There are always plenty of fish in the sea, and Plenty of Fish is a reminder of that, with 150 million registered users worldwide. This app is especially popular among mature singles, with 15% of Americans aged 45-54, 12% aged 55-64, and 5% aged 65+ on the app. However, it's not the only dating app or site out there that appeals to the older crowd.
A Quick Look at the Top 5 Best Alternatives to Plenty of Fish:
Match - Best for diverse dating options
eharmony - Best for finding lasting love
Zoosk - Best for casual hookups
OurTime - Best for mature singles
EliteSingles - Best for finding like-minded intellectuals
» Looking for even more options? Check out our top picks for the best dating sites and apps.
Our Top 5 Best Alternatives to Plenty of Fish
1. Match
A tried-and-true dating site welcome to all
Best for: Finding a wide, diverse array of options
Starting price: Free, membership from $17.49 per month
Connection type: Casual or long-term
Match has 21.5 million users, making it easy to find exactly what you're looking for. In addition, 37% of these users are aged 50+, so mature adults will not feel alone on this app.
Match is also a great option for LGBTQ singles, as it allows you to identify according to many different gender identities and sexual orientations on your profile. Users fill out questionnaires about their personalities and lifestyle so that they can be matched with the best possible prospects.
» Looking for LGBTQ singles? Check out our top picks for the best gay dating sites and apps.
Pros:
- Many users over 50
- Detailed profiles
- Unlimited video chatting
Cons:
- Long sign-up process
- Limited free options
- Non-refundable subscriptions
2. eharmony
A dating site with sophisticated matching algorithms and committed users
Best for: Finding lasting relationships
Starting price: Free basic plan, membership from $25.90 per month
Connection type: Long-term
eharmony also has a wide array of options, with 15.5 million users—plus, 11% of women and 13% of men on the site are aged 45+. This is a site used primarily by people looking for long-term relationships.
eharmony uses advanced algorithms that match you with your perfect partner based on a compatibility quiz and personality profile. The site ranks different users based on their compatibility with you, and you are free to visit their profiles and message them.
» Interested in older women? You need to know these things older women look for in a man.
Pros:
- Safety features
- Intuitive design
- Detailed matchmaking system
Cons:
- Extensive questionnaires
- Not great for hookups
3. Zoosk
An interactive dating site that's quick and easy to use
Best for: Casual flings and hookups
Starting price: Free trial, membership from $12.49 per month
Connection type: Casual or long-term
Easy to set up and use, Zoosk is full of fun features like Carousel, which lets you quickly flip through potential matches and decide which ones you'd like to chat with, livestreams you can respond to, and virtual speed dating.
While you're browsing, the app remembers who you've liked before and sets you up with similar people.
» Not sure what you're doing? Use these essential dating tips for seniors.
Pros:
- Behavioral matchmaking engine
- Profile verification
- Over 35 million users
- User friendly
Cons:
- Limited free options
- Limited match suggestions
4. OurTime
A dating app for people seeking love later in life
Best for: Finding love at age 50+
Starting price: Free, membership from $17.96 per month
Connection type: Casual or long-term
OurTime is one of the best senior dating sites, so there is no need to sift through a bunch of profiles of people outside your age range.
The site will show you photos of other eligible users, and you can mark them as "I'm interested" so that they'll receive a "flirt." Another fun feature is the ability to express your interest by sending digital gifts that you can buy with tokens.
» Check out these 10 things 50-year-old men want in a relationship.
Pros:
- Simple sign-up process
- Almost all users are 50+
- Audio and video files on profiles
Cons:
- Minimal profile requirements
- Lack of matching questionnaire
- Automatic renewal
5. EliteSingles
A dating site for intellectuals seeking a meeting of minds
Best for: Educated singles over 30
Starting price: Free trial, membership from $31.95 per month
Connection type: Long-term
EliteSingles caters to an older and more educated crowd, with 90% of users over 30 and 85% possessing an above-average education. Each of their 13 million users must take a science-based personality test upon signup to determine matches, and 2,500 users find relationships on the app each month.
After completing the survey, you'll receive curated matches based on your answers and can browse profiles that contain up to 24 photos each. The site also includes dating tips from psychologists.
» Don't get caught off-guard: Check out these red flags when dating a divorced woman.
Pros:
- 3-7 daily match recommendations
- Science-based compatibility test
- Manually verified profiles
- 90% of users are over 30
Cons:
- Long signup process
- Limited gender and sexual orientation options
- Lack of diversity
Why Choose These Alternatives Over Plenty of Fish?
Plenty of Fish is a great dating app for casual and long-term relationships. However, Plenty of Fish may not tick all the boxes when it comes to mature dating. Here are a few more reasons why you might be better off using a Plenty of Fish alternative.
For Better Profile Verification
There have been some reports about encountering possibly fake profiles on Plenty of Fish. These alternatives we've offered here have extensive sign-up processes, cost money, and require users to verify their profiles. Zoosk and EliteSingles, for instance, verify profiles to make sure users are who they say they are.
» Check out our Zoosk vs. EliteSingles comparison if you can't decide.
For More Detailed Profiles
Plenty of Fish contains lots of bare-minimum profiles since the sign-up process is very easy and little is required to have your profile shown to other users. Apps that make you fill out questionnaires (like Match and eharmony) ensure that users will have plenty of information to see who is right for them.
For More Committed Users
Apps that are free and easy to join can attract people who aren't necessarily serious about dating. Paying and taking the time to fill out a survey shows that you are willing to invest time in finding somebody, which may reflect someone's willingness to invest in the relationship itself down the line.
» Struggling to pick a senior dating app? Our Zoosk vs. OurTime comparison can help.
Bottom Line: The Best Alternatives to Plenty of Fish for Mature Dating
It can be hard to put yourself out there at an older age, especially if you are dating after divorce, but there are plenty of others in the same camp. Different dating apps will be a fit for different types of people, depending on who they are and what they're looking for.
If you're a mature dater or looking to date somebody older, one or more of these apps may be just the place to find that perfect date.
» Want more alternatives? Take a look at these alternatives to Bumble for meaningful relationships.
Suzannah Weiss is a feminist writer, certified sex educator, and Brown University graduate in Cognitive Neuroscience and Gender and Sexuality Studies. In addition to writing for Top10.com, Suzannah written for major publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Glamour, and Cosmopolitan. Weiss' writing about feminist issues and sexuality has also been discussed on The Today Show, The View, and C-SPAN.
