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It’s easy to meet new people…if you’re constantly going places, mingling with groups, and talking business with dozens of pretty faces. But if you’re retired, or work from home, or just don’t live a gregarious lifestyle, it’s not easy to meet new people!
This is why boomers and Gen-Xers have embraced online dating in recent years for its practical approach to dating. The real challenge is in finding a dating site that gives you the experience you want.
Namely, a dating site that’s ideal for the above 40+ demographic. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the best dating sites for people over 40.
Our first choice was Match.com, because of its excellent features, practical filtering options, and high member count, including the over-forty group.
Few other sites could compete against Match in features, as well as searching and filtering options. Match offers lifestyle filtering, including body, religion, politics, and career. You can search for niche keywords or use reverse search to find people who are searching for your “type.”
According to statistical research, Match’s highest demographic age group is between the ages of 35 and 45, making it Gen-X friendly. Match is not created for the over-forty crowd, but with easy filtering and a huge membership, the site can find you a date, regardless of age.
Pros
Daily matches based on “mutual attraction”, part of Match’s unique algorithm
Play games or video chat
Talk on an anonymous virtual phone using your own home phone
The Best Senior Dating Site with a Personality Test
OurTime is themed towards seniors and over forty singles but it doesn’t prevent younger singles from joining. Don’t be surprised then if you get some interest from a younger date!
OurTime keeps options flexible, offering matchmaking to long-term relationship seekers, marriage, travel partners, or even email penpals. With over 9 million members, OurTime is a nice alternative to Match and more focused toward seniors.
Pros
Daily matches, search function, personality test, and random swiping
Site keeps your online history viewable so you can check to see if you’ve already chatted with a user before
Add videos of yourself for a better profile
Cons
Some advanced features cost extra per month, besides membership
EliteSingles is less about searching aimlessly, and more about matching for long-term relationships, particularly career professionals over the age of 40.
EliteSingles is a useful site for singles over 40 because approximately 80 percent of its members have a higher education degree, while over 90 percent are over 30 years of age.
Pros
Verified profiles and credentials
Personality-test based matching that saves you time
85 percent of members received higher education
Cons
Might not be suitable for lower-income singles who could feel left out
SilverSingles identifies its niche right away – only 50 and over can join. This eliminates the worry of anyone being mismatched with a younger person.
SilverSingles also offers a matching system based on an in-depth personality questionnaire. Members can expect several matches a day based on the site’s matchmaking formula.
Pros
Matches include a score of indicating how well the two of you will get along
Search by custom filtering, according to body, location, religion, or age
The eHarmony site is the most elaborate of all dating sites when it comes to its personality questionnaire. You must have time to take a 29-dimensions test.
The test asks you about your ideal partner and the future you want. For seniors looking for love, the advanced matching system will help find real love connections.
Pros
A strict verification process, with low-quality profiles being dismissed
Very classy, since moderators read all messages and eliminate users who are rude
Fun items like ice-breaker messages, multiple-choice questions, and first date ideas
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SeniorMatch targets its message to boomers and seniors, suggesting its members are over 50 years of age, and not allowing anyone under the age of 45 to sign up.
Staff members also approve profiles before the interaction begins. In addition to serious dating, SeniorMatch also suggests matchmaking for travel partners or short-term relationships.
Pros
Members can start a blog to appeal to more members
Requires official ID verification
Post questions or answers for other members in the community to see
Cons
The site’s search system also includes singles as young as 30, since it links to other sites in its network
AgeMatch makes no pretensions about long-term love. It’s very open to casual affairs, or even sugar daddy/momma and baby relationships.
AgeMatch allows partners of any age to flirt with their “opposite”, but without the requirement for lots of money. A person from any income-level can reach out and follow their natural attractions.
Pros
All about dating for mature/young couplings
Start a conversation by talking about your “first date” idea
Write a blog or visit forums to get more interaction from the community
Cons
Probably not the best place to find a soul mate or a marriageable partner
Thanks to Facebook/Google integration, you can get matches based on friends of friends of your social accounts. Zoosk’s best feature for the older crowd is its LGBTQ-friendly options.
You can also match with someone who shares your view of politics, religion and lifestyle, which become more important criteria as you age. Zoosk does have a high number of twenty-somethings so don’t be intimidated by youth!
