Many singles over 50 often find it difficult to make a friend or find a significant other in their age bracket. Fortunately, online dating services can come to the rescue in this area. Seniors daters have been slow to adopt online dating as their primary way to meet people, but it’s worth a try if your current social circle doesn’t have many options.
By using senior dating sites and apps, people over 50 can mingle in an age-appropriate dating pool and have a better shot at starting a new chapter in their dating life.
Here’s a list of 11 ways to meet singles over 50 and start building relationships.
6 Best Ways to Meet Singles Over 50
Having decades of life experience, people in midlife usually know what they’re looking for in a partner. But, dating can be complicated if they have children of exes still in the picture, and that’s why it helps senior daters to find others in the same boat. Senior dating sites like those below have many unique features to offer on the journey to find new love.
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 »
Known as the world’s first dating site, Match.com helps people find potential dates that lead to long-term relationships for three generations. Launched in 1995 — during the dial-up internet era — Match is the right place for older singles to meet new people online, as 27% of Match users are adults over 50 and a rapidly growing demographic on the site.
Match’s success in finding partners for its users stems from its personality-driven algorithm. Forget the swiping game, instead, the platform recommends a list of Daily Matches, making it easy to expand your social circle. As a senior single, you can set age preferences to make your recommendations fit your age bracket.
You can start using Match for $0 by signing up for a free account that never expires but has limited features. Alternatively, the three-day trial allows you to try the premium features for free. When you’re ready to invest, Match has memberships for three, six, and 12 months, and all of them are affordably priced for singles of all backgrounds.
2. 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 »
The eharmony dating app caters to singles who want to quit the swiping game to find a long-term partner. While eharmony isn’t a seniors-only dating app, many of its users are over 50 and its personality quiz has helped match over 2 million couples in the U.S.
Most eharmony users are singles who are divorced or single parents. The eharmony profile prompts let users share their life experiences in detail. You can start using eharmony for free, but sending unlimited messages and video chats are premium features. The paid membership can be pricey, but some eharmony members say it’s well worth the cost to improve the quality of their date prospects.
3. OurTime
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 »
OurTime is an online dating app catering exclusively to senior singles. All members must confirm their age upon signing up, making it the perfect dating pool for people over 50. It’s available on your web browser, or you can download the app on your phone.
OurTime has more than 1 million users, with over 20,000 new members joining daily. People over 50 seem to entrust their love lives to the time-tested algorithm. The matchmaking process works simply to connect senior singles with compatible matches, prioritizing those who are in the same ZIP code. In addition to that, members can also set match preferences based on age, ethnicity, education, and other factors.
OurTime allows free members to send replies to their most compatible matches. Unlimited messages is a paid feature accessible only through the monthly subscription package.
SilverSingles is serious about helping singles over 50 meet one another, and its network stretches across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The secure signup process includes profile verification and fraud detection, so new members must portray themselves accurately to gain access to the platform. By fostering a safe environment, SilverSingles helps men and women meet mature dates in their area.
- An exclusively senior membership base
- Over 800,000 monthly users worldwide
- App available for free on Google Play
- Browse SilverSingles profiles 100% free »
Whether you’re seeking a serious partner or just a fun first date, Silver Singles is a go-to online dating site for singles over 50 for three reasons: 1) Every Silver Single member is verified. 2) Silver Singles uses advanced scam detectors to screen fake profiles and scammers. 3) It has a simple, easy-to-use design for senior singles.
You can access Silver Single by downloading the Silver Singles app or signing up on the dating website. Every day, you will receive up to seven daily matches, or you can use the advanced search features to find suitable dates in your area. You also can set specific dating preferences regarding age, education, and religion, and identify dealbreakers.
Free members can’t exchange messages or view photos, which is a big drawback for the senior dating site. A member may want to take advantage of the subscription perks by upgrading for a monthly fee.
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 »
SeniorFriendsDate is the best online dating site for singles over 50 who want to find unlimited connections for free. The senior site operates under the motto “dating for people with experience.”
The Senior Friends Date team is committed to helping senior singles have another shot at love. The platform offers a no-frills online dating experience where setting up a dating profile doesn’t require a lengthy questionnaire and finding matches isn’t a complicated calculation.
Once you complete your dating profile, you can send messages in the chat room. Whether you’re looking for a new friend, a casual hookup, or a future spouse, you can depend on SeniorFriendFinder to put you in touch with singles in your generation.
6. 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 »
When it comes to free senior dating sites, Senior Match consistently ranks among the best of the best. The senior dating site’s motto, “You don’t have to be alone,” seems to resonate with singles over 50. And its smart matchmaking tools have helped over 6,000 daily active members get connected to the senior community. According to its internal statistics, Senior Match supports about 1.6 million conversations per month.
