The Lowdown

Founded in 2000, Amoureux was started by the world’s greatest lovers – the French. The French site is by far the most popular in the country while the growing UK site is still growing.

Love it

• Easy to upload photos
• You can delete your account with a click and they will stop bothering you.

Hate it
Network is 500,000, with men outnumbering women. Not a sausage fest, but step up your game if you’re a man.

The Free & Not So Free

Haven’t found any hidden tricks

Pricing Chart

Unlike other sites in the niche, Planetsappho.com looks and feels very professional. It has a clean, easy-to-use interface, tons of features, and boasts compatibility profiling to help members find the right match.

With an easy sign-up process, plenty of features and a lot of active members, Planetsappho.com is easily one of the premier online dating websites in the lesbian dating niche.

What We Love

• We definitely respect the fact that Planet Sappho is clean and easy to use. It looks very professional and actually attracts more people to its network due to the cleanness of the site
• The sign-up process is streamlined and easier than with similar sites
• Although a few common dating site features are missing, the site is still heavy on features without being crowded
• Planet Sappho does the lesbian/bisexual community justice with its overall setup

What We Hate

• The 48-hour trial doesn’t seem like enough to get a full feel for the site
• The on-site security could definitely be improved; they seem to have a devil-may-care attitude about who joins
• They have a text-chat feature, but not legitimate instant messaging feature (with smilies and all that)

The Free and Not So Free

Although it does cost money to become a premium member, these costs aren’t exactly hidden. Planetsappho.com is up front about their trial membership and the small scope of their free plans.

Here is a list of twenty sensual foods to get you started. Feel free to think about any others that may come to mind. And remember – any food can be sensual if you approach it with the right attitude.

1. Champagne

Champagne is one of the stalwarts of sensuality. It’s a treat and after some of those bubbles have gone to your head – who knows where the night is heading?

2. Chocolate

Chocolate has been used as an aphrodisiac for years, originally in South America and now in the West. It’s decadence and sinfulness are just the right mix of indulgence and pleasure to get you and your partner going.

3. Oysters

Oysters are also one of the original aphrodisiacs. They are high in zinc, an element that helps with testosterone production. Testosterone is a vital hormone when it comes to sexuality.

4. Caviar

The opulence of caviar makes it one of those foods that people always associate with sensuality.

5. Lobster

Ditto with lobster. Lobster is one of those foods that people eat when they are in the mood for love.

6. Grapes

The humble grape is more than just a fruit. Try popping some into your partner’s mouth and letting the sensuality flow.

7. Avocado

Considered by the Incas to be an aphrodisiac, the creamy green flesh of the avocado is sure to have you and your partner enjoying each other’s company.

8. Chilli Peppers

Chillies can be powerful in this regard. They make the body release endorphins, powerful reward chemicals that can make you feel relaxed and ready for anything.

9. Figs

Figs have been considered sensual for centuries. They are plump, fleshy and luscious all at the same time.

10. Honey

The sticky sweetness of honey makes it something to be share with a partner. Try letting them suck some off the tip of your finger.

11. Strawberries

The sweet firmness of strawberries will make your partner go crazy when you place one in his or her mouth.

12. Whipped Cream

Whipped cream is high in calories and luxurious, just the kind of naughty treat you want to share with your partner on a romantic evening.

13. Ice

While not really a food, taking an ice-block and running it over your partner’s body can be a very exciting experience.

14. Pasta

In Italy, food is a way of life. Try taking the time to make a hot, saucy pasta dish. You and your partner will enjoy slurping it up.

15. Ice cream

A good quality ice cream is one of those rare pleasures. It doesn’t need to be something you eat alone while sitting on the couch – share it with your partner and take it to new levels.

16. Good cheese

The French people are some of the most romantic in the world and they love their cheeses. Put together some great cheese and crackers and enjoy the time you have with your partner.

17. Almonds

It is thought amongst some people that just the smell of almonds is enough to excite women. Try eating some with your partner and find out.

18. Saffron

Saffron is a herb used in Eastern cooking. Perhaps the thrill of the spice-trail will awaken something in you or your partner.

19. Your favourite food

Anything that you enjoy is going to make you feel good. If you eat that with your partner – things can only get better.

20. Any food you cook together with your partner

Cooking together can be a great bonding experience, and one that could lead to any number of sensual outcomes.

As part of the Out Personals network, Outpassions.com is probably the most popular and most feature-rich site of the bunch. It is set up like a social community more so than a dating website, and its features are fun, informative and friendly.

Outpassions.com isn’t a brand new gay dating site but they do seem to be working with something new. They have updated their website and now offer a crisper, cleaner, easier to use site than before, with tons of practical advice and thousands of members online at any given time.

