Many over-50 singles are new to online dating, so it helps if dating sites have beginner-friendly features — maybe even a tutorial or safety guidelines — to get things rolling.
We’ve scoured the online dating scene to find the dating sites that have proven effective for the 19.5 million senior singles in the United States. Seniors who’re looking for less swiping and more substance should check out our expert reviews of the following senior-friendly dating sites.
Match.com
Match has been around since April 1995 and has the distinction of being the world’s longest running dating site. It’s actually the most senior dating site on the market, and that makes it a shoe-in for the top spot on our list of the best senior dating sites.
The Match team has spent decades perfecting the site’s match algorithm to prioritize personality traits, relationship goals, and the things that matter to singles. The dating platform has inspired countless love stories and romances as a result.
If you’re looking for a mature relationship, Match is a great place to start. You can create a free dating profile on the site or download the app on Google Play or the App Store to see how it works and find dates in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and older.
EliteSingles.com
EliteSingles takes pride in catering to the best of the best in the dating world, and its success stems from its quality-driven approach to love.
The site’s main claim to fame is its high-class membership. Over 85% of members have a bachelor’s degree, and over 90% say they’re looking for a committed relationship. If you want to count yourself among this elite group, you can set up a free dating profile and set your dating preferences to reflect your values and goals.
EliteSingles fosters a safe and private dating community where seniors can meet quality dates. The Help Center can answer any questions you may have about how to make a match on EliteSingles.
SilverSingles.com
SilverSingles is a simple, easy-to-use dating site geared toward seniors of all backgrounds and orientations. Free members can view their matches and swipe through profiles in the “Have You Met?” section. It’s a flirtatious atmosphere that’s easy to navigate, even if you’ve never joined a dating site before.
The SilverSingles dating profiles are very descriptive with quick demographics as well as in-your-own-words prompts, but all the photos are blurred to free members. You can become a premium member if you want to see pictures and send messages to your online crushes. Until you upgrade, you can send smiles and favorite profiles.
OurTime.com
OurTime appeals to singles over 50 with its user-friendly match system and quick registration process. This senior dating site has more than 1 million members, and it adds 20,000 new members to the network every week. Site moderators check the content on these new profiles to ensure it meets their high standards for decorum and safety.
In the words of the Community Guidelines, “If you’re honest, kind, and respectful to others, you’ll always be welcome here. If you choose not to be, you may not last. Our goal is to allow users to express themselves freely as long as it doesn’t offend others. Everyone is held to the same standard on OurTime.com.”
OurTime is a mobile-friendly site, but it also has a companion dating app available on iTunes and Google Play, so its followers can stay connected wherever they go.
eharmony.com
In 2000, eharmony launched as a premium dating site for men and women who want to get married. The dating site’s mission is to strengthen relationships by identifying key aspects of compatibility from the get-go. This is a dating site of choice for seniors who are serious about settling down.
The signature eharmony matching system is based on a 29-dimension personality questionnaire. It’s worth taking your time and answering each question honestly, so your personalized compatibility ratings will be as accurate as possible.
The eharmony algorithm will score your matches according to your compatibility in intellect, religious values, agreeableness, exclusivity, affection, and other important factors. If you see someone you like, you can upgrade your eharmony account to view his or her photos and send messages. This paywall keeps eharmony’s senior singles safe from unsavory characters online.
ChristianMingle.com
ChristianMingle launched in 2001 and has inspired countless Christian relationships ever since. Its mission is to give Catholics, Protestants, Evangelicals, and other Christian (and non-Christian) members the opportunity to find a soul mate and start a blessed marriage.
Today, ChristianMingle has millions of members seeking God-centered relationships on the website. You don’t have to take its merits on faith. ChristianMingle’s many success stories offer proof of its ability to work miracles in the lives of the devout.
