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After testing 20 online dating sites for seniors, we realized they can be grouped into three major categories: swiping sites (where you make a quick judgment call based mostly on looks), be-your-own-matchmaker sites (where you filter through a large database of users), and compatibility sites (where you’re matched with a limited number of people based on the results of a quiz). If you’re looking for a compatibility dating site, you might like SilverSingles—where 40% of users are 50 and older, and compatibility scores hinge on shared values and personality traits.
Our testers believe SilverSingles works best if you live in a large metro area or are open to meeting people who may live hundreds of miles away. The site prioritizes quality matches over location, so you may get matched with dozens of nearby singles or just a few.
Our SilverSingles review will discuss the platform’s pricing—which isn’t standardized—as well as what to expect from the compatibility quiz. We’ll share some of our testers’ thoughts and analyze potential scams and bad behavior on the platform. In case SilverSingles isn’t right for you, we’ll recommend other older adult dating sites that our Reviews Team tested.
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 a victim, trying to trick 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 20% off and a free trial of EverSafe.
Learn more about how to stay safe from sweetheart or romance scams when using online dating platforms.
Aftering signing up for the platform and evaluating the quality of their matches, our testers gave SilverSingles mixed reviews. Although the site is designed for people dating after 50, the quiz left some of our older adult testers feeling misrepresented or poorly understood. “It asked me what I was looking for but didn’t give the option for a friend,” one said. “And I’m definitely not going skydiving on a first date.”
Testers also didn’t have much patience for abstract questions. “It showed four pictures of computers and asked me which one I associated with when they were all just about the same picture,” one said. They felt confused by these questions and did not see how their answers were used.
Although some of the questions had our testers scratching their heads, many are straightforward and focus on values like smoking, alcohol use, religion and spirituality, monogamy, sexuality, educational achievement, and more. If you want to be matched with someone based on shared values and personality traits, SilverSingles is a good choice.
On the downside, some testers felt that there weren’t enough local matches. This could mean not many people near you use SilverSingles to begin with, but it indicates that SilverSingles doesn’t prioritize location when displaying matches or provide an option for users to indicate their preferred geographic region. Our older adult testers said they weren’t interested in moving to be with someone or traveling too far for dates, so they wanted to see more local singles. You can’t search through the SilverSingles database to find local users—you can only view people who are deemed compatible.
“SilverSingles seems to be for people who want to meet a few high-quality matches. There were only a few in my state [North Carolina] and only two in Charlotte. I wouldn’t recommend this platform for people in rural areas. I would recommend it for people in cities who don’t want to spend too much time swiping through profiles.”
– From our tester
Our testing team likes that it’s free to take the quiz and see who you’ve matched with. We wish SilverSingles would show all matches at once, but the platform displays new matches daily. We recommend waiting at least a few days to see who else you match with before deciding whether SilverSingles is worth paying for.
Our main complaint is that SilverSingles has inconsistent pricing. Our testers received personalized quotes, and some were expected to pay nearly three times more for the same service. It’s possible that older users may be charged higher prices. A study by Mozilla and Consumers International found that Tinder charged 65% higher prices to people over 30 compared to 18- to 29-year-olds. We’ll explain SilverSingles’ pricing in more detail below.
Overall, SilverSingles may be a good dating site if you want to find someone who shares values and interests similar to yours. As with most dating apps, you can always sign up for the free account, scope out the quality of your matches, and decide what to do from there. You never know which service your future partner will sign up for, so it’s smart to cast a wide net on several secure dating platforms. SilverSingles isn’t the most popular dating site, but it does seem as safe to use as any other platform.
SilverSingles uses an 85-question personality quiz to match you with like-minded people. To get started, indicate your gender (man or woman) and the gender you’re looking for (man or woman). There are no options for people who don’t identify with these two selections.
SilverSingles app versus website
SilverSingles is available as a website and a mobile app. We recommend using the website. Some features, like each match’s results from the personality quiz, are only available on the website, and a premium account costs more when purchased through the app.
Next, you’ll be prompted to create a username and password for your account. Then the rest of the survey begins. All questions are multiple choice. Take your time and choose the most accurate answer. The results of this quiz dictate the profiles you can view, so it isn’t in your best interest to choose random answers. If you want to retake the quiz, you must contact customer service.
