Cougar Life Review

Online Dating

Cougar Life Review & 5 Better Options (2024)

Amber Brooks

Written by: Amber Brooks

Amber Brooks

Amber Brooks is the Editor-in-Chief at DatingAdvice.com. When she was growing up, her family teased her for being "boy crazy," but she preferred to think of herself as a budding dating and relationship expert. As an English major at the University of Florida, Amber honed her communication skills to write clearly, knowledgeably, and passionately about a variety of subjects. Now with over 1,800 lifestyle articles to her name, Amber brings her tireless wit and relatable experiences to DatingAdvice.com.

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Edited by: Lillian Castro

Lillian Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of journalism experience to ensure DatingAdvice articles have been edited for overall clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement. She has worked at The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, The Gwinnett Daily News, and The Gainesville Sun covering lifestyle topics.

Reviewed by: Amber Brooks

Amber Brooks

Amber Brooks is the Editor-in-Chief at DatingAdvice.com. When she was growing up, her family teased her for being "boy crazy," but she preferred to think of herself as a budding dating and relationship expert. As an English major at the University of Florida, Amber honed her communication skills to write clearly, knowledgeably, and passionately about a variety of subjects. Now with over 1,800 lifestyle articles to her name, Amber brings her tireless wit and relatable experiences to DatingAdvice.com. She has been quoted as a dating expert by The Washington Times, Cosmopolitan, The New York Post, Bustle, and AskMen.

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When you hear the name Cougar Life, you know exactly what it’s for, but you may not know how it works — or if it works. That’s where we come in with out Cougar Life review.

Niche dating sites have become very popular, and it seems like there’s something for everyone these days — from the super specific (e.g., Trekkies) to the more general (e.g., Jewish singles).

For cougars looking for cubs and vice versa, Cougar Life has become a go-to resource for matchmaking and introductions. Below is our review of the older women/younger men dating site as well as a few alternative choices that are right up your alley.

Cougar Life Review | 5 Other Cougar Dating Sites

Cougar Life: Targeted User Base But Pricey (3.4/5.0 Rating)

Cougar Life, which was launched in 2008, is dedicated to “mature women and the men who love them,” and they have a more expansive definition of the cougar-cub relationship. On the homepage, the example is that of a single dad around 32 and a busy woman around 45, who, according to the site, are more likely to have a successful relationship because they both have independent, well-rounded lives and understand each other’s individual demands.

Singles 18 and over are welcome to register on Cougar Life, but the dating site’s target demographic is women aged 30 and older. The site describes its female members as modern, confident, fun-loving, sexy, and smart, and that includes ambitious self-starters and stay-at-home moms. Meanwhile, male members of Cougar Life are described as energetic, less judgmental, and, of course, younger.

Screenshot of the Cougar Life homepage

Cougar Life has a broader definition of the cougar-cub relationship and welcomes women in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond.

You can sign up for Cougar Life for free on the homepage by submitting a valid email address and photo of yourself. Then you’re allowed to view profiles, create one of your own, and send virtual winks.

If you want access to advanced features, like messaging and private photo exchange, you’ll have to subscribe for a monthly membership: one month costs $40, three months costs $29 a month, and 12 months costs $12 a month. Those who join for 12 months will receive 3,000 credits to be used toward sending virtual gifts and things like that, while those who join for one month get 100 credits. There’s also the option to pay for the Ultimate Match Guarantee program, which says the site will find you a match within the first three months.

5 Other Cougar Dating Sites

Cougar Life has established themselves as a leader in this niche, but you should know they aren’t the only ones out there. We’ve compiled a brief list of some other sites you can take a look at, which actually have more members (millions compared to 700,000) and more affordable prices.

Of all the sites below, the most you could end up spending is $30 for a premium membership, which you don’t really need. The free memberships give you a lot of tools to find a compatible match. On Cougar Life, that price goes as high as $40 a month. Read on to check out our in-depth reviews and learn more:

★★★★
4.2/5.0

Relationships: Hookups Only

Match System: Search by location, interest, more

Our Experts Say: “Make no mistake: this site isn't about making friends, it's about finding hookups and casual encounters. No adult site has a larger or more active user base of those seeking discreet fun...”

Browse Free: View Photos Now

No matter your age, no matter your interest, no matter your location, no matter your gender, no matter your sexual orientation, no matter your race, no matter your religion — Adult Friend Finder will greet you with open arms. And you can’t be the fact that it has 77 million members — think of all the cougars and cubs to choose from!

★★★★
4.2/5.0

Relationships: Hookups, Chats

Match System: Search by encounter, location, and more

Our Experts Say: “BeNaughty is a premier hookup app where you can feel comfortable expressing your desires. Plus, it's free to join, browse, and flirt...” Full Review »

Browse Free: View Photos Now

Obviously, our sex drives don’t necessarily slow down just because we hit a certain age, and if you’re in that boat, turn to BeNaughty. This is one of the most popular hookup sites around, and while a majority of its audience is younger, that should be a good thing for cougars.

★★★
3.4/5.0

Relationships: Hookups Only

Match System: Search by location, interest, more

Our Experts Say: “A hookup site specializing in casual encounters, secret affairs, live chats, and member videos, FriendFinder-X skips the awkward "dating" stage of a relationship and fast-forwards straight to the sex...”

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FriendFinder-X doesn’t play games — if you’re looking for someone to hook up, swing, or cheat with, you can freely express that here. And you have plenty of mediums to do so, including IM, email, photos, and videos.

Singles can find cougars and cubs on FriendFinder-X with a simple local search, and that takes a lot of hassle out of dating.

4. Match

★★★★★
4.9/5.0

Relationships: Friends, Dates, and Relationships

Match System: Browse by zip, age, appearance, more

Our Experts Say: “Match has facilitated the most dates and relationships of any dating site, and its large audience and high success rate make it our top review...” Full Review »

Browse Free: View Photos Now

On the one hand, Match isn’t strictly for cougars and cubs, but on the other hand, it has more members and is responsible for more romantic connections than any other dating site on the web. You can’t really beat that, right? Match has proven that no matter what your interests are, it can bring you together with the person who can meet those interests.

★★★★★
4.6/5.0

Relationships: Dates and Relationships

Match System: Search by profiles by zip and more

Our Experts Say: “OurTime is well-known in the over-50 dating crowd, particularly because it has a ton of helpful search features and an easy layout...” Full Review »

Browse Free: View Photos Now

OurTime is meant for mature singles (50+), but we’ll tell you a little secret: anyone aged 18 and over can join. This might be the way for you to go because if you’re a younger man, you’ll be surrounded by cougars. If you’re a mature woman, you’ll have no problem spotting out the types of men you desire — just filter your searches by age.

On Cougar Dating Sites, Age is Just a Number!

Cougar Life has become one of the most popular cougar dating sites on the web. The design is very appealing to flirty singles, the attitude is easygoing and funny, and the dating services are uniquely suited to older women and younger men.

Having said that, if you want to communicate with that special someone once you find them (and why wouldn’t you?), the price may be a little out of your range. But that’s why we’ve given you a variety of sites to try before you make a full commitment to one.

You can join any of the dating and hookup sites on this list to meet cougars or cubs in the mood to have a good time and enjoy the cougar life. What could be better!

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