Deciding to get back into the dating game can be stressful at any age. But the stakes might seem a little higher if you’re in your 40s.
You can assume that other people in your demographic are interested in dating or that they already have long-term relationships. However, according to recent Pew Research Center research on Census Bureau data, as of 2021, only about 25% of 40-year-olds in the United States have never married. In addition, only 22 percent of single adults between the ages of 40 and 44 lived with a partner.
So have forty-somethings given up on finding love? Absolutely. In fact, according to Pew Research analysis, about one in four 40-year-olds who were not married in 2001 married by age 60. But unlike other people in their 20s and 30s, singles over 40 know what they’re doing. we want. and let’s not be afraid to wait a little longer to find the right person.
Now, after this speech and those statistics, you’re wondering what our big plan is to get you out on the dance floor. The answer? Online dating. Before you mock us, hear us out.
Online dating is a great way to meet new people in a pressure-free environment. Dating sites for people over 40 make it easy to connect with potential partners. You can delete profiles and find matches who share your interests and values. Imagine if you could do this when scanning the room at a party – it would save you a lot of time and effort.
But before downloading a bunch of apps, Kiana Reeves, somatic sex educator, intimacy coach, and director of education at Foria, recommends taking a moment of introspection: “We sign up for dating sites because we’re looking for a connection, whether it’s form of a serious relationship, a casual fling, or anything in between. With this in mind, it is vital to identify the type of connection you are looking for before signing up for any dating site, app, etc.
Next, think about your online dating technique, Reeves says. “Are you in favor of a casual place to meet other people in a new city? Are you someone who likes to take the first step? Are you someone who is only interested in a serious relationship? Are you someone who shares your same faith? How much time do you plan to spend establishing a connection?
Once you’ve clarified your dating goals, Reeves recommends “signing up for a few [apps] to get started, so you can figure out what kind of user experience is most productive for you. “He adds, “Of course, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, you can definitely sign up to get started. “
Ready to find love after 40? Or maybe you’re looking for a friend without tension or benefits?We have you. As knowledge enthusiasts, we do our research, receive expert advice, and conduct a lot of practice tests to find the most productive features for 40-year-old singles. Our comprehensive advisor on the best dating apps for singles over 40 is here to help.
Read our full eharmony review.
If you are 40 or older and in a position to commit, truly, harmony is where you should be. He is known for matching people for life and has a great reputation for his thorough matchmaking process.
Most eharmony users are between the ages of 30 and 44 and looking for a serious date or marriage, which is why we’ve ranked it the #1 dating app for people over 40 concerned about marriage (also is our most sensible application). choose to locate dates, period).
Founded in 2000, eharmony has a solid reputation, especially for its in-depth compatibility comparison system (it was the first dating app to introduce the concept of compatibility testing).
Rather than relying on algorithms that think the love shared by cat memes is the key to compatibility, eharmony takes a more clinical approach. You will take a complete compatibility questionnaire about your values, interests and personality peculiarities; think of it as a Myers-Briggs check for your love life. It may take you 20 minutes to complete the questionnaire, but accept it as true with us; It’s worth filtering out potential dating mistakes and finding someone who truly understands you. Keep an eye out for promotions as well, as eharmony offers discounts of up to 50%.
Although eharmony is traditionally known for catering to heterosexual couples, the company has made headlines for its efforts to be more inclusive and welcoming to the LGBTQ community. However, not everyone is happy with this change.
Some teams have criticized eharmony for its resolve to allow same-sex matches and have criticized the platform for deviating from its classic values. A petition that is not easy is circulating online for eharmony to remove its LGBTQ ads.
Christian Mingle would possibly be more suitable if you are looking for a more devout or Christian dating site. Other devoted dating sites come with JDate for Jewish singles and Muslima for Muslim singles.
Read our full AdultFriendFinder review.
Read our full review of the match.
Match is a trusted dating site (with receipts) for singles of all ages, with a giant user base that includes a significant number of other people in their 40s and 50s. According to the Match website, 48. 6% of Match members are between 30 and 49 years old, and 26. 5% are 50 years old or older. So for 40-somethings who are tired of casual dating, a paid subscription to Match can connect you with like-minded singles.
Match is also a smart choice for other divorced or widowed people who are interested in dipping their toes back into the dating pool.
Fitting is rarely just about taking a selfie and hoping for the best. It’s all about creating a profile that highlights your personality, interests, and unique passions. You can share up to 26 pictures (including your profile picture), create a bio that gives potential candidates information about who you are, and answer a variety of questions to help the ruleset understand what you are looking for in a partner.
Another thing we love about Match is its commitment to a more intentional dating experience. In June 2024, Match partnered with celebrity and life coach (and now Match dating coach) Jay Shetty to launch new features focused on core values and deeper connections. Members can now highlight their most common-sense values in their profile (family, communication, faith, etc. ), explore Shetty’s in-app content hub for dating advice, and get inspired by his unique first date concepts and his indications of verbal exchange.
Match also provides a safer environment for online dating. Fake profiles are quickly flagged and removed, and the site has a team committed to reviewing and approving new profiles to make sure other people are who they say they are. The number is reported, it is prohibited on the site, which protects users from conceivable scams or harassment.
