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Staying socially connected at every age is an important part of our physical and mental health, but it can also be a challenge. For example, maintaining friendships can be challenging due to distance or busy schedules. What’s more, it can be even harder to break out of our social circles to meet new people for romantic connections. For those who want to continue dating after the age of 50, you may consider online dating platforms to connect with others beyond the limitations of your typical social circles or physical location. “No matter our age, we all have a desire for connection, companionship, and relationships with others,” said Lakelyn Eichenberger, gerontologist and caregiving advocate at Home Instead in Omaha, Nebraska.
SeniorMatch is an online dating platform intended for people age 50 and older, although it allows anyone age 40 and older to sign up. It’s not only a dating site, it’s also a place people can use to find companionship, travel companions, social events, and to make new friends.
For this article, our Reviews Team signed up for the SeniorMatch platform to explore its features, learn more about its user experience, and compare it to the other online senior dating sites we researched.
Based on our testing, our Reviews Team recommends SeniorMatch for people who are looking to connect with others who are 40 and older, and who appreciate the platform’s extra verification steps for users.
“I like the extra verification steps and that they supposedly approve photos by hand. The oversight on the platform makes me feel safer and that it could make it easier to find real people who are serious about making connections.”
– From our tester
Our testers were able to find matches located near them as well as internationally. Users can interact with potential dates through “winking,” starting a conversation through messaging directly with their matches, or interacting socially through the community discussion boards and social feed-like profile pages.
Our Reviews Team liked that users need to pass its verification steps before being able to view matches. These steps can help reduce the amount of bots or fake profiles some users have reported encountering on online dating sites.
When one of our Reviews Team members tested SeniorMatch with a fake photo and ID, their profiles were flagged and deleted within a day. Also, our tester couldn’t sign up again using the same email. This was a surprisingly prompt and direct response to a fake profile, which our team appreciated.
We didn’t like that there were more features on the web browser version of the platform compared to the mobile app, which can make a difference in a user’s experience.
Romance or sweetheart scams
It’s important to be aware of romance scams when using online dating platforms. Romance scams, or “sweetheart scams,” are when someone creates a fake online persona to build a romantic relationship with someone so they can be manipulated into sending money or personal information to the scammer.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the U.S. government, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warn social media and online dating platform users about romance scams and their impact. In 2022, almost 70,000 people lost $1.3 billion collectively.
People using online dating platforms can report suspicious profiles and activity to the platform itself, the FTC, or the FBI.
Learn more about how to stay safe from sweetheart or romance scams when using online dating platforms.
Who may love SeniorMatch:
Who may want to avoid SeniorMatch:
Users can sign up for SeniorMatch on its website or mobile app for free. Its standard membership is free, and there’s a paid premium membership with more features and the ability to message potential matches. For the premium membership, our Reviews Team recommends using the website to sign up for the paid membership since it costs less to use the desktop browser than the mobile app. Users can then use the platform from either their web browser or mobile device.
Here’s how to sign up for SeniorMatch using its website (as opposed to the mobile app):
SeniorMatch suggests matches based on an algorithm that considers the user’s preferences on their profile. Users can filter matches by:
You can either browse within your matches or discover other profiles that might not have matched your initial preferences.
Meeting people online can be different from meeting people in person. Carrie Ditzel, clinical psychologist and director of gerontology and neuropsychology at Baker Street Behavioral Health in New Jersey, suggests asking yourself some questions to help narrow down what you’re looking for from online dating matches.
“Are you looking for companionship? Serious partnership? Just some fun dates? This may be something to ask yourself. Then, ensure you are pursuing others who have similar desires. Keeping this in mind can help it be a positive experience,” she said.
Users with a standard membership can search for other users by country and state, send winks and likes, and comment on posts. Users with a premium membership can adjust their matches to filter for other premium members, ethnicity, religion, alcohol use, tobacco use, and child status. Premium members are also able to see who has visited their profile and sort the order of their matches by users who have been recently active on the site, newest members, age, and distance.
The platform was fairly simple for our testers to use. Here are some features users can expect to interact with on SeniorMatch:
We noticed that the platform had more features on its website than its mobile app, such as the following:
Because users on online dating platforms can be exposed to romance scams and fake profiles, our Reviews Team paid close attention to safety features on each dating platform we reviewed. We found the following points that supported user safety on SeniorMatch:
As mentioned above, our testers found that the platform’s user verification steps were enough to prevent the creation of a fake profile. Users can also report a user profile that looks fake or is carrying out suspicious or malicious activity.
Resources to get support
If you or someone you know over the age of 65 is experiencing abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation, there are some resources that can help:
For some, dating and the risk of possible rejection or exploitation can worsen symptoms of anxiety, depression, or unresolved trauma. Mental health treatment is available. These resources may be able to help you get the support you need:
We read through the platform’s service agreement and privacy policy pages and like that the platform has a detailed code of conduct for users that includes restrictions on behaviors like spamming, harassing, using hate speech, using misleading images or content, and stealing user content (e.g., personal information, images, and posts).
