27 Apr Online Dating for Seniors: A Beginner’s Guide

The seniors in their 60s can interact and find long-lasting relationships on the free senior dating sites over 60, which can help improve the psychological health of the seniors. Mental health is important, and creating bonds with different people can help keep seniors’ mental health over 60 in check. Good for introverts.

Returning to dating can be an intimidating experience for older adults. The online dating world can add further uncertainty while feeling scary or overwhelming. The following is a guide to cyber dating for seniors when you don’t know where to start.

May 10, 2013 Seniors find age can be an advantage in online dating. Dating online at any age can be daunting. But for older singles who weren’t raised in front of a computer or are accustomed to a more. We've reviewed the best dating sites for seniors to find loving partners in the US. Find out, which senior dating site best fits your needs. Read our online dating tips for seniors to learn about how to enter (or re-enter) the dating scene: How to Get Started. The thing older adults must realize is that online dating is all about taking that first step. Once you begin, you can start to figure out what you like and don’t like. We recommend starting by Talk to friends who have utilized online dating to get advice (including which service to use) Do research about different online dating sites. May 12, 2021 Singles who are over 55 can turn to OurTime.com for all their mature dating needs. This online site is strictly for senior singles, so you can rest assured that you won’t meet any underage or immature dates here. OurTime appeals to older singles who want to meet people in their 50s and 60s.

April 27, 2020 by Brett Shay

Single and over 60? In no way is it too late to find someone to be with. With the advent of online dating targeted to older adults, cyber matching has less of a stigma than ever. Online dating is growing in popularity with seniors. This makes it a new part of the mainstream- 29% of seniors reported being on a date with someone they met online within the last 12 months.

Whether you’re divorced or widowed and ready to jump back into dating or just haven’t found the perfect match yet, there are others like you out there looking to meet others locally. If you’re considering online dating or even the chance to meet new friends you may not be sure where to begin. We’ll give you some pointers to get started.

Preparing for new experiences

Online dating for older adults can be fun! Worried about meeting those with too much baggage? With decades under our belt, we all have some level of burden and hindrances to overcome. While years of experience dating, a bad marriage, or other life lessons learned can leave some users more jaded about dating prospects or life in general, there are also some major advantages of dating well into your twilight years.

Seniors tend to be more comfortable in their own skin and relaxed than their younger counterparts. Older adults are also likely to know what they want, are more mature, and less inclined to play games or waste time. Moral of the story? Dating has its pros and cons at any age, but matchmaking as a senior will likely prove to be a much different experience than you remembered from your youth.

Online Dating For Seniors With Resources Online

The basics

Stay safe and avoid scammers

The ease, convenience, and plethora of options in online dating are its advantages. They also make them easier targets for scammers and other dangers that follow all online daters, including seniors who tend to be at greater risk in general of falling prey to con artists.

The research and measures one can take to ensure their safety could take many forms. One might even think some of the below referenced steps might be overkill, but the moral of the story is to take basic precautions and use common sense.

A few helpful tips for staying safe include:

Guard your personal data

Don’t disclose too much personal data, such as home and work address, and other sensitive information like bank and credit card information. Be smart about other information that could uncover your whereabouts to make you prey to a scam or trolls, including providing upcoming vacation dates or profile photos that could reveal more info than you realize. You can even get a disposable phone number for free via different options including services like Google Voice that can be used right on your everyday phone. Some users have these numbers for the sole purpose of online dating when giving out contact information off of dating sites.

Financial requests are always a no-no

Anyone seeking money, gift cards, or any other merchandise or items of value is a red flag bigger than all others. Report any requests to the app or site in reference and cease further conversation with them in the meantime.

Converse on the dating platform

Scammers or trolls with bad intentions often try to move chat away from a dating site. Why does this matter? Different sites have protocols and algorithms that can uncover con artists, or at least deal with them more effectively when they are reported. Basically, if they can move away from the platform, it’s less likely that they are caught and more likely that they can continue to prey on victims unimpeded.

Do your research

If it’s not already innate to do a Google search of your potential match, then make it a part of your routine. Some key items to look for include not just their name, but also their email address, phone number, and even profile name if different than their given name.

Reverse image search

In many cases, fake profiles use pictures taken from other parts of the web. It isn’t foolproof, but try a reverse image search of your match’s photo(s). There are many options, but the most well known include TinEye and Google Images. If you’ve used Google Images but aren’t sure how to search by image, just look for the picture upload option on Google Images to start your search by identified photo.

