Best Dating Sites for Over 50 in 2026 (and the Best Apps Over 40)

The best dating sites for over 50 at a glance

The table puts first the three services that online daters over 50 actually use most, then the sites built only for people 50+, then the rest. Usage figures come from an SSRS survey of 2,012 US adults in January 2026; a dash means SSRS lists no 50+ figure for that service. Prices are the US App Store list or the service's own page on the date shown. Web prices can differ, so check the total at checkout.

Changed or gone: the Spark Networks version of EliteSingles shut down on 30 April 2026 and the brand relaunched under a new operator with new accounts; Lumen closed in 2020; SeniorPeopleMeet now redirects to OurTime.

How we chose

We started with usage: which services people over 50 actually use, from SSRS (January 2026) and Pew Research Center (survey of July 2022). Then we checked that each service is live today, who runs it, and whether its prices are published where you can see them before signing up. We also read what 50+ users report in AARP's 2026 survey of 300 online daters aged 50 and older: 65% were satisfied, and 20% of those looking for something long-term were in a serious relationship of three months or more with someone they met on the platform.

There are no affiliate links on this page, and nobody paid to be listed. Our own matchmaking service is not ranked; it has its own box near the end.

The services, one by one

1. Plenty of Fish

Verdict: the most-used service among online daters over 50, and you can message without paying.

Plenty of Fish is a large general dating app run by Plentyoffish Media Inc. In SSRS's 2026 survey, 36% of Americans 50+ who have dated online had used it, more than any other service. That is the main reason to try it: the people your age are already there. It has 4.3 out of 5 from about 1.8 million ratings in the US App Store.

The free version lets you message. Paid options in the App Store list are a 1 Week Subscription at $19.99, a 1 Month Subscription at $29.99, POF Premium Membership at $29.99 and an "Upgrade" at $38.99 (checked October 30, 2026). Caution: the pool is broad and mixed in intent, so say clearly in your profile what you want and filter hard.

2. Match

Verdict: the best mainstream pick for a serious relationship after 50.

Match is a mainstream dating site that suits people who want a committed relationship. It is the second most-used service among online daters 50+ (33%, SSRS 2026). Pew's survey found that half of online daters 50+ had used Match, against 11% who had used Tinder. A Match spokesperson told Axios in May 2026 that Match and OurTime serve people "after retirement, relocation, divorce or the loss of a partner."

Without paying, you can chat with every match and rate up to 50 profiles a day. Paid tiers are Bronze, Silver, Platinum and Diamond, sold in packages of one, three, six or 12 months. Forbes Health (March 9, 2026) lists Platinum at $39.99 a month on three months, $29.99 on six and $19.99 on 12, and Bronze from $3.32 a month on 12 months. The US App Store list shows 1 Month Standard at $44.99 and a 6 Month Bundle at $129.99. Caution: long plans are cheaper per month but you pay up front; start short.

3. Facebook Dating

Verdict: the easiest free first step if you already use Facebook.

Facebook Dating is a free dating profile inside the Facebook app. You need to be 18 or older and have a Facebook account that is at least 30 days old. It is the third most-used service among online daters 50+ (28%, SSRS 2026), mostly because so many people over 50 are on Facebook already.

There is nothing to pay. Caution: Meta's own growth claims for Facebook Dating are only about users aged 18 to 29, so the company publishes nothing on how many older members use it. Keep your dating profile separate from what your Facebook friends see, and move slowly with anyone who asks to switch to another messaging app.

4. OurTime

Verdict: the biggest-name site built only for people over 50.

OurTime describes itself in the App Store as "the dating app for people over 50." It is sold by Match Group Americas, LLC, the same group that runs Match, and SeniorPeopleMeet now redirects here. It has 3.9 out of 5 from about 71,000 ratings in the US App Store.

The US App Store list shows 1 Week Premium at $19.99, a 1 Month Premium Subscription at $39.99 and 6 Months of a Premium Feature at $89.99 (checked October 30, 2026). It suits people who want everyone they see to be in their age range. Caution: an age-only site is a smaller pool than Match or Plenty of Fish, so in a city like New York you may see the same profiles quickly. Pair it with a larger service.

5. SeniorMatch

Verdict: a 50+-only site with clear published prices.

SeniorMatch limits registration to people aged 50 and older. Its App Store seller is Agematch Technology Internet Co., Ltd. It has 3.8 out of 5 from about 2,400 ratings in the US App Store. AARP's 2026 ranking names SeniorMatch "Best Overall"; AARP discloses that it earns affiliate commissions, and the ranking is AARP's, not ours.

The US App Store list shows one month at $33.99, three months at $69.99 and six months at $109.99 (checked October 30, 2026). The app description mentions $34.99 a month, so read the price at checkout. Caution: it is a smaller community than the mainstream apps; it works best for people who want an older pool and do not mind fewer new profiles each week.

6. SilverSingles

Verdict: a 50+ site with a personality questionnaire; check who runs it before a long plan.

SilverSingles says it was "created for singles over 50" and matches people using a personality questionnaire. The US App Store list shows one month at $18.99, three months at $47.99 and six months at $84.99 (checked October 30, 2026). It has 4.3 out of 5 from 237 ratings.

Ownership has changed. The App Store seller is Heartnet LLC, and the website now reads "© 2026 SilverSingles.com / SuccessfulMatch.com, Inc." Its former parent, Spark Networks, saw its German operating company seek US recognition of its insolvency in a New York bankruptcy court in 2026. Caution: check the current operator before paying for a long plan, and start with one month.