You can access SeniorMatch via their website or download it via iOS or Android app. Creating a dating profile takes less than a minute, but you need to be over 50 to join. Paid members can enjoy advanced filtering features to narrow their matches by age, location, religion, body type, height, ethnicity, and other characteristics.
5 Affordable Ways to Meet Singles Over 50
Online dating often comes with a price tag if you want to chat and match effectively. But not all paid plans cost an arm and a leg. We’ve ranked some affordable dating services that offer valuable tools, and even some free chatting, to help senior daters meet a worthy date.
Ashley Madison is an extramarital dating site with over 80 million profiles in its private database, and it is full of temptation. The site and app offer a judgment-free zone where married people can consider their options and chat with singles who are willing to get together on the down-low.
- A uniquely open-minded dating network
- Privacy-conscious features
- Over 1.4 million matches per month
- Browse Ashley Madison profiles 100% free »
Ashley Madison has a solid reputation for helping married couples find cheating partners. The affair dating site’s provocative tagline, “Life is Short. Have an affair,” only reinforces this image. The truth is, whether you’re interested in finding an instant hookup, a casual date, or a long-term affair, Ashley Madison can do it all. Mature daters don’t need to hide their intentions or relationship status on this no-judgment dating site and app.
Since getting off the ground in 2002, Ashley Madison has attracted more than 80 million users. Such a large user base makes it easy for singles over 50 to find new romantic connections, and the advanced filtering system can help narrow the dating pool to compatible matches. You can set your match preference by age, online status, location, encounter type, appearance, and ethnicity. All women on the Ashley Madison platform can send and receive messages for free; however, male users will need a paid subscription to engage in private chats in this sultry network.
8. BeNaughty
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 »
Let’s be honest: Not every single person over 50 wants a fairy-tale marriage or long-lasting love. Sometimes they just want to have fun and find a sexy partner to explore their sexual needs and desires. This is where BeNaughty comes in with no-strings-attached hookups.
“We think long-term relationships are great, but we recognize and don’t feel ashamed that many people are after something a bit more immediate and want a dating site where they can get straight to the point,” mentioned Vera Bulgakova, Сhief Marketing Officer of Together Networks, which is BeNaughty’s parent company. “While dating at BeNaughty, our users reveal their hidden desires and naughty behavior. That’s why we created BeNaughty — for those who, like us, are open-minded.”
Since launching in 2007, BeNaughty has grown into 20 million+ members in over 30 countries, including the U.S., Canada, and France. With its simple search tools and premium features, BeNaughty helps casual daters pursue their sexual needs, fetishes, and naughty desires. People of all backgrounds and sexual orientations can join for free and explore everything this sexy dating site has to offer.
9. Zoosk
Zoosk is a socially savvy dating site known for its diverse membership base and behavioral matchmaking system. Over 40 million singles in 80 countries have joined the network so far, and it’s growing larger every day. The platform offers many different ways to communicate and express interest in members, so it’s easy to form a fast connection here.
- Send messages to premium members for free
- Over 3 million messages sent a day
- Premium perks include photo verification and sending virtual gifts
- Browse Zoosk profiles 100% free »
Zoosk is a dating website and app that integrates social networking with online dating. Since launching in 2007 by Alex Mehr and Shayan Zadeh, Zoosk has attracted quality singles who are looking for casual dates. Zoosk has over 40 million members in 80 countries and is available in 25 languages. In total, this app has received over 400,000 reviews, and Zoosk members send about 3 million messages a day on average.
Senior citizens can use the Zoosk app to connect with new people in several ways, such as sending smiles, likes, messages, or virtual gifts. Zoosk’s behavioral matchmaking learns about your date preferences based on your online activity, so the most active users have the most accurate date recommendations. You can download the app for free, but only paid members can read and reply to messages.
10. Plenty of Fish
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 completely free dating site that allows users to exchange messages without having to create a mutual match. It launched in 2003 and now has over 150 million users worldwide, over 4 million active daily users, and over 65,000 new singles joining every day.
POF is not curated for a mature single audience, but the platform provides ample conversations and dating opportunities for those who put in the effort. The Plenty of Fish Founder Markus Frind said the online dating platform is responsible for over 1 million babies being born.
Some basic information is required to create a profile on POF. The registration process requires an email address, username, password, age, gender, location, and ethnicity. You’ll then be prompted to complete the Chemistry Test and Relationship Needs Assessment. Finally, you can enhance your profile by writing a headline, uploading photos, and filling in detailed sections about your hobbies and goals. Older adults can use this proven matchmaking system to identify local dates who are a good catch.