Meet via virtual video chat first

Feel free to “meet” your potential date through virtual video options like FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype. This can give you a feel for them and help to confirm that they are who they say they are. You can get an initial introduction from the safety of your own home.

As an added bonus, it allows you to have a date without the time, commitment, or effort of having to meet them first. This can save you time and energy if you don’t identify a connection off the bat, or it can accelerate physical and emotional bonds and excitement between you leading up to the face-to-face meeting.

Set up the meeting in a public place

This should go without saying, but always meet in a public space for the first time. This doesn’t just mean not meeting in your home or theirs. Consider skipping venues that could be relatively hidden or isolated, such as a hike or park space. Of course, a restaurant, bar, or coffee shop are straightforward choices to start with.

Tell at least one friend or family member where you are going

Be sure to advise someone close to you what your plan is, with whom, and what time you will be there. At the very least, just let them know the basics like “You are meeting a friend for lunch downtown” if you don’t want to share too many details. That way, then can be aware and check in if something is off or if they don’t get an update from you.

Consider sharing your location through your phone with a friend or loved one as well. This can easily be done, and on a temporary basis if you wish (like for one hour or one day) on various platforms, including the iPhone.

If it sounds too good to be true, it almost always is

Be mindful of what a match might be doing and saying. Overly generous promises, sharing glamorous stories or far-fetched tales, and pictures that just look a little too good to be true are just several warning signs that a person or situation isn’t what it appears to be on the surface.

Finding the right platform

A brief online or app search for online dating can quickly overwhelm you as there are endless options out there. Begin by thinking about what you want, and be candid about it. Dating platforms have been tailored to various audiences from older adult specific sites to a variety of subgroups from religious connections to more specific interests and hobbies. Take some time to do some research and discover what you might be looking for.

Of course, plenty of general purpose dating sites are available and usually one of the best places to get started. Filters on all of them let you search by age range, (along with plenty of other sort and filter options). You may be more comfortable starting with sites geared for seniors.

While the options may feel endless, we will break down the most common all-purpose platforms and the best options that are tailored or limited to older adults.

General Online Dating Platforms

eHarmony

eHarmony was an early pioneer of online dating. You are probably familiar with them, if at least from the years of commercials. It has a broad range of users, including a substantial amount of older adults. There is a free option for eHarmony, but it’s relatively limited without splurging for the premium version. eHarmony skews on the more serious side of dating, so it’s best suited for those that are genuinely looking for marriage or serious relationship prospects.

Plenty Of Fish (POF)

POF is one of the largest dating platforms in the world. With many millions of users it’s now and has been for some time one of the enduring sites that’s withstood the test of time. The best quality of POF also makes it one of it’s biggest downsides. The platform is a free one, making it more accessible to a wider audience. However, with being free, it also makes it a greater and easier target for trolling, catfishing, and other scammers out there.

OKCupid

OKCupid has a growing base of seniors as part of its overall user count. It aims to be a happy medium between the standard-bearing swiping apps and those that are more serious minded (while integrating some components of both). It also has a substantial amount of features available for free without the need to pay for a subscription, though there is a premium version.

Match.com

Like other names listed here, you may be familiar with Match. It’s another tried-and-true platform, and it has a bevy of older adult users as well. Match is almost the opposite of another site mentioned here, POF. It technically has a free version, although it’s almost unusable, making the premium version the only one you should consider if you do sign up. It’s pricey, and because of this you will find somewhat more limited options than a more common free version. The benefit of this is that those who use it are more likely to be serious about commitment, the level of quality tends to be greater, and requiring payment is a great way to weed out scam artists and trolls.

Senior-Specific Dating Platforms

SilverSingles

The SilverSingles platform is of course tailored for older singles, but it actually focuses on those over the age of 70. What makes it unique is compatibility matching questionnaires which helps find suitable partners. The site has free and paid options like the others listed here, but the free version only allows 5 matches per day.

OurTime

Ourtime is dedicated to those over 50. What’s different about OurTime is that it has an expanded scope beyond just dating. Associated members can find friends, travel buddies, and other types of friendship in addition to a chance at love.

SeniorMatch

This site has a focus on individuals over the age of 50. In fact, it won’t even allow users to sign up that are under 45 years old. It has a pretty extensive list of features even for free versions and one of the largest databases of older adult users available.