7. eharmony

Verdict: the most structured option, at the highest app price on this list.

eharmony asks you to complete a long compatibility quiz and then suggests matches through what it calls its "Compatibility Matching System." It suits people who want a clear relationship intent from everyone they meet. eharmony says it has helped over 2 million couples; its App Store listing gives no source for that figure.

Basic membership is free, but messaging needs Premium. AARP (October 8, 2026) lists Premium Plus at $89.90 a month on three months, $65.90 on six and $43.90 on 12. Forbes Health (November 19, 2025) lists Premium Light from $64.90 a month, Premium Plus from $74.90 and Premium Unlimited from $79.90, each on a six-month plan. Caution: the cheapest monthly rate needs a long commitment, so decide after a few weeks of the free tier.

8. Stitch

Verdict: the pick if you want company and activities, with or without romance.

Stitch is a companionship community for people over 50 that says it has "over 400,000 members." Its focus is shared activities, travel, interest groups and dinners, both in person and online, with dating as one option rather than the only one. If you are not sure you want a partner yet, that is a gentler start.

Stitch has a limited free membership, and Full membership costs "from $7 per month" on its pricing page (checked October 30, 2026). Caution: if a committed relationship is your clear goal, use Stitch alongside a dating service, not instead of one.

Also in your ads: DateMyAge. DateMyAge, sold by Neriva Solutions Inc., is aimed at people 40+ and runs on credits: 10 credits cost $10.99, 40 cost $37.99 and 80 cost $69.99, with memberships at $9.99 and $24.99 in the US App Store list. It has 3.3 out of 5 from about 12,000 ratings. Credit pricing makes the total hard to predict, so set a budget first.

Is Bumble or Hinge better for over 50?

Neither app publishes how many of its users are over 50, and SSRS lists no 50+ figure for either. Online daters 50+ mostly use Plenty of Fish, Match and Facebook Dating (SSRS, 2026). Hinge's own reports split users only into Gen Z and millennials.

Hinge is free with eight likes a day; the US App Store list shows Hinge+ at $16.99 and $19.99, with the period not shown. It suits people in their early 50s who want a relationship-focused app and are open to dating a little younger. Bumble is free, with Premium at $69.99 a month and Premium+ at $99.99 (Forbes Health, March 2, 2026). For the full comparison, see Hinge vs Bumble compared.

How much do dating sites for over 50 cost?

Most cost between about $19 and $45 for one month, and the price per month drops on longer plans. The App Store prices in our table are what the apps charge in the US store; prices on a website can differ, and some sites show the monthly rate of a plan you pay for in one go. In AARP's 2026 survey, 52% of online daters over 50 had paid for upgrades.

Two pricing models exist. Subscriptions (Match, OurTime, SeniorMatch, SilverSingles, eharmony) charge a fixed amount for a set period. Credits (DateMyAge) charge per action, so the monthly total depends on how much you message.

How much is SeniorMatch? $33.99 for one month in the US App Store list, $69.99 for three months and $109.99 for six (checked October 2026).

Are dating sites safe for people over 50?

They are safe enough to use if you know the pattern scammers follow. The numbers show why it matters:

What are senior dating red flags? These five come from the FTC's and AARP's romance-scam advice:

1. They ask for money, a gift card or an "investment," however small or urgent. The FTC's rule: never send money to someone you haven't met in person.
2. They can never meet and always have a reason to cancel a video call.
3. Their attention is fast and intense, with declarations of love within days.
4. They tell a story of working overseas, on an oil rig or in the military, followed by one crisis after another.
5. They push you to leave the dating app for a private messaging app early on.

A reverse-image search of their photos often shows the pictures belong to someone else. Report a scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the app, and call AARP's Fraud Watch helpline at 877-908-3360 for free advice. For more, read our guide to red flags and romance scams after 50.

Best dating apps for over 40

In your 40s, the mainstream apps are where people your age are. Among Americans aged 30 to 49 who have dated online, the most used are Tinder (46%), Plenty of Fish (38%) and Facebook Dating (33%), according to SSRS (2026). If you want a relationship rather than volume, these five are our picks:

OkCupid is sold by Match Group Americas, LLC and has 4.3 out of 5 from about 290,000 ratings in the US App Store. Its Premium options in the list run from $7.99 to $59.99, with the durations not shown. Tinder and Plenty of Fish give you the most people; Match and eharmony give you more people who want the same thing you do.

Is 40 too old for Hinge? Are 40-year-olds on Tinder? No, on both counts. Americans aged 30 to 49 are the age group most likely to have used online dating: 53% have, more than the 51% of 18-to-29-year-olds (SSRS, 2026).

For a wider list, see our apps for serious relationships. For the advice side, read our guide to dating in your 40s.

Where else to meet people over 50 in New York

Apps are one channel. In New York, the places that work best after 50 are ones where you see the same people every week. NYRR Striders runs free coached walks for older adults every weekday morning, from Marcus Garvey Park to Columbus Circle. Quest Lifelong Learning Community at CCNY runs peer-led classes at 25 Broadway for $550 a year. Meetup's Manhattan 40s & Over Social Club had 15,969 members on October 30, 2026. Our full list, with times and prices, is in dating over 50: where people meet in NYC.

When a matchmaker is the better option

A matchmaker suits you if you have little time for apps, want every person screened before you meet, value privacy, or want someone at a similar stage of life. Instead of reading profiles and spotting fake ones, you talk to one person who meets candidates first and only introduces people who fit. It costs more than any site on this list; see what a matchmaker costs in New York, and read is a matchmaker worth it for an honest look at when the money makes sense. If you want that kind of help, talk to a New York matchmaker.