11. Facebook Dating
Facebook launched a dating service, cleverly dubbed Facebook Dating, on a mission to expand its ability to connect people in meaningful relationships. The dating app is completely free to use and provides unique matchmaking features, including the Secret Crush option that taps into your Friends list to find mutual matches. Facebook Dating is only accessible through the Facebook app, and it has yet to gain as much traction as the more established names in the industry.
- Totally free communication for all users
- Dating activity is separate from the mainstream FB newsfeed
- Detailed profile information includes Facebook events and interest groups
- Browse Facebook Dating profiles 100% free »
While Facebook Dating is a relatively new player in the online dating scene, its association with the world’s top social networking platform grabbed attention immediately. During a conference in 2018, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced his intentions to disrupt the online dating industry with a new dating app. This naturally caused a lot of excitement. Fast forward to today, nothing groundbreaking has happened from Facebook Dating.
Facebook Dating is currently available in 20 countries, including the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Brazil. The online dating application has created over 1.5 billion matches in just about five years. You can only access the Facebook Dating app if you have a Facebook account and have the Facebook app on your phone or mobile device. The platform allows Facebook users to flip through dating profiles, send free messages to matches, and identify crushes in their Facebook friends list.
But don’t worry, your Facebook friends won’t see your activity in the Facebook Dating app as it runs separately from the social media feed.
Our dating experts give Facebook Dating a relatively lukewarm rating because it falls short in terms of online activity and popularity. Online dating is a numbers game, and Facebook Dating doesn’t have the numbers right now to make it competitive with the likes of Tinder or Bumble.
FAQs: Where Can I Meet Senior People in Real Life?
It’s normal for people over 50 to feel nervous about entering the dating scene again. The dating world has changed significantly over the last few decades, and the tactics for getting dates on an app or website may be foreign to today’s senior singles.
Online dating lets the older generation dip their toe into new connections and expand their social network without leaving the comfort of their home. All senior singles need is a little knowledge of how to navigate online dating, and they can have less stressful and more enjoyable experiences meeting people.
Of course, online dating isn’t the only way to meet new people and form mature connections. If you’re more of an extrovert, joining social activities can be a good alternative to the online world.
Sign up for exercise classes or take dance lessons to meet people with similar interests. Don’t overtly try to pick up dates on day one — instead let the friendships and relationships build organically. See your activity as a way to connect with like-minded people and have some laughs. If you end up getting dates, that’s awesome, if you don’t, then you can always start a dating profile.
How Can a Single Person Spot Fake Profiles Online?
Safety is a concern when it comes to online dating. The FBI received 351,937 romance scam complaints in 2018 alone. It’s no secret that online scammers try to take advantage of vulnerable and lonely individuals on the web. Senior daters can be an easy target because of their lack of experience navigating online communities.
However, if you know what to avoid, you won’t become a victim of romance scam. Some of the best practices for online dating are:
- If your match asks for money, block them right away!
- Pay attention to grammar. A lot of scammers are from other countries and aren’t native English speakers.
- If you have the budget, don’t hesitate to join paid sites. People who invest money to join online dating sites have the same intention to find dates in real life.
You can also proactively search for your match on Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, or another social media site. A little bit of background research can make a big difference. Trust your intuition when you feel something if off, so you can stop wasting your time and move on to a more trustworthy match.
Is It Worth Paying for a Membership on a Dating App?
Our dating experts advocate for senior singles to join a premium for two reasons: to save time and to deter scammers. A premium dating site such as Match or eharmony can offer greater security and more quality matches simply because communication doesn’t come for free — so online daters have to really want it.
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 »
Finding a good date on a free dating service can be a little like looking for a needle in a haystack. It’s possible, but you’ll need to have determination. In come cases, splurging on a premium dating app membership can be like treating yourself to a nice dinner. It’s a small investment in the possibility of happiness from a new relationship in your golden years.
Scammers often don’t bother shelling out cash for a premium membership. Free dating sites have more leeway to find many people to prey on. A premium membership offers protection from ill-doers, so senior singles can focus on connecting with real people.
A Senior Dating Site or App Could Be the Start of Something New
If you’re over 50 and single, your life might need a restart as your children grow up. If you feel called to ignite your love life, online dating can help you break the ice and get out of your shell.
With the right attitude, senior singles can get back into the dating game or at least share their story with someone. With tons of opportunities from this list of ways to meet singles over 50 online, you can give one or two a fair shot, and it could be the start of something amazing. Best of luck!
