When you think of dating sites over 40, you may assume it’s all divorced singles and widowers, but a recent Pew Research Center report found that as of 2021, a record-breaking 25% of 40-year-olds in the US have never been married at all.
Singles over the age of 40 make up a growing demographic in online dating, so it should come as no surprise that a growing number of platforms cater to older singles seeking new connections.
Overall Best Free Dating Sites for Over 40
We’ll start by reviewing the best of the best. These popular dating sites and apps help singles find the right person. Whether you’re looking for long-term love or a casual chat, the following services can get the job done.
1. Match
Match.com has come a long way since it launched in April 1995. This well-reputed dating site has honed its match algorithm to identify long-term compatibility and facilitate countless first dates, serious relationships, and successful marriages. Match’s esteemed dating experts go to great lengths to guide singles to a seriously good match.
- Match is the world’s longest running dating site
- The Discover section has search filters by interests, looks, lifestyle, and more
- Match is available in 50 countries and 15 languages
- Browse Match profiles 100% free »
It’s no secret that our dating experts prefer Match to any other platform as an all-purpose online dating site, but it works especially well for the over-40 crowd. Because most of the singles on Match are looking for long-term relationships, the dating pool tends to be on the older side, with more than 75% of users over the age of 30. Beyond the demographics, Match offers simple features and tools to help steer you to the right person based on compatibility, including your preferences.
Match operates on a freemium model, so while you can sign up and access basic features for free, your options are more restricted with the basic membership. Free membership on Match allows you to take the personality test, browse for potential partners, and even send and receive messages from your Top Picks, selected by the Match algorithm. If you want more freedom — including unlimited messaging to anyone on the platform — you’ll need a premium membership.
2. eharmony
Since its launch in 2000, eharmony has endeavored to find the formula for love. Its 32-dimension personality test uses psychological truths to identify areas of compatibility between two individuals. The dating site’s mission is to foster relationships that last, and every potential match has a reason behind it.
- Over 2 million people have found love here
- Users can filter their match recommendations by age or city
- Compatibility Quiz identifies common interests, lifestyles, and goals
- Browse eharmony profiles 100% free »
Both the dating site and app for eharmony have a lot to offer older singles looking for long-term love. The platform matches members based on compatibility as determined by a thorough personality profile, and at one point the site was responsible for nearly 4% of marriages in the US. The site also gets top marks for safety, which is a major concern for singles who are a bit on the older side and aren’t as likely to be up to date on the latest romance scams and fake profile red flags.
As a basic eharmony member, you can take the personality test, browse for potential matches, and take Icebreaker Quizzes to make first contact with a prospective partner. But if you want the freedom to communicate directly with other eharmony members, premium memberships start at $35.90/month.
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 has been a hub for high-value singles — as in the highly educated and high earners of the dating pool — for years. Elite Singles really hit its stride in 2020 when it saw record membership growth. You won’t waste your time chasing after 20-somethings who don’t want anything serious on Elite Singles because 90% of its members are over the age of 30. Instead of browsing and searching for matches, Elite Singles sends daily curated match prospects based on compatibility and preferences you set.
A feature called Have You Met? identifies dating profiles that didn’t meet at least one of your preferences but may still be a good match for you. Basic membership gives you access to most of the key features of Elite Singles, but if you want to send and receive messages on the platform, you’ll have to pay for the premium subscription.
Christian Mingle is a faith-based dating website for singles who want a relationship grounded in Christian values. People of all religions and backgrounds turn to this site in hopes of meeting a good Christian man or a good Christian woman. Christian Mingle’s claim to fame is that it has the highest percentage of Christian members of any dating site or app in the world.
- For singles interested in God-centered relationships
- Over 3.5 million monthly users around the world
- Available as an app on Google Play and the App Store
- Browse Christian Mingle profiles 100% free »
If faith is an important factor in your dating choices, Christian Mingle (and its sister site, JDate), is a powerful tool for finding love. The popular online dating site was responsible for a staggering 30% of Christian marriages that began online in 2015. Membership on Christian Mingle remains strong even though competition has grown with the arrival of other faith-based dating sites.
The emphasis on faith, as well as the goal of finding long-term love, means that the membership on Christian Mingle tends to be older than the membership on mainstream dating sites. A single in their 40s is more likely to find someone in their age range on Christian Mingle than they would on Tinder or Bumble. In fact, singles over 50 make up about a quarter of the site’s membership, and more than a third of the users on the site are over 25.
