One thing not on my bingo card for 2025 — comparing notes on the best dating sites for over 40s with my mum. But with 30% of people admitting to having used a dating app at least once in their lives, it's an all too common reality.
Right now, however, the dating scene seems to have a bit of a bad rep, often associated with ghosting and catfishing. And while this can be the reality for some, I beg you to reframe your thinking. Because for people looking to find their next big love, there is no better way to boost the number of interactions you have with new people and potential partners daily.
Spoiler: I actually found my permanent plus-one back in December via Hinge — yet I am still very happy to share my notes and learnings from years of swiping, matching and meeting IRL with my mother. Hence why I also deemed myself qualified enough to put together an extensive guide on the best dating apps and sites for over-40s.
Yep, we've made the first move and examined some of the 1,400 (!) dating platforms available for mature singles in the UK, including Match.com, eHarmony, Bumble and Tinder. And yes, we're working our way through the rest as we speak.
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The best dating sites for people over 40, at a glance:
- Best for Serious Relationships: Match
- Best for Single Parents: Stir
- Best for Younger Matches: Hinge
- Best for LGBTQ+: HER
| Callisto Adams | Dating and relationship expert, sexuality counsellor and founder of HeTexted. |
| Nashira Kayode | Licensed clinical social worker and mental health media consultant. |
| Morgan Pommells | Certified relationship coach and educator. |
If Bridget Jones joined Hinge and found everything but love.
Ahead, the best dating apps for people over 40 in 2025, according to relationship experts:
It's the OG dating platform and continues to be called on by mingle-ready singles for a reason. If you’re over 40 and want a user-friendly app, a top-notch algorithm, and the ability to connect with serious matches, this is a solid option. “Match continues to be one of the best dating apps—particularly for people over 40 — if you’re looking for serious dating opportunities,” says Kayode. Users are often financially invested in the app and, in turn, invest in finding a match.
According to the brand’s website, 44% of Match members are between the ages of 30 and 49, 37% are over 50, and 59% are single parents. Match also services 24 countries and territories, making it a helpful option if you’re searching for international love.
- Pros: Screening questions and icebreaker prompts; financial investment means potentially more committed matches.
- Cons: Premium membership options and features can be pricey.
- Cost: Free to join, but paid-for plans start at £12.99.
- Available: uk.match.com, App Store, and Google Play.
This has been one of the most highly trusted platforms for over 20 years. More than two million people have found love on eharmony, according to the brand — and reports say that's due to the in-depth matching system and sophisticated algorithm.
“The app starts by asking you very detailed and thorough questions regarding your personality as well as what you desire in a partner,” says Kayode. “In order to get the full advantage, monthly fees are required, which can be a plus if you’re looking for something serious. It’s a financial investment, so users will tend to be more dedicated about finding a partner for the long term.”
Although eharmony members span various age groups, the platform has helpful tips and tricks for people who are specifically dating over 40, like how to incorporate dating into your busy schedule and encouraging reminders to know your worth.
- Pros: Thorough matching process; high success rate overall.
- Cons: Free version is very limited; 6-month membership is the shortest paid option.
- Cost: Free membership, though this is limited, and you have to pay for premium plans. Subscription costs start at £7.95 per month for 24 months.
- Available: eharmony.co.uk, App Store, and Google Play.
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This dating app is designed specifically for single people in their 50s and up. Whether you’re looking for romance, companionship, marriage, or even friendship, OurTime makes it easy to meet people and find matches that fit your interests. You can search for people based on specific criteria, or have the platform curate a list of potential matches for you and use the straightforward ‘like or pass’ feature.
- Pros: Caters to adults 50+; simple profile setup and streamlined user dashboard.
- Cons: Free members can’t communicate with other members.
- Cost: Membership is free, but you have to pay for a plan (starting at £19.99) if you want to access the features.
- Available: OurTime.co.uk, App Store, and Google Play.
While some 40-plus daters will seek the security of a monogamous union, others might see their new single status as an opportunity to explore polyamory or their sexual fluidity. Designed to help you play the FEELD (sorry), this open-minded app is primed for expression and exploration.
Speaking exclusively to GLAMOUR UK, CEO of Feeld, Ana Kirova, says: “People have their own interpretations because it’s so open. Ultimately, it’s a platform where you can meet people without having a goal. A space where open-minded people find like-minded.”
But why is this app especially good for those over 40? Well, sexual curiosity isn’t something that fades with age, and FEELD is a safe space to do so — something this age set is already picking up on, as women aged 40 to 50 are one of the app's fastest growing groups, Kirova confirms.
