Love
Author:
May 27, 2024
By Kesiena Boom, M.S.
mbg Contributor
Kesiena Boom, M.S., is a sociologist and writer. She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Manchester and a master’s degree in Gender Studies from Lund University.
May 27, 2024 We carefully vet all products and services featured on mindbodygreen using our commerce guidelines. Our selections are never influenced by the commissions earned from our links. Finding love and companionship online can feel like a daunting task, but the best senior dating sites and app make it easier for people over 50 to get back into the dating game—and there's good reason to find love. Research shows a direct correlation between loneliness and cognitive decline1. Another review from the National Council on Family Relationships found that romantic daters over 60 had better health (and driving ability) than non-daters. Ready to make meaningful connections? We've tapped dating and relationships experts for input on the best dating sites for people over 50—and then found seniors willing to provide honest feedback on their experiences with every app. Below find our top picks (and a full rundown of our testing criteria).Testing process
Online dating can be overwhelming at any age, but people over 50 have the added variables of a smaller dating pool and a lot of changes to the dating landscape.
We gathered feedback from experts to narrow our choices to dating apps that actually cater to a demographics over 50. We then had people over 50 put our selections to the test to rate them on the following criteria.
Active users: To set our testers up for success, we prioritized apps that were either designed specifically for people over 50, or that have a fairly large user base overall—because no one wants to spend time setting up an awesome dating app profile just to have no one see it.
Ease of use: As a generation that wasn't born with phones in their hands, our over-50 testers gravitated toward dating apps that are easy to use, with simple interfaces that don't require calling your children or internet-savvy friends for help.
Sign-up process: Some of our testers preferred a lengthier signup process because they felt it gave them better matches in the long run, while others would rather get onto the swiping quickly.
Match compatibility: We believe in quality over quantity when it comes to being successful on dating apps, so our testers were especially particular about how compatible their matches actually felt to their profile information. We asked them to pay attention to whether apps asked for feedback on matches—and whether that feedback was actually incorporated by the matching algorithm.
After testing the best senior dating sites, we've learned which have the best algorithms for recommending matches you'll actually want to go out with (and who will actually want to set up a date!).
Below, find our tester's feedback on every app.
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Image by mbg creative
Compatibility
IOS, Android
Where to browse
Mobile app, Desktop site
Check out ourfull eharmony review.
You won't find time-wasters or people looking for casual flings on eharmony. Every member must fill out extensive questionnaires about themselves and what they're looking for, and eharmony does the work of vetting who you're most compatible with—and the app even provides compatibility scores for each match.
For seniors seeking meaningful connections, this approach can be particulary beneficial in finding compatible partners with similar life experiences and perspectives.
eharmonycomes recommended by certified sex therapistHeather Shannon, LCPC, CST, who notes that many of her clients have had success with it. The site also professes to have enabled two million people and counting to have found love. Impressive stats!
Pros & cons
Pros Cons
What our tester says
While, yes, the profile set up does take about 20 minutes, our 64-year-old tester says it's totally worth the extra time. The best part? It definitely weeds out people who are less serious about dating. The personality tests do seem to help eharmony provide more compatible matches, too. Our tester says when she went out on dates with men from eharmony, she felt more confident knowing they had similar interests, preferences, and dating intentions—plus, she didn't get caught in the "pen pal" stage trying to learn if they would be compatible. We do find the interface to be slightly dated, but eharmony is incredibly easy to use. The whole process feels intuitive and intentional.
Notable features
There are a lot of safety features built in, such as the option to require a video chat before further communication and a responsive team that deletes any suspicious profiles.
Price
Free basic profile; Premium membership starts at $12 per month with a 2-year subscription and increases up to $60/month with a 6-month subscription. While one of the more expensive options on this list, this price ensures that everyone on the site is dedicated to looking for love.
Nervous about signing up?
Let these online dating success stories for people over 40 be your inspiration.
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Image by mbg creative
Compatibility
IOS, Android
Where to browse
Mobile app, Desktop site
Silver Singlesis targeted at daters aged 50 and older. Its user-friendly interface and emphasis on creating a supportive community make it an appealing option for folks of this demographic.
