dating isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes a lot of courage for an older woman to court a young man — or vice versa — and sometimes it’s hard to tell if that stranger at the bar or club will be open to your advances.
However, when you’re on one of the best cougar dating sites and apps, you can pursue local dates who are exactly your type and who are actively looking for someone like you. Cougars and cubs come together on these sites and follow their heart’s desire with every swipe and message.
If you’re interested in an age-gap relationship, we recommend using the following popular cougar dating sites (and apps) that cater to a more mature crowd.
Overall Best Cougar Dating Sites & Apps
Cougars don’t want to waste time on second-rate dates or second-best apps. They’re busy, and their time is valuable, so let’s cut right to the chase, shall we? Here are our top picks for singles seeking to up the caliber of their dates and enter the exciting world of cougar dating.
1. Match
Match.com is a quality-driven dating site that has been around the block a few times. Since 1995, Match has invited mature men and women to build friendships and relationships online. Its simple and straightforward matching process has helped widowed, divorced, and never-married singles put themselves out there in a safe environment.
- Match has more over-50 members than any other dating site
- Automatically filter potential matches by age, background, and keyword
- Date Check Ins help singles feel comfortable planning a first date
- Browse Match profiles 100% free »
Match has been around since 1995, and it has dominated the online dating scene for decades because it is quite simply the best. This dating site and app offer a mixture of tried-and-true features and cutting-edge updates.
The Match.com algorithm has brought countless couples together, and the online dating site boasts having created more relationships and marriages than any of its competitors.
A mature woman will feel right at home on Match.com. According to its internal stats, 75% of members are over 30, and the 50+ age group is the fastest growing demographic in the database. If you want to meet a guy who’s your own age, Match.com can help with that, but it’s also great for seeking a younger man in the dating scene.
Elite Singles is the dating website of choice for highly educated senior men and women who know exactly what they want. Singles over 50 can use this international network to find dates in their desired age range. The dating site uses an advanced Fraud Detection System to make sure everyone is who they say they are.
- Fraud Detection System keeps seniors safe
- Detailed personality questionnaire to pinpoint compatibility
- Manual profile verification builds trust online
- Browse Elite Singles profiles 100% free »
Elite Singles continues to wow singles with its sophisticated matchmaking and premium features. The dating site supports the cream of the dating crop and has created an exclusive singles club for busy professionals.
Only premium members can view photos and send messages on Elite Singles. On this premium dating website, singles must invest in the online dating process if they want it to work for them.
Anyone serious about meeting their perfect match should consider subscribing to Elite Singles, but it can be particularly useful for attractive cougars and cubs seeking a high-class romance despite an age difference.
You can go into your Preferences and set certain age requirements for potential matches, and you can also answer questions like “Could you imagine raising a family with your partner” and “How important is it that your partner has an income level that is comparable with your own?”
SilverSingles offers a secure dating experience for singles of a certain age. Anyone over 50 is welcome to join the network and browse for dates by using the simple search filters and match recommendations. Every month, over 800,000 senior singles join the dating site and start their journey toward love.
- Global membership base of exclusively single seniors
- Free members can browse matches, send smiles, and favorite profiles
- 24/7 online customer service
- Browse SilverSingles profiles 100% free »
SilverSingles is a sister site of EliteSingles, and they share almost identical features and pricing models. The main difference is that SilverSingles caters to online daters who are 50 and older.
You don’t have to be a senior to create a free profile on SilverSingles, but you have to be willing to date a senior because they make up a majority of the membership base.
A SilverSingles membership begins with a simple personality test to assess your dating preferences and relationship goals. As you set up your profile, SilverSingles will learn about you and create a personalized match formula that will highlight the dating profiles of people who are in your league.
Ashley Madison supports a safe space where seniors can browse, flirt, and feel young again. This extremely popular casual dating site and app can get people out of their romantic ruts by giving them the chance to meet attractive and discreet dates who may never have crossed their paths otherwise.
