The Best Free Dating Sites for Seniors in 2024

SilverSingles - Best Free Version

4.0 / 5

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What We Like Most:

• Ability to like, swipe, and view profiles with a free account
• Members that are 80 percent 50 or older
• Compatibility quiz
• Encryption of sensitive data

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Overview

Dating is different when you’re older, but at SilverSingles, you’ll be surrounded by people just like you. The site is made up of mostly people 50 and older—80 percent of its members, to be exact. And even with a free trial, you can still dip your toe in the water, checking out profiles and liking who you think is interesting. And, if you want to upgrade, you can pay as little as $19.95 per month, about average when it comes to online dating sites.

Free Features

Before we entered our credit card number into the SilverSingles website, we swiped through other users and could view their profile and like whoever we saw. Of course, we had to look beneath the surface, as the photos were blurred out. Still, this was a good way to see who was in our area and give us a taste of what we could get with a paid subscription; namely, the ability to actually see photos and then message people who we found appealing. Most dating sites won’t let you see photos for free, save for ChristianMingle, but other sites, like eHarmony, offer messaging on at least a limited basis.

Standout Features

Aside from eHarmony, SilverSingles is one of the few dating sites for seniors to provide a personality test. While most just ask you for your basic information and what you are looking for in a partner, SilverSingles dives in a little deeper. Sure, it still asked us how tall we wanted our  partner to be, but it also had us choose from groups of pictures the one we most associated with. The one we remembered the most was a few pictures of desks, some clean and organized, and others, messy and disorganized. Being neat freaks, we picked from the former category, and we’re hoping that means that SilverSingles will find another neat freak like us.

Cheers to a life of wiping down countertops, side by side!

Plans and Costs

SilverSingles paid subscriptions are super straightforward. They cost $119.85 for three months, which breaks down to $39.95 per month; $137.70 for six months, or $22.95 per month; or $239.40 for 12 months, or $19.95 per month. With any of these subscriptions, you’ll get unblurred photos and unlimited messaging, everything you need to jump-start your dating life.

These prices are pretty reasonable compared to the other sites on this list, as dating sites tend to cost around $15 to $40 per month. The longer you sign up for, the bigger the discount you get, as is the case with all dating sites on this list.

>>Read more: SilverSingles vs. OurTime

Drawbacks

With the free plan, all of the photos were blurred, so while we could swipe through and like people, it had to be based on their profile and not their photos. Now, maybe you’re less superficial than us, but most people will want to see who they’re speaking to. One site that did not blur its photos was ChristianMingle, but of course, that’s geared toward Christians.

Additionally, the free version of SilverSingles lacked messaging, so we couldn’t actually speak to anyone even if we matched with them. All in all, the free version was a good way to see what’s out there, albeit blurred, but most people will probably want to upgrade. However, that’s the case for most on this list. You get what you pay for.

Our Verdict

Even though the free version of SilverSingles lacks unblurred photos and messages, if you’re new to senior dating, it’s a great way to get your feet wet and see what’s out there. This is an especially good option if you want to date someone that’s seasoned but not salty.

To learn more about this site, read our full SilverSingles review.

OurTime - Best With Unlimited Likes

4.0 / 5

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What We Like Most:

• Unlimited likes for free
• 12 daily “Top Picks” for free
• Mandatory identify verification through SMS
• Made specifically for older adults

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Overview

When you’re starting off with online dating, you want to cast a wide net, being open to whoever could fit your criteria. With OurTime, we got to send as many likes as we wanted before we even spent a dime. This dating app is open to anyone 18 and over, so it’s a good option if you’re open to dating younger folks as well as older. You’ll be able to see photos of people in your area and like them, completely free!

Free Features

Hallelujah! With the free version of OurTime, we saw photos of people around me, sans the blurring of other dating sites like eHarmony. We could even send out an unlimited amount of likes, use all of the regular search functions, and see 12 “Top Picks,” people OurTime thought we’d like the most. Interestingly, that’s the same amount we would’ve gotten had we paid for the service.