It's a cheaper option than OurTime. You pay a lump sum of $25 per month for 12 months, $35 per month for six months, or $45 per month for three months.
All crucial features need to be paid for, but you can sign up for free at first to have a look around and decide if you want to continue with a subscription.
Silver Singles was mentioned by several experts mindbodygreen reached out to as one of the most well-known sites for older daters.One reviewnotes that the site allows you to "like" specific parts of another user's profile, which is a helpful gateway to making conversation, especially for older daters who might not be used to online dating.
Pros & cons
Pros Cons
What our tester says
Setting up a profile on Silver Singles is surprisingly fun! Our tester says the questions were refreshingly unique, prompting you to share information about both yourself and the type of person you are hoping to meet. She appreciated the fact that the questions were clearly geared toward senior daters, but still lighthearted. We love that Silver Singles considers what you want in a relationship overall, not just the type of partner you want. When creating her account, our tester was asked about topics such as how she resolves conflict, the amount of time she prefers to spend with a partner, and how likely she is to initiate a kiss. As with eharmony, it was clear when testing Silver Singles that the algorithm really does prioritize compatibility. Our tester's daily matches are almost always closely aligned with her preferences and interests—and most users are very responsive and eager to set up dates.
Notable features
Instead of endlessly swiping for connections, SilverSingles sends you a curated selection of potential matches based on an intense algorithm—which includes a personality test.
Price
$300 for 12 months; $210 for six months; $135 for three months
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Image by mbg creative
Image by mbg creative
Compatibility
IOS, Android
Where to browse
Mobile app, Desktop site
OurTimespecifically caters to people over age 50 and comes highly recommended by Shannon from both personal and professional experience.
"I have had friends, family, and clients use it with success. My uncle met his long-term partner on OurTime, and a former client also met his partner on OurTime," she says.
Pros & cons
Pros Cons
What our tester says
We tested OurTime to date and we were impressed by its easy interface and quick profile setup. While it was nice to be able to get up and running on the app in less than five minutes, our tester notes that she wishes the app put a bit more into its intake process to make the matches more compatible. Our favorite part of using OurTime is that it’s exclusively designed for senior daters—meaning no one under 50 can join. We also love the focus on dating app safety and security. We tested the free version of OurTime, which was enough to search for potential matches and message back and forth. While there haven't been any events in our tester's area, there are a fair amount of in-person meeting opportunities in larger cities.
Notable features
A fun perk of OurTime is that the app arranges events and mixers, such as cookery classes for singles in bigger cities, so you can go and meet a few people at once to see if the spark is there. The platform is also easy to use and guides you through the setup process.
Price
Free basic profile; $30/ month with no contract; $12/month with 6-month membership You will need to pay for a subscription in order to message other users, so it's not really viable to stick to the free version. If you sign up for six months, it's only $12/month, which works out as one of the cheapest options out there—so it's actually well suited to anyone on a budget.
Image by mbg creative
Image by mbg creative
Image by mbg creative
Compatibility
IOS, Android
Where to browse
Mobile app, Desktop site
Check out our full Match.com review.
Match.comis suited to those who are looking for long-term love because its focus is much more weighted to the answers you fill out on your profile rather than the instant swipe culture of apps like Tinder (although you can feature up to 26 photos in your profile).
Our testers found setting up these robust profiles could be a lengthy (but worthwhile!) process, so you'll want to set aside ample time for it.
Match.com's growing demographic is the 50+ age group, pera 2018 brand report—and it's not hard to see why. Sexologist and love coachSuzannah Weisssays that it's "one of the more established dating sites out there" and "is generally regarded as a place for people to find love rather than hook-ups."
Pros & cons
Pros Cons
What our tester says
After using Match on and off for decades, our 64-year-old tester says it's one of her tried and true favorites—and but the setup takes less than 10 minutes (about half as long as eharmony). The match recommendations are a little hit or miss in terms of compatibility, but our tester appreciates that there seems to be a large pool of daters over 50 and that the profiles are detailed enough to learn quickly if the person could be a fit. Our tester has found a handful of serious relationships on Match.com and says it's a great option for seniors who want to date with intention.
