A friend of mine recently gave a shot at her hand at online dating later a few years away from the scene. She joined one of the major dating sites http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/Cardiomyopathy/Is-Broken-Heart-Syndrome-Real_UCM_448547_Article.jsp in existence and, like many others, found herself swamped drowned in messages and unscreened matches. It quickly became work, not fun, and she gave up before she even met anyone. She's not alone: Roughly a third of Americans say they know a couple who met online. The good news is that there are plenty of other sites and apps out there to try. The key is identifying one that aligns with your dating goals and meets your needs.

The following top-rated dating sites are some of the most popular found in the U.S. and are targeted at different audiences. Some, such as eharmony and Match, are intended for those looking for serious relationships; others, such as Tinder and Bumble, are more focused on casual hookups. Some sites have an membership that lets you create a profile and view matches, while others require a paid subscription for messaging and other features.

OkCupid

The site says it generates over 90 million matches a year and boasts that it's "the best scientifically proven dating site on the planet." It has an questionnaire that helps uncover compatible mates, but isn't as long as the one on eharmony. It also prompts users to answer questions about things they're enthusiastic about, ranging from climate change to cilantro (it's not for the faint of heart).

Coffee Meets Bagel

After a successful launch in New York City and a stint on Shark Tank, this app has quickly grown beyond its home base in the Big Apple. The app claims to eliminate endless swiping by only showing you one match daily, and requires women to make the first move in heterosexual matches. It also offers a version that provides more potential matches and eliminates ads.

HER

This dating app targets lesbian, bisexual, and queer people. It's free to join and browse profiles, but a subscription is required to contact matches and send gifts. The app uses location data to show you potential matches in your area. It also has a cell phone-compatible chat room and a feature that allows you to see who has viewed your profile.

Ourtime

Owned by Match, this site caters to adults over 50 who are interested in serious relationships and companionship. Its members must have a 25 years' experience to join, and it offers a dedicated customer service team to help with any issues. The site has a wide-ranging library of articles about dating and relationships, and members can upload a maximum of ten photos.

While Ourtime doesn't have as many active users as some of the other options on this list, it is a solid choice for those who are over 50 and are serious about finding in the know a romantic partner. Its user base is fairly diverse and the site includes a great many active senior singles.