Yes, it’s a website, but Meetup is not exclusively geared toward singles, which makes it one of the best alternatives to online dating. Meetup allows people within your community to connect via a variety of groups and events based on particular interests. Though dating apps are a common way to meet people these days, there are still many people who prefer to meet romantic prospects in real life for the first time. According to a 2017 report. Stay Offline You don’t need online dating to meet people. Whether you choose the speed dating option, or take up a new hobby such as a sport or a musical instrument, you can meet a partner in an abundance of ways without needing an online profile.

When you're single and looking for love, going on a dating app or site can seem like the best option. With so many people online dating today, the possibilities are seemingly endless. But if online dating isn't your thing, you're not alone, because singles are meeting dates in plenty of other ways today.

According to a survey conducted by technology company Reportlinker, 54% of people don't think very of highly of dating apps and sites. So although online dating can offer you a larger dating pool to choose from, if it's not working for you, don't think it's the only option out there.

To get insight on how people are meeting today, ReportLinker conducted a survey of over 500 singles and over 550 people who are married or in relationships. According to the survey, less than 20 percent of singles say they were registered on dating apps and sites, which is surprisingly low considering that studies have found a third of new marriages in the U.S. start online and more and more people turn to online dating to meet their significant others each year.

Even though online dating may feel like a popular way to meet people, it's certainly not the only way. Here's how singles are meeting people today if they're not online dating, according to the ReportLinker survey.

'Meeting through friends is the age-old way to meet people,' Jeannie Assimos, eharmony’s chief of advice, tells Bustle. If your friend has a cute sibling or coworker, ask them to set you up. 'Not only can you get the 411 on who this person is and what they’re like, you already have your friend’s stamp of approval,' she says.

Meeting through friends was the number one way singles meet people. Nearly 60% who don't use apps say they meet people through friends and 63% of younger millennials (18 to 24-years-old) say that's also their go-to way. When they're not swiping for matches, 75% of Tinder users also say they like meeting people through friends.

Best Way To Meet Singles Besides Online

You do spend most of your day with the people you work with. So it's no wonder why 27% of singles say try to find love at their place of work. Meeting someone at work can be a little tricky. 'But since you are there most of the day don’t be afraid to get to know someone you find attractive in a professional way first,' national certified counselor, Dr. Sophia Reed Ph.D., tells Bustle. They key here is to building a friendship first and then see how things progress from there. If you and your coworkers like going to happy hours after work, it's a great opportunity to socialize and make more personal connections.

About a quarter of people used their family members to introduce them to someone new.According to Lipman, turning to people closest to you is a great idea. 'I encourage clients to come up with a list of everyone they know whose judgement they trust, like family or friends in healthy relationships,' she says. 'They're likely to have quality friends, networks in their industries, or other social circles you may not be tapped into yet.' If you have a great relationship with your family, you should know they only want the very best for you. So don't be afraid to ask. They may know someone who would make a great match for you.

Only 3% of people use dating agencies to find love, two percent attend speed dating events, and another two percent enlist help from a dating coach. Not many people go these routes, but Karenna Alexander, matchmaker and dating coach, tells Bustle, they should. 'Singles-oriented events like mixers and speed dating, are some real life ways to meet someone,' she says. 'Everyone is single and looking.' While you might get a 'few bad apples' who aren't single, it's still worth trying out. If events aren't your style, you can try contacting matchmakers in your area and ask to be put in their free database. 'You never know when they'll have a client who will want someone who matches your criteria,' she says.

Best Way To Meet Singles Not Online Dating

Meeting through friends wasn't just the most common among singles, it was the most common way people already married or in relationships met their partners too, followed by work, bars, events, and dating apps. While there are so many great ways to meet people today, dating apps and sites included, meeting through friends seems like it's still probably one of the best options.

How To Meet Singles Online

This post was originally published on January 31, 2018. It was updated on June 5, 2019.