Price
Free basic membership; Standard plan costs $19 with a 12-month subscription or $46 when paid monthly
Image by mbg creative
Image by mbg creative
Image by mbg creative
Compatibility
IOS, Android
Where to browse
Mobile app, Desktop site
Check out our full OkCupid review.
OkCupidis one of the most fun dating sites in my opinion. Seniors or individuals over 50 may find OkCupid appealing for its inclusive and diverse user base, allowing them to connect with people of various ages and backgrounds.
The basic conceit is that you answer a lot of questions about your interests and values, and then the all-knowing algorithm shows you how compatible you are with other users.
You can also rate how important each question is to you so that you don't accidentally miss the love of your life due to a trivial disagreement about pineapple on pizza (for example).
Pros & cons
Pros Cons
What our tester says
One of our 50+ testers says she's had more success on OkCupid than any other app. After trying the free versions of Bumble, Hinge, and OkCupid, she says OkCupid's is the most comprehensive of the three. With other apps, our tester felt the need to chat back and forth a lot before she was comfortable enough to set up a date. With OkCupid, it was much easier to identify whether someone was a good match, given the focus on shared interests and values. While the over-50 pool does feel slightly smaller than apps designed specifically for seniors, our tester uses OkCupid in a major city and hasn't run out of matches yet.
Notable features
OkCupid has been going for a long time and boasts a large number of users. It is also known for being queer and poly-friendly, which is great for those 50+ singles who might just be coming out or getting back into the scene. The basic version is free and works just fine for browsing and messaging. If you'd like to unlock extra super-likes (a way of communicating interest to others), see who likes you, and other premium features, you can subscribe for $35 on a month-to-month basis or $17/month if you sign up for six months. The app also boasts a 4.1 rating on the Apple App Store, which is pretty damn good! One reviewer praises it for its "user-friendly" design and the fact that it's "easy to use and navigate through," which makes it a good fit for older daters who didn't grow up online.
Price
Free basic membership; $17/month with a 6-month subscription; $35/monthly sans contract
Image by mbg creative
Image by mbg creative
Image by mbg creative
Image by mbg creative
Compatibility
IOS, Android
Where to browse
Mobile app
Check out our full Tinder review here.
Tinderis actually a very viable option for daters over 50, according to Weiss. While the dating app is not specifically geared toward seniors, it's unbeatable when it comes to sheer numbers.
Everyone and their hot mom is on Tinder, as the app boasts over 50 million users.
Pros & cons
Pros Cons
What our tester says
Our tester tried dating on Tinder specifically due to its larger user base. She says that while, yes, there are more options than on other apps, the vast majority of them are not looking for anything serious. Since our tester is looking for a serious relationship, Tinder doesn't quite land on the top of her list—but she does recommend it for those who are just hoping to have fun and meet new people.
Notable features
With Tinder, you simply upload a couple of photos, write a sentence or two about yourself, and start swiping through others' profiles until you see someone you like. If you both express an interest in each other, you can match and start chatting. It's simple, it's effective, and it's free. You can pay for anupgraded versionto unlock extra features, but it's not necessary by any means. The upgraded versions cost between $10 and $40 on a month-by-month basis, or less if you commit to a longer time frame. Tinder suits someone who just wants to explore what's out there without necessarily committing to anything or anyone. However, I personally know several long-term couples who met on Tinder, and even a couple who have gotten married after meeting on the app. As Weiss puts it, Tinder is what you make of it.
Price
Free basic membership; Tinder Plus costs $9.99/month with no contract, Tinder Gold costs $24.99/month with no contract; Tinder Premium costs $29.99/month with no contract.
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Image by mbg creative
Image by mbg creative
Compatibility
IOS, Android
Where to browse
Mobile app
Check out our full Hinge review.