Hinge is a popular dating app known for focusing on meaningful connections. While the app is popular with Gen Z and young professionals, it is also suitable for older singles who are looking for a compatible spouse and prefer to avoid the casual hookup culture of other apps.
Hinge’s detailed profiles and verbal exchange initiation activations make it possible to get to know potential matches better before meeting in person. And with its free club option, you can start exploring without obligation.
Hinge’s “designed to be deleted” philosophy means that the app aims for users to find love and eventually ditch the app for good (but you can also use it for casual dating).
Unlike Tinder (which is seeing a decline in paying users, according to TechCrunch) and other swipe-based dating apps, Hinge incorporates laugh triggers and personal information to help users get to know each other better. Hinge also frequently learns your private tastes and tracks your dating reports to provide further recommendations in the future.
While Hinge arguably appeals to the younger generation, the meaningful connections and rejection of endless swipes can also be refreshing for those over 40 who are tired of superficiality. In addition, Hinge is moving forward to satisfy everyone’s desires. not only young people. His recent LGBTQIA D. A. T. E. The report shows that they pay attention to what other people need when it comes to dating, such as slowing things down and building true emotional intimacy.
Read our complete Bumble vs Tinder.
With its women-first philosophy, Bumble allows women and non-binary Americans to take the lead and interact in conversations. This woman-first philosophy creates an area that is less complex and less difficult to navigate than Tinder.
If you are a woman or non-binary user over 40 years old and are tired of receiving unsolicited messages, Bumble is the app for you. This reduces unwanted advances, allows other extroverted people to take advantage of their dating experience, and also a very clever way for shy men to meet women.
Bumble’s relaxed environment is its main attraction. Profiles include witty, personalized bios that you write yourself (here are some tips to help your profile stand out), eliminating the need to take lengthy compatibility questionnaires to get started.
The app runs on a Tinder-like swiping formula. If the two Americans swipe right, it’s a coincidence, and in heterosexual couples, women and nonbinary Americans set the terms of the initial conversation.
This exclusive feature is the explanation for why Bumble has been known since its inception in 2014. However, in April 2024, the company replaced its “First Move” feature with something it calls “Opening Moves,” a feature that gives women and non-binary users the ability to set an answer for their matches (they can also type their own).
The app has also added the following to its “Dating Intentions” badges: “fun and casual dating,” “intimacy without commitment,” “life partner,” non-moral monogamy, and “marriage,” so you know who’s interested in making a deal. and who is in a position to go down.
Read our full OkCupid review.
OkCupid is a dating platform that embraces diversity and inclusion, making it a wonderful choice for singles over 40 who have an open mind and thoughtful conversations. It has a more liberal user base and emphasizes thought-provoking conversations rather than endless swiping.
OkCupid’s ruleset helps you find your fit on basic topics (such as your perspectives on feminism and other important social issues) and connects you with singles who share those key values.
Owned by Match Group, OkCupid is a popular date known for building 91 million connections a year. It is also highly inclusive and offers profile characteristics for 22 other gender identities and 12 other sexual orientations.
While swiping is still part of the OkCupid experience, it’s not the main event. OkCupid prioritizes genuine matchmaking with in-app matchmaking questions that ask about vital questions, such as how you balance your desires with those of your partner and where you stand on vital social and political issues.
According to Michael Kaye, director of logo marketing and communications at OkCupid, the company also began employing generative AI in early 2023 in its matching algorithm. OkCupid used ChatGPT to write their matching questions, and so far, those questions have gotten almost four million responses.
Although you can use OKC for free, you’ll have to pay for some features, adding the ability to see all your likes at once.
SilverSingles is an adult dating site for singles aged 50 and above. Thanks to its minimum age requirement, SilverSingles is the best position to connect with older singles for love and companionship.
If you are in your fifties, sixties, or more and are in a position to find love, SilverSingles may be the dating site for you.
Mashable recently identified SilverSingles as the most productive dating site for seniors, and for good reason. SilverSingles (a sister site to EliteSingles) is one of the most productive dating sites for people over 50 because of its focus on compatibility and smart fortune rate. But don’t just take our word for it: one of our reviewers surprised her mom with a SilverSingles subscription and now, luckily, she’s teaming up with someone she met on the platform.
Unlike superficial swipes, SilverSingles takes the time to perceive you through a comprehensive personality test. It may take a little longer, but it’s worth it for other truly compatible people who are also looking for a meaningful relationship. Then you will get 3 to 7 matches each day.
A note on inclusion: While you can specify your preference for same-sex matches, lately the app doesn’t offer the option to get matches of either gender.
Read our full EliteSingles review.
EliteSingles (a sister site of SilverSingles) is aimed at those who enjoy their professional interests and need to make a meaningful connection with potential partners who are also motivated and successful.
With a focus on adulthood and sophistication, EliteSingles appeals to a more demanding and established audience. More than 90% of users are 30 years old or older, and the maximum has complex titles. EliteSingles is a network of intellectually curious Americans who value the personal, financial, and pro-development.
