Researchers have found that singles in the LGBTQ community experience high levels of mental strain, depression, and anxiety compared to cisgender individuals. That’s why having a dating site or app with queer-friendly features is key to not only successful love stories but also peace of mind and safety. 

Lesbian women aren’t always satisfied by the mainstream dating apps on the market. Especially if they’re interested in a niche type of date. For older women who are looking for younger dates (and vice versa) in the dating world, we have compiled a list of the best dating sites with filters for age and location that can help facilitate lesbian matches.

1. Match

Category Rating
★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • Women enjoy an expert-led online dating experience
  • Can set specific date preferences for age, education, pets, etc.
  • Premium messaging and video chat features keep the riff-raff out

Sometimes it takes a new spark to create the dating life that you want with a good woman. Match makes it easier than ever to find the life partner you’ve been searching for. This is a time-tested dating service that has been around since the 1990s, and the secret to its longevity lies in the smart match formula and personality test.

Match has a unique matchmaking system that identifies compatible profiles based on your unique passions and personality traits. Once you create an online dating account, you can complete some quick questions about your lifestyle, interests, and goals. The daily matches provide a good hunting ground for lesbian women who are hoping to date older or younger people. You can even set preferences based on age to narrow the list of prospects.

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.0/5.0

If marriage isn’t meeting your romantic needs or sexual desires, Ashley Madison offers a chance to explore new connections on the down low. What’s better than one sexual partner? Two, three, or even four sexual partners, if that’s what you want. Ashley Madison is a dating app for married people who are looking to change their monotonous love lives into a fiery affair. 

Since its launch in 2001, Ashley Madison has seen over 80 million registrations and matched countless affair seekers and casual dates.

This web service offers a casual dating world where your secret desires can be fulfilled. Every new member is looking for discreet dates, anonymous convos, and maybe even no-strings sex if the vibe is right. Ashley Madison allows female users to create a free account and communicate with local matches without needing a paid subscription. That’s a valuable proposition for lesbian women hoping to explore cougar relationships and other sexual desires.

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.1/5.0

As the name implies, LesbianPersonals is a casual dating site designed for fem individuals to get up close and personal with each other. Whether you’re bisexual, lesbian, or queer, LesbianPersonals is a hot spot to connect and meet potential dates like yourself.

Lesbian women have a lot to explore on the hookup site. LesbianPersonals offers live video chats, group chats, and instant messaging to support online conversations. In addition to its discussion forums, LesbinPersonals has helpful search filters based on a appearance, lifestyle, sexual orientation, online activity, and other important criteria.

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.3/5.0
  • A niche network of single women in their 50s, 60s, and 70s
  • Free matching and limited communication with premium members
  • Available to lesbians in the U.S., Canada, and Europe

It can seem daunting for an older woman to hop into the dating world today. As a popular senior dating service, SilverSingles is here to make the transition to the online dating world smooth for women over 50. 

The SilverSingles app gives users easy instructions and guidelines to find that perfect match. New members have the option to complete a personality quiz that will help the app find the best compatible matches for a new love story. SilverSingles is not a lesbian dating app, but it allows for same-sex matches and has date preferences to help women find the right partner. 

Don’t feel like you have to rush into love! With SilverSingles you can take your time finding a lovely person who fits your lifestyle.

5. OurTime

Category Rating
★★★★★ 4.5/5.0
  • Free profile searches by sexual orientation, age, location, ethnicity, and height
  • Age-appropriate matches for lesbian women over 50
  • Today’s Matches features up to 11 profiles

The present moment is the most valuable time that we have in this world. The dating service OurTime reminds senior singles to make the most of their time in the dating world. OurTime is a highly reviewed service that caters to singles who are over 50 years of age. 

A free member can create an account with specific preferences for gender, age, location, and other compatibility factors. The dating website and app showcase the best matches that meet certain standards for a potential partner. OurTime is simple and gets straight to the point, making it easy to find romantic connections and friendships online, no matter your age.

Younger women can use OurTime to mingle with cougar lesbian ladies who have a lot to offer in a new relationship.

Category Rating
★★★★★ 4.7/5.0

Between all their work responsibilities, family obligations, and personal goals, it can be hard for a single professional to make space for a relationship. Online dating can be a good solution for busy singles who want to up their dating game. EliteSingles is a quality dating site geared toward singles who are educated, ambitious, and passionate. 

