However, dating sites and dating apps can actually be a great way for older people to get back into the dating game because ultimately you’re the one in control. With dating sites, you can see exactly who you’re interested in, and you can be clear from the start about what you’re looking for. “Though I understand the common complaints about dating apps, plenty of people have gotten around them and found true love (and quickly) on a dating app,” dating coach Andi Forness previously told mindbodygreen. “Most people choose online dating because it’s easier and less time-consuming than going all over town to a bunch of groups hoping perchance there is one interesting person there who happens to be single, attractive to you, and attracted to you.” There are so many health benefits to having meaningful relationships1, especially in your senior years, so it’s worth the investment. To make things even easier, we’ve done the work of rounding up the best dating sites for seniors. You got this. eharmony comes recommended by certified sex therapist Heather 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! There are also a lot of safety features built into the site, such as the option to require a video chat before further communication can ensue and a responsive team who deletes any profiles that raise suspicion. (We’ve also got a full eharmony review running through all the specs.) eharmony is costly, ranging anywhere from $12/month to $60/month depending on your location and the plan you choose (six months, a year, or two years). While one of the more expensive options on this list, this price ensures that everyone on the site is dedicated to looking for love. A fun perk of OurTime is that they arrange 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. 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. Silver Singles suits someone who feels most comfortable using a senior-targeted dating site and was mentioned by several of the experts that mbg reached out to as one of the most well-known sites for older daters. One review notes that it 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. You have to pay to use this dating site, although you can have a weeklong free trial with limited features to get a feel for the site before committing. There are different subscription plans at various price points ranging from about $16/month to $27/month. 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. 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 an upgraded version to 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. This feature is great for women who want to avoid men sending disrespectful opening messages, and it is an especially great change of pace for older women who may have grown up with the idea that men are expected to initiate everything in the sphere of sex and romance. Sex therapist Bat Sheva Marcus, Ph.D., says that her straight older women clients are most comfortable on Bumble thanks to the control it affords them over the process. Bonus: It’s also free for all users, although a few features are hidden behind a paywall. (But not enough to impact your experience!) Bumble also has an integrated video-chat feature, so you can get to know someone virtually first before meeting up in real life. This is a safety feature on two levels: Firstly, it allows you to vet someone’s vibe and assess that they are the person in their photos, and secondly, it is also great for a COVID-safe date, which may be of greater concern to older daters who can fall under at-risk groups. Bumble offers paid features, but it also works just fine without subscribing. 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. 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. Best for Christianity: Christianmingle is a faith-based app connecting Christians based on education, interests, and spirituality—all parts of finding a longterm, serious match. You can also sort through matches based on age and location, which makes it easier to find someone similar in age (if you prefer). Best for Judaism: While J-Swipe is the leading pick for millennials, JDate attracts a slightly older crowd with a majority of users aged 55+. Designed for more serious daters, it collects tons of information about potential users. Just keep in mind that not all users are Jewish. “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.
