WHAT YOU'LL FIND: Complete the Great Expectations online confidential profile and you'll soon be contacted to discuss your matchmaking options. Once you become a member you'll provide a more complete profile, have at least one interview with a relationship counselor and make a video recording profile. Currently available in the USA only, in these cities: Atlanta, GA, Austin, TX, Baltimore, MD, Birmingham, AL, Bonita Springs, FL, Boston, MA, Charlotte (Fort Mill, SC), SC, Cherry Hill, NJ, Chicago Suburbs, IL, Chicago, IL, Cincinnati, OH, Cleveland, OH, Columbus, OH, Dallas, TX, Denver, CO, Detroit, MI, Ft Worth, TX, Ft. Laud/Palm Beach, FL, Grand Rapids, MI, Hartford, CT, Houston, TX, Indianapolis, IN, Irvine, CA, Jacksonville, FL, Kansas City, MO, Las Vegas, NV, Long Island, NY, Los Angeles, CA, Manhattan, NY, Miami, FL, Milwaukee, WI, Minneapolis, MN, Nashville, TN, New Hampshire, NH, Orlando, FL, Palo Alto, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Phoenix, AZ, Pittsburgh, PA, Portland, OR, Providence, MA, Richmond, VA, Sacramento, CA, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA, San Francisco, CA, Sarasota, FL, Seattle, WA, St. Louis, MO, Stuart/Treasure Coast, FL, Summit, NJ, Tampa, FL, Upland, CA, Virginia Beach, VA, Walnut Creek, CA, Washington DC, Vienna, VA. Visit the website to see any new areas that Great Expectations has opened a new office.

WHAT WE FOUND: Signing up is fast and easy, only two basic pages of limited information is asked, takes about 2 minutes to complete. Choose one or both of the dating sections “Dating Relationship” and “Intimate” profiles to be completed. Based on your selection of the sex of person you want to meet your profile will be available to like-minded members (straight or gay). When uploading your picture you also have the option to choose whether your picture is public, anyone can see it, or private, you have to give the person permission first; to allow Lavalife to use your public information and picture in their advertising. Choose “Yes, promote me now!” if you are willing. Once you’re a member you can view and search for people to contact, complete your profile with more information about you, including a voice message, videos and adding more pictures...

Read our complete review here...

WHAT WE FOUND: We like xlonely, the fast signup, the comprehensive profile questionnaire to successfully match you and the features that add a lot to the online dating scene including video messages and the ability to have messages and alerts sent to your mobile phone for free (check your mobile phone plan for possible charges before you add this feature to your profile). Free members can complete their profile, receive SMS messages to their phone, search and browse other members and send cards to let other members know you’re interested. The Xlonely.com search and match systems are actually 6 different profile questionnaires you need to fill out: SelectMatch, SoulMatch, SensualMatch, StarSignMatch and SuperMatch. Yopu’ll have fun filling out these areas of your profile and seeing the different possible matches there are. With millions of members xlonely.com provides a lot of satisfactory member matches with each of the questionnaire and profile search areas. We really like the “MyCrowd” page layout that gives you all the info on how you’ve been using your profile and who has come top read your profile, listen to your audio messages, who has seen your video messages and more. The “Chatterbox” chat room is always active but available to upgraded (gold and platinum) members as is contacting other members and replying to messages. It is free to send simple introduction cards and messages so there is a lot of fun things to do here. Overall, this is one of the best online dating sites we’ve reviewed in a while that includes so many ways to connect and even help for you personally (see premium access to psychologist feature).

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: Join for free and send cards and messages for free, become an upgraded member to reply and send full messages. Free to browse, several methods of matching members, SMS text message option. The service is available in 5 languages, English, Italian, German, Spanish and Chinese. Message options include video, voice, chatroom has webcam and voice options. Free trial period lasts as long as you want, upgrade for full membership capabilities. Straight members only.