The real caveat is that we couldn’t actually message our matches. So, while racking up matches felt good, if you actually want to communicate with someone, you’ll need to upgrade. You’ll also get read receipts, which tell you when someone else reads your message. These can be a blessing or a curse depending on the situation!

Standout Features

If you’re looking for a site that isn’t specific to seniors, OurTime is a good option. My favorite feature of OurTime is called Top Picks. Every day, even without paying a dime, the site showed us 12 “Top Picks,” people it thought we would like the most based on how we filled out our  profile. Because we had designated some categories as “dealbreakers,” like height, it showed us only people who fit in with our dealbreakers and had our “nice-to-haves” as well.

This meant less time scrolling through endless profiles and more time admiring some handsome suitors. (Did we mention the photos were unblurred?) Algorithm, algorithm, make us a match!

Plans and Costs

OurTime offers two levels of paid plans: Standard and Premium. If you get Premium, OurTime adds on a monthly boost, showing your profile to more people, read receipts, and a weekly “Super Like,” which says you more than like someone. These features certainly aren’t necessary, so I’d recommend going with a Standard package. Prices are a little high unless you sign up for six months, which breaks down into six payments of about $15. There’s also a one-week option, but it’s a bit pricey at around $20.

Still, this service costs more than more popular sites like eHarmony, which costs just $14.95 per month if you sign up for two years.

Drawbacks

With OurTime, although we could send as many likes as our hearts desired, we couldn’t actually speak to our matches. If you just want to see what’s out there, this may be fine, but it won’t work for someone who actually wants to communicate with people. Plus, the free version doesn’t include read receipts, which tell you when someone has read your messages. This isn’t as big a deal as the lack of messaging, which may be a dealbreaker for some. In contrast, many other websites, like CatholicMatch, eHarmony, and Match, let you speak with matches, but on a more limited basis than with a paid subscription.

Our Verdict

Although the free version lacked messaging, we loved the fact that you could actually see people’s photos on OurTime, as well as send unlimited messages. Additionally, with those 12 Top Picks, you can really get a taste for the senior singles in your area with OurTime, without spending a dime.

To learn more about this site, read our full OurTime review.

eHarmony - Best Personality Test

4.0 / 5

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What We Like Most:

• Compatibility quiz
• Unlimited likes for free
• Verifies members through SMS text messages
• Fraud detection

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Overview

We’re not exaggerating when we say that eHarmony changed the online dating game. The site doesn’t just merely ask you to fill in your height, age, job, education level, and ZIP code like you’re filling out a form at the DMV. Rather, it actually finds out who you are as a person and how you live, communicate, and behave in a relationship. While it takes a bit more legwork upfront in the way of a compatibility quiz, eHarmony promises its algorithms bring you better matches whom you’ll actually get along with. This is different from a website like Match, which is a more traditional dating app without a personality test.

Free Features

Unlike OurTime, which didn’t let us message anyone before paying, eHarmony let us message people on a limited basis, meaning we could see and reply to some, but not all, of the people who messaged us. Additionally, the photos were blurred with the free plan, which meant that we didn’t really want to message anybody.

Still, we could see who liked us (a whopping seven people), which is pretty impressive for someone without a profile picture. We could also see their messages and what parts of our  profile they liked. Of course, most people will want to upgrade so they can let their eyes feast.

Standout Features

We’re used to algorithms in nearly every area of our lives online, but eHarmony was actually the first dating website to use them. Rather than just having its members fill out their basic information and look for someone appealing, the website has them fill out a lengthy compatibility quiz, matching them with who they think is the best partner for them.

While a few years ago, this test may have seemed arduous, today, it takes about 20 minutes, going deeper with questions meant to assess our “core values.” When we matched with someone, eHarmony told us exactly why we were compatible in terms of our personalities, habits, and interests. It broke down how we communicate and organize our everyday lives, as well as what our driving forces are and what characterizes us. This got way deeper than just saying what height we wanted our partner to be! And keep in mind that we got this feature without entering our credit card information.

Plans and Costs

When it comes to subscriptions, eHarmony keeps things pretty harmonious with three plans. All have the same features, but they differ in — you guessed it — length. Here are your options:

• Six months: $359.40 total or $59.90 per month
• One year: $239.40 total or $19.95 per month
• Two years: $358.80 total or $14.95 per month

As you can see, eHarmony wants you to make a commitment, no pun intended. The shortest time length is six months, not one month like other services like SeniorMatch or OurTime. And prices are the highest around unless you make a two-year commitment, which seems a little ridiculous for a dating app. Most people would hope to be off of it in two years’ time! Of course, you get what you pay for, and eHarmony offers a wider membership base, similar to Match.

Drawbacks

The free version of eHarmony is pretty limited. All of the photos were blurred, messaging was limited, and we couldn’t search by distance or see who viewed me. we also didn’t get anonymous browsing, a feature of the paid subscription that meant that we could look at someone’s profile without them knowing. Now, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, but if you want to be more incognito, the free version may not be your best option.

Additionally, eHarmony’s pricing is on the higher side unless you sign up for two years ($14.95 per month). If you want a more affordable site, check out Match, which is $19.99 per month when you sign up for one year.

Our Verdict

If looks aren’t the most important thing to you and you want to actually speak to people you match with, eHarmony is for you. The site will recommend people you are compatible with, and not just on paper. Plus, what’s more romantic than a blind date?

To learn more about this site, read our rundown of eHarmony senior dating.

Christian Mingle - Best for Christians

4 / 5

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What We Like Most:

• Highest percentage of Christian members globally for a dating site
• Almost 60,000 new signups per month
• Ask about your religion, church attendance, etc.
• Can see unblurred photos, like, and search for people for free

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Overview

They say that you should fish where the fish are, right? That’s why if you’re a Christian looking for another Christian to have a relationship with, there’s no better place to look than ChristianMingle. It’s the most popular Christian dating site in the U.S. and asks its members specific questions, like what denomination they are and how often they attend church. This makes finding someone compatible with your religion easier than ever. And it’s totally free to see pictures and like profiles, searching for the one without having to enter your credit card information.

>>Read more: Best Christian Dating Sites for Seniors

Free Features

ChristianMingle allowed us to see photos of Christian singles in our area for free. We could use all of the search filters and like people. We could also sort people by new, online, distance, percentage of match, and LookBook, an app-like website feature that allowed us to “swipe” through individual profiles rather than seeing a bunch of people on one page. Next to each person’s face was the percentage of “match” based on our profiles and preferences. But similar to OurTime, we couldn’t message people without upgrading. We also didn’t get read receipts or anonymous browsing. It seemed worth it to upgrade to be able to talk to people we matched with.

Standout Features

There are a number of Christian dating websites out there: ChristianMingle, Christian Cafe, and CatholicMatch, to name some we’ve tested ourselves. But, according to the company itself, ChristianMingle has the highest percentage of Christian members of any dating site, with almost 60,000 new sign-ups each month. But how does this site appeal to Christians specifically?

When we were filling out our profile, we noticed that the website was asking us not only the typical questions about height and occupation, but it also asked about our specific religion within Christianity as well as our church attendance. When we were perusing possible matches (with unblurred pictures!), we could easily see each person’s religion right next to their name, job title, age, and place of residence. This made it easy to find someone within our religion, if we so pleased, or branch out slightly. This is way more specific than I’d get with a more general dating app like Match or eHarmony.

Plans and Costs

Signing up for a paid subscription to ChristianMingle unlocked messages, read receipts, anonymous browsing, and access to all of a user’s photos, not just one. we could also see who liked us and who viewed our profile, which was nice. Finally, if we wanted to be more incognito, we could hide our online status along with our profile so it didn’t show up in searches. This is a good option if you want to see what’s on the market, without posting your own advertisement, so to speak.

