Love in your golden years is only a click away.
Meeting people through the Internet is the new normal, and dating sites geared exclusively for seniors allow you to browse in a safe environment. Before you ever meet in person you will get a sense of their personality and values, find out if they were previously married, and how many children they have.
Online dating is great whether you are looking for a new soulmate to share the rest of your life with or just testing the waters. These massive online networks connect millions of seniors like you who are looking to make a connection.
We created this guide to aid you in your dating journey and provide a breakdown of some of the biggest and free senior dating sites online.
Online Dating For Seniors – What to Expect
Online dating may feel impersonal, but it allows you to find people to date outside of your friend or work group who share the same values as you. Before you ever meet anyone in person, you will have interacted with multiple people and narrowed down the field to those you feel a kinship with.
How Does Online Dating Work?
Online dating sites are networks of single seniors that make matches for you based on shared interests and relationship goals. You can access the dating site through a computer or tablet, and most sites also have dating apps for your phone as well.
Once you fill out a profile with photos and a biography, you usually answer questions about yourself and your values. You also list how serious of a relationship you are looking for.
The site then uses its computer matching technology to suggest local members it deems a match. You can then view their profiles to learn about them – and your profile will come up in searches as well!
When you find others you are interested in, it’s time to send a message. It’s important to make sure you choose your first words carefully – be friendly and polite, but not overbearing. If they respond, then you can chat online until you are comfortable enough to meet in person!
Each site has different ways of determining what makes a good match, and if one site doesn’t work for you then you might want to try another. Many of these sites are free or offer free trials, so you can find which one works for you!
What Can I Expect When Going Out on Dates?
Prepare to feel like a kid again if you have been out of the dating scene for a while.
It’s natural to be nervous when going out on dates if you are out of practice. Here are some tips to help you get back into the groove:
- Play it Cool: Going into a date with the mindset that you need to impress will only make you more nervous. Just be yourself, be polite, and be genuinely curious about the person you’re seeing.
- Ask Questions: Asking the right questions on a first date can help you avoid stringing along a relationship that may not work out. What are they passionate about? What are their values? What are they looking forward to in a relationship? These are all important considerations for a successful partnership.
- Trust Your Instinct: You’re old enough to be able to tell pretty quickly if you will get along with someone. If something feels off about the two of you together, you should trust your gut.
Need ideas for a memorable first (or second, or third) date? Read our post 7 Romantic Date Ideas For Seniors.
3 Free Senior Dating Sites to Try
Ready to dive in? Here are four of the top-rated online dating sites for seniors with a breakdown of each. All of them have a free version so you can try them out, but you will need to pay for more premium features.
1. OurTime
Monthly Traffic: 28.3 million
OurTime is one of the largest and one of the best reviewed online dating sites for seniors. Along with daily matches, you can search the entire network to find profiles by interest, relationship history, children etc.
This network is large and suits seniors of all personalities and desired relationship type. Along with photos and a bio, the site asks you your interests and provides multiple choice questions that aid in matching.
They also have the “I’m Interested Game” which learns more about your preferences by logging your responses to potential matches shown one at a time.
With the paid version you get better search options, and also the ability to see which members have expressed interest in you!
2. eHarmony
Monthly Traffic: 13.95 million
The oldest player in the lot, eHarmony has been helping young folks and seniors alike find love since 2000. They boast a unique “29 Dimensions of Compatibility” system that analyzes matches based on 29 different factors.
When you sign up, they will have you fill out a lengthy questionnaire as a basis for matching. eHarmony only lets you connect with those it has matched you with. Their high success rate of finding lasting love, however, means this should not deter you.
eHarmony is also a good place to get a sense of a user’s personality, with profiles that encourage users to really let their inner self be at the forefront.
3. SilverSingles
Monthly Traffic: 3.95 million
SilverSingles is one of the oldest dedicated seniors online dating platforms dating back to 2002. Like eHarmony, they have a matching system based on a questionnaire that provides you with only what they consider to be the best matches.
The test provides you with insights about yourself and matches you with similar people. Viewing profiles gives you a real sense of a user’s values and relationship needs.
Just be wary – you can create a free account, but it only lets you view matches without sending any messages.
Looking For More Seniors Lifestyle Content?
At Call4SeniorServices we have a catalog of content designed to help seniors live their best lives. Consider reading one of our other lifestyle blogs: