Best dating sites for seniors: Updated for November 2023
Dating can be awkward, scary, and just plain frustrating at any age. Sure, being in the over-60 group may mean that more people your age are already off the market, but there really are still so many fish in the sea. We’re not just saying that — and if you want to see for yourself, online dating can introduce you to those fish that you may have never met otherwise.
To help you find your perfect match — whether you’re interested in something casual or a long-term relationship — Mashable tested the best dating sites for seniors, considering both age-specific dating sites as well as more mainstream dating apps that have a large user base of mature users. Our goal? To demystify online dating as best we can through guidelines to help choose which dating site would be the right fit for you.
Is dating over 50 hard?
If you’re hesitant about trying online dating as a senior, you’re not alone. While using the internet to find love or a date is second nature to young folks, there’s admittedly a bit of a learning curve for older users who are accustomed to meeting organically in person. But here’s the thing: Seniors actually have tons of advantages when it comes to online dating.
For starters, many people in their 20s simply aren’t ready to settle down. But as a mature dater over 60, you’ve been figuring out this whole “love” thing for longer than millennials have been alive. You know the red flags that haven’t worked for you in the past, and you know what you want going forward.
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At any age, online dating gives you access to a wider pool of potential matches. When you’re limited to meeting local people in person, serendipitous moments can feel few and far between. The best online dating apps are like windows to the world, letting you connect both with people who live nearby or cuties from somewhere you’ve been thinking of visiting. Plus, you can’t deny the convenience (or the rush) of the possibility of meeting your special someone even on the nights that you don’t want to leave your couch.
We’ve gathered the best dating sites for seniors below based on our own experiences, hands-on reviews, and comparative research on the experiences of other online daters. We’ve also included some bulleted info to help you get the most out of a paid dating membership, like whether a platform has different paid tiers to access more in-depth features like multiple methods of communication or filters past age and location. (Note that prices for dating apps and sites are constantly changing. We update regularly, but there might be minor price differences.) From fun, easy-to-use apps to more serious dating websites, here’s to finding love later in life!
How we tested
Finding love and companionship in your golden years can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. With the right senior dating site, you can connect with other mature singles who share your interests and values.
We tested out a bunch of dating sites with robust user bases of people over 50, keeping the following criteria in mind:
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Ease of use: We made sure that the sites were easy to navigate, even for less tech-savvy seniors. For senior dating sites with apps to use on your smartphone, we also confirmed that the app was intuitive to use and didn’t have a major learning curve.
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Active user base: We looked for sites with a large and active user base of seniors to give you the best chance of coming across and interacting with the most matches possible.
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Matching system: We evaluated the matching systems of each site to see how they took answers to compatibility questions into consideration (when applicable), as well as whether the site followed selected filters and only put potential matches into the pool that fell under our preferred age range, distance, and more.
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Communication tools: Knowing that the person on the other end of the screen is who they say they are is crucial when dating online, so we kept tabs on how these dating sites allow you to interact with other users, whether that’s through instant messaging, email, video calls, and voice chat — and when applicable, how much the site charges to unlock these features.
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Safety and security: We ensured each site had measures to protect users’ privacy and safety.
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Bang for your buck: We compared what you pay with what you get, ensuring it’s a fair deal.
Based on our testing, we believe that the dating sites on this list offer the best possible experience for seniors. We focused on features important to older adults, such as a large and active user base, communication tools, and safety features.
All apps and sites listed above have been thoroughly tested by Mashable’s team and experienced freelance contributors (who know a thing or two about finding relationships online).
Apps we tested that didn’t make the cut
Zoosk may have a large user base, but it didn’t make our list of the best dating apps for senior daters. Here’s why:
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Fake profiles: Zoosk has a reputation for having a lot of fake profiles. This can be frustrating for senior daters who are looking for genuine connections.
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Pricey: Zoosk is pricey for what it offers. This can be a barrier for senior daters who are on a budget.
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Not specifically designed for senior daters: Zoosk isn’t designed for senior daters. This means that you may run into younger users.
Why we didn’t like it: Zoosk is a last-resort pick for us. While the SmartPick and Super Send features may help some users find a potential match, there are more than a few things we wish we could change.