A friend of mine recently experimented with her hand on online dating after a scant few years away from the scene. She joined one of the biggest dating sites around and, like many others, found herself swamped with a flood of messages and unscreened matches. It quickly became work, not fun, and she gave up before she even met anyone. She's not alone: Roughly one third of Americans https://www.huffpost.com/entry/7-kickass-online-dating-tips-for-women-over-35_b_59c2f77fe4b0c87def88352b say they know a couple who met online. The good news is that there are a variety of other sites and apps out there to try. The key is identifying one that aligns with your dating goals and meets your needs.The following elite 8 dating sites are some of the most popular within the U.S. and are directed at different audiences. Some, such as eharmony and Match, are intended for those looking for serious relationships; others, like Tinder and Bumble, are more focused on casual hookups. Some sites have a complimentary membership that lets you create a profile and view matches, while others require an subscription for messaging and other features.OkCupidThe site says it produces over 90 million matches a year and boasts that it's "the most scientifically proven dating site on the planet." It has a thorough questionnaire that helps discover compatible mates, but isn't as long as the one on eharmony. It also prompts users to answer questions about things they're impassioned about, ranging from climate change to cilantro (it's not for the faint of heart).Coffee Meets BagelAfter a successful launch in New York City and a stint on Shark Tank, this app has quickly scaled beyond its home base in the Big Apple. The app claims to eliminate endless swiping by only showing you one match per day, and requires women to make the first move in heterosexual matches. It also offers a version that provides more potential matches and eliminates ads.HERThis dating app targets lesbian, bisexual, and queer people. It's free to join and browse profiles, but a subscription is required to contact matches and send gifts. The app uses location data to show you potential matches in your area. It also has a chat room and a feature that allows you to see who has viewed your profile.OurtimeOwned by Match, this site caters geared toward adults over 50 who are interested in serious relationships and companionship. Its members must have a 25 years' experience to join, and it offers a focused customer service team to help with any issues. The site has an extensive library of articles about dating and relationships, and members can upload up to ten photos find brides for marriage.While Ourtime doesn't have as many active users as some of the other options on this list, it is a sturdy choice for those who are over 50 and are serious about finding a romantic partner. Its user base is fairly diverse and the site includes a plethora of active senior singles.