BlackPeopleMeet.com
BlackPeopleMeet has been steadily building its database since 2002, and today it boasts having the world’s largest online community of African-American singles. The dating site has thousands of active profiles created by black and biracial singles in the U.S. and Canada.
Seniors can become full members of BlackPeopleMeet in less than two minutes, and it doesn’t cost anything to see what this extensive and diverse network has to offer.
“I have met someone who lives in my city, and everything has been going very well,” said a user in a testimonial. “BlackPeopleMeet is a fabulous site. I really enjoy the fact that most of the people I have met are really nice, and they are mature-minded adults”
SeniorMatch.com
SeniorMatch is a reputed senior dating site that has been facilitating matches since 2003. Its community encompasses over 2.7 million singles, all of whom are over the age of 45.
SeniorMatch users must be at least 45 to sign up, and that means seniors can feel comfortable mingling with people around their age. You won’t find any cougar dating or sugar daddy dating here. Instead, experienced daters seek someone who shares a similar perspective and lifestyle.
Online safety is a top priority for the SeniorMatch team. The dating site even offers safety tips to help its members recognize and avoid online scams.
Zoosk.com
In the mood to chat? Then Zoosk is the place for you. This global dating site supports billions of conversations between its 40 million members. Taken as a whole, Zoosk members send over 3 million messages in the average day.
Seniors can send winks, virtual gifts, or messages to draw the attention of others on the site. Zoosk’s advanced search tools and behavioral matchmaking system can direct users to the most compatible profiles online.
Zoosk couples frequently write to the California-based team to say they found their match on the dating site. “We are perfect for each other,” said Mark, who got engaged to a woman he met on Zoosk. “We always tell people that we met on Zoosk and how lucky we are. Thank you, Zoosk, for bringing us together!”
SeniorFriendsDate.com
Coming in at #10 on our list is SeniorFriendsDate, a senior dating site with a diverse international network. This site allows people of all ages to join, but it caters to seniors who want to build genuine relationships.
It’s never too late to find love when you have a community like this one behind you. SeniorFriendsDate is part of the Friends Date Network, which operates over 150 niche brands, including Free.Date.
These sites run thanks to ad revenue, so they don’t have to charge singles for any services. Seniors can chat as much as they like for as long as they like for free on SeniorFriendsDate.
Are There Adult Sites for Senior Dating?
Yes, there are numerous senior dating sites that are specifically for casual encounters. According to one study, more than 50% of senior men and 40% of senior women are sexually active.
However, you don’t want to sign up for the first casual senior dating site that you come across. You want to make sure you’re signing up for a site that’s safe and will let you test out the features before fully commuting. We’ll tell you more about our two favorites below:
BeNaughty.com
BeNaughty has a lot of tricks up its sleeves to help members land hot dates. You can mix things up in the group chat rooms or send intimate private messages to someone special. BeNaughty even offers pre-written messages for those of us who get tongue-tied and don’t know what to say to cute singles.
Senior singles can cast a wide net by setting the search filter’s age range from 18 to 78, or they can get into the specifics and search by hair color, eye color, body type, ethnicity or orientation.
The Like Gallery offers another fun and fast way to sift through the local dating pool and discover romantic possibilities by rating profiles as Cute or Not. BeNaughty subscribers can earn extra benefits, including extra security features.
AdultFriendFinder.com
Adult Friend Finder - With over 95 million members, Adult Friend Finder (AFF) is one of the largest hookup sites available to singles and swingers of the world. This is an adults-only space, so members must be over 18 to join.
The active dating forums have over 170,000 groups engaging in over 14 million conversations about their sexual fantasies, personal interests, and dating experiences. This is a popular place to share erotic stories or ask for dating advice. The AFF community also has over 19 million blog posts and live web broadcasts full of sexual content.
Seniors can let go of their inhibitions on AFF and browse anonymously for casual sex, threesomes, and other steamy encounters.
Do Dating Sites Really Work for Seniors?
Yes, dating sites can work for anyone, and they’re particularly useful for seniors who may not have any other opportunities to meet new people.
