The best free dating sites for seniors the senior list


The Best Free Dating Sites for Seniors in 2023
Online dating services rely on their reputation to continue expanding their membership base. They protect the personal information that you provide during the sign-up process. However, they cannot police every aspect of online interaction. You should always be aware of what you share about yourself in private messages through these sites.
The Best Free Dating Sites for Seniors in 2023
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SilverSingles - Best Free Version
SeniorFriendsDate - 100% Free
OurTime - Large User Base
eHarmony - Best Matchmaking
ChristianMingle - Best for Christians
When it comes to finding love in the age of the internet, there are few better ways to meet someone than through dating websites. Some of these are geared specifically for seniors. Others advertise to a larger audience but include preference settings so that users can connect within a set age or location range.
Each of them offers a slightly different set of features as well as varying costs. Luckily, most sites provide a free trial or free base-level membership for those who are ready to start looking for love.
Is There a Free Senior Dating Site?
While there are some wholly free dating apps that can be downloaded onto a smartphone, these are not geared specifically toward seniors. Trustworthy senior-focused dating sites usually offer a free membership option with limited features, and they require you to pay to make full use of their services.
Pro Tip: To learn more about the best ways to find love online, check out our guide to the best dating sites for seniors.
Our Favorite Free Senior Dating Sites

  
SilverSingles : Best Free Version
  
SeniorFriendsDate : 100% Free
  
OurTime : Large User Base
  
eHarmony : Best Matchmaking
  
ChristianMingle : Best for Christians

Free Senior Dating Sites
Pros

  
Make interesting connections: Online dating services connect people who may have never met otherwise. Even with a free account, these sites provide the opportunity to engage with many different users from places both near and far.
  
Meet people at your leisure: Most of these dating services can be accessed through a mobile phone, tablet, or computer. This means that users can communicate and connect whenever and wherever they’d like.
  
Get paired automatically: Some of these services provide easy-to-use systems that match compatible members and allow specific search parameters so that users can only connect with those who fit within their preferences. This helps individuals avoid wasting time filtering through many unsuitable matches.
  
Pay what you’d like: With free accounts and trials, there are no financial obligations or worries about when or how to cancel a membership (and avoid automatic charge fees to your credit card).

Cons

  
Free accounts have restrictions: While many online dating services offer a number of features with a free trial or basic membership that doesn’t include a monthly fee, access to the full range of what the site can do is reserved for those willing to pay for it.
  
Lack of security: As with any interaction on the internet, there is always a possibility that sharing personal information online can lead to scams like identity fraud. Most sites work hard to protect users against this sort of cybercrime, but it’s important to always take extra care with sensitive information, like credit card accounts and Social Security numbers.

Best Free Senior Dating Websites of 2023
SilverSingles - Best Free Version
What We Like Most:

  
Science-backed personality test
  
Set preferences for hobbies, interests, and beliefs
  
Ample dating resources
  
Exclusive to individuals over 50

Cost: Free to $24.95 per month
SilverSingles allows those over 50 to search for a variety of connections – from friendships to serious romantic relationships. You can filter searches by age, education, and religion (among other personal traits). In signing up, you’ll complete a personality test that is divided into sections and allows the site to match you with other compatible users.
SilverSingles offers a basic membership for free that includes viewing your own personality test results, receiving suggestions on possible matches, sending smiles (a notification to another member that you are interested), and the ability to upload photos to your account. The paid version, however, grants you unlimited messages and the ability to see who has viewed your profile.
To learn more about this site, read our SilverSingles review.
Pros

  
Ability to filter by interests, personality, and lifestyle
  
Unlimited messaging with aids such as icebreakers
  
Profile makeover by an expert for $99
  
Most members are focused on serious relationships

Cons

  
Initial questionnaire is very lengthy

SeniorFriendsDate - 100% Free
What We Like Most:

  
No costs for any features
  
Only for those 50-plus
  
Worldwide user base
  
Matchmaking services

Cost: Free
SeniorFriendsDate is different than most other online dating services. Senior-specific in nature, the site is financed through advertisements, which enables users to avoid the hassle and cost of a subscription model. This service focuses on connecting seniors by location, while remaining dedicated to keeping user information secure.
Since all its features are free, everyone has the same access to create a dating profile, connect with other seniors in their area, and send and receive messages. The sign-up process is relatively easy, and SeniorFriendsDate offers access through a desktop computer or via mobile phone. It is important to note that as a service funded by advertisers, there are ads that pop up on the screen while using the site.
OurTime - Large User Base
What We Like Most:

  
Predominantly singles over 50
  
Intelligent matching algorithm
  
Up to 10 new matches daily
  
Safety features

Cost: Free to $29.99 per month
OurTime is another senior-specific dating service. Owned by the same company as the widely-popular Match.com, OurTime matches users by the kind of connection they want (including friendship, pen pals, travel companions, and romance). With a free account, users can create and edit a profile, browse through matches, and send flirt notifications when they are interested in connecting with another member. With OurTime, it is also free to reply to messages sent by paid subscribers. However, a paid subscription plan is required to read and reply to all messages and to send messages to all users.
OurTime also offers a mobile app for iPhones and Androids, which is free to download. However, like their web-based site, full features are only accessible to users with paid memberships. As with most online dating sites, OurTime sometimes offers free trials so that interested users can try out the premium features before committing to a paid subscription.
To learn more about this site, read our OurTime review.
Pros

  
Simplified display with enlarged text and images
  
Nearly 9 million members
  
No swiping; view all match profiles at once
  
Made for singles over 50

Cons

  
Smaller user base
  
Paid extras and gifts add up

eHarmony - Best Matchmaking
What We Like Most:

  
Over 15 million members
  
Detailed filters for matches
  
Active senior membership
  
Three-day free trial

Cost: Free to $14.95 per month
One of the most widely used dating services today, eHarmony is also one of the oldest sites of its kind. It was the first to use a mathematical approach to connecting individuals looking for relationships. While it is open to anyone at least 18 years of age, eHarmony boasts the best statistics for long-term relationship success and marriage rate. Like some other dating sites, you must complete a compatibility test as part of the sign-up process. This is an in-depth assessment that measures 32 personality traits to offer the best chance at matching with that perfect someone.
With a free account, users can browse through matches and send smiles (eHarmony’s name for a notification that one person is interested in another). It is also free to respond to an initial message from other members and to see which users have visited your account. Full access to messaging, as well as viewing photos of other members, is limited to those with a paid subscription.
Pros

  
Nearly 20 million members
  
Video and voice calls through the app
  
Active membership
  
Ability to search partners by interests

Cons

  
Relatively costly
  
Time-consuming questionnaire

ChristianMingle - Best for Christians
What We Like Most:

  
Large population of seniors
  
Great security
  
Ample features with the free version
  
15 million users

Cost: Free to $49.99 per month for a premium membership
ChristianMingle is not a senior-specific dating site. Rather, it is a faith-based service that helps Christians connect with others who share their religious beliefs and values. Focused on helping adults begin serious relationships, this service has many members over 50 years of age. With a free account, users can create a profile with up to six photographs and use the search feature to view others’ profiles. It is also free to receive emails with potential matches.
Paid memberships include additional features such as the ability to read and respond to all messages, read receipts (so you know when another user has viewed your message), and the ability to browse anonymously.
Online Dating Tips for Seniors
Add Personality to Your Profile
Many of these services ask you to fill out a personality test or questionnaire to best match you with other members looking for love. However, there are some additional tips you may want to consider while completing a profile.
Most profiles only allow so many characters (letters, numbers, or words) when filling out various categories. This means you should consider carefully which kinds of information you would like to include. Be sure to give potential matches a well-rounded understanding of your interests. Be honest about the things that you do or do not like. Be positive about yourself and what you are looking to bring to a relationship. Avoid being negative or overly self-critical, and don’t be afraid to include some humor.
Also, be sure to detail what exactly it is you hope to find from the service. Be clear and straightforward about what you are looking for in a partner. Be sure to include photographs that showcase your personality.
Be Wary of Disclosing Personal Information
One of the potentially dangerous aspects of online dating services is the risk of scammers getting their hands on your personal information. People can lie about things as simple as their appearance, age, or profession. But scams can be as serious as federal identity theft and fraud. Always be wary about how and where you share your personal and financial information on the internet. While dating services do have security measures in place, it is still possible for someone to get your personal info.
To avoid these kinds of online crimes, you should never wire money to anyone you meet on a dating site. Additionally, you should avoid clicking on links that take you away from the website itself.
FYI: According to the FBI, romance scams through social media and dating sites are one of the most common kinds of elder fraud. They have a list of ways seniors can protect themselves from this crime.
Do Your Research
Be sure to think carefully about the site that is right for you when it comes to online dating. This includes considering the site’s targeted audience, as well as the features that come with creating a free account. During this process, you should also think about what personal information is required through sign-up. You want to make sure you are using the site best suited to your needs, as well as the one that offers you the best chance at making connections.
How to Make the First Date
Once you have connected with a potential match, you should take some steps and precautions before the meeting. It’s a good idea to use a search engine like Google to research the name and information you have been given before setting up a date. This can provide peace of mind that he or she is who they say they are. Finding local news articles or other social media profiles is a great way to confirm a person’s identity.
Always set the first meeting in a public place during daylight hours. This is a basic rule for anyone you’re meeting for the first time, as it provides the added security of having other people around. It’s also a good idea to tell a friend or family member who you’re meeting, when, and where. Never invite a person you have not met to your home.
Plan something for the date that includes shared interests or activities that you have chatted about or connected over online. This sets you both up for an enjoyable initial interaction. Be on time, keep a positive attitude, and be sure to be polite. There should be a balance between how much you talk and how much you listen. Finally, be sure to be honest about your feelings. Meeting someone through an online dating service can be a bit awkward and uncomfortable at first, and honesty can go a long way in making sure you both are on the same page.
FYI: The Senior List has some additional tips for dating over 50.
Smartphone Dating Apps
There are some free app-only dating services that are accessible only through a mobile phone. These tend to have a number of features that share many similarities with the services already described.
Tinder
Tinder is a widely popular app, especially for people looking for more casual social interaction. And while it’s easy to assume this app is only for the younger set, this app actually has a majority of users over the age of 30.
A user creates a profile with photos and an optional biography and then sets preferences for age, orientation, and distance from where the user’s phone is (meaning that a mobile phone will automatically connect to other users by location). Potential matches appear on the home screen and the user can swipe left if they are not interested and right if they are. If two people swipe right on each other they are “matched” and are then able to send each other messages.
Bumble
Bumble (which used to be partnered with Lumen) is unique in that it requires women to make the first move and initiate the conversation. Like many dating websites, anyone can sign up for a free account. Once two people match, the woman will have to reach out first in order to begin messaging. Bumble also offers Bumble Bizz for making professional connections and Bumble BFF for finding new friends in a specific town or city.
FYI: Though apps like Tinder and Bumble advertise themselves as free dating services, each of them does offer premium features for a monthly price, much like the other dating sites listed in this article.
Recap
With technology advancing in so many ways, there are many options for connecting with new people. Whether you are looking for friendship or something serious, there’s an online dating service that will suit your needs. It’s never been easier to connect with someone – no matter where you live.
Frequently Asked Questions
Online dating services rely on their reputation to continue expanding their membership base. They protect the personal information that you provide during the sign-up process. However, they cannot police every aspect of online interaction. You should always be aware of what you share about yourself in private messages through these sites.
SilverSingles, OurTime, and SeniorFriendsDate advertise their services for those over 50 years old. However, all of these sites allow users to set their personal preferences for an age minimum and maximum so that matches are still age-appropriate, even on a site that is not senior-specific.
SilverSingles, OurTime, EliteSingles, eHarmony, and ChristianMingle offer free mobile apps available through the App Store for iPhone and Google Play for Android. While the apps are free to download, access to certain features will depend on subscription status. Tinder and Bumble are app-only services that are free but only accessible on a mobile phone.
Written By
Amie Clark
Amie has been writing about senior care products and services for the last decade. She is particularly passionate about new technologies that help improve the quality of life for seniors and their families. Seeing her parents and grandparents age made Amie ask herself, “Would this be good enough for my loved ones?” In her spare time, Amie enjoys outdoor adventures and spontaneous road trips. Learn more about Amie here