WHAT WE FOUND: As Match says, they are the “big kahuna” of online dating services. With more than 20 million members internationally and services that range from basic memberships allowing you to browse personals; premium match services that get very intensive in the type of questionnaires and matching capabilities, relationship and personal advice features including Dr. Phil’s “MindFindBind™” program; niche portals that include sections for straight, gay, lesbian, seniors and over a dozen culturally specific dating services, the online “Happen” magazine with advice articles relevant to today’s singles, and the branching out with the Chemistry.com service that is their exclusive personality test matchmaker system and even match Mobile that connects you to local singles through your wireless phone. I think my major complaint about Match is that with all the programs and services they offer it’s too easy to be overwhelmed and rush through the important but preliminary steps to start trying to find dates and even “The One” and find disappointment instead. Start your membership by taking the tour, it’s a nice introduction to the basics, and advanced services, of Match. Or start with a simple search to view the basic profiles (or Portraits) of members close to your location. Beginning your membership requires standard name and address information (that is kept confidential) and competing the basic profile questions. Have a digital photo handy to upload with your profile. Keep the “I’m ready” box checked to get almost immediate matches to your profile and emails that have new matches that have newly joined emailed to you. On the next page, if you’re not ready to subscribe, pick one of the options across the top of the page. I suggest starting with the “My Profile” section and completing the options as they are listed. Don’t pass up on the “Linked Accounts” option that integrates the Match Personals messaging to your MSN Messenger for instant messages from other linked members. Then it’s time to click on “My Portrait” and begin filling out your profile, your interest and the type of person (and personality) you’re looking to meet. You’re going to find 3 sections (“Me”, “My Match” and “In My Own Words”) of about 6 pages to complete, but be thoughtful, introspective and go for it! You’ll take 20 to 30 minutes to complete the three sections that need to be completed as they are presented, but it’s time well spent, maybe even life-changing! It’s free to send winks to other members (a message that you are interested) as well as search and browse profiles. Become a premium member to send and reply to messages as well as be notified of the members that view your profile and be able to hide your profile at any time. Additional options are available for extra promotion and visibility of your “Portrait”, as well as additional services to really be able to find interesting and worthwhile matches. Read the terms and select from these options as they interest you. If you haven’t joined Match Personals you haven’t really tried the best that online dating has to offer and that includes the 6 month guarantee to find someone special.

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: Free basic membership allows browsing and searching of member profiles and “Portraits”. Premium memberships allows full access, unlimited messages and replies as well as personalized search capabilities and the Match system of compatibility matching that brings like-minded singles to your inbox. Additional member features include “Portraits” that give you additional promotion within the Match service (up to 15 times more people viewing your “Portrait” than your standard member profile), Dr. Phil’s “MindFindBind™” 3 part online program of insights and strategies towards a better relationship with yourself and the match you seek. Match also has compatibility matching through the Chemistry.com branch, local mobile personals through Match Mobile, and personal matchmakers through Match Platinum, services. Straight, same sex, American, Canadian, UK and more than a dozen international culturally, language specific niche services (Match International may require separate membership fees).

WHAT WE FOUND: Matchmaker.com has completed a major upgrade and, along with combining the members of date.com, is now one of the largest online dating service in operation. Millions of members serving local and international members allows you your best opportunity yet to meet your one and only. It’s free to join, post your personal ad, search and send “I’m Interested” messages to other members, up to 100 a day. You need to be a (upgraded) gold member to send and reply to messages and use the Instant Messenger chat. Chat rooms also have video features which work easily with your webcam. A wonderfully easy service to use and features that work for you in meeting others.

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: Joining for free allows you to post your profile, browse, search and show “Interest” to other members. No time limit on your free membership. Chatrooms include video, available to gold members only. Upgrade your membership to send and reply to messages, initiate chats. Memberships include monthly online date.info magazine access and the Cupid newsletter that features profiles of members local to you that are within your search categories. Straight, same sex and cultural/lifestyle memberships available.