You can sign up, browse profiles, and even interact on a limited basis with other users without paying any membership fees. But you’ll need a premium membership if you want to send and receive unlimited messages on Christian Mingle. In addition to unlimited communication, premium membership grants you access to read receipts, more user photos, and the ability to see who likes and views your profile.
Plenty of Fish prides itself on being one of the best dating sites for conversations. It supports 100% free and unlimited messaging for over 120 million monthly users in 20 countries. Since its launch in 2003, Plenty of Fish has developed a science-based matching system that has proven successful.
- Free registration, searches, and messaging
- The Chemistry Test creates a compatibility framework
- Over 1 billion messages sent per month
- Browse Plenty of Fish profiles 100% free »
Plenty of Fish is a popular option for exploring new connections. The dating site launched in the early days of online dating in 2003 and continues to be one of the most popular digital dating platforms in the world, with 150 million members worldwide. Plenty of Fish also sets itself apart by constantly updating tools to help maintain a social atmosphere and by keeping all of its core features, including several different contact methods, free.
Premium membership on POF comes with some significant perks, including read receipts, access to extended profile details, and higher visibility in search results. But you can accomplish everything you want with a basic profile, whether you’re looking for friends, casual dating, or a long-term relationship.
Best Free Senior Dating Sites for Over 40
If you’re approaching 50 or even 60, you may wonder if online dating is for you. We’re here to tell you it most certainly is! The following senior dating sites and apps offer support for an older generation, so finding experienced dates is not a problem.
6. OurTime
OurTime gives singles over 50 a confidence boost by introducing them to age-appropriate dates online. The dating site offers multiple ways to connect and discover commonality, and it has led to thousands of success stories in the last few years. Whether you’re looking for a pen pal, a friend, or a relationship, OurTime has got it covered.
- Thousands of success stories from all over the world
- Find senior dates using advanced search filters and match suggestions
- The Help Center offers quick tips and guidance
- Browse OurTime profiles 100% free »
Senior singles are generally not new to the dating scene, but the team behind OurTime understands that online dating is an entirely different game. The dating site and app both keep things simple, with straightforward tools and features to help users find the right potential match, whether you’re looking for casual dates or something more serious. All OurTime members are over 50, so you don’t have to waste your time filtering out young daters, and your profile can stand out.
Setting up your online dating profile is free and only takes a few minutes because the OurTime site guides you through each step. Once you’re logged in, you can browse other member profiles, check your daily matches, and reply to messages without getting your credit card out. Premium members on OurTime get full access to communication tools like a private phone number for texting and voice calls, unlimited private messages, and enhanced search and filtering tools to make their search for a partner more efficient.
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 »
Safety and security are important for senior daters, and SilverSingles takes a proactive approach to keeping members safe while they search for a match online. The dating site uses built-in profile verification and fraud detection tools to help keep over-50 singles safe while keeping the signup process easy. You can sign up in less than five minutes, with a helpful on-site guide to take you through each step. Once you’ve completed the process, you can take the SilverSingles personality test and start looking for a compatible match.
SilverSingles offers members a list of potential matches based on your personality test results and dating preferences. You can also filter the matches you receive by the newest members, users who have profile pictures, and those in your favorites list. All of these features are included for free with a basic membership. Premium members get extra benefits, including the ability to see who looks at their profile and the ability to send and reply to private messages.
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 »
Not every dating site gets name-dropped in a major film, but SeniorMatch earned the honor of a reference in “Daddy’s Home 2.” The site took that momentum and ran with it. SeniorMatch isn’t just for older singles looking for love. Instead, it’s a full-purpose social hub where members look for relationships, travel buddies, friends, and social groups to hang out with. The platform goes beyond the online world, too, and hosts in-person events like its “Senior Summer Camp” in partnership with Rail Canada.
With a basic membership on SeniorMatch, you can set up your dating profile, search for members and receive matches based on the site’s algorithm. You can also send up to 100 “likes” per day, send and receive unlimited winks, and even reply to messages you receive. If you want to make the first move, however, you’ll need a premium membership. Paid subscriptions on SeniorMatch also give you access to read receipts, let you see who’s looking at your profile, allow you to set your preferences for who’s able to see your profile, and a lot more.
Best Free Casual Dating Sites for Over 40
Single adults have needs just like younger singles do, and if you’re not into the idea of a committed relationship, then a hookup app or casual dating site may be your best bet.
Ashley Madison is a breath of fresh air for single or attached folks experiencing a sex slump. This exciting dating site and app offer tons of opportunities to mingle, match, flirt, and hook up discreetly. Over 80 million profiles await you on Ashley Madison, and it’s free to create an anonymous account.