Hingewins the distinction of being the best app for people of color over 50 because of its ability to filter by race for free. Some other sites offer this option, but it's usually behind a paywall.
However, Hinge offers this for all members and even includes a little prompt that explains why it might be important for people of color to not want to date white people.
The race options listed include options such as Black/African descent, East Asian, Pacific Islander, and white.
You can select as many or as few of them as you like, and then you'll only be shown matches that fall under those categories.
Aditi Paul, Ph.D.,a researcher who specializes in how our relationships are affected by online dating, notes that Hinge is led by a mainly female team who have spent a lot of time listening to their user base about features they'd like to see.
Pros & cons
Pros Cons
What our tester says
A lot of our team has tested Hinge—including an over-50 tester, who says she's been on "many" dates from this app. She notes that living in Westchester County, most of her matches are in long Island and New York City, which does bring down the convenience factor, as the senior dating pool is much less vast in smaller cities. As is the case with most swipe-based apps, the profiles are less in-depth than your eharmony, Match.com, or Silver Singles—but our 50+ tester touted this as a "pro" for the app, adding that it's easy to tell who's serious or not based on how unique their profile is (in other words: Make your profile unique if you want people to know you're serious!). We think Hinge has some of the best profile prompts out of all the less-extensive options. When used correctly, they really allow you to showcase your personality in a brief, concise way. Our tester has also used Hinge to date while traveling and likes that you can easily change your location to check out the options in a new area even before you're there.
Notable features
Another good thing about Hinge for older daters is that its tagline is that it's "Made to be deleted." That is, most people on Hinge are there looking for something serious and are less likely to only want sex. A fun feature with Hinge is that you can record and listen to voice notes from other users, and this might appeal to old souls who appreciate a human touch.
Price
Free basic membership, $34.99/month with no contract
Comparing the best dating sites for seniors
Product | Primary age demographic | Known for | Premium membership cost | App store rating | Unique features |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
eharmony | 30-49 | Serious relationship | From $60/month | 4 | Compatibility scores |
Silver Singles | 50+ | Serious relationships | From $25/month | 3.3 | Designed for seniors |
OurTime | 50+ | Serious relationships | From $30/month | 3.9 | Designed for seniors |
Match.com | 30-49 | Serious relationship | From $46/month | 3.8 | Mutual & reverse matching |
OkCupid | 30-49 | Serious relationships & hookups | From $45/month | 4.3 | Compatibility scores |
Hinge | 18-30 | Serious relationships & hookups | From $30/month | 4.5 | Limited likes per day; voice prompts |
RELATED: 100+ Questions To Ask A Guy To Get To Know Him Better
How to choose the best app for you
It's important to choose the right app for you, especially if you're navigating the realm of online dating for the first time.
When selecting the perfect dating app as a senior, consider these factors:
- Easy-to-navigate user interface
- Cost
- Safety features
Safety tips for dating over 50
Dating app safety is crucial for all ages, but it's especially important for older people who are often the target of scammers.
Unfortunately, these sneaks have gotten incredibly good at delivering convincing performances. As you begin your online dating experience, there are a few important rules you should adhere to:
1.
Never give anyone your personal or financial information
1.
Never give anyone your personal or financial information
This includes your bank account, social security number, home address, work address, or phone number. Although we often like to assume the best in people, scammers can be especially manipulative toward those seeking a romantic connection, so stay on your guard.
2.
Be wary of love bombers
2.
Be wary of love bombers
Look, we love love! But if someone is showering you with affection way too early in the conversation, it should raise an eyebrow or two about their motives, especially if you haven't yet met in person. Read more about how to spot love bombing.
3.
Meet in a public place
3.
Meet in a public place
Always plan to have your first meeting at a public place. Pick a busy spot where you know you won't be alone and always let a friend or family member know where you'll be and who you're seeing.
4.
Trust your gut
4.
Trust your gut
If someone's giving you the "ick," trust it. You might not be able to put your finger onwhyyou feel uneasy, but if you get the feeling that a prospective date has ulterior motives, you can typically report them to the dating platform who will take the investigation into their own hands.
