Online dating is the concept of meeting people on the internet, connecting with them and possibly meeting a potential Mr. or Ms. Right. It has become a real popular way of meeting people for several reasons.

Traditional way of finding and getting a date or a partner is through the people you meet at school, in the office, through family, relatives and friends. Mingling with strangers in a coffee shop, bookstore or the mall may also be a way to be acquainted with other people whom you may go out with eventually. There are advantages using these ways although there are a lot of disadvantages as well. For one, you are limited to the network of people you come in contact with. If you are the type that has a very simple and close knit family, not much of a social life, then your chances of meeting other people is very slim. As a result of this scenario, you are not likely to find a prospective person. Security is another concern. Meeting strangers in public for instance, you should not trust someone you just met and go out with him right away. You never know, he might have bad intentions for you from the very beginning.

This is where online dating can become beneficial for you. Time is of essence especially if you are not that young. You want to meet the best one the soonest possible time. With online dating, you can set your standards and move on with other candidates very quickly if you think the one you're talking to is not your type. There are a number of free online dating services you can choose from if you have decided to give it a try. Each one offer different features and you can just find the one that is easy to manage and the one which has the most number of users. Through your contacts, you can also ask for the most reliable free online dating services they can recommend.