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Social connections are key to our overall well-being. For some of us, online dating can offer new opportunities to ease loneliness by giving opportunities to build friendships and find intimacy.
If you’re considering online dating, you’ve probably heard of Match. It’s one of the most popular online dating sites among adults 50 and older, according to a recent survey, and it’s been around for almost 20 years. But how does Match compare to other dating sites that have emerged in recent years?
To find the answer, our Reviews Team signed up for Match to explore its features, learn about its user experience, and compare it to other online dating sites we’ve tested.
From our July 2024 Online Dating survey, we learned that about 48% of respondents who used Match were seeking a long-term relationship. The other 52% of Match users said they were interested in casually dating and meeting new people. Our testers felt the site did a good job of matching them by their values and relationship goals.
“I stated in my profile that I wanted a serious relationship, and the matches I’m seeing seem to reflect that same interest. The men I’m seeing as matches have profiles that often say what kind of partner they’d be and how they would like to spend time with a long-term partner.”
— From our tester
Our testers also had positive things to say about the free version of Match. With a free account, you can create a detailed profile, explore other people’s profiles, and get suggestions for people who might be good matches. You can also chat with every match (a match occurs when you like a profile that has also liked you). Some features, like the ability to see every profile that likes you, are only available through a paid version. Still, our testers were impressed with the free plan’s value.
We like that Match makes it quick and easy to sign up and create a profile. For our testers, it took just 15 minutes, and both the desktop and app versions were easy to use. Match is also a good option for outgoing and motivated people who want to find a partner, as it is one of the few online dating sites that allows you to message other users even if they don’t “like” your profile.
Still, like all online dating sites, it’s important to be careful and know that you may encounter fake profiles or people trying to scam you. In our Online Dating survey, 33% of Match users came across a fake profile.
Who may like it
Who may want to avoid it
Our testers told us that signing up for Match on the website or mobile app was easy and quick. We suggest starting with the free version because it offers plenty of useful features to help you meet potential friends or partners.
You’ll start by creating a profile, which involves answering a series of questions about yourself, like where you’re from, languages you speak, pets, degrees, and how often you exercise. You’ll also be asked what kind of connection you’re looking for, including a desired age range (our testers chose a 55–70 age range). Our testers liked that the Match intake form offered choices for describing gender identity, with options for gender fluid, gender nonconforming, nonbinary, trans person, and pangender.
The intake questions cover many aspects of your personality and interests, but they’re not so detailed that they take a long time to complete. You can pick and choose which questions you want to answer in your Match profile. All Match users have to upload at least one photo. Mairi Macleod, a behavioral scientist and dating expert we spoke to for this article, suggested creating a full profile and approaching it with a “positive, friendly mindset.” She added that it’s best to focus on what you do want (rather than what you don’t want) in a potential match.
“To find the right sort of people, get your quirky, specific likes and attributes into your profile. This way, you’ll get noticed by people who resonate with your way of being, and you can assess how they message you. Do they message you with a generic, ‘Hey, how are you doing?’ or do they pick up on something specific in your profile to ask you about? If the latter, they’re more likely to be someone who’s interested in an actual relationship, and interested in you specifically.”
— Mairi Macleod, behavioral scientist and dating expert
Creating your profile on Match was different from other online dating sites we tested in that it prompts you to choose three core values from a list of options, such as mindfulness, family, and integrity. Match will then try to pair you with other users who share similar core values.
Match also has several filters to help you narrow your search to people who meet your preferences. You can filter preferred matches by age, appearance (height and build), religion, language spoken, sexual preference, gender identity, degrees, race, drug and alcohol use, marriage status, and whether or not they have children. You can go back to your profile settings and change your filters at any time. You also can filter by distance, indicating how far in miles you want to search for potential matches (based on your ZIP code). But while the filters are helpful, some users have said they still see potential matches that don’t quite line up with their preferences. You can go back to your profile settings and change your filters at any time.
Match uses an algorithm based on the details of your profile to match you with other people. When profiles show up in your Discover tab, you have three options: skip, like, or send a message. You can’t see the next profile until you’ve chosen one of those options. If you like a profile and that profile also likes you, it’s a match.
Another way to make connections with your Match account is to see if it’s hosting events for singles in your area. You can do this by checking the Events tab. Our testers found several meet-ups within 30 days of signing up, including a speed dating mixer, a sunset kayaking tour, and a sip-and-stroll public art tour. Our testers live in densely populated areas, though, and Match may not have events in rural or remote areas. Match also has an option of joining every weekend to message and meet other members during the weekend. They send out a message on Thursday for people to sign up to message people who have also signed up and meet that weekend in your area. It can be a quick way to get a date for the weekend. No subscription is required.
Users should know that Match was sued in 2019 by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for using love interest emails, likes, and instant messages from fake accounts to lure people into signing up for a paid subscription.