Tips for connecting with others online safely
Connecting with someone online can be a convenient way to engage in meaningful social relationships. But meeting people online can also make us vulnerable to scams, fraud, and harassment. Here are a few essential tips on how to stay safe when messaging online, based on advice from our NCOA experts and our Reviews Team’s testing experience:
It’s free to sign up for SeniorMatch, and the platform has a premium membership that offers the following extra benefits:
The cost for premium membership depends on where you sign up (through the online site or the mobile app), and how long you sign up for. Our Reviews Team found it strange that signing up for premium membership via the SeniorMatch mobile app costs more than signing up through the SeniorMatch website. It can cost up to 17% more to sign up for the same plan on the app than on the website, so we recommend that anyone signing up for the premium plan do so via the SeniorMatch website. You will still have access to both the app and the desktop versions no matter where you sign up.
| Website sign-up costs | Mobile app sign-up costs | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost due at time of sign-up | Monthly cost* | Cost due at time of sign-up | Monthly cost | |
| One month | $29.95 | $29.95 | $34.99 | $34.99 |
| Three months | $59.95 | $19.98 | $69.99 | $23.33 |
| Six months | $95.95 | $15.99 | $109.99 | $18.33 |
* Billing starts on the day of sign-up
According to the platform, users who submit feedback or suggestions that are added to SeniorMatch can be awarded a one-month bonus premium membership.
To cancel your membership, go to your account’s settings page, or email customer support at least 24 hours before your renewal date.
You can reach SeniorMatch customer service via the contact form on this page, or by email at support@seniormatch.com.
Despite its website saying that it’s a Silicon Valley company, SeniorMatch has a mailing address in Canada:
SeniorMatch.com
10-8707 Dufferin Street, Suite 160
Vaughan, Ontario L4J 0A6
Canada
The site accepts payment via credit card, debit card, Google Pay, and CC Bill, an external payment processing site.
Our Reviews Team researched more than 20 online dating sites and personally tested five sites and their accompanying mobile apps. While we didn’t go as far as asking our testers to take notes on any dates they may have gone on, we did evaluate the online experiences they had that led up to a date or connection. Based on independent research and consultation with experts, we determined these factors to be the most important when evaluating online dating sites:
To better understand the online dating landscape for older adults, we hosted focus groups, conducted surveys, and spoke to experts.
Our June 2024 online dating survey asked 500 older adults which online dating sites they preferred, what motivated them to use an online dating app, and more.
We learned that 40% of older adults used online dating sites to find a long-term romantic partner. The top motivators for pursuing online dating instead of meeting people at in-person social events were:
While 67% of respondents have met in person with someone they connected with through an online dating site, 38% of respondents reported encountering fake profiles or someone trying to scam them. This prompted us to pay close attention to each site’s safety guidelines and privacy policies.
In July 2024, we sat down with nine older adults (ages 51–77) to talk about their experience with online dating sites. We gathered helpful insights to inform our testing, including the following:
From our July 2024 online dating focus group participants:
“I don’t hang out at clubs anymore. I don’t go to bars. So, it’s hard to meet people, you know, just walking around the street and everything. You don’t know if someone’s married or not, or engaged. So it’s just difficult to meet people my age.”
– Female focus group participant, age 61
“I’ve had nothing but positive benefits from online dating as far as meeting people that I would’ve never met otherwise. And whether it was a new friendship or a new relationship, it’s definitely been a good experience.”
– Female focus group participant, age 53
We spoke with eight experts on online dating, including a licensed sexologistⓘ A specialist who studies human sexual behavior. , a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), and a neuropsychologist. We asked about the value of connectedness for older adults, the benefits and drawbacks of online dating, and how people can choose an online dating site that’s right for them. We used expert insights to inform our recommendations for the top online dating sites for older adults.
“Online dating can increase self-esteem, build social circles, and lead to intimate relationships. The quality of one’s relationships directly impacts one’s mental and physical health outcomes, so even if dating only leads to more quality friendships, it’s worthwhile. And, of course, dating could lead to an incredible romantic relationship, perhaps the best of your life!”
– Jessica Anne Engle, LMFT, dating coach, and founder of The Relationship Center
| Starting monthly cost for premium features | $15.99 | $35.90 | $9.95 | $12.99 |
| App available? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Match system | Algorithm based on profile | Compatibility quiz | Personality test | Algorithm based on profile |
| Target age range | 50 and older | 18 and older | 50 and older | 50 and older |
SeniorMatch is an online dating platform intended for people 50 years and older, although you can sign up as long as you’re 40 or older. Its layout is simple and easy to navigate, and our testers found that having a premium membership and using the platform on a web browser were the best ways to get the most features out of the platform. We don’t recommend the mobile app since signing up through the app is more expensive, and users can only use basic features.
Our Reviews Team tested its user verification system and was impressed with its ability to detect and prevent a fake profile from being created. Its premium membership isn’t the most affordable among the platforms we tested. Still, it’s a platform worth considering for people who want to meet others within a certain age range.
The premium features on SeniorMatch may be worth it for people who want more control over the matches they receive. Premium features include narrowing matches by distance and other preferences, messaging anyone, and seeing who has interacted with your profile.
SeniorMatch is free to sign up, but features are limited and users will have to contend with ads on the pages. Its premium features cost between $15.99 and $34.99 per month, depending on whether you choose a one-, three-, or six-month subscription.
SeniorMatch doesn’t offer a free trial for its premium membership, but it is free to sign up and get started. Free memberships have fewer features than premium memberships, but users can still create a profile and get matches.
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
