For the bold and brainy: Best dating sites for geeks, nerds, and sci-fi buffs

Who it's for:

Match boasts a diverse user base with plenty of opportunities for everyone. According to their website, 19% of users are between 18 and 29, 44% are between 30 and 40, and 37% are 50 or older. This mixed bag of users makes it an excellent starting place for those new to online dating or looking for a broad range of potential matches.

If you're serious about finding a soulmate and have some disposable income, Match is the place to go. This online dating community is one of the largest and most reputable matchmaking services online — with millions of active users logging in daily. The platform is user-friendly, has a clean interface, and features a lengthy matchmaking questionnaire to help narrow your matches as efficiently as possible.

Why we picked this:

While it may be on the pricier side, Match delivers in its profile customization options, which include plenty of areas to show off your personality. Interest tags give the rest of Match's extensive user base the quick rundown on your geeky self, whether you're into anime, horror movies, or VR (there's an entire section of tags related to "Intellectual Stimulation.") Outside of tags, you can write an "essay" on your profile — so yes, user's bios are expected to be more than a sentence long — and choose three topics to give longer form answers to.

Match isn't free for many of its features, which does help weed out anyone who isn't more serious about finding a partner. You'll also have to upload at least two clear pictures of your face for anyone to see your profile. Basically, Match isn't for anyone who thinks they're too cool — effort is rewarded on this dating site.

Read our full review of Match.

Who it's for:

EliteSingles is designed to help educated, mentally, and emotionally mature singles find a compatible match. This site isn't for one-night stands or endless swiping. These singles are busy and don't have time for that BS.

Why we picked this:

With its in-depth, 200-question personality test that assesses important traits like agreeableness, openness, extraversion, conscientiousness, and neuroticism, this app takes matchmaking to a whole new level.

Geeks and nerds, known for their analytical minds and attention to detail, will appreciate the thoroughness of EliteSingles' personality test. By diving deep into your personality traits and preferences, the app ensures that the matches it sends you are genuinely compatible, increasing your chances of finding someone who shares your intellectual interests and passions.

Unlike other apps that rely on endless swiping, EliteSingles simplifies the process by curating a selection of three to five highly compatible matches for you each day. This thoughtful approach saves you time and energy, allowing you to focus on getting to know your matches on a deeper level.

Additionally, EliteSingles attracts a community of ambitious professionals who are driven, career-oriented, and seeking a partner who understands their lifestyle and aspirations. For geeks and nerds who value intelligence, career success, and intellectual conversations, EliteSingles provides a platform to connect with like-minded individuals who appreciate their unique qualities.

Read our comparison of EliteSingles vs. eharmony.

Who it's for:

You know how when you see a cute stranger you hope they'll miraculously pop up on your dating apps? This app ups the chances of that by showing you people you've seen in real life based on your smartphone’s location tracking. Think of it like meeting your next great love in line at a coffee shop — just without the awkward in-person icebreakers. 

Why we picked this:

For those who've always dreamed of having a meet-cute moment straight out of a romantic comedy, happn brings that fantasy to life. By leveraging your location, happn creates opportunities for spontaneous connections with people you've crossed paths with in your daily life. It's like having your very own rom-com script unfolding right in front of you. Maybe that person you've seen at the local game store but have been too shy to go up to will pop up.

Happn's unique approach to dating is the ideal setup for rom-com geeks who appreciate the allure of unexpected encounters and the potential for a love story to emerge from the most unlikely places. Instead of swiping through endless profiles, happn focuses on those meaningful moments when your eyes meet across a crowded street or cross in a bustling café. It's a thrilling experience reminiscent of the heart-fluttering anticipation felt during those magical movie moments.

Who it's for:

The eharmony brand has been matching singles online for over 20 years — but the platform feels fresh and modern despite being online for a long time. The trusted dating site is ideal for singles finally settling down and finding someone to get serious with. Remember that the guiding ethos of eHarmony is marriage — so if you’re not ready to get that serious, you might want to choose another platform.

Why we picked this:

eharmony's advanced matching algorithm sets it apart from other dating platforms. With 32 different dimensions of compatibility, it delves deep into your personality traits, values, beliefs, and preferences to ensure highly compatible matches. This meticulous approach increases the likelihood of finding a partner who truly aligns with your core values and aspirations.

Like most dating apps, eharmony has a space where you can add preset interests and hobbies. Though none are specifically nerdy, you can definitely use the extensive profile to share what you're passionate about so you can connect with your fellow nerds looking for a long-term connection.

eharmony's focus on quality over quantity makes it an excellent choice for individuals who are serious about finding a committed partner. Queer and nonbinary users now finally have basic support like having their gender identities recognized on profiles, and being able to look at multiple genders at once, but it's important to note these are relatively recent changes, and the user base can still lean conservative.

Read our full review of eharmony.

Who it's for:

Zoosk isn't trendiest or most visually appealing dating site, and unfortunately it doesn't really have great features for daters either. That's why we recommend you steer clear of this site, unless you're really dying to use a website not owned by the Match Group.

Why we don't recommend this:

There's a ton of options out there for dating sites these days, and Zoosk simply doesn't stand out. Beyond that, it's filled with bot accounts, isn't cheap, and requires that you pay for most basic features, like messaging. Considering there are free dating sites for serious connections and paid sites that tend to attract more real (literally, not just emotionally), people, we'd say you'd probably do best to take your geeky interests and open heart elsewhere.

Read our full review of Zoosk.

Read our full review of AdultFriendFinder.