What We Love

• The site makes all its money from ads, meaning they offer 100% membership for everyone
• The features list seems to be never-ending
• Outpassions.com is offering advice on anything you can think of, from how to hook up online to how to save money on your car insurance
• The sign-up process is as simple as creating a username, sending your email, and activating your account – and you can do it all from the homepage
• There are many members in this community, many of whom are always online
• The video features and chat rooms make it a social networking community just as much as it’s a dating site

What We Hate

• The site is really packed to the brim with ads; you have to be careful what you’re clicking on, because some of what you think are Outpassions.com features are actually third-party advertisements
• Since it’s so easy to sign up, you will find a lot of dead profiles on the site
• There could be more emphasis on actual dating and less on the “community” aspect
• Some of the third-party ads are tied into the main Out Passions site sections

The Free and Not So Free

Outpassions.com is 100% free to use and will not charge you for services.

Although it is a free site, they do well in terms of security to keep the riffraff out. You have to enter your specific key before you can even access the main search page and create a profile. This is a deterrent for any fly-by scammers and spammer who may want to fill the site up with junk.

What We Love

• Lesbotronic.com has a broad definition of what it means to be a “lesbian,” so their community is a lot more inclusive than other lesbian niche sites
• We like the fact that the site actually makes an effort to keep people out unless they are a member
• Once you get into the heart of the site, the interface is clean and simplistic
• There are many members on the site, most of whom are serious about dating
• It’s more of an “adult” site than others in the market
• The site covers much of the world and brings various cultures together

What We Hate

• The site looks quite amateurish in comparison to other sites out there
• There aren’t nearly as many features as there could be
• Going through the steps to enter the site every time you want to come back can get annoying
• You will still find inactive profiles cluttering the place up

The Free and Not So Free

Lesbotronic.com is 100% free and will not ask for payment at any time.

What We Love

• The site is 100% free, so anyone can sign up and use all the features.
• The profiles are big, bright and clear.
• The “Cruising Spots” feature turns you on to gay hot spots in your immediate area, like a GPS (Gay Positioning System).
• The newness of the site makes you feel like you’re a real part of a growing community.

What We Hate

• Looks like it was put together in an hour on someone’s laptop.
• No audio and video messaging.
• The instant pop-up features on the site are annoying when you’re just trying to browse.

The Free and Not So Free
Free to use.

Most people know Matthew Inman as the camera-friendly creator of the wildly popular, and slightly absurd, webcomic The Oatmeal.  What a lot of people don’t know is that Matthew got himself into a position where he can spend all day drawing funny pictures by starting a popular free online dating site, mingle2.com.

Matthew marketed the site using funny quizzes such as How Many Justin Biebers Could You Take in a Fight, and a bunch of comics, which later grew into TheOatmeal.

One of his most popular is The 8 Phases of Dating.  You can view the illustrated version at that link, but for those who prefer a little more explanation:

Phase 1: The First Date

Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert, once said that relationships are about acting fake with another person until they love you for who you are inside. First dates are not fun.  First dates are interviews to see if there will be a second date.  You have to impress without dominating the conversation, look good but not slutty, and not be afraid to spend money.  It’s little wonder we can’t wait to get to:

Phase 2: The Exciting Phase

This phase is all about butterflies in your stomach and one-upping each other on the mushy pillow-talk.  You’ll never be happier in your life, and you’ll never be quite as irritating to your friends.  Enjoy it, because it soon plateaus into:

Phase 3: The Comfortable Phase

This is about when you are thinking about moving in together – often around a year or so.  You both spend so much time at each other’s places it makes sense, and let’s face it: you probably know just about all of the other person’s little quirks.

Phase 4: The Too Comfortable Phase

This happens after you’ve been living together for a year or so, and you no longer have any problem peeing in front of each other.  You’ve probably both developed ‘relationship gut’, as explained in the How I Met Your Mother episode, ‘The Rough Patch’, you don’t bother to shave nearly as often anymore.  This is not a pretty phase for any relationship.

Phase 5: The Decline

Neither of you are happy, and it’s an open secret. You fight all the time, or ignore each other, and most of the sex that happens goes on when one of you is out of the house. You know you should probably break up, but you’ve been together for two and a half years and you’re pretty sure the window for upgrading to a hot new model has passed.

Phase 6: The Breakup (and Rebound)

It’ll eventually happen, and it’ll be ugly as hell. You’ll both think of very witty things to say after you’re no longer speaking, and you’ll do whatever it takes not to run into each other.  If you share friends, this is when custody battles start.  Only one rule: find a rebound before they do, and don’t freak out when theirs is more of a catch than your sad, dumped ass.