Here are some sample questions from the SilverSingles questionnaire:
You’ll also be asked to indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with certain statements, such as:
One of our testers, a 70-year-old woman, said she would prefer to skip questions she doesn’t want to answer, but SilverSingles doesn’t offer that option. She said some of the questions seemed odd for a site geared toward older adults. “It showed four pictures for a first date, and one was jumping out of an airplane. On a website for older people, what kind of craziness is that? And a crowded concert was one too. These questions just don’t line up with what I want.”
The same quiz is used by the dating site EliteSingles, which is owned by the same company that owns SilverSingles (Spark Networks). While the questions may make sense for EliteSingles, which caters to well-educated singles, we believe Spark Networks should adjust the questions and answers for SilverSingles. It may help older adults feel better understood as they sign up for the platform.
Once you complete the quiz, you’ll be asked to upload a photo and select a subscription. Click the “skip” button in the top right corner of the screen to skip this step and return to the home page if you want to continue using the site for free.
Fill out your profile to help others get to know you. There are several prompts you can answer, including:
You can then select your hobbies and sports, adjust some of the basic information in your profile, and upload additional photos.
SilverSingles only shows people you matched with. You won’t be able to search all users. Each match has a compatibility score on their profile, and you can view some information about their openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism based on their quiz results.
When viewing a match’s profile, you may see that some of their hobbies, sports, and strengths are highlighted. The highlights represent shared interests, giving you a quick way to see what you have in common. Other than that, there’s no analysis to explain the match’s compatibility score. If you’re looking for deeper compatibility insights, we recommend eHarmony.
You can interact with profiles by liking their prompt answers, sending a smile emoji, or requesting a photo. If you want to send someone a message, you must upgrade to a premium account.
It’s free to create a profile on SilverSingles, but you must pay to read and send messages. SilverSingles prices aren’t straightforward, and we wish the company was more transparent about how much the service costs.
When our testers compared pricing notes, we realized SilverSingles had shown at least three different prices. Some testers were expected to pay nearly three times more than others. And some testers had the option of paying on a month-to-month basis, while others had to pay for at least three months of service.
SilverSingles may use personalized pricing similar to Tinder Plus, which came under fire for quoting higher prices to older users. While more research into SilverSingles is needed to draw a firm conclusion, we noticed the same trend: Older testers were quoted higher prices than younger testers.
The following chart shows the different prices our testers were quoted when signing up for SilverSingles.
| Quote 1 | Quote 2 | Quote 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Month-to-month price | $39.95/month | $44.95/month | Not offered |
| Price per 3 months | $17.95/month ($53.85 due upfront) | $22.95/month ($68.85 due upfront) | $49.95/month ($149.85 due upfront) |
| Price per 6 months | $12.95/month ($77.70 due upfront) | $17.95/month ($107.70 due upfront) | $29.95/month ($179.70 due upfront) |
| Price per 12 months | Not offered | Not offered | $25.95/month ($311.40 due upfront) |
The final cost may be higher due to taxes. All subscriptions automatically renew. No refunds are given unless your state mandates a grace period.
The cost of SilverSingles is different if you sign up on the mobile app versus the website. The app is more expensive yet offers fewer features, so we recommend skipping the app altogether and using the website version only.
You can cancel your subscription by selecting “My Account” in the dropdown menu of your profile. You can then select the “Membership” option. After clicking “Cancel,” you will follow the steps to confirm your cancellation. You will then receive a confirmation email that your account is canceled. If you receive a message saying “Your cancellation is not yet completed” you should contact the customer care team.
| One month | Six months | One year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $59.99 | $32.96/month ($98.90 due upfront) | $22.99/month ($137.99 due upfront) | $15.99/month ($191.99 due upfront) |
So, is SilverSingles worth the price? It depends on whether you like your matches enough to want to message them. We recommend signing up for a free SilverSingles account and viewing the people you match with. More matches are released each day, so consider waiting about a week to see who comes up. If you only get matched with a few people, SilverSingles may not be the right dating site for you. In that case, consider saving your money for a different platform.
Scammers may use fake dating profiles to convince people to send them money. These “romance scams” are common on most dating sites. According to a survey we conducted in June 2024, 48% of SilverSingles users said they had encountered a fake profile or scammer. This is a high percentage, but not the worst we’ve seen. For example, 56% of Plenty of Fish users said they had experienced a fake profile or scammer.