Over 80% of singles on this dating site have earned a college degree, and most of them say they’re looking for a real relationship. Elite Singles members join an array of users who are career-focused and will understand your busy lifestyle because they’re on the same wavelength. Signing up is free, and female users can create matches with a limited number of profiles before being prompted to subscribe to an upgraded membership.

7. HER

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.2/5.0
  • Free private messaging to all mutual matches
  • Post comments or send likes to connect with local lesbians
  • A safe, friendly, and one-of-a-kind dating app

HER is the dating app for the queer women seeking community, friendship, and true love. A lesbian woman founded HER in 2013 to give fem users a safe space to connect and find romantic partners in the lesbian community. HER currently has a global user base of over 13 million women, and the moderators promptly boot any male individual or heterosexual couple attempting to create a profile on the women-only app.

HER can play a part in your next love story by offering a ton of swiping matches and calendar events to explore. The online dating app works more like a social media network, and many women form deep connections thanks to its user-friendly tools.

8. Bumble

Category Rating
★★★★ 3.8/5.0
  • A global network of strong, confident women
  • Conversations expire within 24 hours of a match
  • Less than 1% of Bumble women are looking for hookups

Founded by a woman in 2014, Bumble is definitely one of the most trending dating apps on the market today. It’s a feminist dating app designed to empower women in the online dating scene. Bumble has seen over 100 million downloads worldwide and created millions of love connections between straight, gay, and lesbian couples. 

Whether you’re looking for a friend or a lover, Bumble can provide local matches and opportunities to spark a respectful connection. Creating an account is fairly simple, and a paid subscription isn’t necessary to enjoy the basics of swiping and chatting. Bumble users have the option to set geofilter location services and set specific age requirements based on their preferences. 

Women have First Move Privilege on Bumble, meaning no man can message a woman on the app unless she messages first. For women in same-sex matches, anyone can message first (for free) to unlock the conversation. But if no one messages within 24 hours, the match will disappear from view.

9. Fem

The Fem dating site creates a safe space for feminine users to explore their sexuality and find lesbian, bisexual, and queer matches. Fem grants a woman the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals and have a safe space to find friends, love, and a community of women. The app is free to download, and it’s relatively easy to make an account with all the bells and whistles. 

Fem website screenshot
Fem offers a platform where lesbian and bisexual women can connect.

Users can send messages to limited matches and can quickly expand their reach by upgrading to the premium membership. No matter what route you decide to take, Fem offers support and resources to enjoy female companionship in all forms.

FAQs: Is Online Dating Harder for Mature Women?

Yes, women in the 40-and-up age bracket often have fewer incoming messages and matches than their younger counterparts, and queer women are also more vulnerable to harassment by men if the online dating site isn’t proactive about policing conversations.

Most online dating sites and apps offer a handy block button as a woman’s protection from online harassment. That means women can take their safety into their own hands. Niche dating sites can also help by providing a safe space for finding local people who can relate to your life experiences. 

Which Lesbian Hookup Site Has the Best Success Rate?

Adult Friend Finder, which is the parent company behind LesbianPersonals, has the longest reign of any hookup platform. The adult dating service has made over 3.5 million connections between sexy singles, couples, and poly groups. People of every sexual orientation are welcome on this X-rated platform.

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.1/5.0

Women looking for lesbian hookups on Adult Friend Finder will have plenty of adult profiles, sexy photos, and online chat opportunities to peruse. The online dating site has search filters and lesbian video streaming to help queer women come into their own. The AFF community invites sex-driven people to meet and have fun regardless of gender identity or age.

The Online Dating Experience Liberates Cougar Women

Lesbian women have to overcome many hurdles to make online dating work for their needs. Not all dating apps have useful search filters and tools specific for women seeking female matches. Even though acceptance of LGBTQ+ relationships is on the rise, some backwards people can make trouble on dating apps, and reports of online harassment are higher among lesbian singles and queer folks.

Just because a particular dating app is popular in the mainstream dating scene, that doesn’t mean it’s right for an older lesbian woman or young female dater seeking a particular type of match. You don’t have to limit yourself to swiping on dating apps that don’t fulfill your needs — many niche apps can help!

We’ve ranked the best dating apps for lesbian women who are interested in cougar dating. These apps are popular, safe, and successful for many types of daters. Plus, they’re all free to join, so it doesn’t cost anything to take a peek for yourself!

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