Adults Only Dating Site
Raingarda Krzynowek
To choose the best dating sites for older adults, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed data on 24 dating websites, ranking them in terms of membership price, whether they ask participants to complete a comprehensive questionnaire about themselves, how matches are suggested, communication options and more. Read on to discover which dating sites made our list.
Senior Friends Date is a no-frills dating website that caters exclusively to adults 50 and over. While the other matchmaking sites on this list offer paid memberships to unlock more advanced features, this ad-supported site is completely free to use. To start, users fill out basic information, such as specifying the gender, age range and region for potential matches. From there, users add to their profile, including any interest or hobbies and what they are seeking in a match. Then, the site aggregates profile information to find any appropriate matches. Senior Friends Date offers city-specific matchmaking, including large U.S. hubs like New York, Dallas, Boston and Denver, as well as international cities in the U.K., Canada and Australia.
Once your profile is complete, you start receiving local matches. (Each dating site has its own algorithm geared toward helping you meet potential matches.) When you connect with a match, many websites allow you to message them privately via an online message function.
Older adults may prefer dating sites and apps that are user-friendly, easy to navigate and offer safety features like blocking and reporting. Additionally, the best dating apps for older adults use compatibility algorithms that match users based on factors like shared interests or hobbies, age, location, gender and more.
The price of meeting a potential match depends on the dating site. For example, Silver Singles offers a free basic membership, but you can upgrade to a premium service that provides unlimited access to all profiles and the ability to create a more detailed profile. Pricing structures differ from site to site.
Along with matching you with potential partners, some sites offer bonus services like a professional matchmaker who can find matches for you, a dating concierge who can help you plan dates and invitations to member-only events. However, there may be an extra cost associated with these add-ons.
Dating sites for older adults that offer free versions include SeniorMatch, eHarmony, OkCupid, EliteSingles, Christian Mingle, BlackPeopleMeet, Academic Singles and LDS Singles. However, free memberships for these platforms may come with limited features and may require a paid membership subscription to message potential matches.
Nearly half of all online dating users report using Tinder, making it the most widely-used dating site among adults in the U.S. However, online dating users ages 50 and older are more likely to use Match.com and eHarmony than other dating platforms, according to a report by the Pew Research Center.
Yes, online dating works for older adults. In fact, a 2022 report by the Pew Research Center found that 6% of U.S. adults over the age of 50 who are married, living with a partner or in a romantic relationship met their current partner through a dating site or app.
In the past decade, a consistently growing number of singles have turned to online dating as a way to meet people and find love. Three out of 10 Americans say they have used an online dating app or website, according to February data from the Pew Research Center, and digital dating providers are expected to have reached 441 million users worldwide by the end of 2023, according to Statista.
Finding your person takes time, effort, and patience, no matter what method you end up choosing. But the good news is that finding a long-term partner online is easier than it's ever been before. A 2023 report from the Pew Research Center states that one in every 10 partnered adults found their partner through a dating site or app. And hey, that could be you.
If you're ready for commitment and don't know where to find people looking for the same thing, or if you want to know what dating apps are best for different types of daters, know that you have more options than just eharmony and Match. Here are a few of our favorite dating sites for serious relationships:
It's not your typical dating app questionnaire, either. Instead of asking if you're "emotionally stable," eHarmony may ask how you handle apologizing after a fight or if a particular action would tick you off. These hypothetical situations feel more organic and paint a clearer picture of your personality. And, despite the seemingly high number of questions, it only takes about 20 minutes or so to complete.
The great part about online dating is that it gives you the chance to meet a whole pool of people you wouldn't otherwise. But it only takes dating one person with completely different professional goals to make you realize that a relationship can't stay afloat on romance alone and that maybe that pool of people might be a bit too wide.
For those unwilling to budge when it comes to their partner's educational values and passion for success, EliteSingles attempts to create a space where you can find a range of people who you know off the bat share similar values when it comes to your professional life. The site's claim to fame is that 82 percent of members are college grads (most being between the age of 33 and 50). This is the place for folks who have hit a comfortable stride professionally and are now pursuing a partner who's at the same point in their life. The site's questionnaire decodes 29 personality traits to suggest matches who not only have an income compatible with yours but with whom you'd mesh based on communication styles, ideal first dates, and whether you're one to make the first move.
Past users report a feed full of people living far away than they indicated in their preferences. It's borderline ironic, considering the whole conceit of the site is about showing you a specific pool of daters. Plus, the lowest distance you can filter your search to is 50 miles away, so there's built-in leeway for the reality that looking for a more specific type of person may require you to expand your physical location horizons some. And unfortunately, it's hard for any dating website to catch anyone lying about their job or income.
While many dating apps target the younger crowd, SilverSingles understands older adults' unique needs and desires. With a focus on compatibility and shared values, SilverSingles helps older singles find matches who are at a similar stage in life, ensuring a higher likelihood of long-term compatibility.
There's evidence that relationships that started online might have a stronger foundation than those that started offline. A 2017 study cited in the MIT Technology Review found that people who meet online are more likely to be compatible and have a higher chance of a healthy marriage if they decide to get hitched. A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in late 2019 found that three in 10 Americans had used a dating site or app, and 12% of Americans had been married or in a committed relationship with someone they met from an app. Whether it involves marriage or not, online dating seems to be a good recipe for a satisfying, long-term relationship.
No one is saying that online dating is the variable that changes everything, but the research does point to the fact that people who sign up for dating sites that require thoughtful responses are more ready to settle down.
If you have more traditional relationship values, dating sites such eharmony and Match.com might be best for you. If having shared values with your partner and getting to know their personality is your priority, OkCupid, Bumble, or Hinge might be a better fit.
eharmony sets itself apart from other dating sites by opting for an 80-question compatibility test to connect daters. It uses a combination of your personality type, communication style, likes and dislikes, motivation style, and personality characteristics into consideration when finding your most compatible partner. According to the company, this quiz is key to the brand's successful track record for marriage.
The most established dating site on our list, Match.com has been around for over 25 years. It has a rap as the dating site for those seeking a serious relationship, with a user base of over 39 million daters. The majority of Match.com users are between 30 and 49 years old with a fastest growing demographic of 50+ users.
All these dating sites have reputations for fostering long-term love, not just easy hookups. You're less likely to run into folks just looking for something casual, or you can easily filter those people out.
If making small talk or spending time in crowded social settings is your idea of hell, there are dating sites out there designed to help you find a potential partner sans the overwhelming social anxiety.
To help you find your person (the one who will understand and appreciate you for who you truly are), we've rounded up 12 of the best dating sites for introverts just like you. There are a few picks in here for hooking up too, because why not? Just because you're introverted doesn't mean you can't have a little fun.
If you're an introvert who prefers to take things slow and get to really know someone before jumping into a relationship, Match may be the best dating site for you. Unlike eharmony's marriage-centered approach, match gives you a chance to browse and connect with new people at your own pace without feeling overwhelmed or pressured.
Owned by Match Group, Match is a popular dating site for people who are interested in making meaningful connections but aren't quite ready to tie the knot. Match offers a pretty good middle ground between casual hookups and serious long-term relationships.
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