Top Dating Websites for Individuals Above 40 by Lisa
Navigating the Dating Scene in Your 40s Has Never Been Simpler
Our editorial team at AskMen conducts comprehensive research and reviews on the best gear, services, and essentials for life. We may receive a commission if you click a link in this article and purchase a product or service.
Are you still on the dating scene in your 40s? Maybe you haven’t found the right person to settle down with yet. Or perhaps you’ve recently recovered from a messy divorce and are ready to dip your toes back into the dating pool. Or it could be that you’ve been so focused on your career and future planning that you’ve neglected your personal life.
Regardless of why you’re single in your 40s, re-entering the dating world can be daunting, confusing, and even a little scary. You’re not a naive teenager anymore; you’ve had life experiences and have likely become set in your ways. So, what’s the next step?
Meeting Singles Over 40: A Guide
Dating in your 40s can be challenging, especially if you’re new to the dating scene after a long marriage. The dating culture has changed rapidly, and you might not be familiar with the current trends.
The first thing to know is that everyone is online these days. Traditional dating methods like singles nights, speed dating, and asking out coworkers are now considered outdated. While it’s still possible to start a relationship through real-life interactions, online dating is the preferred method for most people.
Online dating offers several advantages: you can be sure that everyone on a dating site is looking to meet someone, and it saves you a lot of time and energy. So, muster up your courage, sign up for a dating site or app, and get ready to mingle. As a 40-something, you might not be familiar with all the nuances of online dating, but don’t worry! The people you’ll be interacting with are likely in the same boat.
After a month or two of exploring profiles, sending and receiving messages, and hopefully going on some dates, you’ll get the hang of how online dating works. All that’s left is to find the right person for you. So, what are you waiting for?
Top Dating Sites for People Over 40
Once you reach 40, some dating sites and apps might seem a bit strange. Many modern platforms that promote casual dating, like Bumble, Tinder, or Hinge, might feel too youthful and frivolous for your taste. If you’re looking for a serious relationship, you need to focus your efforts in the right direction. Therefore, you should concentrate on dating websites and apps that cater to the over-40 age group and the type of relationship you’re seeking.
Choosing a site that aligns with your values and needs will increase your chances of meeting people you’re interested in. Online dating will be much easier and less stressful if your potential matches have been pre-screened for your needs. You already know how to use your time efficiently at work or the gym, so why not apply the same principle to your love life?
Before you dive in, make sure you’re not overwhelmed by the multitude of options. As with any website that requires your personal information, it’s crucial to read the fine print. You don’t want to waste your energy, confidence, and hard-earned money on something that isn’t worth it. Not sure where to start or how to proceed? Fortunately, we’ve done the hard work for you and have narrowed down the top sites to focus your energy and time on. While these are safe choices, beware of untrustworthy sites that make promises they can’t keep.
The following recommended platforms for over-40 dating attract individuals who are not only in your age range but also share your outlook. Who knows? You might find more than just a date this weekend — you could find the one:
Zoosk
While Zoosk might not be as popular with the younger American crowd, this international dating app has a significant presence worldwide. With over 35 million members from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and throughout Europe, this app is ideal if your fast-paced career has you traveling extensively. You have the opportunity to meet singles from many countries, casting a much wider net than you would stateside. Since its founding more than a decade ago, Zoosk has invested in creating lasting, loving connections, continually updating its algorithm and offerings to meet its members’ needs.
Zoosk sets itself apart from competitors with its unique photo verification feature. If you’re in your 40s, you might be wary of users who look unreasonably younger than they should. With Zoosk, you don’t have to worry. They’ve designed this app to ensure you’re not paired with someone misrepresenting themselves. If Zoosk can’t verify a photo you uploaded, you’ll be asked to provide a video as proof. In addition to this safeguard against liars, they also use a ‘proprietary behavioral matchmaking engine’ that makes recommendations based on your messaging habits, browsing behavior, preferences, and clicks. Though Zoosk does require a paid membership to truly interact, those in the market for love post-40 swear by its success. So, if you’re an older man looking to get into internet dating, it’s the ideal place to start.
Match
As one of the most trusted and beloved dating sites, Match.com has used its 23 years of existence to bring together thousands of couples. While the company has evolved over time, they stay true to their belief that long-term relationships can be cultivated from online to in-person, thanks to thoughtful and meaningful profiles that get to the heart of their users. While you will be paying for one month, three months, six months, or a year through their various subscriptions, what you reap in return is well worth the investment. But consider yourself warned, it is an investment, indeed.
Unlike many online dating sites, when you first sign-up for Match.com, you’ll need to carve out some time (preferably with a glass of your go-to beverage) to answer several questions. Here is where being specific and honest about your hopes in dating become more important: Match.com sends you recommended singles based on these responses. And beyond their algorithm, it’s reasonable to conclude the people who are on Match are looking for something serious, meaning they’ll actually take the time to comb through your page.
Another perk of joining Match is their blossoming secondary company, Stir. Depending on where you’re located, you can browse through local events – from happy hours to kickball games and day trips – that bring together users based on interest. This can be a more exciting way to meet singles in your area that are Match users, without having a long conversation back and forth.
Elite Singles
For another way to find love, consider Elite Singles, a major player in the dating market. When you first sign-up, you’ll go through their unique personality test, organized in 10 sections, that asks everything from your background and education to your value system and your interests. Based on the ‘Five Factor Model’ theory of personality traits, it uses trusted logic from psychology to truly provide reputable matches.
Unlike most dating sites where you can browse through hundreds of profiles as often and frequently as you’d like, this destination uses the results of your test to present 3 to 7 suitors per day. Especially if you’re someone who tends to get stressed by a plethora of option – or you don’t want to waste time browsing instead of dating – this might be the best option for your lifestyle. It is important to note that while reviews are mixed for this site, its reputation continues to be stellar for those 40 and over, in particular.
Learn more at EliteSingles.com
eHarmony
Another long-standing dating site is eHarmony. And for good reason: they use a proprietary questionnaire around beliefs, emotional health, skill sets, characteristics, and more to create “happy couples.” The keyword, of course, is couples: eHarmony isn’t a site designed for hookups or random flings, but they truly focus and foster a committed approach to love. You’ll notice the more time you spend on eHarmony, the more success you’ll have, since their software takes note of how much time you spend on profiles, what you search for, and more.
While eHarmony has matched together twosomes for more than a decade, it wasn’t until last year that they gave their users a glimpse into the process. Starting in 2017, a now-popular feature ‘The Two of You Together’ became available to all members, showing the specific data on why you should probably message that cutie already. As a paid service, eHarmony is among the top options for heterosexual men.
Love Again
If you’re looking for a great place to find a date past 40, look no further than Love Again. It’s designed specifically for mature daters, so you’ll enjoy the ease, the simplicity, and the purpose behind this app. Depending on your style, you can browse through profiles, join group chats, instant message folks you’re really interested in, ask questions in forums, and more.
While it’s not as racy or modern as other competitors on the market, for a way to get started without getting frustrated, you’ll enjoy having many more potential dates within your desired age range. Especially since, hey, that means you have more of an opportunity to truly fall for a person who is looking for the same future you are.
You Might Also Like:
