Best dating sites for seniors: Find love in your golden years

Read our full review of AdultFriendFinder.

Read our full review of eharmony.

Who it's for:

If you're done playing games and ready to find someone to share life's adventures with, then eharmony might be the platform you've been waiting for. As a popular dating site with millions of success stories spanning over two decades and multiple age ranges, eharmony gives hope to those holding out for a lasting connection.

Why we picked this:

According to the company's 2021 Married Couples by the Numbers Facts reports, nearly three-quarters of their members found their lifelong companions within just a year of joining the platform. We chose eharmony as the best dating site for serious relationships because, well, the app's success stories speak for themselves.

Its comprehensive questionnaire and the more mature, experienced user demographic set it apart as a premium option for older singles searching for their forever love. While eharmony does come with a slightly higher cost, the benefits of its experience in the industry and next-level matchmaking service make it a worthwhile investment for those with the budget.

Read our full review of Bumble Premium.

Who it's for:

Bumble offers an empowering option for senior women looking for a dating platform where they can steer the course of their conversations. If you're tired of waiting for someone to make the first move or sifting through countless unsolicited messages from creeps, Bumble puts the power in your hands.

Why we picked this:

Bumble is one of the best dating apps for senior women and nonbinary people who are nervous about the prospect of drowning in unwanted messages. With Bumble, women and nonbinary people make the first move, creating a safety net of sorts that filters out those people you wouldn't have wanted to engage with otherwise. Compatibility features like interests and favorite musical artists sit at the top of each Bumble profile for a quick common interests check, and there's generally a more laid-back feel here than there is on other dating platforms like eharmony and SilverSingles.

Bumble also has one unique feature most dating apps don't: a 24-hour chat limit that kicks in once you've matched. This means that someone has to initiate the conversation, and their potential match must respond within this time frame, or the connection expires. It's a quick turnaround but helps combat the massive match queues that make other full-fledged dating sites feel like they take forever.

Read our full review of Match.

Who it's for:

If you're navigating the senior dating scene and on the lookout for a dating platform that offers an alternative to eharmony's commitment-heavy approach, then match might be more your speed.

According to a recent survey on the match website, 37% of match members belong to the 50-and-over age group, and a substantial eight in 10 members have pursued higher education or hold a degree. This dating site is clearly for those who know what they want and aren't afraid to go out and find it.

Why we picked this:

Match has undergone a thoughtful transformation to make the online dating experience smoother for everyone, especially seniors. The revamped questionnaire takes a more conversational approach to asking how you'd handle real-life scenarios — both with a partner and those around you. This shift highlights your values and even lets you set deal-breakers.

Over the years, match has maintained a well-balanced user base with a generous pool of potential partners, regardless of whether you're searching in a bustling city or quieter locales. Notably, the 50+ age group is one of the site's fastest-growing demographics, making it one of the best dating sites for seniors looking to find that special someone.

Who it's for:

Elite Singles is a dating app for educated singles over 30 who are looking for long-term relationships.

Why we picked this:

Differences in work ethic and professional schedules can throw a wrench into even the most head-over-heel relationships. For those unwilling to budge on their partner's educational values and career goals, EliteSingles attempts to offer more specificity related to where a person is career-wise and family-wise than eharmony and match.

Elite Singles' matching system utilizes 29 algorithms rooted in the Five Factor Personality Test, ensuring compatibility in attachment style and personal values. And don't worry; the process includes engaging questions like "Do you like sleeping with the window open?" and "Which of these foods do you like the best?" to add some fun to the mix. Unfortunately, you may not get many open-ended answers about a person past how they've answered these questions, as several Reddit users have noted that many profiles appear unfinished (or even seem downright spammy).

Who it's for:

Ourtime is a dating app designed for users 50 and older, but there's no real matching algorithm. While the site does take age, location, and gender into account, there's no personality test or robust profile features.

You might be tempted to start using Ourtime immediately — it’s quick to set up and easy to use — but the seniors-only dating site tends to match users with a lot of dormant accounts or bots, which can cut into your time spent looking for love and make the experience very discouraging and unpleasant, especially if it’s your first attempt at looking for a match online.

Why we picked this:

For us, Ourtime is a last-resort senior dating site. You can keep an Ourtime profile in your back pocket as a backup if you’re struggling to find like-minded folks on other apps and websites but don't make this your go-to dating site.