Dating tips for successful connections over 50
We've got a full checklist of online dating tips for seniors, but here are a few key ones to keep in mind:
1.
Be patient with yourself
1.
Be patient with yourself
"Online dating is different from the type of dating you may be used to," says Paul. "So if you find yourself struggling to understand online dating norms, go easy on yourself. You're learning how to navigate a completely new terrain." If you find it hard at first, don't give up immediately. There's a learning curve, but sticking it out could really pay off.
2.
Be decisive
2.
Be decisive
People expect you to be decisive and direct. So when others ask you "What are you looking for?" be honest. Whether you're looking for a serious relationship, casual companionship, just looking for friends, or just sex—say it, recommends Paul. “The more upfront you are about exactly what you're looking for, the more success you'll have finding matches who appreciate and accept you as you are," Weiss adds.
3.
Verify identity before meeting up
3.
Verify identity before meeting up
After matching and messaging with someone you're interested in, it might be tempting to head straight to meeting up. However, it's best to organize a video chat first so you can make sure that the person matches the pictures. If the app you're using has a video chat feature built in, then make use of that, as it's the most secure and easy way to connect.
4.
Enlist a friend
4.
Enlist a friend
Get a trusted friend to help you select the photos you use on the app/site, and ask them to scan your profile to see if it's a good reflection of you. An outside perspective can help your profile to really pop, and they can also be a good gut check to make sure anyone you're chatting with seems safe to meet up with.
5.
Don't give out personal details or send money to anyone
5.
Don't give out personal details or send money to anyone
Be wary of anyone who doesn't want to meet in person but who asks you lots of personal questions. Similarly, you should absolutely never send money to anyone you've connected with through a dating app. Scammers will reel you in by appealing to your best nature and heaping you with flattery. If someone starts to ask you for money, block them and report them to the app or site you're using. They all have different mechanisms for doing this, which are usually well signposted.
RELATED:
Benefits of dating as a senior
Dating as a person who's 50 and up comes with numerous benefits besides companionship. According to the National Council on Aging, benefits include lower stress levels, better healing after surgery, healthier behaviors, and even a longer lifespan.
A different study found that older daters had better health, better driving ability, and greater involvement in extracurricular activities than older non-daters.
The link between dating & longevity
Longevity is always top of mind at mindbodygreen—and dating plays a larger role in this than you might think.
In fact, one recent study from 2023 indicated a direct correlation between loneliness and cognitive decline1.
When used with intention, dating apps can be a great way to bring connection into your life, thereby enhancing your well-being and improving your longevity.
RELATED: Best Dating Apps For Introverts To Make Connections
FAQ:
What are the most honest dating sites for people over 50?
As mentioned above, it is important to always verify the person's identity before making a plan to meet in person and to be mindful of potential scammers.
Many of these apps have safety features built in, such as in-app video chat capabilities or photo verification.
Are there any free dating apps for people over 50?
Most dating apps are free, such as Hinge, Bumble, Tinder, and OkCupid. However some sites limit the number of potential matches you can see in a certain timeframe, but you will be able to match and message with people without spending any money.
Others, such as eHarmony, have a required membership fee in order to message with people--but you get what you pay for, with a more thorough matching process and additional features.
Is 50 too old for Bumble?
No! Dating apps like Bumble, Hinge, and Tinder have larger databases with a range of users in all age demographics. You'll find people in their 40s, 50s, and beyond on these apps.
Just remember to set your age preference! If you do want an app targeted directly to people over 50, we recommend checking out other options like OurTime.
What dating site do like minded singles over 50 use?
If you want to find other singles in their 50s and beyond with similar interests, we suggest avoiding the typical dating apps—like Bumble and Hinge—for apps that require more curated dating profiles.
If you''re willing to pay, we suggest eHarmony. Otherwise stick to apps like Silver Singles or OurTime.
The takeaway
Dating apps aren't just for 25-year-olds. Anyone can find love and companionship online, as long as you know what you're looking for and have some patience.
Based on a lot of testing, we strongly believe these are the best dating apps for seniors.