Phase 7: Getting Back Together

Probably not your proudest moment, but it can work out for the best.  On the one hand, you know each other so well and you know you can live with most of the issues – which you’ll work on, of course.  On the other hand it’s probably going to be the same as it was before, except maybe this time with cheating or drinking.

Phase 8: Marriage

Whether it’s this relationship or the next, it’ll probably happen to you.  Notoriously single Inman paints a bleak picture of marriage, which we all hope isn’t a true depiction – but we know that as career obligations and kids come onto the scene, things are probably going to get worse before they get better.

What We Love

• Video chatting is well done and better than some premium sites.
• There are tons of members to choose from across the globe since the site is really spread out.
• Live chat and chat rooms really bring the community aspect full circle
• The site caters well to the lesbian community and offers plenty of practical advice.
• The sign-up process is streamlined and the interface is very easy to navigate.
• The community is rather large, active and friendly.

What We Hate

• The third-party premium package is quite confusing: you cannot really tell if you actually need it to use all the features. You do not. Second, if you do want one or two more features and to sign up for a premium package, you need to go through another site to signup for the package.
• Stuffed with inactive profiles
• Chat rooms are free to enter. You may find a lot of spammers and overall rude people
• Overall, the site could be moderated more efficiently.

The Free and Not So Free

Through a third-party vendor, premium membership is around $29.95/month, but you do not need it as the entire site is 100% free of charge.

What We Love

• The fact that the site is 100% free for almost every feature (we say 95% of all features) is a strong “selling point,” so to speak, for the site
• The site is specifically-tailored for the gay community
• There are plenty of young, attractive and active members to choose from
• The interface is quite clean and even a newcomer to online dating can easily figure out how to use the features
• The video chat and other on-site chat features add a spark of social networking to the site
• Overall, the community is vibrant, proud and friendly
• You will never be prompted to pay money while using the site
• It’s easy to get started and to begin finding singles
• Gay Metrodate has over 20 international versions of the site in over two dozen languages

What We Hate

• The live chat features can really get bogged down at times with so many people using them
• The site owners aren’t vigilant about keeping the site clean, so it has a “spammy” quality
• There isn’t much security (read: cleanup) on the site, so the bad element can certainly creep in
• Fake profiles pile up on the site and bog it down
• The premium feature available doesn’t really give you more features than a free membership, at least none worth buying, and you have to go through some strange third-party via a method we can barely explain much less understand
• Through third-party vendor, premium membership is around $29.95/month, but you do not need it as the entire site is 100% free of charge.

The Free and Not So Free

The site is 100% free to use. However, the third-party premium membership is $29.95 per month.

Mingle2 is a 100% free online dating site that markets itself as fun, flirty and entertaining, as well as being a good place to meet local singles. Matthew found an outlet for his wacky creative side in making comics and quizzes to market the website.  The cartoons went viral, and soon Matt was able to work on them full time.

One of his earliest works, the Six Types of Bad Kissers, still rings true with most of us.  Here they are:

1)     The Too much Tongue

Nobody likes too much tongue, and yet some people think the point of kissing really is to see how far down the other person’s throat they can put it. While that’s a fun game, rather wait and see how much tongue the other person is comfortable with before you start checking out their wisdom teeth.

2)     The Possum

Nothing you do seems to elicit any kind of reaction, and they’re barely moving their mouth at all. Maybe they’re just not that into you, or maybe they’re too drunk to do anything besides imbibe fluids.  Maybe it’s your breath – who knows?  Chances are though, they’re just a lousy kisser.

3)     The 13 Hour Uncut Extended Edition

This seems to happen with inexperienced people more often than not.  Sure, it’s fun, but after an hour or so your lips are chafed and you want to either start rounding the bases or play Xbox.

4)     The Too Much Mouth

Some people don’t seem to notice the size of their own mouth, or the fact that they’re opening it wider than your entire lower face. There doesn’t seem to be much you can do about this, other than make it unpleasant for them to do so in any way you can.

5)     The Halitosis

She seems good looking through the haze of eight Coronas, but man something just doesn’t taste right.  Either it’s a massive garlic overdose, or she has a serious halitosis problem.  When she pulls away to reveal her green tongue, it’s time to decide whether or not it’s worth putting up with that to see what else she can do.

6)     The Vacuum

Remember when you were all learning how to kiss in school?  This is the person who wasn’t invited.  They’ll suck your teeth out of your skull, and give you hickeys so bad you look like you’ve been in a bar fight.  Unfortunately, there’s no polite way to make them stop, but if you’re both drunk enough you can just walk away and hopefully they won’t follow.