- Open to affairs, poly relationships, and sugar dating
- Responsible for 1.4 million connections a month
- Mark yourself as "Traveling" to mix business with pleasure
- Browse Ashley Madison profiles 100% free »
Ashley Madison is an affair dating site and app that can help a single cougar woman gain confidence, practice flirting, and expand her reach in the dating scene, no matter her relationship status.
Perhaps a married woman is curious about cougar life. She can create a discreet dating profile anonymously on Ashley Madison to explore the terrain. Ashley Madison is a classic casual hookup platform with all the free features cougar women could want, plus some extra perks such as photo blurring and virtual gifts.
The Ashley Madison dating site and app also don’t limit singles to a certain age range or distance radius. You can search far and wide for the right person who fits your ideal dating criteria.
5. eharmony
Since 2000, eharmony has developed a matchmaking formula that uses rigorous psychological research to pair singles in long-term relationships. The dating website's trademarked matching system has led to countless marriages around the globe, and it has a three-month guarantee on its dating services. If you're looking for a mature relationship, eharmony can point you in the right direction.
- Mature membership base in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, and Australia
- Free members can browse and favorite profiles
- Compatibility ratings on intellect, altruism, romance, social values, etc.
- Browse eharmony profiles 100% free »
Since 2000, eharmony has championed serious dating and helped singles find the kind of love that lasts a lifetime. This dating site has taken a serious approach to matchmaking and used psychology to identify long-term compatibility between two people.
To date, eharmony has inspired over 2 million loving relationships, and it introduces a new couple every 14 minutes. It’s no wonder online daters have ranked it as one of the most trustworthy names in the online dating scene.
If you look at eharmony’s older women dating success stories, you’ll see plenty of couples who overcame age differences or long-distance relationships to be together. “You have introduced me to the most perfect woman I have ever met,” said Gary, who married his eharmony match. “The rest has been pure magic, and we have eharmony to thank for our happiness.”
Christian Mingle is a dating site for faith-oriented singles who want to settle down, and many senior daters have felt drawn to this mission. Members can create a dating profile in less than a minute and set their Discover Preferences to find potential matches within a certain age range or distance. Since its launch in 2001, Christian Mingle has led to countless love stories and Christian marriages.
- Open to all Christian denominations and other religions
- Seniors can sort their matches by age and location
- Enhanced Privacy Control, Badges, and other premium perks
- Browse Christian Mingle profiles 100% free »
Christian Mingle is one of the best cougar dating sites and apps because it offers a faith-driven network for singles with strong belief systems and religious backgrounds.
It’s free to join Christian Mingle and browse the membership base by age, distance, match rating, online activity, and other important factors. Singles can also swipe through one profile at a time on the LookBook page.
According to a recent survey, Christian Mingle is responsible for 29% of Christian marriages in the U.S., and 84% of Christian Mingle members said they would recommend the dating site to their friends and family members.
When BlackPeopleMeet launched in 2002, it opened the online dating world up to folks of all ages and backgrounds, and the dating site has shared a message of inclusiveness ever since. Senior singles are often drawn to this friendly dating network because it allows them to be themselves and create deep connections with their peers.
- Search filters by age, race, and location
- Black seniors can send flirts, favorites, and likes for free
- Community Guidelines hold members to high standards
- Browse BlackPeopleMeet profiles 100% free »
In 2002, BlackPeopleMeet distinguished itself as the leading dating site for black and biracial singles in the U.S. and Canada. Today, it has thousands of active members of all ages and backgrounds.
BlackPeopleMeet can help attractive older women discover date prospects by using advanced search filters and swiping tools. The match algorithm will prioritize dating profiles closest to you, but you can always widen your parameters to get more options and explore the black dating scene from coast to coast.
“BlackPeopleMeet is a fabulous site,” said a BlackPeopleMeet review. “I really enjoy the fact that most of the people I have met are really nice and mature-minded adults.”
8. SeniorMatch
SeniorMatch is one of the most trusted names in the senior dating scene. Since 2003, the over-50 dating site has catered to divorcees, widows, and other singles seeking a second shot at love. It's free to create an account on SeniorMatch, and you can browse profiles, discover matches, send messages to paid members without needing to upgrade or subscribe.
