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

Read our full review of AdultFriendFinder.

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 optimize your dating profile and narrow your matches as efficiently as possible.

Why we picked this:

While it's not exactly a geek dating site (and may be pricier than other dating websites), Match delivers in its profile customization options, including 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, binge-watching horror movies, attend comic con every year, or can't live without your VR headset (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 also has a ton of paid features, which helps 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. Match isn't for anyone who thinks they're too cool — effort is rewarded on this dating app.

Read our full review of Match.

Who it's for:

EliteSingles is designed to help educated, mentally, and emotionally mature singles find a potential match. This dating 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 dating 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 nerd 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.

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 by showing people you've seen in real life based on your smartphone’s location tracking. Think of it as meeting your next great love in line at a coffee shop — without 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, this niche dating site 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 true 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.

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 who are ready to settle down and find their forever person. Remember that the guiding ethos of eharmony is true love and 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 aligns with your core values and aspirations.

Like most dating apps, eharmony has a space to add 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.

Read our full review of eharmony.

Who it's for:

Zoosk isn't the trendiest or most visually appealing dating platform, and unfortunately, it doesn't have great features for daters either. That's why we recommend you steer clear of this dating site unless you're really dying to use a dating platform not owned by Match Group. (Zoosk is owned by Spark Networks, which also owns Christin Mingle, Jdate, and EliteSingles.)

Why we don't recommend this:

There are a ton of options out there for dating sites these days, and Zoosk doesn't stand out. It's filled with bot accounts, isn't cheap, and requires paying 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.