If you’re above the age of 50 and are looking for a partner, you may be wondering whether Match is for seniors and if online dating can work for you at all. Meeting new people can often feel more organic or comfortable in person, it’s true, but the variety of senior dating sites and apps available to you may prove easier and more effective in the long run. Thanks to the many dating apps for seniors out there, a new relationship could blossom in the comfort of your own home.
For many younger adults, dating apps and sites have become the main way of connecting. Those of us in our 20s and 30s have almost developed a reflex of swiping left and right at rapid-fire speed, barely skimming the written bios and flipping through selfies and fishing photos. If you’re a mature single, however, chances are you’re looking for a deeper connection — one that involves taking your time and truly getting to know your other half. Luckily, popular dating apps like Match make this possible, and even fun. In this article we’ll discuss which dating
If you’re looking for a digital way to start something fresh with a new someone special, Match’s personality and compatibility-focused features just may be the way to go.
Match Is a General Dating Site, Not a Senior Dating Site
Match.com launched its original website in 1995, and the site quickly became a household name in digital dating, gathering a large and diverse pool of users. Over the years, as the company grew, and Match established a reputation as a pioneer in the industry — launching mobile apps for iOS and Android by March 2010.
Today Match is one of the most well-known and trusted online dating platforms on the market. But it isn’t for everyone.
The secret to Match’s success has been cultivating a user base of serious, relationship-minded daters. Its users tend to be single professionals in their 30s and 40s. That means that seniors in their 50s and up won’t find as many viable dates as they could on a senior dating site or app.
Match is not the top recommended dating site for senior people because its dating pool has more younger people than older people.
The Senior Dating Site OurTime is a Good Alternative
While Match does have a senior audience, it’s matchmaking doesn’t revolve around senior singles, and that’s why we recommend checking out a popular senior dating site instead. OurTime got started over 20 years ago on a mission to bring singles in the senior community together. It began as a People Media property, and now it’s part of Match Group’s portfolio.
OurTime has seen millions of signups and inspired countless love stories over the years. The senior site caters specifically to the 50-and-older demographic, so retirees will be in the majority here.
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 »
OurTime offers senior singles the chance to start anew and find love and other meaningful connections online. The dating journey begins with a free membership, which includes unlimited profile browsing, and members can upgrade to a premium plan any time they feel like chatting with a potential match.
The subscription plans are affordably priced (starting at $12.99 per month) to fit reasonably well into a single senior’s budget. And some free messaging is available for singles with high compatibility ratings on the platform.
OurTime is available as a dating website and a mobile dating app, so seniors can take their matches with them on the go if they like.
Safety Features Ensure Singles Don’t Get Scammed
One key element to meeting anyone on the internet — whether for dating or otherwise — is always safety. Feeling comfortable and secure while you’re chatting online with new people is important. Both OurTime and Match provide a wide array of features and protections to ensure that dating online as a senior is safe.
Scammers are a dime a dozen these days, and single seniors are among some of the most vulnerable to their shenanigans. Using romance or promises of love and affection is one devious way that online scammers can trick dating app users.
Profile verification features confirm that you’re chatting with someone who is real and trustworthy. If you come across a suspicious profile, however, the blocking and reporting features make it easy to protect yourself from harm and ensure that other users also continue to have a safe and comfortable experience.
The premium membership is another line of defense between real daters and fake profiles. When paid dating sites like OurTime require a subscription to unlock communication, they set a high standard that essentially helps to weed out people who are there for the wrong reasons.
FAQs: Is Online Dating Harder for Senior People?
If you’re familiar with the swiping culture and online dating experiences of younger singles, you may wonder whether online dating is for seniors like you. After all, apps like Tinder and Grindr haven’t exactly earned themselves the best reputation when it comes to forming lasting, meaningful connections.
But senior dating apps have been a game changer for the over-50 crowd. OurTime was among the first to see success in this space and garner testimonials from happy couples who met online and formed real relationships. The platform really has developed into one of the best dating services for older singles.
OurTime is an over-50 dating site with a lot of helpful features to facilitate friendships and relationships. Senior singles can look for dates themselves using the search tools, or they can view a curated list of matches to find compatible folks. Singles can send likes, flirts, and faves for free, but they have to subscribe to send messages to their online crushes.
