For previous generations, divorce was a scandal or tragedy beyond the pale. In today’s society, being divorced isn’t seen as the end of the world. The reality is that 40% to 50% of marriages in the US end in divorce. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Women today have more financial independence, so they’re not trapped in an unhappy marriage — they have options!
Many single moms in the dating scene are looking to continue their lives and thrive as divorcées. But single parenting is already hard enough, and the idea of dating again can be daunting, especially with children at home.
Being a single mom doesn’t have to be a dealbreaker for your love life, but you must be careful to choose the right dating site or app. Navigating the dating world may not be as simple as it used to be when you have little ones to consider, but it’s possible to find a partner who understands and embraces your parenting life. That’s why we researched the top dating sites for single moms and have identified the best options.
1. Match
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
Launched in 1995, Match stands as a seasoned dating platform with over 30 million members and more than 13.5 million visitors a month. Its reputation in online dating speaks volumes. Our dating experts consider Match to be the best free dating site for single moms.
Over 75% of Match users are in their 30s, and most of them are looking for serious relationships, not casual hookups. This demographic base suits single moms who are starting to date again because they need a romantic partner who understands their need to balance personal happiness and their child’s well-being.
When you join Match, the algorithm zeroes in on profiles with high compatibility and potential for a lasting relationship. The great news is that the free membership includes many useful features like adding photos, searching for and receiving matches, and messaging your matches.
2. eharmony
It may take some time to fill out eharmony’s personality test, but the results are well worth it. This dating site goes the extra mile to get to know its members and deliver quality matches to their inboxes. Every profile has a compatibility rating to let you know your essential similarities and differences. Plus eharmony has inspired more than 2 million love connections since 2000.
- Designed to satisfy marriage-minded single women
- In-depth compatibility quiz generates high-quality matches
- Personalized Match Preferences on gender, age, income, religion, education, and more
- Browse eharmony profiles 100% free
Single moms understand how important compatibility is in a long-term relationship, and eharmony is a popular dating platform where compatibility comes first. We rank eharmony so highly because of its comprehensive relationship questionnaire. Since its development by psychologists in 2000, eharmony’s algorithm has helped countless singles find the right partner.
Over the years, eharmony has connected an estimated 2 million couples, and the dating platform makes 15 million matches every day. This is not an empty claim from eharmony, and the team continuously updates the success stories on its website. Single moms who want long-term partners can find inspiring stories and support on eharmony.
3. Stir
Created by Match Group in 2022, Stir is a new player in the online dating world. The online dating app caters to single parents of all sexual orientations. The network has grown rapidly since its launch, and many users have praised its robust safety and security guidelines.
On the downside, Stir’s subscription price is more expensive compared to other dating sites, which may turn off single moms on limited budgets. Most of the app’s features, such as browsing in both public and private mode, messaging, video chat, Likes or SuperLikes, and matchPhone, require you to be a paid member.
4. OkCupid
OkCupid was launched in 2004 by a team of self-proclaimed Harvard math nerds who wanted to quantify human relationships. They came up with a formula for romantic love by asking a range of personal, funny, and unusual questions. Over the years, OkCupid has gathered single people’s answers to the questions and crunched numbers to improve online relationships. The team even calculated the best words to use in the first message. All of that insight and guidance can help single moms in their online dating journeys.
Beyond the questionnaire, the best thing about OkCupid is its pledge to remain a free dating service forever. So single moms can match and message on the dating platform without paying for a subscription.
OkCupid makes more than 91 million love connections every year, and it has a relatively high average rating of 4.3 on iTunes and 4.1 on Google Play.
FAQs: What’s the Best App for Casual Hookups?
Jumping from one committed relationship to another can be daunting for single women, especially when young children are involved. Sometimes, you’re not ready to get into a serious relationship, and that’s OK. Starting by dating casually without expecting too much from the relationship can be a good solution.
Plenty of hookup apps are ready to help. If you’re a single mom looking for casual hookups, Ashley Madison should be on your radar.
Most Ashley Madison users are looking for an escape. That could come in the form of harmless online flirting, or it could mean pursuing a tryst on the down low. The dating site and app aren’t here to judge anyone for what they want. At the end of the day, Ashley Madison is all about following your heart — wherever it may lead.
- Proactive privacy and security measures
- Ability to hide your face in profile pictures
- Quick Reply to matches to show you’re interested
- Browse Ashley Madison profiles 100% free
Ashley Madison is a judgment-free dating platform designed for facilitating no-strings dates and affairs. Since its launch in 2002, more than 80 million people have joined the Ashley Madison platform.
The discreet dating site’s popularity doesn’t seem like it will fade any time soon. The best part is that Ashley Madison gives free access to all female users. It is best suited for single moms who want to have fun without breaking the bank.
Is It Safe to Date as a Single Mother?
Safety is always important when it comes to online dating. Single mothers, in particular, may be concerned about their or their child’s safety in the online world, but women can take action to protect themselves and their families.
To feel at ease while getting to know someone new, a single mom needs to establish boundaries and take certain precautions. Here are some common steps you can take:
- Meeting in a public place
- Vetting a new date prospect on social media
- Providing your own transportation to and from the date
- Alerting a friend or family member about when and where your date will take place
- Never rushing into a new relationship just because a person seems nice
As a single mom, being cautious extends into your online presence. It’s important to avoid oversharing personal information — refrain from location tagging and keep photos of your children off your dating profile. If a new person asks for a picture of your family, politely decline and say you’re not comfortable taking that step just yet.
When you’re starting a new relationship, it’s vital to keep your dating life separate from your home life. In those early stages, trust hasn’t been established yet, so setting clear boundaries is key.
Online dating sites and apps have many safety tools to help single parents navigate these tricky waters without compromising their safety. Report any profile that violates the platform’s community guidelines, and don’t hesitate to use the block button to remove creeps from your swipe list.
What’s the Best Online Dating App for Meeting Single Dads?
If you’re a single mom who wants to connect with a single dad, the Stir dating app launched by Match Group is worth a try. Stir is a new dating app that came onto the scene in 2022 to cater to single parents — and those open to dating single parents.
This niche dating app aims to change the way single parents view dating by launching the “Break Every Single Rule” campaign. New beginnings are everyday occurrences on Stir. One of the main benefits of joining the Stir network as a single parent is that you won’t have to defend your choices or dance around the subject of your family.
As Stir’s Vice President of Brand Jennifer Spector said, “Having kids isn’t a dealbreaker. It’s a conversation starter.”
Busy Single Parents Deserve Love and Romance, Too!
It’s normal for a single parent to feel nervous about dating again. But with technology on your side, getting back to the dating world can be easy and stress-free. Online dating can open the door to romance and new happiness for you and your children. And if you can find a long-term partner to help raise your child, that is an added bonus!
Your journey to find love could begin with setting up an online dating profile and browsing the swipe list for matches. Mainstream dating apps and single parent dating apps can both help single adults get out there to meet new people.
At the end of the day, if you don’t put in the effort, you’ll never start a new chapter of your love life. So, choose your dating app and find local dates today!
