The answer to the question about whether or not there are disadvantages in using a free online dating service site depends on who is doing the answering. If someone that favors a paid site responds to the questions about site quality, you can be certain that the answer will include some of the following factors. You can also be sure that some of the statements and characteristics ascribed to the free dating service sites are either incorrect or can be perceived as advantages rather than disadvantages. In order to rate the free sites, here are some of the common negative factors that are noted.

The numbers

The paid sites' spokespersons state that you should use a paid site rather than a free online dating service because the free sites are smaller with fewer profiles posted on the site to select from. That may be true in the very early stages of a free site, simply because it takes time for momentum of members to build, no matter which type of site is considered. That statement is still modified by the initial advertising budget available to the web site. If it is identical, neither type of site has an advantage. If one budget for advertising is larger, it will likely provide more and better results, dependent upon whether or not the advertising budget is effectively used.

Geographical distribution

The statement has been made that it is harder to find a person to date who is close to the location of the searcher in a smaller area. Of course, that can be true of paid or unpaid sites. In a small data base, it may be skewed in either the direction of positive information or that of few hits to provide a dating opportunity. Again, the payment of a membership fee does not guarantee that you will find results in an area of interest any more than does a free online dating service.

Web site security

Once again, paid site proponents state that the quality of the programming on the paid site is superior to that on a free online dating service site. However, although a larger budget may mean you have the option of paying a higher price for a programmer, the web site security is not guaranteed by more money. The quality of the programmer and the attention given by the web site owner to correct procedures to ensure handling sensitive information makes the difference between a good web site and a poor web site. Designing and building the web site and maintaining the accuracy and interest of the web site can be done through a budget in either the paid or free website.

Advertising

With a free online dating service, you are dependent upon the advertising revenue you can drum up for the free internet service in order to be able to continue providing the service for members. Without membership you don't have advertisers and without advertisers you don't have as many members. The only difference with the paid sites is that there is more than one revenue source.