WHAT WE FOUND: When you join Millionaire Match you’ll be pleased with the options for membership, contacting others and the control you have over your own personal profile. Registration easy an easy two step process once you’ve selected your millionaire (annual salary) and celebrity status. Birds of a feather flock together and Millionaire Match is going to make your financial and personal success an asset towards finding your match which is a refreshing change to many of the other services available. When you join for free you’ll have access to an enhanced profile including additional information sections about yourself and adding pictures to your profile, sending people winks (a note of interest), joining in the chat room and reading the member forum, creating a personal blog and basic search results. When you upgrade you’ll have complete access to sending and receiving messages, an enhanced photo album and detailed search results, reminders of whose profile you’ve seen and who has seen yours. As well you can hide your profile if you’re not ready to meet others or want to take a break from all the messages you’re receiving as well as hide from others if you’ve visited their profile. We like that type of privacy control.

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: Free to join and begin your membership, interact with other members by sending winks, chat and post in forums. Upgraded membership allows you complete control over your profile and sending and receiving messages. Members are divided into 3 groups: Not a millionaire (annual salary under US$150,000); Millionaire (annual salary over US$150,000) and Celebrity.

WHAT WE FOUND: One of the hardest things to do for single's is to meet new people. Meetup.com gives you thousands of opportunities by joining groups that share your interests. You'll find Meetup groups for most hobbies and interests in thousands of cities all over the world. Likely one near you too. You can meet online and there are usually regularly scheduled meeting places for the members of the groups you join. If there isn't a group that you'd like to join you can always become a group organizer, follow the easy instruction and start inviting people to join your group. There are groups for all ages, religions, politics and social activities. Learning or sharing hobbies is easy in a Meetup group.

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: An easy way to join and create groups that bring people together. Being able to meet online and in person makes Meetup.com a great way to meet people in your area that have something in common with you. Free to join and find the group of people you'd like to share your interests and time with.

WHAT WE FOUND: MyEmatch offers the most unique ways to meet compatible singles we’ve seen in along time. Join for your free 1 month all-inclusive membership and you’ll be part of a growing crowd that takes online dating into the real world of dating and matching people that should be together. When you join you’ll receive your ‘Love Quotient’ that helps to match you up, for free. This comparison is used to create your unique ‘CQ’, your Compatibility Quotient match when compared to other members LQ’s. Managed by professionals in the matchmaking world, MyEmatch has the right types of searches available (including the Focused Search and the Best Match Search), a great team of relationship and advice experts, and easy and fun ways to connect to other members. Included with your membership are area specific discount cards, local events that you can take part in, ecards to break the ice with members you’d like to meet, and a well laid out message center to handle your communications. We really like the searches, the overall easy to use design of the service and the membership profile that is fast to complete, very descriptive of yourself and your match type, and the LQ to help you understand your own personality better.

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: Free to join, free trial 1 month all-inclusive membership include up to 3 pictures with your profile, become a member to send and reply to messages. Receive your Love Quotient free, become a member to compare LQ’s with other members and find out your Compatibility Quotient. Chat rooms, ecards and regular contests and discount promotions.

CHANGES WE'D LIKE TO SEE: (Suggested July 2004) Discounts offered in more areas, a default option for searches that includes results for profiles with photos only.

WHAT WE FOUND: meetic is one of those rare finds in the online world, access using computers, mobile and land phones. We like the flexibility of membership options, since you have to be a subscriber to make contact and chat with other members. There is a three day free trial, so you can test meetic out for yourself (credit card required). But, with over 10 million members throughout Europe and North America, meetic has members wherever you are. The initial signup is a simple series of questions that allows you to post your profile for other members to see, you can skip any questions you don’t want to answer. Be sure to have a picture ready to upload, that’s your first option during the signup. The many features include one-on-one chats (there were over 900 girls online ready to chat during our test), teases (free to send), voicemail messaging, and sending messages to other members inboxes. You’ll be sure to enjoy the ‘meetshake’ feature that allows you to select the characteristics of members that you’d like to meet and find their profiles easily. Your ‘meetshake’ is updateable as new members join. We really liked the ‘friends online’ feature that tells you if people you’ve chatted with are online, when your profile was last visited and information about the last messages and teases you’ve received. If you’re looking for a busy service that offers all the features that make online meeting and dating fun, meetic is for you.