WHAT WE FOUND: The first thing you want to do when visiting I Want U is to pick and click on the club you want to be a member of (although you can be a member of all 3 different clubs if you want) and then search for members in the age bracket and sex that you want to meet. Through the use of their location system (HTTP header readers) you’re area is passed through so you can view only member search results that are local to you (you can always do a wider search after you’ve joined). Then you’ll want to become a free member so that you can create your profile, upload pictures and start to really meet other members. Joining is fast and once you’ve followed the steps in your confirmation email you need to complete your basic profile by answering just a few simple questions, then you can explore the service more. Profile rating is a fun feature, so be sure yours is fun and complete and select the option to be rated higher, it’s off by default. You can easily contact others even as a free member, just by earning tokens. Post a picture to your profile and you can earn 20 tokens which allows you to send 4 messages to other members. Click on the VIP button then the ‘Purchase tokens’ link to see all token earning activities. If you don’t want to spend money to be a VIP member you’ll be able to earn tokens and be an active member and still have many of the features of I Want U to use including contacting other members. Click on the ‘Home’ link to begin your I Want U adventure. You’ll not only enjoy exploring this service, you’ll find it hard to log out no matter which of the 3 clubs you’re in. Overall, we’ve been impressed by the features and ease of use of I Want U since our first review in 1998 and they’ve only gotten better, keeping current with technology that keeps members active and able to connect. Searches are fast and display the people that you want to meet based on your profile and club options so there aren’t any weird matches coming your way unless the other member really wants to meet you and searches for you first. Explore the magazine and keep busy with the articles, advice, success stories and member submitted items and other features available. Overall, you need to join I Want U to know what you’ve been missing when you’ve spent time at other online services.

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: Free to join up to 3 different dating clubs with one membership. Free members can earn tokens to use most features of I Want U or become a VIP by paying for a monthly membership. All members can use the mobile phone option to access I Want U. Mobile features include: Hotlist, Instant Messaging (PC-to-Mobile, Mobile-to-PC, Mobile-to-Mobile), Search, Mailbox and more! (Free members have limited of many features but can still use the mobile dating option). Regularly updated magazine. Polls, chat and games to keep you active in the service. Live support always ready to help you around the service. Straight, same sex and swinger personals.

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: Free trial membership includes posting your profile, adding pictures and sending “I’m Interested” notes. Great online games to play. Paid members can contact other paid members. Straight and same sex personals available.

CHANGES WE'D LIKE TO SEE: (Suggested April 2004) A full featured trial period, even at a minimal cost would be worth having.

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: Joining eharmony will help you discover more about yourself and your goals for dating and finding a compatible match as you complete the questionnaire that leads to your detailed personality profile, which you get to keep for free. This is the first of five steps as a match is found for you and communication is guided through the first awkward introductions. You are able to exchange photos and emails with your match anonymously through the eharmony system once you become a paid member. We recommend that you take the web site tour before you complete the questionnaire, so you have a greater understanding about how eharmony works and why, if you've grown tired of dull people and false personal ads, you'll know how you are matched with 10 to 25 personality compatible singles. You receive information about your matches before you have to become a paid member to make contact and your identity is confidential until you decide to reveal yourself to your match.

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: Free to join and have your personality profile completed. Become a member to make contact with your matches. Straight personals 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: This membership will change your life! Prices varies according to the type of search and match requested, local regional, Americas or international. Lisa offers Virtual Counseling for relationship advice. The sign-up form has many specific and comprehensive questions that certainly should assure a proper match for you, matches are run every week or so. There are many local offices to offer an alternative place to pick up your matchmaking reports, rather than just on-line, which can be very convenient, should the unthinkable happen and your computer breaks down, just be sure to make a note of the office's information in your area. Advice is available from Lisa Bentsen, a well-known marriage counselor, for all members and is a free service of Singles Search. You can also have your personal ad evaluated so it can become more effective and better represent the person you are and the match you would like to make. Also read our interview with Singles Search and read their great tips on writing your personal ad too!

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: One of the best matchmaking systems, lots of members, great for people wanting to try an effective service! Singles Search goes beyond being just a database of single people pooled together, they are TRULY a Matchmaking Service that matches and cross-matches your profile with others, so you will have better than a 60 percent compatibility with the people that you will meet here.

WHAT WE FOUND: aLoveLinksPlus Dating has the features that we are sure you’ll like. You’ll be able to place your personal ad for free and add a picture so other members can see what you look like (your ad will also be at the top of the search results when it has a picture included!). You’ll like being able to edit your profile in the unique text editor or by using the advert wizard, we prefer the wizard, it is very easy to follow and will help you to describe yourself well without leaving any important stuff out. There is also an articles area for some interesting reading, a discussion board to allow you to share your opinion about different subjects with the other members, an events calendar where you can post events for others in your area to read about and chat rooms (for paid members only).

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: Free to place your personal ad and picture, become a premium member to send and reply to messages, less that US$10.00 a month. Lots of features included with you free membership. Straight and same sex personals available.