- Exclusively for men and women over 45
- Add a profile to your Hotlist to save it for later
- Seniors shares dating advice in members-only forums
- Browse SeniorMatch profiles 100% free »
SeniorMatch has been at the forefront of the senior dating world since 2003, and it has over 1 million members to its name. Every month, the dating site and app foster over 1.6 million private chats between singles of a certain age.
The SeniorMatch motto is “You don’t have to be alone,” and its free membership gives singles over 50 the chance to find companionship, romance, and a serious relationship without going too far outside their comfort zone.
An older person can sign up for this cougar site, meet the perfect match, and become one of SeniorMatch’s 36,600 success stories within no time.
9. Zoosk
Zoosk's simple signup and intuitive messaging system appeals to senior singles looking for romance. The dating site has over 40 million members, and it sees over 3.8 million monthly visits on average. The site's signature Behavioral Matchmaking system facilitates love connections by recommending profiles that are similar to the ones you've viewed and liked.
- Browse profiles and send likes for free
- Dating Insights can offer personalized advice to seniors
- Photo verification badges authenticate profile pictures
- Browse Zoosk profiles 100% free »
Zoosk is a fast-paced, low-cost, and fun-filled dating site and dating app where online conversations lead to real-life romance. Over 40 million singles have joined Zoosk since 2007, and it continues to grow its reach in 80 countries worldwide.
Whether you’re an experienced cougar or a curious cub, you can use Zoosk as an online dating training ground. The online dating site has plenty of free communication tools, including the ability to respond to some greetings, and you can always use Zoosk Coins to get more premium perks.
Zoosk relies on behavioral matchmaking to figure out what you want and highlight the most compatible dating profiles. The more you like, flirt, and message online, the more accurate your potential match recommendations will become.
SeniorFriendsDate is on a mission to connect singles over 50 in a safe and trustworthy online network. This dating site is one of 150 niche websites run by the Friends Date Network, and it offers totally free communication to singles around the world.
- 100% free online dating for seniors
- In-depth profiles showcase your personality and lifestyle
- Members-only groups organized around travel, currents events, and BINGO nights
- Browse SeniorFriendsDate profiles 100% free »
Last but certainly not least, SeniorFriendsDate offers a free online dating experience for anyone 50 and older. The site promises to provide completely free messaging and exclusively senior matches — with no fake profiles or bots.
The SeniorFriendsDate team closely monitors online activity and removes profiles with stock photos, suspicious content, or fake personal information. The moderators strictly enforce the content rules in the Terms of Use to protect genuine singles on this quality-driven site. If you’re looking for a soulmate who’s a bit older and more experienced, then this is the dating service for you.
“We take pride in being a dating site with soul,” the SeniorFriendsDate team says. “No games and no nonsense. It’s just genuine dating for real singles over 50.”
What Hookup Sites Do Cougars Use?
The typical cougar woman tends to be powerful, dominant, and supremely confident, and these attractive older women often enjoy having casual sex with a guy who is best described as “eye candy.”
Meeting a younger man and arranging a hookup isn’t always easy in the real world, but it’s a snap on a cougar dating site or cougar dating app.
BeNaughty is the hookup site of choice for many older women seeking a younger guy to have sex with. The free cougar site offers a sex-positive environment with fast-working match and search tools. Plus, it’s free to send private messages to anyone online.
BeNaughty is an open-ended dating platform where singles of all ages can connect, flirt, and hook up. It doesn't matter if you're a sugar daddy or a cougar, you can use this sexually active network to make something happen. Singles over 50 can search for dates within a certain age range and location, or they can browse the Like Gallery to see if anyone stands out from the crowd.
- Cougars and sugar daddies welcome
- FlirtCast recommends suggestive opening lines
- Extra Security package available to premium members
- Browse BeNaughty profiles 100% free »
Adult Friend Finder is another good option for an older cougar woman looking for sex. This massive hookup site has over 100 million members (and counting), and it encourages a judgment free zone for sexting, flirting, and picking up dates.
This casual dating site can help older women meet younger men, and it can also introduce older men to younger women.