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: Free to join, free to send teases to other members, three day free trial available (credit card required), three membership options, monthly, by the message, or by the chat. Millions of active members makes this a great service to join. Straight and same sex personals available.

WHAT WE FOUND: The way to find out that Match America is right for you is the Guest Tour. Begin the tour and complete the registration so you can look around. Remember to write down your user name and password! Inside you’ll find that the guest membership form is easy to fill out and if you have a picture ready to include with your profile, you can upload or snail-mail it in too! Once completed, head over to the Search Profiles link and see how many people are in your area that are single and looking, or go straight to the Romance Lounge and chat for a while. With your guest pass you can send messages right now! It is valid for several days, so don’t waste any time. Login, send messages and e-bouquets and check your mail! We like all the added features that bring MatchAmerica towards a social networking service instead of only an online dating website. Member have access to Instant Messenger features, audio and video chat, creating a personal blog, and best of all, access to listings of local events where you can meet with other members face to face. Go and have some fun, visit Match America right now!

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: Free to join and begin your membership with the guest tour and trial period. Instant messenger with audio and video chat, personal blogs, flirt flowers, horoscopes and access to local event listings. Straight and same sex personals available here.

WHAT WE FOUND: Just start by joining up. The free part starts as soon as you complete a short form for your username and password and for others to be able to find you. Then you can start searching for a date or add more information to your profile, upload your picture, really take a look around. Of course you can just go and look around, the search is there even if you aren’t a member yet. Head over to the chat rooms and see who’s talking! It’s free to make contact so go and have some fun! You can check for new messages and the messages you’ve sent out at your email page. Read Match Doctor's tips on writing a great personal ad!

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: Free service when you join and free to make contact. Add your picture to your profile, join the chats, search the profiles. Straight, same-sex and swinger ads available.

WHAT WE FOUND: When Joe and Marg (the creators and owners of Megafriends) moved to a new city, they found it hard to meet new friends because they don't go to bars and they work at home. So they created a place where people can come together and meet, for friendship, someone to travel with, as penpals and even for getting together and dating. You will find it easy to browse the personals, by state in America (the most ads are placed by Americans), by province in Canada and by country for the rest of the world. Searching includes the options of education level, body type, language spoken and even type of relationship you want (including "secret affair!). When browsing or searching the personals you will be able to only read the basic comments and view a photo if available. You must become a member, for free, to see the complete ad and to place your own at Megafriends, to use one of the 5 chat rooms, and be able to send a limited number of messages to other members. You will also be able to receive email messages from Megafriends when a compatible new member signs up, so you can be the first to send them a message! You'll want to become a Gold member to reply to messages, have your personal ad located at the top of the listings, and be able to include your instant messenger information included with your ad. Over all, this is a friendly service, easy to get around, and a lot of ads available for Americans.

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: Free to post your personal ad, free to send messages, become a member to reply. Plenty of activities including forums, games and chat rooms. Straight, same sex, and secret affair personal ads available here.

WHAT WE FOUND: MetroDate has members in Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Austin, Texas, and more than 60 more cities around the world that are waiting to meet someone special. More cities are added regularly so be sure to take a look for yourself. It's free to place your personal ad, and include up to 3 pictures (you get extra contact tokens when you add a picture to your profile) and you get one contact token free too! Also free is replying to messages you've received, access to the chat rooms, instant messenger service and invitations to local events. Begin by joining and checking out the free features - articles and listings about local singles events, movies, music and dining out. Advice and articles for single people beginning or in a new relationship. Become a paid member to send messages to other members and have access to the exclusive MetroDate Compatible Match service. The search and browse features are quite comprehensive and easy to use in your search for Mr or Ms Right. This service is not national (America), but if you live in one of the cities listed, you'll find all the features you want in a singles service with the added reliability of knowing that the person you meet lives close by, not hundreds or thousands of miles away.