- Discreetly arranges one-night stands and extramarital affairs
- More than 80 million profiles worldwide
- Travel-friendly features for seeking matches in other cities
- Browse Ashley Madison profiles 100% free »
Ashley Madison is the go-to site for affairs, but it’s also a valuable tool for casual daters who want to keep their love lives discreet. The membership on the platform also tends to be older users, with less than 25% of Ashley Madison users under the age of 30. If privacy is your goal, Ashley Madison has all the tools: automatic browser history clearing, photo blurring and masking tools to keep your profile pictures discreet, and even a panic button to instantly navigate you away from the site.
Women on Ashley Madison get access to every tool and feature just for signing up, but it’s a bit more complicated for men. Men can sign up, browse for matches, and signal their interest without having to pay any fees, but if you want to send a message or a virtual gift, or enjoy voice or video chat with a potential match, you’ll have to pay for credits. Fortunately, Ashley Madison offers flexible payment options and uses discreet billing codes to help you keep the charges under wraps.
10. BeNaughty
When it comes to arranging hookups, BeNaughty is fast, easy, fun, and safe. This dating site has built a global network of sexy men and women who want to skip the small talk and cut right to the chase. If you’re interested in short-term romance, BeNaughty is the place to go and get your flirt on.
- A global network of naughty singles over 18
- Ability to blur nude and explicit content, if desired
- Advanced search filters and one-on-one messaging
- Browse BeNaughty profiles 100% free »
BeNaughty encourages its users to do just what the site name says: be naughty, be flirtatious, and never flinch from being direct about what you’re looking for. The dating site welcomes singles and couples alike and encourages a sexual atmosphere with plenty of adult content in the form of videos and photos. Although there are plenty of youngsters on the platform, the average user age is 30, and there are plenty of 40+ hookup seekers on the site.
Women on BeNaughty get the full run of the platform, with access to unlimited messaging and all the perks. Men on BeNaughty only gain access to the full perks through premium membership packages. Fortunately, you can pick and choose which features you want: The Extra Security package grants you full encryption, browser history clearing, and incognito mode. The Chataholic package offers unlimited messaging, read receipts, and other communication perks. Finally, the Premium Dater package gives you the best of both worlds, with the full benefits of the other two packages combined.
Registering for an account on Adult Friend Finder (AFF) is like speeding into the fast lane of the online dating world. This hookup site puts you in the center of action and encourages sexy singles and swingers to satisfy their secret fantasies. Anyone over 18 can join AFF and browse millions of profiles for free, but only full-fledged members have access to the revealing content in the community forums and chat rooms.
- One of the largest adults-only sex communities
- Free and fast registration process
- Dating forums and live chats foster live flirtation
- Browse Adult Friend Finder profiles 100% free »
Adult Friend Finder (also known as AFF) launched in the 90s, and the hookup site remains a top place to find local singles looking for erotic adventures even today. AFF plays host to a truly massive number of singles, couples, and groups, with over 25 million monthly users, so the odds are in your favor when it comes to finding matches. Around 50% of Adult Friend Finder users are over 40, so you won’t have to spend a lot of time filtering matches for someone close to your age.
Basic members get access to the core features on the hookup site, as well as full access to “public” areas, like chat rooms and forums. This gives you plenty of opportunities to feel out other members and get the conversation going in a low-pressure environment where you can be upfront about your desires. But if you want to take things one-on-one, you’ll need a Gold membership. AFF Gold also grants you expanded access to adult content, as well as other perks.
12. FriendFinder-X
FriendFinder-X offers sexy singles the gratifying experience of meeting hot dates within a few clicks. This hookup site is designed to excite people’s imaginations and fill them with sexual energy. Whether you’re chatting privately or in a group forum, singles and swingers can be upfront about their sexual desires, fetishes, and fantasies.
- A casual personals site for singles, couples, and groups
- Profiles have suggestive photos and strip tease videos
- Chat live via a two-way webcam or private messaging
- Browse FriendFinder-X profiles 100% free »
If you like to keep things simple and discreet while you’re looking for your next hookup, FriendFinder-X provides the right tools for the job. The casual dating site puts adult content right up front but lets users pick and choose which details they’re willing to provide in their profile. Signup is simple. All you need are basic details, and you can pick and choose what you want to reveal. You can choose additional profile verification to give other members confidence that you’re a real person instead of a scammer, but you can also just stick with the basics.
Free membership on FriendFinder-X gives you basic tools for finding a willing and eager hookup partner, whether you’re single or a couple. You can read erotic content, watch videos from live shows put on by other members, browse profiles, and participate in the community all without paying any fees. If you want access to livestream adult content and one-on-one messaging, however, you’ll need a premium membership.