Her advice for our mums, aunts and older colleagues looking for love on the app? “Taking it step by step and exploring gently, and being comfortable with some discomfort can go a really long way.” AKA the unfamiliar may suit you better if you give it time.
- Pros: Diverse and non-judgmental.
- Cons: The opportunity to highlight your sexual interests can quickly steer the conversation in that direction.
- Cost: Free to download and use, with membership options with added features for a fee.
- Available: FEELD.co, App Store and Google Play.
AI is the buzzword of the moment — and supposedly the low-effort answer to our dating woes. Fronno claims to be the first AI-powered matchmaking service, finding you high-quality matches based on attraction, personality, and values — with no swiping.
How it works: Rather than making your account public, the app will simply send you one high-compatibility match per week — yep, this one values quality over quantity. It will send you their first name, photo, and phone number straight to your email so you can organise a meet-up IRL. No chat function means no time wasting and/or ghosting.
The best part, however, is that it takes no longer than 10 seconds to sign up (tried and tested). Just answer a few Qs and you're ready to go.
- Pros: No swiping, no scrolling, no reading endless profiles.
- Cons: Currently only available in London — but watch this space!
- Cost: As this one's in its infancy, it's currently free to make a profile and match.
- Available: Fronno.com.
This well-known dating website is designed to make dating less awkward and more welcoming. If you don’t have much dating experience or have simply been out of the game for a while, Plenty of Fish might be a good choice for you. The platform is available in many major cities around the world and has fun features, like Cue’d Up, a fill-in-the-blank game that helps you share your personality and get to know other members. POF lets you swipe, send messages, “super-like” potential matches, and even video chat.
- Pros: Free membership option; large user base; engaging features.
- Cons: Limited functionality with the free version; some inactive profiles.
- Cost: There's a free version, with options to upgrade your membership at various costs from £9.99 per month.
- Available: POF.com, App Store, and Google Play.
If you’re looking for a dating app that’s enjoyable, effective, and easy on your wallet, OkCupid might be a good option for you. The platform is great for singles over 40 who enjoy answering fun questions, expressing their personalities, and engaging with people who also want to share what genuinely matters to them. The brand reports that over 91 million meaningful connections are made on OkCupid every year and that it helps coordinate more than 50,000 dates per week —AKA clearly something is working. The platform also strives to be inclusive, with many gender and sexual orientation options to choose from (which is notably different from other apps, which tend to offer binary options).
- Pros: Inclusive; many active users; includes fun questionnaires and prompts.
- Cons: You have to answer a lot of questions; the free version has ads.
- Cost: Free membership, but paid accounts start from £7.95.
- Available: OkCupid.com, App Store, and Google Play.
This dating site is designed for people 50+ who are looking for serious relationships. When you join SilverSingles, you’ll take an in-depth personality test to help the platform match you with folks who have similar goals, values, and interests. Kayode says the app is great for people 40+ who know they want to date older, or have specific interests in mind: “Starting with sites that cater to a specific factor that’s important to you can be a great way to ensure that at least one interest will be shared.” You can also filter your search with specifics like ‘mature dating’, ‘gay senior dating’, and ‘older women dating’ to find exactly what you’re looking for.
- Pros: Designed for adults 50+; can receive 3 to 7 compatible matches daily.
- Cons: Basic membership can limit members’ ability to search for matches.
- Cost: While the SilverSingles basic membership is free — you will also receive recommended profiles but with limited communications with other members — a premium membership starts from £24.95 a month.
- Available: SilverSingles.co.uk, App Store, and Google Play.
Dating in your 40s means that you’ve probably figured out what you like and don’t like — which often includes personal values and choices, like drinking. If maintaining a sober lifestyle is important to you (or you’re simply tired of happy hour dates), there’s a dating app for that. Loosid is a platform for people in the sober community who want to find romance without having to constantly have the awkward ‘I don’t drink’ convo. You can match with fellow alcohol-free connections, find tips for sober living, plus expand your network with sober events and meetups. No liquid courage required.
- Pros: Inclusive, encouraging platform specifically for the sober community.
- Cons: The app isn’t exclusively focused on dating and might be better suited for friendship for some users.
- Cost: Free to use.
- Available: App Store and Google Play.
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This dating platform prides itself on having well-educated, successful singles who are focused on finding long-term relationships. According to EliteSingles, most members fall between the ages of 30 and 55. The initial questionnaire features 200 questions to help capture your personality, which is central to the app’s matchmaking process, and you’ll be given a curated list of potential matches to help you find what you’re looking for.
- Pros: Intelligent matchmaking, geared toward professionals.
- Cons: Must upgrade to a premium plan for unlimited messaging.
