Maybe you’ve been busy with your career. Or maybe you were married once and it didn’t work out. Or maybe you’ve been searching and just haven’t found the right one yet. Whatever the reason you’re turning to an online dating site, you’re in good hands.
While there are hundreds of services out there, only a handful actually cater to your current life stage. Lucky for you, we’ve scoured the web to find you the best of these services—the ones that really take dating seriously, have quality members, and will help you get the most accurate matches for you to develop a meaningful relationship with.
Here are 5 of the best dating sites for singles over 40:
1. Zoosk
- Video verification feature for photos and profiles
- Proprietary behavioral matchmaking technology
- 35 million active members
Zoosk is a wildly popular online dating site for people from every country, lifestyle, and even age range. The 40+ crowd feels right at home here as well. And with a huge member base from Canada, you’re bound to find someone to click with. Smart technology delivers wonderfully appropriate matches based on your answers and behaviour, so you can really start to connect to someone who’s right for you.
A common fear that people who are 40+ have is that they’ll fall for someone who looks great in their profile pictures but doesn’t quite live up to it in real life. Zoosk takes care of this common issue of misrepresentation by using a video verification process on its members. You’ll be asked to submit a brief selfie video that is then reviewed by a moderator from Zoosk, so they can see that you really are who you’re claiming to be in photos and profile (not 20 pounds heavier and 10 years older!) This is a great way to maintain a quality dating pool and to discourage scammers and other hostile individuals from creating profiles.
2. EliteSingles
- College-educated member base
- In-depth questionnaire for accurate matches
- Easy-to-use system
EliteSingles charges close to $40 for a 6-month premium membership. While that might seem like a lot, in essence, it's actually a really helpful benefit for older singles. Why? A slightly higher price tag will weed out those who are just signing up to play around, leaving you with only a dating pool of serious, like-minded potentials. Besides, most people 40+ holding down a good job and looking for a serious relationship won’t be intimidated by a $40 monthly commitment. So, it really separates the men from the boys or women from the girls. And if it helps you meet your soulmate, it’s certainly worth the investment.
An added benefit for those singles in their prime of life is how easy it is to use EliteSingles. The profiles are all clearly displayed without a lot of distractions. All of the important information is both written and displayed visually, so you can see it at a glance. And communicating with other members is fast and easy, just click one of the bold green buttons.
Finally, EliteSingles has an in-depth questionnaire you’ll have to fill out. While this is an initial time investment, it helps you save a lot more time in the future. All of the information you put in is used to generate more accurate matches for you. Plus, anyone willing to sit and fill out the form is obviously a more serious candidate than most of the people on less involved dating sites.
3. Match
- Nearly a quarter of a century in the industry
- More mature member base
- Rated number one dating app for serious relationships and marriages
Match is another frequently heard name on the online dating scene. That’s because it’s been around for close to 25 years. In that time, Match has built a solid reputation for being reliable, safe, and best of all, successful at making happy relationships. As you get older, you start to realize the importance of reliability and reputation, and Match has those in spades.
Also encouraging is that close to 75% of Match’s member base is either Generation X or Boomers (ages ranging from 37-72). You don't have to deal with the annoyances or immaturities of a younger user base. 84% of users are college educated, and 44% are parents. So, you get the idea that you are dealing with a more mature audience that won’t waste your time.
4. eharmony
- Carefully crafted questionnaire for a more committed, involved member base
- Close to 70% of members find their spouse within a year of signing up
- 15 million daily matches
While some dating websites are all about having fun (think Tinder), if you’re looking for a more serious relationship, then eharmony could be an excellent choice. Aside from the fact that members are generally on the older end of the spectrum, the people signing up and filling out the profiles are usually more serious as well. That’s because eharmony asks slightly more substantial questions about your lifestyle, your personality, and your preferences.
For example, you’ll be asked about your religious beliefs, how many children you want to have, and who the most influential person in your life is. It’s the kind of questionnaire that really gets you thinking, so anyone just looking to fool around won’t waste time pondering what the one thing you wish more people would notice about them is.
Other things our 40+ users like about eharmony is that roughly 70% of users meet their spouses within 12 months of joining the community and 15 million matches are made every day.
5. OurTime
- Service made specifically for older singles
- Easy-to-use website and features
- Helpful and informative dating articles and resources
OurTime is one of the most obvious choices for singles over 40 because that is literally the target audience for this online dating service. With a slight edge for women (52% women represented versus 48% men), everyone on OurTime is in their prime of life and looking for a committed relationship.
Everything about the service is user-friendly. For example, you can fill out the profile test a little at a time. This way, you aren’t stuck for an hour taking a personality test. And in case technology is just not your thing, don’t worry. OurTime has one of the most straightforward and easy to use interfaces out there. All of the important information is displayed clearly, so you aren’t guessing or searching.
The available features and functionality are all located neatly on the left-hand toolbar, so you can go there to decide what to do next—send a gift online, contact a member, or view profiles based on your interests. OurTime suggests matches once a day so that you aren’t stuck searching on your own or overwhelmed by an onslaught of suggestions you can’t handle.
There is also a lot of information on the OurTime blog, including helpful advice about dating, smart tips on online and in-person dating safety, and how to present yourself for the best chances of getting that date. All articles are written by dating experts, a professional addition to the service.
Discover the Relationship You’ve Always Wanted
It's the perfect time for you to find love and settle into a committed relationship. Using a reliable online dating site that is specifically geared to more serious relationships and members, you can find the woman or man of your dreams. So, give it a try today, and start building the next 40 years of your life together with someone special.