Pros
Faster and a more enjoyable approach to sign-up
Photo verification is not required but available
Use a coin-based system to buy gifts, boost your profile, or buy neat features
LoveAgain isn’t age-focused, but appeals to people who have loved and lost, inviting them to get back into the dating pool.
If you’re in your forties but don’t consider yourself “senior” yet, then LoveAgain is the best of both worlds, Gen-X or middle-aged, as well as senior-aged.
Pros
One of the few sites that has a great mobile app version of the site
Best Mature Dating Site for Computer-phobic Singles Over 40
MatureDating offers matchmaking for mature men and women that are senior-aged and not “computer geeks,” meaning the interface is simple.
The site offers profile searches, a “like gallery” of photos, and public chatrooms. The simplicity of the site may appeal to older users who don’t like the more advanced dating sites.
Pros
A strict verification process for safety
Chatrooms and ice breaker questions
Search according to basic criteria like gender, age, and location
Cons
No real matchmaking, only local members and profile searching
Over40FriendsDate.com stresses 40s and up, meaning it’s not limited to senior-aged users only. The site makes it easy to find casual friendships or a more serious relationship.
The site is equipped for both mobile and desktop devices. Surprisingly, it’s a free matching/searching service, with no restrictions on age.
Pros
No age restriction, only admirers of mature partners
Totally free membership
Part of “FriendsDate”, which gives you access to more singles
Cons
The free option allows plenty of spam messages and fake profiles
No way to protect personal information in your public profile
Best Place to Help You Choose a Senior Dating Site
MatchSeniors makes it clear that romance is a priority, and they do not encourage casual relationships. The site advertises personalized matchmaking to “qualifying members”, who earn a minimum salary.
However, the site doesn’t have its own database of users. It matches you with other dating sites that are more suited to your profile. If you’re not sure which site to sign up for, MatchSeniors could help.
Pros
Local matchmaking services to qualifying members
Keep all your information private until you decide to share
All users are interviewed for information related to values and preferences
Cons
More like a link page that redirects you to more prominent dating sites
Cost
Free use of the site, but expect to pay for local matchmakers and/or registrations to other websites
Frequently Asked Questions about Best Dating Sites for Over 40
Can you start to find love again after 40?
According to a 2014 study, marriage actually helps people in their 40s improve their overall life satisfaction, countering the “midlife dip.” Many people find their true love in their 40s, after making mistakes in their 20s and 30s.
The forties for most people are characterized by changing priorities, a smaller social circle, and more confidence – at least in regards to what you truly want in a relationship. Many believe serious dating in your forties or fifties is the ideal time to meet someone compatible for you.
I’m newly single…how do I meet a 40-year-old single?
Of course, it can be difficult, especially if you are not used to socializing or flirting. You will find, however, that sites for dating are much easier to use than trying to go out and mingle with other people at bars and clubs.
An online dating site for mature adults lets you connect emotionally with someone in a relaxed atmosphere, and oftentimes, in a community-setting, where there’s games, chatrooms, and forums to help you get started.
Rather than follow your instincts, follow the advice of sites and apps, many of which will help you come up with ice breaker questions, multiple-choice questions, first date ideas, virtual gifts, and other fun ways to get a conversation started.
How can I make sure my matches are the right age for me?
Many online dating sites offer age-matching without necessarily being themed to over 40 or 50. There is no particular disadvantage to using either. Larger sites like Match or eHarmony do have many younger singles and are not built for older singles.
They make up for it, however, with a larger membership and better features than sites like OurTime and SilverSingles. All you have to do is adjust the filtering options and make it clear that you only want potential matches over the age of 40, or even 55 and up.
Dating sites and apps like AgeMatch cater to younger/older matches, while sites like LoveAgain and Zoosk simply allow you to search for any age. The best factor about using a dating site for adults over 40 is that you can instantly reject the wrong people and bring more of Mister or Misses Right directly to you. Start chatting without social pressure and learn to have fun again!
Final Takeaway on the Best Dating Sites for Over 40
Flexibility as well as age filtering are important when you’re dating over the age of 40 and priorities change. We chose the highly customizable Match.com as number one for our best dating site for people over 40.
However, OurTime and SilverSingles also placed high on the list for their over 40 and 50 demographics.
If you want to find love on your own terms and believe that online dating is right for you, try joining a dating site that caters to the over 40 crowd. Finding love on your own terms will be a wonderful experience.