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: Free to place your personal ad with up to 3 pictures. First contact is free. Become a paid member to send messages, free to reply, earn extra contact tokens when you include your picture with your personal ad. Chat rooms, forums, advice and compatibility matches available. Straight and same sex personal ads.

WHAT WE FOUND: Military Singles Connection begins their offer to you of guest membership to post your profile, search the personals and take a look around the online service. We like all the features that are available to members, the member main menu conveniently organizes all of your member activities and messages in one place. You have access to all the features from one easy to use location. Add pictures to your profile, include detailed information included about yourself as well as the essays that help you to describe yourself to other members including such questions as “describing your perfect day” and “three things you enjoy most doing”. The member search can be as detailed or general as you select which is a great way to find compatible members. There is an Ideal Match selection form that matches you effectively with other members and new members as they join and regular email messages sent to you of new members as they match your Ideal Match criteria. Be sure to complete the basic ‘Color Code Personality Profile’ uniquely match yourself with other members.

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: The guest membership includes access to all features except trading messages. A personals service with plenty of features that include personality profiles, a profile to help you describe yourself, live chat, Instant Messaging, E-cards, and a well-organized member section.

WHAT WE FOUND: A service that is feature full you'll have a great time MINGLING. PhotoChat uses your picture that you have provided, so when chatting you can see who you are talking to, instead of having to go back and search for the person. Forums give you a place to talk about what is important to you, another great way to meet and when you join the HOTLIST keeps you in touch with those you are interested in continuing MINGLING with. Anonymous e-mail keeps your identity to yourself until you want to reveal it. Try out MINGLES and you'll want to return every day!

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: PhotoChat, photo profiles and voice messages, great search and MINGLE services and a FREE TRIAL to let you see how it all works.

WHAT WE FOUND: Muslim Matrimonials is an English/Arabic language service for Muslims to find each other beyond the traditional matchmaker. Basic membership is free and allows you quite a bit of activity starting with completing your profile, adding a personal photo gallery, browsing other member profiles and photos, send and receive smiles and greeting cards. Upgrade your membership (inexpensively) to activate Instant chat, posting messages on the message boards and being able to send and receive messages from other members. Very easy to use, very active service for Muslims all over the world.

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: Free to become a member and complete your profile, with pictures, and browse member profiles. Become a premium member to send and receive messages and post on message boards. Be respectful of the Muslim faith, vulgarity and adult pictures will get you banned from this service.

WHAT WE FOUND: The MySpace community, one of the largest social networking services, provides the tools you need to easily create your blog and connect to friends, family and meet people. Keeping it simple and usable MySpace allows you to start a blog by joining quickly with a simple signup page, then allows you to answer additional questions to complete your personal profile. Help is at the ready by the admin “Tom” so you’re always just a click away for help in customizing your space. The blog features additional space to talk about your daily life, news, whatever is on your mind. You can keep your profile private or make it available for everyone to visit. Adding pictures that you want to share, adding music files that are made available to everyone, and videos, allows you to complete your likes and moods as you update and grow your blog. Easy to search for other bloggers of similar tastes you’ll connect fast here. Join groups, watch videos, most music and entertainment people have a MySpace account so you can add them to your friends easily to round out your blog and tastes. We do have to add this caveat: there isn’t much policing of the blogs and profiles of members by the MySpace staff and there are some real freaks as members, so I’d recommend keeping your profile and blog private until you feel comfortable revealing yourself.

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: Free to join and use all features. You’ll easily make your space your own through the custom features available, add music, photos and videos to share (non-copyright material only). Features are easy to learn and use.