If 2022 is your year to find love or companionship, you want to look in the right places. As someone over 40, your life is in a much different stage than the 20 and 30-somethings on trendy dating apps.
Finding the best dating sites and apps for people over 40 ensures you have the best online dating experience possible and get the best possible outcome.
Dating in your 40s and older is much different than your single days in college. You may be divorced and looking to start over, or you may be searching for the right partner for the first time. Regardless of your situation, being over 40 and on the dating market can seem intimidating.
It is harder than ever to meet people out in public. While organic meetings do still happen, online dating has quickly become the norm. If you are over 40 and looking to get back out there, you may be new to the digital dating world.
Keep reading to learn the best dating sites and apps for people over 40, so you don’t waste your time when it comes to online dating.
1. Match
For decades, Match.com has set the standard for online dating. The site caters to a wide range of ages, backgrounds, personal preferences, and locations to accommodate almost any user.
Singles over 40 will appreciate the easily accessible website and the convenient app, making dating on the go as painless as possible!
Match.com is best for singles over 40 looking for something a little more serious. If you are interest in finding a partner or long-term commitment, you can find like-minded individuals on the platform.
The company’s successful history of creating lasting relationships and marriages makes it a popular choice, and you can benefit from the large user base. With more people to choose from and connect with, you have a better chance of finding that special someone.
The algorithm from Match.com is one of the best on the online dating scene today. The questionnaire is in-depth without requiring too much of your time, and setting up your dating profile is easy.
You can set the qualities that are most important to you in a partner, quickly filtering out poor matches. For people over 40, this feature helps save a lot of time by cutting to the chase.
Match.com can be more pricey than other dating sites and apps for people over 40, but it is worth the investment. You can learn a lot of information about your potential matches, getting to know your connections beyond the surface level.
If you pay for a six-month membership and do not find the right person, Match.com will gift you another six months for free because they believe in their service.
2. eharmony
Another standard in the online dating world is eHarmony. The company has been creating matches for more than 20 years, and often leads to long-term relationships.
If you are looking for something serious, this is a great dating site for people over 40. eHarmony has a successful track record of helping people over 40 find the right relationship, and you could be next!
eHarmony has one of the most comprehensive quizzes when it comes to online dating. With more than 80 questions, you should plan to spend some time to set up your profile and complete the questionnaire. However, the detailed compatibility quiz is the secret sauce that leads to more matches.
Messaging on eHarmony is not free, and you will have to pay for a membership to access a lot of the necessary features. Pricing can be a little high, but the compatibility quiz is likely to provide great personalized matches.
The site is so confident in their ability to match singles over 40, that they provide several success stories of users over 50 who got married after using the dating app.
3. Hinge
Hinge is one of the most popular dating apps among millennials today. So, you may be wondering how Hinge ended up on the list of best dating sites and apps for people over 40. It turns out that Hinge is welcoming to all ages, and people over 40 can find success on the app!
With an easy-to-use smartphone app and a fun platform, Hinge takes the pressure off of online dating.
You can certainly find a serious relationship through Hinge, but it does have a reputation for being a bit more causal. However, it is also far from the stereotypical “hookup” apps available today.
People in their early 40s or those who stay young at heart may find the most success on the app and enjoy flirting with an endless stream of potential matches.
Profiles on Hinge are easy to create with prompts and plenty of space for photos. The app is certainly focused on looks and visuals, though, so keep that in mind when deciding which online dating site is best for you.
The platform uses follow-ups after dates to improve your matches, and you can see who has liked your profile, photos, or blurbs.
4. Tinder
Like Hinge, you may scratch your head at Tinder for singles over 40. The app has a reputation for casual meetups and hookups, so it is a great option for people over 40 looking for something fun. If you are in search of a serious relationship or a long-term commitment, Tinder may not be the best option.
The app has a large user base, making it easy to find attractive singles in your area. You can narrow your search range by age and other factors to improve your potential matches.
Users love the swipe feature of Tinder, spending hours scrolling through matches or quickly reviewing their options as they have time. It is important to remember that Tinder is not a matchmaking platform.
There isn’t an algorithm showing your best matches, but you get to see more potential connections on Tinder than other apps. Tinder does charge higher rates for older users, and you are likely to find a much younger crowd on the app.
You can expect lower rates of spam, though, because both parties have to swipe right to enable messaging. Depending on your membership tier, you can backtrack your last swipe if needed, see who likes you, and boost your profile.
5. Bumble
For women over 40 who want to make the first move, Bumble is the best dating app. It is also great for men over 40 who are more shy or reserved, preferring to be approached by the woman.
Bumble is a unique dating app because it only allows women to make the first move and contact men on the app. For same sex couples, either individual can make the first move.
Bumble encourages faster responses because matches expire after a certain period of time. If you are tired of people ghosting you or matching with you only to never start a conversation, Bumble helps solve those problems.
Conversations are encouraged on Bumble, and the app will prompt you to message someone before your match expires.
Like Tinder and Hinge, Bumble uses a fun swiping platform to review potential matches. The app does not use an algorithm to show your best matches, but you can filter your search.
There is a backtrack option if you accidentally swipe, and the app is generally considered fun and laid pack. With several payment tier options, Bumble works for almost anyone and any budget.
6. Elitesingles
If you are looking for a dating site for people over 40 that gets to the point quickly, check out Elite Singles. The unique online dating platform was designed for career-oriented singles, including retired and working professionals.
If your career is a priority in your life, you can find like-minded singles on the dating app and set expectations from day one.
People appreciate Elite Singles because it doesn’t waste time messing around. The app has a more mature user base with older singles looking for people in similar stages of life.
Elite Singles uses multiple algorithms to determine compatibility, and you can easily filter matches based on your taste. Elite Singles is more expensive than other popular dating apps, and you can only view a limited number of matches per day.
However, the investment is worth it to quickly narrow your search and cut through the online dating scene. The majority of users on the site are over 30 years old and have higher education. You can filter matches by their profession, and users on the site tend to take the experience seriously.