Elite Singles is aimed at singles interested in serious relationships with successful and knowledgeable partners (regardless of their definition of success). Its in-depth personality analysis and tailored matching formula are designed to connect you with others who share your interests and motivation. You’ll get a limited number of matches daily, allowing you more targeted attention, and you’ll even be able to advance your career to locate your ideal guy.
If you’re concerned about the price of Elite Singles, Coffee Meets Bagel offers a similar approach on quality matches without the higher-value tag. And, if you’re looking for a dating app that provides a more exclusive executive-level dating experience, The League might be a better choice.
If you’ve tried other dating apps and haven’t managed to catch up, you may need to consider Plenty of Fish (POF). The site has over 150 million members worldwide, so you will most likely find a compatible partner.
That said, POF also hosts its percentage of shady accounts, adding bots and catfish. It is imperative to cast a wide net and watch out for impostors. If you come across a shady company, be sure to report it.
POF offers a vast sea of over 40 potential matches, ensuring that you have plenty of features to explore. It also provides a variety of communication features to keep the verbal exchange flowing.
In March, Busch Light and POF teamed up for singles who love fishing and beer to find their best match. The campaign, called “Reel Love,” gives users the option to upload a Fish Pic badge to their profile (on Los Angeles’ OkCupid) to show off their fishing skills and hook up other singles who prefer to cast their lines outdoors.
Whether you prefer video chat, personal messaging, chat rooms, or even voice calling, POF has you covered. The app’s commitment to providing attachment tactics makes it less difficult to stay informed about potential matches, if you can avoid fake bot accounts.
Zoosk hasn’t kept up with the trendy dating apps, but if you’re scratching the back of the dating barrel on other platforms, this is your last stop.
Zoosk looks like a time capsule of the early days of online dating. Their concept of “correspondence” is to throw winks and hearts as if we were still in 2007. And if you need a genuine verbal exchange and meaningful connection, then engage in a position to open your wallet. The free edition of Zoosk is like walking into a party and not being able to communicate with anyone. It would have possibly been the best position back then, but now there are much bigger features that perceive how popular dating is. works.
Read our full Zoosk review.
Are you tired of swiping left on mediocre dating experiences?You deserve better. Mashable’s team of genuine testers has gone to great lengths to help people over the age of 40 find their match. We don’t just create profiles, we actively collaborate with the app to provide you with original and in-depth analysis. We have compared the features, costs, user experience, and good luck rates of the most productive dating sites and apps to make your search for love easier.
Our dating and dating experts focused on those key factors:
User experience: How simple is it to navigate the app, create a profile, and potential matches?
Quality of the match: Does the app prioritize connections over surface scanning?
Profile Authenticity: Are you connecting with other genuine people or is the app full of fake profiles?
Safety and security: We review privacy policies, knowledge coverage practices, and reporting mechanisms to assess the safety of dating platforms.
Accessibility: We look for dating sites and apps that have easy-to-use interfaces and are available on Google Play and the App Store.
Inclusivity: Does the app create a welcoming and respectful environment for everyone, regardless of background or identity?We prioritize platforms that celebrate diversity.
The most productive dating site depends on what you’re looking for, but Match and eharmony are our most sensible options for the maximum number of people. Both apps offer a giant 40+ user base and detailed profiles. You can also Elite Singles, aimed at professionals looking for serious relationships.
Although Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble are popular among young people, good luck is still imaginable for singles over 40. OkCupid has a top percentage of over 40 users (compared to its competitors) and is a wonderful choice for both liberals and LGBTQ. communities, offering an area to be your original ultimate self without judgment.
Wondering where people over 40 find love online?Match is a popular (albeit expensive) option with a giant user base, while eharmony is known to lead to marriages. Hinge might be worth checking out if you’re a millennial at heart. Bumble is ideal for women and non-binary Americans who need to take the lead, and OkCupid welcomes a diverse community, especially those who lean left or identify as LGBTQ.
Although Hinge is popular among millennials, it’s not necessarily off-limits to people in their 50s. Many users in their 40s and 50s have discovered good luck with Hinge, thanks to deeper connections and detailed profiles (it’s “designed to be deleted,” after all). However, the age diversity on Hinge is younger, so you may find more users in their twenties and thirties than on apps like OkCupid or eharmony.
Based in New York City, Miller Kern is an associate editor in Mashable’s Shopping and Reviews branch, where she writes and edits reviews, summaries, and offers technology products, adding hearing aids, skincare devices, laptops, sex toys, e-readers and robot vacuums, and more. She has five years of experience writing shopping guides, gift guides and deals, and covering grocery shopping parties like Prime Day and Black Friday. Miller can tell you which products are worth your money. It also explores trends in grocery shopping, such as Wild Dog and viral TikTok moments.
Tabitha Britt is a freelance writer, copywriter, search engine optimization, and content strategist. In addition to writing for Mashable, Tabitha is also the founding editor of DO YOU ENDO, a virtual magazine written by other people with endometriosis, for other people with endometriosis. She has an MA in Creative Publishing and Critical Journalism from the New School of Social Research and is a graduate of the Sextech School. She can find more of her paintings in online publications, including National Geographic, Insider, Kinkly and others.