupid For $50M In Cash

We can argue whether the acquisition by Match was in part to dampen the market for free dating websites or whether there were genuine reasons to translate the profiles to their paid system. Whatever the reason, the free dating websites continue to grow in strength and this is confirmed by the many online singles joining these sites on a daily basis. Only time will tell how these two behemoths will share this vast marketing space for online singles. What we do know is that this market is continuing to grow at an unprecedented rate fueled by the numerous internet devices such as smartphones, tablets finding their way into the hands of many.