Once you hit your 30s, you may start to look at dating differently. Most 30-somethings are out of school and have a career, which means they don’t meet as many people or go out as much as they once did. And hookup culture isn’t as appealing anyway. Maybe 20-somethings can bounce back after a night of partying and hooking up, but that’s not really doable for an adult with actual responsibilities.
Singles in their 30s are often more serious about finding a real relationship and building a family, so superficial or flaky dates aren’t going to satisfy them.
Certain quality-driven dating sites and apps appeal to 30-somethings on the market, and they’ve been proven to work. We’ve highlighted some of our favorites for you.
Match
Match is the oldest dating site on the market — and in our book that makes it the best option for serious daters. It’s classic (founded in 1993 and launched in 1995), it’s popular (over 39 million monthly visitors), and it really works (the most romantic connections of any dating site). When you join Match, you’re given a 100% free membership that allows you to upload your info and photos, browse by your preferences (e.g., age), receive matches, and flirt via virtual winks. Free member can chat with the compatible dating profiles in their Top Picks list, and they can always upgrade if they want to explore unlimited chats and real life Match events.
eharmony
You won’t really find a lot of 20-somethings on eharmony because users don’t do any of the searching (the site takes care of it), so there’s no swiping. In addition, eharmony is generally meant for mature, commitment-minded singles seeking love and marriage. The first step is to take the Compatibility Quiz, then wait for eharmony to send potential matches. If you don’t like them, you can move on. If you do, you can start the conversation by sending a message or an Icebreaker. It’s free to send Icebreakers, and you also have limited access to your inbox with a free standard membership.
DateMyAge
Thirty-somethings are always on the go with work, taking care of the house, going to the gym, hanging out with friends and family, or participating in a hobby. It’s hard to meet someone when you’re always running errands and working, but online dating apps offer convenient on-the-go matchmaking options. DateMyAge is a mature dating space that provides personalized support every step of the way. This is a dating site geared toward relationships. Instant messaging, video chat, and other pen pal tools are on hand to help for building a foundation on your terms.
Christian Connection
Many Christian singles have flocked to Christian Connection because it provides the type of dating experience and potential partners that they want. Christian Connection is noteworthy as a Christian dating service that’s designed to inspire deep conversations and real relationships. Mature adults can use the swipe and search features to identify date prospects with the same background and core values. This free dating app is easy to use no matter what device you’re on, and the faith-based matchmaking system ensures that you’re connecting with people with whom you actually want to connect.
Tinder
Tinder is often called a hookup app, but, in actuality, most of its users are interested in finding a long-term partner. Responsible for over 75 billion matches and over 1.5 million dates a week, Tinder ensures that the odds are in your favor. Tinder probably has one of the shortest sign-up processes as well — all you have to do is provide your age, location, photo, and a little bit about yourself. Swipe left if you’re not into the person presented to you, and swipe right if you are. If you both swipe right on each other, messaging is enabled.
URL: https://tinder.com/
Bumble
Founded in 2014, Bumble is a top choice for 30-somethings, especially women who are tired of receiving inappropriate messages and photos on other dating apps. Here, only women can initiate the first message. However, if you’re gay, lesbian, or bisexual, either person can start the conversation. Once you’re matched with someone new, both of you have 24 hours to start chatting. You then have another 24 hours to reply, or the match will vanish.
URL: https://bumble.com/
Coffee Meets Bagel
Coffee Meets Bagel has a time limit as part of its matchmaking process. Matches last for one week, and you and the other person must exchange some other kind of contact info before then, or the match will be lost. Coffee Meets Bagel’s goal is to get more single people going on compatible dates instead of getting stuck in messaging limbo. Women feel comfortable on Coffee Meets Bagel because it was founded by three women, so its quality and safety assurances are ironclad. Coffee Meets Bagel will also send women matches it has curated from people who have already liked their online dating profile.
Hinge
Hinge is a relationship app designed with the idea that it should be deleted once you find a meaningful connection. Its swiping feature aims to create more genuine matches and foster deep conversations. On Hinge, you engage by liking and commenting on profiles and photos, and they do the same, allowing you to get to know each other better. The app showcases in-depth profiles with six photos and three personal prompts that highlight a person’s interests, habits, and humor. Hinge proudly claims the highest success rate for turning first dates into second ones, leading to many thriving relationships.
URL: https://hinge.co/
Happn
Happn is kind of like the Missed Connections of dating apps. You can meet people who have crossed paths with you in real life, so you can see right away if you like the same bars, restaurants, parks, etc. Happn, which has been around since 2014, has more than 4 stars on Google Play as well as iTunes, and one of the numerous positive reviews was written by Logan Gosse, who said: “I think the concept behind this app is great. Got a match within the first few hours from when I activated it. So far so good. Seem to be a lot more genuine people on here.”
URL: https://www.happn.com/
OkCupid
OkCupid is a free dating site and app designed to help you form quick yet meaningful connections. Its advanced algorithm considers your responses to various questions, your ideal partner’s answers, and how important their answers are to you. What people appreciate most about OkCupid is that it’s entirely free, with no hidden charges. While premium features are available for purchase, they’re not necessary to find a date. The free account provides all the essential tools you need.
Dating Sites Give 30-Somethings Plenty of Date Opportunities
Your 30s can be a prime dating time because you know who you are and you know what you want, so there’s no need to fool around and make rookie mistakes. You may not have as much free time as you once did, but you can use what time you have more efficiently by searching for dates on a local dating site or app.
By signing up for one of the dating sites we’ve listed, you’ll be able to match and chat while on the move, giving your love life a boost. So, choose carefully!