Adult Friend Finder has been around since the 1990s, and it has earned the trust of a global community of sexually active adults. Its straightforward approach to dating has helped millions of singles and swingers find romance, and the site welcomes members of all ages. Daters over 50 can connect with their dream dates by sending a private message or joining live chat room discussions.
- Search for a casual date by age and location
- Mature singles enjoy hookups, threesomes, and no-strings sex
- Live model shows and member blogs
- Browse Adult Friend Finder profiles 100% free »
The AFF community welcomes singles and couples who know what they want and aren’t afraid to go after it. This dating service and erotic forum facilitates steamy encounters 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and you never know who you’ll meet here.
What Dating Sites Can You Message Free?
A lot of dating sites and apps offer free communication features. Sometimes free members can only send likes, hearts, flirts, or other virtual pokes to another member, and sometimes free members have the run of the place and can read and respond to any messages in their inboxes.
OkCupid is a totally free dating site and app because you can message anyone you like without paying, upgrading, or subscribing to anything.
In 2004, OkCupid's founders decided to create a fool-proof formula for love, and they launched a free dating site to delve into what personal attributes made relationships work. OkCupid members can send unlimited messages for free. It's easy to discover mutual interests and compatibility on the platform's information-rich dating profiles.
- Free, unlimited communication for everyone
- Singles can swipe or search for a compatible date
- Over 91 million connections every year
- Browse OkCupid profiles 100% free »
As you can see from our review, OkCupid is a highly successful dating platform, responsible for 50,000 dates per week, and its matchmaking tools are completely free for anyone looking for a hot date, a new friend, or a long-term love interest.
OkCupid offers completely free messaging, but sometimes singles upgrade to the A-List account because they want to see read receipts on their messages or rank higher in search results and match suggestions. The A-List subscription is optional, but it can be useful for singles who are serious about meeting someone special online.
Is Tinder Free to Use?
Yes, Tinder is a free dating app for all singles looking to meet someone new. Free members can set up a profile, swipe through local dating profiles, and send unlimited messages to a potential match on the app.
Tinder is a popular dating app that arranges 1.5 million first dates per week, and it doesn’t charge users for the pleasure of having those flirtatious conversations. Plus the majority of Tinder users are under 35, so it’s a prime hunting ground for an online cougar seeking a younger guy.
In 2012, Tinder pioneered a swiping-based match system that empowered singles to connect with dates who liked them back. Tinder users can message their mutual matches for free on this fast-paced dating app. Since its launch, Tinder has created over 97 billion matches worldwide.
- Supports active daters in 190+ countries
- The swiping system creates over 12 million matches per day
- Tinder Plus members have unlimited likes and 5 Super Likes
- Browse Tinder profiles 100% free »
Tinder offers a lot of good value with its basic membership, and it’s definitely possible to date and form a serious relationship without paying anything.
However, free members only have a limited number of likes and they cannot see who has liked them until it becomes a mutual match. They also cannot swipe on profiles in other parts of the world. For those premium features, you’ll have to upgrade to a Tinder Plus or Tinder Gold account.
Is Date a Cougar a Real Cougar Dating Site?
Date a Cougar is a niche dating site geared toward attractive cougars and cubs looking for local dates. The online dating site is real — the people on it, not so much.
As a free cougar site with a niche audience, Date a Cougar has attracted some unsavory characters, and it doesn’t remove inactive profiles from the search results, so you may find yourself sending a lot of messages without getting any legit responses through this supposedly cougar-friendly dating service.
Date a Cougar is a fun and free dating site for adventurous daters.
Date a Cougar claims to have thousands of beautiful and wealthy older ladies in its database, but we’re not so sure its listings can live up to that promise. The personals section seems pretty average, honestly, and we didn’t see many unbelievable hotties or sugar mommas in the photo gallery or search page.
The Date a Cougar site is full of clickbait, sex ads, naked pictures, and X-rated videos, so browse with caution and look out for fake profiles.
What’s the Best Dating App for a Mature Woman?
If you’re over 40 and single, then swipe-happy apps like Tinder may not be the most effective and satisfying places to look for dates. These apps are overrun with superficial young people who aren’t always open to age-gap relationships and dating older women.