13. Flirt.com
Flirt.com is a great hookup website for fun-loving and dirty-talking singles over the age of 18. The free registration and quick-and-easy searches appeal to online daters who know what they want and aren’t afraid to go after it. If you’re looking for sexting, virtual dating, or hot sex, then look no further than this flirtatious dating site.
- Over 70 million registered users
- Naked photos, videos, and private messaging available
- Send a Flirtcast to get in touch with all potential matches
- Browse Flirt.com profiles 100% free »
While most casual dating sites focus purely on helping users find hookups, Flirt.com is all about keeping things fun. The relaxed atmosphere means that people do get frisky on the platform, but Flirt.com users are more about banter and flirtation than hardcore adult content.
The team behind the hookup site makes dating simple from the very beginning. Just answer as many or as few of the 17 drop-down questions as you want — although you can only see answers on other profiles for questions you’re willing to answer yourself.
The dating site is all about keeping things easy and fun. Flirt.com offers a lot of communication options for members at all levels, from chat rooms to direct messaging, and even the Flirtcast feature, which allows you to send a quick message to many people at once. Basic members do have some restrictions on access, like only sending private messages to members who are currently online. But you can do everything you need to without ever getting out a credit card, right up until you arrive for your next date.
FAQs: Is Online Dating Safe for Single Parents?
The dating scene is complicated for single parents, and online dating is a major tool to find love and companionship without having to hit up bars and clubs. But online dating isn’t without dangers. All online daters, and especially single moms, should take extra precautions to stay safe while pursuing a potential partner.
Make sure you vet the people you match with on any dating platform, even the most trustworthy ones. Take extra time to get to know someone through messages, as well as through voice chat and video chat, before agreeing to meet in person. When you decide to meet for the first time, make sure your first meeting is in a public place, and share the details with friends or relatives.
We also recommend taking it slow when it comes to bringing your new potential partner to your home or introducing them to your children. And, of course, learn what to look out for when it comes to romance scammers and online extortionists. Never reveal any sensitive information about yourself or your children, and don’t provide any financial information to a stranger.
Overall, online dating is as safe for single parents as it is for other singles. The main issue is that single parents have to protect not just themselves, but their children. As long as you take sensible precautions and take things slow, you should be fine!
What is Facebook Dating?
Facebook Dating is the dating app launched by social media mega-platform Facebook. The platform joined the online dating industry in 2019, just before Covid lockdowns made digital alternatives to meeting in person a major need for singles around the world. While it’s still a relative newcomer to the space, Facebook Dating has a lot of features that should make it popular for singles: unlimited free messaging, matches based on common interests within your extended friend network, and ease of use.
Despite these features, Facebook Dating still lags behind a lot of the more established dating sites and apps. It’s just not as popular, even though you can set up your profile in a matter of moments and message anyone on the app on an unlimited basis. While it’s still a strong option for people who prefer to date someone their friends or family may already know, you’re probably going to find fewer potential matches on Facebook Dating than you would on other more popular platforms.
Does Bumble Work If You’re Over 40?
Technically, Bumble doesn’t have an upper age limit and welcomes any user over the age of 18. But Bumble, as well as Tinder, Hinge, and similar mainstream dating apps, are often a bust for older daters. The main user base on these apps is on the younger side. The average age for a Bumble user is 26. This makes it a lot less likely that you’ll find someone in your age range on the app.
Since its launch in 2014, Bumble has positioned itself as one of the queens of the online dating world. The dating app turns gender stereotype on its head by empowering women to make the first move in a conversation with a man. Once you’ve made that mutual match, you have up to 48 hours to respond and make a connection.
- A feminist dating app puts singles on equal footing
- 60% of Bumble matches turn into dates
- Bumble Bizz and Bumble BFF spark non-romantic connections
- Browse Bumble profiles 100% free »
If you’re looking to date someone significantly younger, there are dedicated dating apps and sites for singles seeking age-gap relationships, like AgeMatch. These would be a better option than Bumble or similar mainstream apps since other users are looking for the same things you are. The other downside to using Bumble, Tinder, or Hinge if you’re an older dater is the fact that you’re not likely to be noticed on the platform.
If you’re looking for someone closer to your age, sticking with apps and sites that cater to older singles is a better idea.
Mature Singles Can Start Fresh Online
Whether you’re a long-time single or fresh out of a divorce, online dating makes sense for people over 40. You’ll find plenty of like-minded people on the right platforms. These sites and apps can help you expand your dating pool and encounter people you may not run into during your day-to-day life.
Get online and find a compatible match anywhere in the world!