Putting your best foot forward

When getting started with online dating, it’s advisable to have a good understanding of pros and cons of these services and how to present yourself in the best light but in an open and clear way.

Honesty is the best policy

First impressions count. Naturally, everyone wants to look their best on their profile. It is important to pick photographs that show your attractive side. However, your pictures should be current and not heavily edited. Almost anyone who has experience with online dating can share the disappointing experience of meeting a prospective date in person who appears much older or heavier than they do on their online profile.

Ask friends or family for advice on photos that show your best side and show you in a flattering and accurate light. They can help give you the honest truth and they can give a second opinion on which photos are better or worse than others.

Keep expectations in check

When reviewing profiles on dating platforms, you may get absorbed by attractive and pleasing pictures on display. As you may have realized when creating your own profile or in initial interactions, it can be simple for people to misrepresent themselves. Maybe when you previously dated, it was years ago and online dating was still taboo, with in-person meetings still the norm. Virtual connections are here to stay, for better and for worse. It’s just a different way to find a connection and opportunity to match with people that you might not otherwise have the chance to encounter.

Of course, you will want an initial attraction. But keep in mind that you – and potential dates – are at different stages in your lives. No matter what a person posts for public display, if he or she is in your age range, there is likely to be evidence of that age. Hair loss, graying and perhaps a few extra pounds may be in the mix.

No checked baggage

Older adults in the dating game probably have a lifetime of experiences that their younger counterparts don’t. From a plethora of relationships both good and bad plus the potential to have been divorced or widowed and have grown children, you may have harbored certain feelings or resentments as a result. On top of that, you may have children, aging or deceased parents, and even grandchildren, plus other ailments stemming from old age.

It might be challenging to not only stop yourself from letting these feelings come to the surface, but it may even be tough to prevent those thoughts from causing you to judge your dates and potential matches prematurely. In addition, be mindful of the history that you share with your matches at first, especially those that surround topics of children, previous relationships, and other touchy subjects.

Difficult though it may be, don’t let some of these aspects of your life come up. It’s better to wait until the time is right for such conversations, usually not until at least the first date, if not later. During initial chats, it can be an easy topic to keep the discussion moving or pique curiosity in a chat. It may also come up from your chat mate or date, but try to stay focused and discuss them when the time is right.

Keeping an open mind

Talk to anyone who has experienced online dating, and they may have found it disheartening or associate negative experiences with it. Of course, the prospect of dating online or in person are both daunting as dating in general is challenging.

With that being said, we have a few final tips on helping ensure you can successfully find prospects without creating too many barriers to matching.

Filtered Out

When meeting people in real life, there is no filter option. While some may appreciate the fact that you can sort and filter potential matches by a bevy of options from height, religious and political views, and hobbies, they can also inhibit your ability to find others dramatically.

While there is nothing wrong with filters, identifying requirements that must be met can have the opposite of their intended effect. Instead of honing in to find your ideal mate, it is more likely to reduce your pool of options to the point that it becomes nearly impossible to find anyone at all.

Keep your filters to a minimum and embrace variety.

There’s more under the surface

A profile is much more than what is displayed on a computer or phone screen. Just remember the old adage about “not judging a book by its cover” and look at your own profile- it might offer a snapshot of you, but it’s probable that you wouldn’t find it all-encompassing and that it wouldn’t be fair for others to judge you just based off of that.

Keep this lesson in mind when evaluating others too. No one’s profile will accurately match what one represents as a person fully. Some people are just not good at telling their story virtually, and others might be experts to the point that they misrepresent themselves.

The lesson here is to dig a little deeper before passing judgement about a person solely based on their profile.

Overreliance on algorithms

Many platforms out there, including some previously mentioned here, position themselves based on their stated ability to find matches through algorithms and questionnaires that can reportedly identify compatibility between profiles. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that any of these algorithms work across any platform out there.

Feel free to take a look at how the computer rates your ability to match up as partners, but take it with a grain of salt. Don’t discard a potential connection or alternatively get too excited over a high-matching partner. Get to know them just the same.

The next best thing

Many online daters have fallen into the trap of online dating that more options are just a click or swipe away. Dating is an investment of time and energy. Don’t allow yourself to have this mindset when it comes to your approach. It becomes too easy to make others disposable to the point that you don’t take the time to determine the suitability of others properly before moving on.

