Net chicks: MF's guide to the hottest online-dating sites

Men's Fitness, Sept, 2005 by Belisa Vranich

You're looking for either a long, meaningful relationship, a quick booty call within a six-block radius, or someone you can just kick around with. Whatever your pleasure, the Internet can help. We analyzed the ins and outs of the most popular online-dating hot spots. Now all you have to do to get lucky is log on.

SITE             NUMBER OF       TYPE OF GIRL          BEST THING
                   USERS       YOU'LL FIND THERE     ABOUT THE SITE

Nerve            1.2 million   Tattooed, frisky      Even if nobody
(nerve.com)                    art-school            responds to your
$25 to contact                 graduates who are     ad, there are tons
25 people                      fun for the night     of skin pics and
                               but can't commit      erotic stories to
                                                     click through

craigslist       10 million    Bargain-hunting       Sell your stuff
(craigslist.     plus          30-somethings         and look for an
org) free                      looking for a         apartment while
                               friend, and maybe     you surf the
                               more                  personals

eHarmony         4 million     Conservative,         If you have a lot
(eharmony.                     take-home-to-meet-    of time and are
com) $100 for                  the-family types      looking for your
3 months                       who are desperate     soul mate, this is
                               to become             the place to go
                               housewives

Match            15 million    Sorority girls gone   Straightforward,
(match.com)                    corporate and         no-nonsense dating
$30 per month                  looking for a real    service
                               relationship

MySpace          20 million    Everything from       Search by school
(myspace.com)    plus          punk rockers to       to find the cute
free                           models--all of whom   girl you sat next
                               tend to be a bit on   to in homeroom
                               the slutty side       years ago but
                                                     never asked out

Hot or Not?      6 million     Equal parts voyeur    Nothing makes time
(hotornot.com)   plus;         and exhibitionist;    fly faster during
free to view     500,000 in    if you hook up on     a slow day at work
and rate, $6     "Meet Me"     looks alone, this     than rating
per month to     section       is your mecca         women's
e-mail                                               attractiveness on
                                                     a scale of 1-10

SITE                  WORST THING                   TYPICAL
                     ABOUT THE SITE                 PROFILE

Nerve            Members are notoriously     Felicity, age 23: "Moody
(nerve.com)      flaky, so what they're      hipster seeks Tommy Lee
$25 to contact   looking for today they      look-alike, income
25 people        couldn't care less about    irrelevant."
                 tomorrow

craigslist       You have to rummage         Anne, age 31: "Saw you on
(craigslist.     through a lot of clutter    the crosstown bus at 4:30
org) free        to find the best girls      wearing a jean jacket,
                                             would love to have
                                             coffee."

eHarmony         You've got to be ready      Wendy, age 32: "Sweet
(eharmony.       to commit--if not, don't    divorcee seeks best friend
com) $100 for    even bother typing in       and companion."
3 months         the URL

Match            It's the Wonder Bread of    Barbie, 26: "Tarheel class
(match.com)      cyberspace--guys with a     of 2001 seeks Ken."
$30 per month    mullet, ponytail, Mohawk,
                 or shaved head need not
                 apply

MySpace          Spam e-mail--every crappy   Rebecca, 21: "Atlanta girl
(myspace.com)    band on the planet wants    looking for fun and
free             to be your "friend"         frolics--tonight!"

Hot or Not?      An average score of 3.2     Lana, 26: "I love meeting
(hotornot.com)   can be pretty crushing to   people and people love
free to view     the ego--especially if      meeting me."
and rate, $6     you think you're a 9
per month to

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