Since his divorce, Jeff Jordy has utilized online dating services on and off for the past 14 years. Match.com, eHarmony, and OurTime are just a few of the dating sites that have popped up on his phone or computer screen.
He determined which dating apps work best for him based on personal experience and advice from friends. However, he has a lot more options now than he did when he first started dating.
Jordy, 58, of Nashville, Tennessee, says you “understand their distinctions and what sort of individuals might be on them and if it’s a good fit.”
According to Business Insider, the number of dating app users in the United States is predicted to reach 26.6 million in 2020, up 18.4 percent from 2019.
A growing number of singles are attempting to negotiate these online dating choices, particularly during the pandemic, when meeting in person is less likely and offers a danger of transmission of COVID-19. According to Business Insider, the number of dating app users in the United States is predicted to reach 26.6 million in 2020, up 18.4 percent from 2019.
Fiona Bloom, 54, recently reactivated her dating apps after becoming concerned that she might be unable to meet a significant other due to the coronavirus pandemic. “COVID-19 has ruined my love life,” writes the New Yorker.
Many dating apps and sites offer free versions but charge a price for all the bells and whistles, and many offer free versions but charge a fee for all the bells and whistles. Since the outbreak, many of these applications have introduced improved communication features, such as video chat, to address the problem that meeting in person is difficult.
There are applications for general audiences and apps for singles over 50, as well as apps that strive to match daters who are religious or LGBTQ+. Here’s a rundown of some of the possibilities.
Dating sites for adults 50+
1. OurTime
OurTime, which is available as an app and can be accessed from a laptop or desktop, favours local profiles over long-distance ones, and it’s completely free to sign up and start exploring. Users with a free account can click the “Flirt” button to show interest in singles, view their profiles, and change their own. However, in order to connect with others on the network, users must pay for a membership. The option to send virtual presents, such as a picture of a rose, or having a profile enhanced in searches to make it easier to find are two extra profile improvements that set OurTime apart. The cost of a six-month package starts at $90.
2. SilverSingles
SilverSingles, which caters to those aged 50 and up, takes a different strategy than swipe-based apps, which encourage users to make first decisions based solely on a photo, or other services that allow users to choose their own match. According to the website, SilverSingles customers take a personality test and receive three to five hand-selected matches every day. There’s also a desktop alternative and a downloaded app if you want to browse on your smartphone. After the trial time, Silver Singles requires a subscription. Monthly packages start at $24.95 for a 12-month period.
3. Bumble
This dating app empowers women by allowing them to initiate contact. Users swipe right on profile photographs they like on Bumble, which is a swipe-based app. It’s a match when a lady swipes on a man and he swipes back. Women have 24 hours to communicate their heterosexual mate before the link disappears. Before the connection ends in same-sex matches, either side has 24 hours to message and another 24 hours to answer.
Bumble also has Bumble BFF, which is a friendship matchmaking service, and Bumble Biz, which is a networking platform. Bumble is free to download and use the fundamental functions, but extras, such as upgrading your profile so that it is seen by more local singles, cost money. Bumble Boost is a monthly subscription service that allows you to rematch with expired matches, check who has liked you, and extend matches by another 24 hours.
4. Coffee Meets Bagel
By limiting the number of profiles you can like per day to five, CMB encourages users to make genuine connections. Users have only seven days after matching to meet in person, effectively ending ghosting (when someone disappears totally or stops responding to communications). When Coffee Confronts Bagel claims that its system, which uses nine characteristics to generate curated matches, handpicks suggested profiles for viewing each day. It’s free to download and use the basic features, just like most dating apps, but premium features like additional matches and profile boosts cost money.
Coffee Meets Bagel employs “beans” to purchase profile improvements, and the cost of additional beans can be as little as $1.99 depending on any current discounts or sales. However, if you want to make a significant difference and increase the amount of profiles you can like per day, you’ll need to invest $25-$30 per month.
5. eHarmony
A classic, trusted dating service for people of all ages, where someone finds love every 14 minutes, according to the eHarmony website. According to a Mashable review, the sign-up procedure is extensive, with many personality questions to answer, but it aids in the discovery of good matches and people seeking long-term partnerships. The cheapest plan starts at $7.95 a month for a year, but prices vary depending on how long you sign up for and whether or not the site is offering a discount.
Some sources claim that you can spend as much as $200 in a year. The purchase includes a guarantee: either discover someone you like in three months or receive another three months free.