The one common thing that every online dating service has is it's member base. However, as you will soon discover once you start checking out the different online dating websites, not all members are created equal. Some will opt for a free membership whilst others will go all the way and pay for full membership. Then there are those who are still 'sitting on the fence' and will find a trial membership their best choice.

A number of internet dating services online offer a free trial membership which is in reality a full blown membership that is restricted to a certain period of time. Trial memberships are generally free but some sites may charge a nominal fee. With a trial membership, you will be able to do most everything a paid member is allowed to do such as creating a profile, participating in chat rooms, and corresponding via instant messaging. The only real downside to a trial membership is that once the trial period has finished, typically after a week to ten days, your access will be terminated unless you change your trial membership into a fully paid membership.

One of the biggest benefits of a paid membership is that all facilities the online dating website offers are open without any usage restrictions. One real downside of a paid membership is that membership fees are not always refundable. Your membership typically covers a certain period of time but if you become disillusioned with the service, or better still, if you find someone and you no longer require the online dating services, you may not get your money back. Just be sure you read and understand the small print before handing over your credit card number.