- Open to straight, gay, and lesbian singles over 50
- Free match recommendations and conversation starters
- Use Tokens to promote your profile and send virtual gifts
- Browse OurTime profiles 100% free »
If you’re in the 50 and up age bracket, you’re likely to want a partner who shares similar values and a compatible lifestyle. While dating platforms like Tinder or Bumble offer lots of free features and a quick profile setup process, they don’t exactly measure up to OurTime in terms of the depth and detail of the profiles and the matching system itself.
OurTime puts more emphasis on connecting singles who have things in common and have a better chance at compatibility — rather than who you find attractive based on a short bio and a few pictures. All in all, online dating is much easier when a platform is working toward your specific needs!
What are Some Other Alternatives to Match?
Although Match is a great option for single seniors looking to date online, other platforms are available if you’re looking for alternatives or seeking to expand your dating pool.
A senior dating website like Silver Singles may be a good option if you’re looking for people within your age range, as 40% of its user base is over the age of 50. Silver Singles is also a rapidly growing community, with over 380,000 new users joining monthly.
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 »
Elite Singles is an online dating site and app made for those who prefer to be matched with highly educated, single professionals. We recommend Elite Singles if you’re hoping to meet someone whose professional and personal experience aligns with yours. Over 80% of Elite Singles users have a bachelor’s degree or higher, so it’s a highly educated dating pool to explore.
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 »
While many mature singles may want to find their love story online, others may feel more excited by the idea of a short-term interaction. Ashley Madison is a trusted casual dating site known for introducing people who share an interest in affairs, one-night-stands, or other no-strings relationships.
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 »
The online dating world is full of options for singles of all ages and backgrounds. Match isn’t the only game in town. Depending on whether you’re wanting to find your forever partner or just a sexy fling, those platforms may also be worth checking out.
What’s the Difference Between eharmony and Match.com?
Few online dating sites can measure up to the authority and effectiveness that Match has established in the dating world, but eharmony is a close contender. You may have heard of eharmony, an online dating service that was founded in 2000. There are plenty of similarities between eharmony and Match — they both have decades of matchmaking experience and large user bases of people seeking relationships.
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 »
A few key differences to note, however, are that Match’s membership is slightly less expensive, its user base is slightly larger, and Match has a reputation for being more LGBTQ+-friendly than eharmony.
Overall, the biggest difference between eharmony and Match is in the matchmaking formula. eharmony famously relies on an in-depth personality quiz crafted by psychologists, while Match has a much more straightforward dating profile that asks about lifestyle, interests, and background without digging into a person’s psychology.
If you want a dating algorithm’s detailed assessment of temperament compatibility and attachment styles, then eharmony is the data-driven resource for you. If you would just like to find someone who enjoys playing tennis as much as you do, then Match can certainly score some points with potential matches.
Is Match Good for Singles Over 50?
Match is open to single people of all ages, but it has a much smaller percentage of over-50 daters than you’d find on a senior dating site. Match users are predominantly in their 30s and 40s, so it’s not an ideal senior dating pool. That’s why we recommend OurTime for senior singles who are looking for friendship, companionship or true love.
Singles over 50 can start fresh in the online dating world and find a senior partner who understands where they’re coming from and what they desire out of life.
Final Thoughts: Online Dating Is for Everyone
Match offers decades of insight to ensure that mature daters have a safe and enjoyable experience, but it may not be the best dating site for senior singles who are serious about meeting a new person in the same age group.
No matter where you are in your dating journey, there are countless options out there for you to meet someone new. Online dating as a senior can be just as fulfilling and fun as it was in young adulthood — it all depends on where you look. Mainstream dating apps like Match may not have the mature partners you’re looking for, but you can always count on a senior dating site like OurTime to fill the gap.
Being single and ready to mingle can feel empowering and exciting when you’re a senior adult, and online dating is there to provide an outlet for you to explore those feelings. Its unique features help you meet people who are compatible and interesting to you, and give you ample opportunity to put yourself out there. No matter if you’re pursuing a passionate night with a sultry stranger or wanting to meet your future spouse, Match is well worth giving a try.