Mature daters are better off on a dating app with more time-tested and quality-driven matchmaking tools. Our dating experts consider the Match appa top contender for women who are tired of the traditional swiping and ghosting scene.
Since 1995, Match has honed its algorithms and search tools to prioritize what matters most to singles seeking a serious relationship. Our Match review can tell you more about how it works and how successful it’s been overall.
Match has become a trusted name in the online dating industry by catering to quality singles looking for love and romance. Since 1995, the dating site has developed a time-tested matching system to facilitate deep connections between men and women who share similar goals in life.
- In-depth matching appeals to women with high standards
- Video chat tools help online daters establish a rapport
- An established singles network in 50 countries worldwide
- Browse Match profiles 100% free »
Match has fostered a trustworthy and friendly dating space where single women can come into their own. All it takes is an email address, a profile picture, and some basic personal information to get started with a free profile.
The Match app highlights dating profiles that meet your standards in terms of age, location, appearance, education, and background, and that makes it easier to click with someone you met online.
The vast majority of Match users are in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, so it’s a great place for adults to meet someone their own age or perhaps a bit younger. You can adjust your dating preferences to let Match know how comfortable you are dating younger men.
How Big of an Age Difference is Too Big?
Look, age-gap relationships are difficult to find and maintain for a lot of reasons. The biggest one is you may not have a lot in common with a person decades younger or older than you, and differences in habits, tastes, and lifestyles can cause strain over time.
Another obstacle that people in age-gap relationships face is disapproval from friends and family members. Some people look down on sugar daddy daters or cougar daters because they think it’s all about looks and sex, though that actually isn’t the case for everyone.
At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide how old is too old or how young is too young. Maybe a 15-year age difference is no big deal to you, but a 30-year age difference makes you feel like a parent or a child.
Different people have different maturity levels, so be sure to get to know that potential match and don’t write them off simply because they’re a bit outside the traditional dating age range of about 5-10 years.
Which Hookup Site Can Help a Younger Guy Meet a Cougar?
Young 20-something and 30-something men may lust after older women, but sometimes it can be difficult to meet a woman who is single, interested, and open to the cougar lifestyle. Older women tend to have a lot of responsibilities and family obligations, so sometimes younger men have to be flexible and meet them on their terms through a hookup site.
OneNightFriend can help young guys flirt with cougars and arrange a steamy encounter on the fly. This free cougar site offers specific search tools and match suggestions to get something going without any hiccups.
OneNightFriend has been designed to offer fun browsing, speedy matches, and flirty chats between singles with few inhibitions. The casual hookup site and app help new members keep things light and look for opportunities to meet a sexy partner for a one-night stand. In addition to chat rooms and private messaging, OneNightFriend provides Safe Mode browsing to protect user privacy in a fast-paced, sex-positive online space.
- Quick signup for single men and women
- Free no-strings browsing of local personals
- Be the gatekeeper of your inbox with Safe Mode
- Browse OneNightFriend profiles 100% free »
As a free casual dating site, OneNightFriend attracts an open-minded and sexually active crowd of singles on the hunt for a hot date. You simply set your dating preferences in terms of age, appearance, and location, and then you can start browsing sexy profiles that turn you on.
Younger men who are attracted to older women can use OneNightFriend to bridge the age gap and create instant chemistry with cougars, sugar mommas, and experienced women.
The Best Cougar Dating Sites & Apps Can Help Attractive Older Women on the Prowl
There you have it. The dating sites and apps on this list are at the service of attractive cougars and cubs who are actively seeking a person to go out with or come home to. The cougar dating scene can be intimidating to newcomers, but the best cougar dating sites and apps can bridge the gap between an older woman and a younger man.
Whether you’re looking for a serious relationship or a casual dating experience, a cougar dating site can up your flirting game and give you plenty of tempting options.
With a free membership on a top-rated dating site, a cougar woman can dramatically increase her dating prospects and fill her calendar with exciting and romantic dates who don’t care about the age difference. All it takes is a little nerve to get started, say hello, and make a special connection with your perfect match. Good luck!