Do not sign up for a paid plan based on a message that comes from Match profiles, as there’s a possibility that some of the emails could be coming from fake profiles. To avoid fake profiles on Match, be cautious of anyone who asks to connect off the dating site (via email or text, for example), or who won’t make plans to meet you in person despite engaging in several weeks of communication. Always ask for something public from your match (such as a Facebook or LinkedIn profile, or a work website) before agreeing to meet in person, and always meet in a public place where there are other people and where you feel safe. Never give money or send financial information to someone you meet on Match, or any online dating or social media site.
“The golden rule is to never chat with people who are interested in talking about money in any way, no matter why they are bringing it up. It’s always better to be safe than sorry! This means that you should stop talking with the person if they bring up a bad economic situation, that they need money for medical health care, a business, or their grandkids.”
— Sofie Roos, sexologist and relationship therapist
Currently, Match has the following practices for helping to keep its users safe:
Read the Match Community Guidelines for more information.
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 a victim, with the goal of tricking them into sending money or personal information.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the U.S. government, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warn 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, the FTC, or the FBI.
Fraud-monitoring technology platforms can help keep you, or an older adult you care about, safe from romance scams, identity theft, and other predatory online activity. NCOA readers can get a free trial and 20% off for EverSafe.
Learn more about how to stay safe from sweetheart or romance scams when using online dating platforms.
Connecting with someone online can be a convenient way to engage in meaningful social relationships. But people online can also be targets of scams, fraud, or 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:
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation, here are some resources to get help:
For some, dating and the risk (and reality) of rejection or exploitation can make symptoms of anxiety, depression, or unresolved trauma worse. Treatment is available for any mental health concern. See these resources to get the support you need:
Call 911 or head to your nearest emergency room if you are in immediate danger.
The free version of Match allows you to see profiles and matches, chat with matches, and even send messages to a few people you don’t match with. You can also use the search function with the site’s free version, but it will only allow you to see a limited number of results.
Paid plans unlock more features, including the following:
Here’s a breakdown of paid plans on Match:
Match customer service does not have a phone number, which could frustrate some users. To get help with a billing or technical issue, you can contact Match customer service through a form on its website. You can also use the chatbot in the lower right corner of the website for general questions.
Match also has a help center with answers to frequently asked questions, guides to common technical issues, and subscription management (including upgrading your account, canceling your subscription, and getting help with billing).
If you choose to upgrade your Match subscription to a paid plan, the site accepts all major credit cards, Diners Club, JCB, Visa Checkout, MasterPass, and PayPal.
Match also accepts checks or money orders for three- and six-month subscriptions, and offers installment payments and the option to pay for your subscription through your iTunes account (if you’re using the Match iOS app).
See all Match payment options here.
Our Reviews Team researched more than 20 online dating sites and personally tested 10 and their accompanying apps. We don’t go on dates with our matches, but we can evaluate the online experiences that lead up to a date or connection. Based on independent research and consultation with experts, we determined the following 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 for Older Adults Survey asked 500 adults age 50–85 which online dating sites they preferred, what motivated them to use an online dating app in the first place, 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 in-person dating were the following:
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 experiences with online dating sites. We gathered helpful insights to inform our testing, including the following:
From our July 2024 Online Dating for Seniors 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 12 different experts about online dating, including a licensed sexologist, 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!”
— Jessican Ann Engle, LMFT, dating coach and founder of The Relationship Center
Match has the most affordable paid plans of any online dating site we’ve researched, and its free version also has plenty of options. Match intake questionnaires and profiles are less detailed than those on eHarmony, which uses a detailed compatibility quiz to match you with people who meet your preferences. Like Match, eHarmony offers online dating for people 18 and older. SeniorMatch and OurTime only allow people 50 and older to use their online dating services.
| Lowest price per month for paid plans | $3 | $45 | $16 | $13 |
| Does it have an app? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Match system | Algorithm based on profile | Compatibility quiz | Algorithm based on profile | Algorithm based on profile |
| Age range | 18+ | 18+ | 40+ | 50+ |
Match is an online dating site for people 18 and older and it has thousands of users who are at least 50 years old. It’s easy and quick to sign up for this platform on its website or mobile app. Our testers felt they were matched well with other users who met their preferences for age and type of relationship. About half of the Match users we surveyed were seeking a long-term relationship, while other users were seeking friendship or more casual connections.
No online dating site is without the risk of scams or fake profiles. When chatting with someone online, be aware of red flags, like people asking for money or refusing to meet in person. Despite the potential for scams, it is possible to make positive connections on online dating sites like Match.
Yes, the Match app and website offer the opportunity to connect with other people who are seeking friendship or long-term romantic relationships. No online dating site is without risk, though. Be aware of how to identify fake profiles and potential scams.
The basic version of Match is free and offers several helpful features, such as liking other people’s profiles and chatting with matches. Match paid subscriptions range from $3 to $43 per month.
According to our 2024 Online Dating survey, a little less than half of Match users are seeking a long-term relationship, and a little more than half are seeking friendship or casual connections.
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