All of the plans are the same, only differing in length. We were a bit disappointed that the cheapest option broke down to about $25 a month, which is about $10 higher than other sites like Christian Cafe or CatholicMatch. Of course, similar to eHarmony and Match, you’re paying for a larger group of members, so your money may be better spent.

Drawbacks

While we could see unblurred photos, search, and like people on ChristianMingle, to actually message them requires a subscription. Additionally, we missed out on other features like read receipts and anonymous browsing.

Another drawback? If you signed in to ChristianMingle through Facebook, Google, or Twitter, or even if you simply liked ChristianMingle’s account on any of these sites, the company will access your social media data and share it with third-party advertisers. If you don’t want this to happen, check out SilverSingles, which does not share any sensitive data with third parties.

Our Verdict

If you want to search for, see photos of, and like Christian singles in your area, ChristianMingle is the best option. With more specific profile questions about your religion and church attendance, you can find someone compatible with your level of Christianity, as it takes so many forms.

SeniorMatch - Best for Middle-Aged and Up

3.5 / 5

What We Like Most:

• Ability to receive and reply to messages for free
• Ability to like up to 100 people per day for free
• Ability to search by gender, age range, and region for free
• Pool of almost 1.6 million people over the age of 50

Overview

Want to hear a secret? Despite the fact that websites like SeniorMatch and Senior Friends Date say they’re for seniors 50 and up, they actually accept anyone 18 and older. SeniorMatch is the one dating site we’ve come across that accepts only people ages 40 and above, leading to a more mature, both physically and emotionally, membership base. It even makes members verify their age and identity through government identification cards! You can be sure you’re talking to someone real on SeniorMatch, which will let you search, view, and like people, completely on the house.

Free Features

SeniorMatch has a pretty robust free website. We could like up to 100 people per day, the same amount as we could with a paid subscription; search by age range, gender, and region; and reply to messages we’ve received. However, we could not make the first move and actually send messages, which may not work with everyone’s dating style. If you’d like to take a more active approach and message people on a free website, check out Match or eHarmony, which offers messaging on a limited basis even if you don’t pay a dollar.

Standout Features

Many sites say that they’re built for seniors, from SeniorMatch and SilverSingles to more shady websites like Senior Friends Date. However, of the ones we’ve tested, SeniorMatch is the only one that puts its money where its mouth is. It allows people age 40 and above only, whereas the others we mentioned accept anyone 18 and older. Plus, it verifies this by making you upload a government ID, be it a passport or driver’s license, which has your birth year. We even had to take a selfie video of our face to prove we were real! If dating someone under age 40 is completely unappealing to you, you’ll appreciate the more mature members of SeniorMatch.

Plans and Costs

With any paid subscription from SeniorMatch, you’ll get to:

• Browse anonymously
• Communicate through voice messages
• Search by all filters, not just gender, age range, and region
• Send as many “winks” as you want per day
• Send messages, not just reply

Sign up for one, three, or six months for as low as $15.99 per month. This pricing is average, similar to SilverSingles’, another senior-specific site.

Drawbacks

Similar to ChristianMingle, according to its privacy policy, SeniorMatch shares your data with third parties to provide you with targeted advertising. That means that, if you use SeniorMatch, it will put cookies on your computer, and not the kinds with chocolate chips. Rather, these cookies will follow you around as you search on the web. Then, SeniorMatch will sell this data to third parties to serve you with more relevant ads. Personally, we wish dating apps would stick to what they know best: making money by bringing people together, not selling their data. Again, SilverSingles is the best when it comes to data privacy, as it doesn’t share sensitive data with third parties.

Our Verdict

SeniorMatch is one of the most sure-fire ways to meet single seniors in your area. With multiple ways of verifying people’s ages, SeniorMatch ensures that its members are who they say they are. Plus, for free, you’ll be able to receive and reply to messages, so sit back, relax, and wait for your admirers to write to you!