Online dating is difficult at the best of times—minimal matches, conversations that don’t go anywhere, bots—but especially so when you’re older. That’s because the dating pool is slimmer and it’s less common to find people around your age using dating apps. But don’t give up hope. It’s not impossible.
If you’re older and looking for love, we’ve rounded up the best free dating apps for seniors. Some of these apps target seniors specifically, while others have a decent pool of older members. Whichever you choose, remember to stay safe and don’t get drawn in by scammers.
1. OurTime
OurTime is a service from the group behind Match, an established name with great experience in the online dating world. OurTime is special because it’s targeted at single people over 50, designed to match you with someone who shares your same interests and outlook on life.
Alongside text chat, OurTime also offers a video call functionality so that you can get to know the other person better. And if you ever get stuck, OurTime offers tips on how to navigate the curious world of online dating.
Here’s your first tip: people aren’t always who they say they are online, so be careful of online dating scams.
Download: OurTime for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
2. SilverSingles
SilverSingles is another dating service for the over 50s. When you sign up, you take a personality test to start building out your profile. From there, SilverSingles matches you with compatible seniors in your area, with new matches served daily. It’s focused on quality, not quantity.
If you’re feeling shy, you can send smiles and likes to indicate your interest. When you’re ready, use icebreakers to get the conversation flowing. If that doesn’t work out, you can browse other profiles outside your matches through the search functionality.
Download: SilverSingles for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
3. eharmony
A long-standing name in the online dating world, eharmony has had millions of people come through its doors, many of whom were successful in finding love. You create your profile via a compatibility quiz, which then builds a personality profile. When you meet your matches, you’ll see your compatibility score.
While eharmony is for all adults, you can set your age preferences so that you find other seniors only. Once you find someone you like, you can chat with them through text or video.
Download: eharmony for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
4. EliteSingles
EliteSingles is owned by the same company as SilverSingles, so the two apps work similarly. EliteSingles has a different proposition, though, as it’s targeted at educated singles over 30. This doesn’t mean you can’t use it as a senior, as plenty of its members are older.
When building out your profile on EliteSingles, you can upload from your Facebook photos for convenience. You get served matches daily, based on the results of a personality test. If you decide to pay, you’ll be able to see who’s liked you first.
Download: EliteSingles for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
5. Match
Match is a dating app for singles of all ages, including seniors. If you’re looking for a serious relationship, Match is for you. It lets you browse for other singles online, regardless of your location; though you can apply whatever filters you desire.
Match not only encourages you to chat with others through its app, but it also hosts in-person singles events. You get to enjoy a night out and maybe meet your future partner!
Download: Match for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
6. Plenty of Fish
According to Plenty of Fish, singles have more conversations on its app than any other dating app, so you might as well give it a shot. It’s marketed as “dating for grown-ups”. Upload your photos, craft the perfect profile, and get hunting for those with common interests.
If you’re unsure how to start a conversation with a potential match (you can view matches and talk to them for free), Plenty of Fish lets you quote something from their profile to break the ice.
Download: Plenty of Fish for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
7. Coffee Meets Bagel
Coffee Meets Bagel is one of the best Tinder alternatives because it’s everything that Tinder isn’t. Rather than endless profiles, Coffee Meets Bagel presents a curated selection of matches based on your criteria.
Thanks to detailed profiles, you can find out important things like whether your matched senior has children and what they want from a relationship. Once you get chatting, you only have seven days before the match expires—it helps encourage real dates, virtual (via video call in the app) or in-person.
Download: Coffee Meets Bagel for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
8. OkCupid
OkCupid facilitates 195 million matches each year, across all age ranges, so you’ve got a good chance of finding an older person who you have a meaningful connection with.
OkCupid cares about more than just your photos. It’s interested in your personality and passions, and it lets you meet fellow seniors based on these. No matter how you identify, OkCupid welcomes you because you can set your sexual preference, gender pronouns, and more.
Download: OkCupid for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
9. Facebook Dating
Chances are, you already have a Facebook account. If that’s the case, you’re ready to go with Facebook Dating. You don’t even need a different app.
Your friends won’t know you’re using it, so you don’t need to adjust your Facebook privacy settings. It’ll hook you up with others based on the groups you’re a member of and the events you attend. Facebook’s membership skews older, so you’re bound to meet plenty of other single seniors in your area.
Download: Facebook for Android | iOS (Free)
Perfect Your Online Dating Profile
Even if you download the perfect app, you’re not going to find love if your profile isn’t up to scratch. Make sure you’ve got some decent profile pictures, describe your passions in your biography, and don’t be afraid to make the first move.
If you do decide to meet with someone, do so in a public place and notify your friends beforehand. Best of luck!