Still, it’s smart to be cautious when interacting on SilverSingles and other online dating sites. Use the tips below to make sure you stay safe when messaging someone online.
Tips for connecting with others online safely
Connecting with someone online can be a convenient way to engage in meaningful social relationships. On the other hand, people online can be vulnerable to 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:
Harassment is also relatively common on online dating sites, but doesn’t seem to be as problematic on SilverSingles as on sites like Match or Tinder, according to our survey.
SilverSingles users were more likely to have had someone continue to contact them after they said they weren’t interested (43% of users) than to receive explicit messages they didn’t ask for (24%), receive explicit photos they didn’t ask for (14%), or be called an offensive name (9.5%). None of the SilverSingles users who responded to our survey had been threatened with physical harm.
Our research and survey results give us no reason to believe that SilverSingles is any more or less safe than other online dating sites.
Resources to get support
If you or someone you know over the age of 65 is experiencing abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation, here are some resources to get help:
For some, dating and the risk of possible rejection or exploitation can exacerbate symptoms of anxiety, depression, or unresolved trauma. Mental health treatment is available. See these resources to get the support you need:
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: Call or text 988
Who may love SilverSingles
Who may want to avoid SilverSingles
You can reach SilverSingles customer service by filling out a contact form on the website or emailing support@silversingles.com or info@silversingles.com.
SilverSingles accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and Diner’s Club cards, as well as PayPal.
The Reviews Team researched more than 20 online dating sites and personally tested five and their accompanying apps. Our testers didn’t go on dates, but we evaluated the online experiences that can lead 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 prefer, 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:
While 67% of respondents have met in person with someone they connected with through an online dating site, 38% of respondents report 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 (age 51–77) to talk about their experience with online dating sites. We gathered helpful insights to inform our testing, including:
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 Ann Engle, LMFT, dating coach, and founder of The Relationship Center
| Best for | $17.95–$44.95/month | $35.90–$65.90/month | $3.32–$42.99/month | $18.33–$34.99/month |
| Starting monthly cost for premium features | $9.95–$39.95/month | Same as desktop | Same as desktop | $15.99–$29.95/month |
| App available? | 50 and older | 18 and older | 18 and older | 50 and older |
| Match system | No | No | One person per day | No |
| Target age range | Personality test | Compatibility quiz | Profile-based algorithm | Profile-based algorithm |
| Scam and harassment rate* | 66.7% | 46.5% | 66.7% | 62.5% |
*Percentage of users who experienced at least one fake profile, scam, or harassment incident, according to our July 2024 survey of 500 online dating site users over 50
SilverSingles is a good dating site if you’re looking for a few people who share your values and interests. It isn’t the best dating site if you’re looking for a large number of singles in your area. It may have fewer users than other dating sites we’ve reviewed, or perhaps its matching algorithm sets too high of a bar for compatibility. Either way, our testers noticed they had fewer local matches to scroll through on SilverSingles compared to more popular sites like eHarmony and Match.
We also don’t love its personalized pricing structure, which requires some people to pay more than others for premium features. Despite our criticisms, people looking for a serious relationship may still want to sign up for a free SilverSingles account and view matches just to see who’s out there.
SilverSingles is a good dating site for people looking for a few compatible matches. But its user base may be smaller than that of sites like Match and eHarmony, which could limit the number of people you match with. You can also create a free SilverSingles profile to help people find you in the future.
SilverSingles claims that 40% of its users are 50 and older. Anyone 18 and older may join.
SilverSingles uses a personality test to match you with other people, and you’re only allowed to view the profiles of people you match with. This is similar to how eHarmony and Match work, but those sites have a much larger user base. So you’re more likely to see a large number of matches on those sites than on SilverSingles. eHarmony and Match also allow you to see people who aren’t perfect matches, which allows you to use your own judgment instead of relying solely on a computer algorithm.
Also, anyone 18 or older can join SilverSingles. This is typical for the older adult dating sites we’ve reviewed. If you want to join a site with a different age restriction, consider SeniorMatch. It’s not our favorite online dating platform, but it requires users to be 40 or older.
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