In recent years, online dating has lost its stigma and become one of the most popular ways for singles to meet their next love interest. A 2017 Knot survey found that 19% of brides met their spouses on a dating site, while 17% met through friends and 12% met at work.
“The main difference between meeting someone on a dating app and meeting someone in a more organic way is that, through a dating app, you know right off the bat that the person is interested in you,” said a single California woman named Abby. “I think it eliminates some of the uncertainty.”
A New York business man named Ben Yandell said his last two relationships started online. Though both romances weren’t meant to be, the experience helped him gain clarity on what he was looking for, and he has continued using dating sites to meet women in his age bracket.
“I feel that my experience with online dating has been positive,” Ben concluded. “For a senior, I just don’t see how online dating can ever be easy. However, it is a tool that I am using and will continue to use.”
What is the Best Dating Site for a Serious Relationship?
Some senior dating sites market to relationship-minded singles by having in-depth profiles, psychology-based match systems, or other quality-driven features. EliteSingles uses a personality test to power its daily matches and discover areas of compatibility. SeniorMatch has discussion forums where its members can get to know each other and build relationships.
Four our money, eharmony is one of the best dating sites for building a long-term relationship. According to eharmony’s internal data, the site creates a new love connection every 14 minutes. The team is so confident the site works that offers a three-month guarantee for all active members.
The site offers a free trial for new users, allowing you to complete the personlity test and see your local matches before fully committing to a longterm membership.
What are the Safest Dating Sites?
The safest and best senior dating sites are the ones that have rigorous verification processes and strong anti-scam policies. Most trustworthy dating platforms will publish a code of conduct that it expects members to follow. Things like lying about age or asking another member for money can get users permanently banned from a dating site.
Many people assume paid dating sites are safer than free dating sites, but that isn’t always the case. OkCupid is one of the largest 100% free dating sites, and its moderators ensure singles behave appropriately.
The OkCupid Community Guidelines reads, “We expect everyone on OkCupid to treat each other respectfully, with kindness and compassion. We do not tolerate hateful, hurtful, or harassing content.”
Seniors should do their research and read authoritative third-party reviews to figure out which sites and apps are legit. Pay special attention to the safety measures in place and make sure you know how to take action (typically by reporting or blocking profiles) should you run into spammers or scammers.
Is Tinder Good for Seniors?
Tinder is one of the most popular dating apps with over 30 billion matches to its name. These guys invented swiping back in 2012, and they’ve been on a roll ever since. Each week, Tinder is responsible for setting up more than 1 million dates in 190 countries.
However, #SwipeLife isn’t for everyone. In a survey, 72% of singles over 50 said they want to fall in love, while only 27% are open to a one-night stand. Tinder’s fast-paced hookup culture can frustrate seniors who want to go beyond the superficial and build a real relationship that lasts.
Another issue seniors may have on Tinder is the unbalanced age demographics. The app is populated primarily by 20-somethings and 30-somethings, and only 18% of daily active users are 45 or older.
“Your biggest problem is that fact that the 35+ user base on Tinder is just extremely small,” said a Reddit user in a thread about being too old for Tinder. “Download it, but assume you’ll have to get lucky to get any results.”
Meet Your Match on Dating Sites for Seniors
The term “senior” encompasses many different types of people. A 50-something divorcee. A 60-something widower. A 70-something retiree. Each has his or her own unique perspective on the dating scene, and the best senior dating sites have to be flexible enough to cater to such a diverse and fast-changing singles population.
The sites on this list do a wonderful job of balancing sophisticated matchmaking tools with easy-to-understand guidelines and safety parameters that ensure even seniors who aren’t that tech-savvy can get the hang of it.
Whether you’re recently out of a relationship or haven’t had a companion in a good long while, there’s no time like the present to start again. A mature dating site can give singles over 50 the confidence they need to move forward and meet dates who value their experience. |