- Cost: £89.95 a month or £29.95 a month for 12 months.
- Available: App Store and Google Play.
If you’re a queer person over 40 looking for an inclusive dating app, HER might be worth a try. The platform has more than 13 million users in over 125 countries, and it welcomes lesbian, bisexual, queer, nonbinary, trans, and gender-nonconforming folks who want to find romance — or to simply find community. The app also welcomes users who may not be out yet, and allows you to join niche groups like ‘newly out’ and ‘travellers’ so you can connect with like-minded matches. HER describes itself as an ‘ever-growing, safe space to be your authentic self’.
- Pros: Free to get started; inclusive LGBTQIA+ community and events.
- Cons: Must upgrade to a paid plan to filter your searches.
- Cost: Core features are free, with premium options from £13.99.
- Available: App Store and Google Play.
Being 40 years or older is a requirement to join SeniorMatch, making it a solid choice for mature singles who are looking for love. Whether you’re interested in companionship, romance, or even finding a travel mate, SeniorMatch ensures that you’ll find someone in your age range who has similar interests. The brand recognises that dating in your 40s comes with its own set of unique factors, like having a busy schedule, preparing for retirement, dealing with breakups later in life, and even the passing of a former partner. ‘Let us assist you in finding someone special, no matter what your circumstance’ is the brand’s motto.
- Pros: Easy to navigate; registration is limited to users aged 40+.
- Cons: Some reviewers mention glitches and potentially fake profiles.
- Cost: Prices start at £12.99 per month for a six-month plan.
- Available: SeniorMatch.com/uk, App Store, and Google Play.
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Since this well-known dating app tends to be popular for millennials and Gen Z, you might be wondering, “Is Hinge okay for over 40?” According to some experts, the answer is yes. “Hinge is a great cost-effective option for casual dating since they have a free option,” says Kayode. “But Hinge is also viewed as more serious than other apps that are known for hookups, so the pressure to meet in person quickly is less likely.”
Although Hinge may not be exclusively designed for 40+ daters, you can still find success if you’re looking for fun dates and engaging conversations through creative prompts. If you don’t mind dating younger people, the app can be a great fit. It can be great if you’re based in (or visiting) a big city like London or Manchester, but some users say it’s tough to find new matches in smaller towns with limited dating pools.
- Pros: Engaging prompts and conversation-starters; large user base.
- Cons: Free version is limited; might not be best for finding older matches.
- Cost: Free to download, with Hinge Subscription options from £10.49.
- Available: Hinge.co, App Store and Google Play.
This popular dating app has 55 billion matches to date, making it one of the most successful platforms around. Although there have been many success stories of users finding long-term love from using the app, Tinder is widely known for being a fun platform for hookups and casual dating. The app has a massive user base spanning 190 countries around the world, making it a smart option for frequent travellers and international daters. If you’re in your 40s or up, the app can also help you connect with younger singles and fun flings.
- Pros: Well-known; large user base; easy to set up and swipe.
- Cons: May not be best suited for 40+ demographic or serious relationships.
- Cost: Free, with Tinder Plus options from just 79p.
- Available: Tinder.com, App Store, and Google Play.
This well-known dating app is known for encouraging women to make the first move (in same-gender matches, either party can). Although it’s not specifically geared toward the 40+ demographic, the app can still be a great option if you want to find younger matches or if you simply want to jump-start your online dating journey.
Once a match is established, you’ll have 24 hours to chat or the connection expires — which might be great if you need a little motivation to get outside of your comfort zone. And if romance doesn’t exactly work out on the app, you can use Bumble Bizz to make professional connections or Bumble BFF to find like-minded people in your area.
- Pros: User-friendly; fun features; easy to sign up and get started.
- Cons: Skews younger; you might lose matches if you don’t check the app daily.
- Costs: Free to download and use, with premium options available for a fee.
- Available: Bumble.com/en, App Store, and Google Play.
How to choose a dating app if you're dating over 40:
The best place to start, according to Adams: Work out what you're looking for. Do you want something casual, serious, or somewhere in between? Are you divorced, a single parent, widowed, and looking for someone who's been through similar? Or have you thoroughly enjoyed being single, but would simply appreciate someone to grab pizza with on Sundays?
“Pick the app that will allow you to meet people who have the same mentality as you and whose goals align with yours,” says Adams. “If you’re looking for a younger partner or something short-term, then Tinder or Bumble is a great choice.” For something more serious, she recommends Match, eharmony or Hinge. Once you’ve chosen the app(s) — there’s no harm in using a few — she suggests creating a detailed profile which clearly communicates your dating goals.
This content originally appeared on GLAMOUR US.
