Crystal Jackson

Addiction is so prevalent that most people either have direct experience with it or love someone who has struggled with it and the devastating impact it has on health, relationships, employment, and finances.

Sports metaphors have made their way into everyday conversation, and you don’t have to be a sports enthusiast to use them. In fact, if you’ve ever referred to dating as a game and people as players, you’ve already used two of the most common sports-related analogies.

Tinder edges out the competition with its many millions of users and affordable membership options. The app has stayed relevant by adding many new features—it has integrated with social media, partnered with Lyft and Garbo, introduced games, and offered safety quizzes. Tinder is fully LGBTQ+ inclusive and is particularly popular among people aged 18-44.

Coffee Meets Bagel offers a slow dating option for those who are tired of fast-paced swiping on other apps. With limited conversation times and fewer matches, if you snooze, you really could lose out on this innovative, women-owned app. With coffee beans as currency and other singles referred to as Bagels, finding a serious relationship could actually be fun.

If you’re a non-Jew who is interested in dating Jewish people, you may be in unfamiliar territory. The holidays are different, the observances may seem strange to you, and you might not know the right thing to say or do sometimes.

PrestoExperts is not your average online counseling service. It is a full-service experts center that people can turn to for professional assistance in areas ranging from math tutoring to health diagnoses in addition to standard online counseling. All experts are fully trained, highly qualified, and certified to treat a host of disorders. The system is simple and fast, and counselors are available 24/7.

Calmerry launched in 2020 to provide licensed therapy in the comfort of your home. Its 30-minute video sessions are shorter than the industry average, which could be good for busy people, although it could extend overall therapy time. It doesn’t offer insurance options, an Android app, or group therapy, but its 24-hour service is fast and affordable, making it definitely worth a look.

HealthSapiens, founded in 2006, offers state-licensed online and in-person counseling services. This site offers one-on-one therapy at a fraction of the cost of traditional counseling, and you’ll pay less than $50 a week for one session or more. Its 24/7 access makes it a highly accessible, affordable online therapy that cuts out the intermediary to provide direct care. Individual counseling at home has never been easier.

Singles50 is a dating site for mature singles. It’s more expensive than competitors but offers personality inventories, icebreakers, video and instant messaging for paid members, and an iOS app. Paid members may find the personality inventory and icebreakers are helpful for finding compatible matches, but without access to photos or messaging, free members are unlikely to find love.

SingleParentMeet is a dating website that keeps it simple. The format is user-friendly and best suited for single parents aged 35 and older. SingleParentMeet can help single parents make new friends or find partners, but it isn’t available in app form on iOS or Android, making it a less convenient choice than other online dating options.

Happn primarily draws people aged 18-25, its app and video functionality being particularly popular with this demographic. Its location-based algorithm allows you to easily find nearby people, but it pinpoints exact locations in less populated areas, which could pose a safety concern. Although not fully LGBTQ+ inclusive, 100 million users, Happn could well be the place to find your next crush.

Pride Counseling provides therapy for people of all types, but has a special emphasis on helping members of the LGBTQ+ community. You can easily book live chat, phone, and video sessions that meet your schedule and are 100% discrete. When you sign up, the service will ask you a series of questions in order to determine which counselor to link you with. The service charges a flat rate per week and you can cancel anytime.

BlackMatch is a dating website for gay and straight Black singles and those interested in dating them. Free memberships are available, and upgraded memberships offer unlimited messages and live online chats. While the pricing is competitive, the lack of video chat capabilities and a mobile app could give competitors an advantage.