Alternatively, keep in mind that others out there will be treating the platforms in this way. Therefore, don’t feel too dejected if you don’t get reciprocated time and energy if other potential matches move on quickly. If this becomes a point of frustration for you, consider the more “serious” platforms out there that are prone to facilitating more connection time between prospects.

Ready to jump in?

After reading our beginner’s guide to online dating for older adults, we hope that you are ready to take the plunge and are excited about the chance at meeting new people. Even if you are still hesitant, start small with one website and begin to build your profile and browse over time.

Luckily, plenty of dating platforms have taken the needs of single seniors into account and facilitated accessible and friendly dating networks. Millions of senior singles have found connection, chat, and solace on dating platforms geared for any interest and for whatever you’re looking for.

Chosen Family Home Care provides home care servicesto seniors in need of daily assistance, companionship, and other activities around the home in Pennsylvania. Follow our insights page for great resources and fun tips for mature and senior adults no matter what your relationship status is. Check us out onInstagram and Facebook as well.

Are you seeking the best dating sites for seniors? Luckily you have come to this page so here we can share the names of completely free dating sites for seniors that you can join today. We understand that finding a completely free dating site for singles over 50 old can be difficult. While youngsters keep up with modern technology and can select the best dating sites themselves, senior singles may need help. This is why we are here to help you review only free senior dating sites online where you won’t have to pay for registration and using features.

We did research and found 4 amazing and free senior dating sites that you can join today. We are going to talk about each free dating site in detail, name their pros and cons so you can make a wise decision. We believe that after learning about these four completely free dating sites for senior singles, you won’t doubt whether seniors can find love online. These free dating sites prove that age is just a number and it shouldn’t stop people from making their dreams come true. If your dream is to find your soulmate, do it regardless of your age.

Elite Singles

Short Review

Senior Dating Sites For Over 60

Many call Elite Singles one of the best free online dating sites for seniors that has a good reputation and many real users. Elite Singles is a free dating website for senior singles who are educated, smart and tolerant. If you are not willing to waste your time on dating sites where people come to have fun only, but find quality matches and enjoy quality communication, then you need to try Elite Singles. Through this completely free dating site for senior singles, you will meet many intelligent ladies and gentlemen who are mostly from the US. Elite Single has an elegant design, many interactive features, and comprehensive profiles of singles. This is the right place for single women who seek smart and intelligent gentlemen to build a serious relationship. This free dating site offers profiles of rich and smart men for younger women to become interested in.

Pros /Cons

Pros

• Free registration
• High success rate
• Suitable for senior singles
• Smart matchmaking

Cons

• Some communication tools are paid

How Does EliteSingles.com Work?

To get the most out of this free dating site, you need to become its member. Since Elite Singles operates in 25 countries, you have a chance to meet your love abroad. If it sounds like a good opportunity, then don’t hesitate and create an account. It’s totally free. The more details you provide about yourself, the more matches you will find. Being successful at this completely free dating site for seniors means you have to create a comprehensive profile and add your photos.

As you can imagine, people of your age don’t choose a nice appearance only. They seek mutual interests. Therefore, you need to create an informative profile where you will describe your appearance, background, level of education, occupation, marital status, information about children, hobbies, and habits. It’s important to mention the type of relationship you are looking for. The vast majority of senior singles here are interested in marriage.

Zoosk

Short Review

The second and pbw of the best free dating sites for seniors over 50, 60 and 70 is called Zoosk. If you have been seeking a good dating platform, then you must have come across Zoosk. The free site has more than millions of users from countries which is very impressive. Even though the majority of singles here are between 25 and 34, there are many senior singles who seek meaningful connections. Zoosk is available as a desktop version as well as the app for Android and iOS devices. Zoosk shares many stories about its members who found love through free sites and got married. With such a huge database of women and men seeking romantic dates and chances to find soulmates, Zoosk is at the top of our list.

Pros/Cons

Pros

• Free signup
• Large database
• Available in 25 languages
• Suitable for senior singles
• Behavioral matchmaking
• Email verification

Cons

• Advanced chat tools are paid
• Fake profiles spotted

How Does Zoosk.com Work?

As we have already said, Zoosk is one of the free dating sites for senior singles from around the world. It operates in 80 countries, so your chances to meet a foreign partner are quite high. Also, you will be able to make friends from different countries. This will keep you interested in Zoosk. Just like at any other dating free site, you have to signup first. It’s free. If you already have a Facebook account, use it to register. In this case, some of your information from Facebook will be integrated into your Zoosk profile.

While doing research, we learned that at Zoosk, the number of females and males age 45-55 is equal but the number of male members between 55 and 65 years old is slightly higher than ladies. You can seek charming women and handsome men manually or you can rely on intelligent matchmaking and get suggested matches.

Zoosk offers comprehensive profiles of seniors singles, good-quality photos, and advanced ways of communication. Once you find someone who you like you can send flirt pings for free.

eHarmony

Short Review

eHarmony has been recently named one of the free dating sites for seniors over 70. So as you can see even if you hit 70, you still have amazing chances to meet like-minded senior singles and develop a romantic relationship online. From the name of the site, you can understand that this is the place with ladies and gentlemen who have serious intentions. If you are not interested in casual dates and fun but want to get new meaning acquaintances, eHarmony is the right place. The company says that it provides every single member with a high chance to find love. The founder of this completely free dating site for senior singles says that here someone finds lice every 14 minutes. This is incredible!

Pros/Cons

Pros

• Free registration
• Many Christian senior singles
• Suits singles of 50+ years old
• Matchmaking algorithm

Cons

• No email verification

How Does eHarmony.com Work?

eHarmony has integrated an intelligent matchmaking algorithm that helps to connect the most compatible partners. This completely free dating site for senior singles will help you to find potential matches that are not only attractive but match you by interests, habits, and future goals. At eHarmony, women and men match by spirit too. This free dating site has a lot of Christian senior singles who are seeking a mature relationship based on ethical values. But first, you have to register. Notice that eHarmony has quite a registration that consists of personality tests. It may take you a longer time than at other free dating sites for senior singles but it is only in your favor. The more answers you provide about yourself, the more requirements you provide towards your ideal partner, the more matches you will meet here.

Just like at Zoosk dating free site, you can use your Facebook account to create a profile at eHarmony. This is certainly the best place if you want to avoid people who are seeking a one-night stand but find someone who is willing to share his/her time, values, and love.

What we really liked about eHarmony is very detailed profiles. Once you start reviewing profiles of senior singles here, you will understand that people here have serious intentions. By reviewing profiles of senior singles who match, you will be able to see the percentage of how one or another person matches you. You will have an opportunity to understand how good someone fits your emotional and physical intimacy, religious values, intellect, affection, romance, social values, etc.

Online Dating For Seniors With Resources At Home

Match

Short Review

We have finally come to our last pick and one of the quality dating sites for seniors with free messaging that is called Match. This completely free dating site for senior singles has been popular since 1995 which is from the year when it was launched. Match has millions of users from around the world. It’s called one of the best free dating for seniors sites which is good news. This free dating site has a huge experience and knows how to cater to women and men of all ages. If you are seeking a trustworthy and free dating site for senior singles, then you should try out Match. This free site also offers paid membership types that give access to more advanced features but you can start free and see how much you enjoy dating on the Internet.

Pros/Cons

Pros

• Free registration
• Millions of users
• Matchmaking feature
• You can message anyone at no charge

Cons

• Some chat features are paid
• No email verification

How Does Match.com Work?

Like most dating sites, Match will allow you to review profiles of beautiful women and handsome men after you create an account. To register for free first and complete a profile. Provide as many details about yourself as possible since Match also uses matchmaking tools to pair you with the most compatible senior singles. Match is a good place for senior singles:

With the experience of more than 20 years, Match knows exactly how to help you find your ideal partner for a serious relationship and marriage. For example, you can search for good-looking senior singles yourself using the extensive search tool or wait for suggested matches. Also, you will be able to check who visited your profile. Notice that sending likes is free on this dating site.

Match is one of the completely free dating sites for seniors over 60 and 70 as well as younger singles in their 50s. A smart matchmaking process will help you to find compatible singles of the same or slightly different ages who are also searching for meaningful contacts. Romantic dating and marriage is still available for senior singles and Match is a prime example.

Conclusion

So what are the best free dating sites for seniors? Now you know them. All four offer free registration which a perfect way to start your search for love online.

Free Dating For Seniors

We hope that these comprehensive reviews of the four amazing dating platforms will help you to choose the best dating site and join it today. If you are in a very active search for love, then you may consider joining a few completely free dating sites for senior singles.