5 Reasons OurTime Is Worth Joining
If you’re curious about online dating, particularly as a senior, you may know the name OurTime. The site, which belongs to Match Group, has roughly 8.9 million monthly users around the world right now, which makes it look like a strong pick for daters eager to get back out there. Still, how good is OurTime next to the competition? Here’s what you should know about OurTime before you sign up and create a profile.
1. It’s Made Just for Singles Age 50+
For a senior who has only ever met people the traditional way, online dating can feel a bit confusing or intimidating. OurTime, though, was designed around the needs of its user base. Setting up a profile is simple, and the site is easy to get around for anyone who wants to dive right in.
- Relationships: Dates and Relationships
- Match System: Search by profiles by zip and more
- Our Experts Say: “OurTime makes dating after 50 feel simple, with senior-friendly search tools and an easy-to-use layout.” Our Review »
- Browse Free:View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | Today’s Deal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mature Singles (50+) | 48%52% | 8.9 Million | Over 50? Try It FREE |
How did OurTime begin? The site launched in 2011, originally aimed at single, active, lively baby boomers. Today it’s also a good fit for Gen Xers looking for mature relationships. Love has no deadline, and niche platforms such as OurTime make it easy to meet like-minded people. Compared with other dating sites, you have better odds of finding companionship and a low-pressure relationship with someone who, like you, may be looking to make connections later in life.
People Media originally ran OurTime until Match Group bought it and added it to Match’s portfolio. That was a smart move, since Match is largely responsible for making online dating mainstream, and it understands how people can get the most out of the experience. Think of OurTime as something like a version of Match designed for an older, more established crowd.
You can use OurTime in plenty of countries, but most of its audience is in the United States: About 7.7 million of its 8.9 million active users live in America.
2. The App Is Simple for Seniors to Use
Some sites try to wow their users with flashy designs and complicated navigation, but OurTime knows who it’s serving. Things are easy to find, and larger print makes the site friendlier for senior daters. The service walks you through how to create a profile and, with luck, match with lots of eligible seniors.
After you log in, you can begin filling in the basics of your profile. Your photo will be one of the most important parts. Don’t stress about it too much; just pick a picture that you think shows you at your happiest. Skip photos from a decade or so ago, since they can mislead people. The matches who are right for you will appreciate the real you.
Keep in mind that honesty and truth are the foundation of the best relationships.
With a basic membership, you can send a “flirt” to someone who catches your eye. A paid membership lets you reach out to them directly with a message. The layout and design make it easy to find your way around everything OurTime offers.
3. Privacy and Security Protections Offer Peace of Mind
OurTime takes user privacy seriously, particularly because seniors are often seen as targets for scams. The site does collect information about its members, but only so it can pair you with the most compatible people possible. It will also use your information to show you targeted ads it thinks could be useful to you.
Some sites run criminal background checks on members; OurTime doesn’t. That doesn’t rule out background checks down the road, though, since a number of other dating sites are adopting them to better protect their members.
OurTime’s safety features help make sure the people connecting online are real.
What sets OurTime apart from other sites is that members must verify their ID, and its screening process helps keep out bot accounts along with other fake profiles. Pay for a premium subscription, and a special feature gives you and your match a one-of-a-kind phone number, letting you call and text each other without swapping contact details. If it doesn’t work out, then, you needn’t worry about a flood of calls or texts from an incompatible match.
On the security front, OurTime puts a strong emphasis on protecting members. In the website’s words, “OurTime considers the security of our applications and the privacy of our users’ data extremely important. While it is impossible to predict the full range of future cyber threats against our systems, we regularly assess and work to improve our security in an effort to enhance the safety of our user community.”
Every online dating site has to deal with security threats, but OurTime goes the extra mile to make its site as secure as it can be.
4. It Gives You Several Ways to Communicate
Every dater has their own communication preferences. Some are more at ease texting, while others would rather video chat. On OurTime, the top communication options come with a paid membership, and that makes the whole process a lot easier.
A paid membership lets you send and receive messages on the site, and you can also sign up for a feature called ConnectMe, which lets users talk to their matches by phone using a number that isn’t their own. That way, if there’s no spark, you’re under no pressure to keep talking to or dating someone. Even if phone calls make you a bit nervous, they’re a great way to find out whether you two can hold a real conversation before you plan to meet in person. A call will also give you a good sense of what someone is like offline.
Members can send each other virtual gifts, too. If you buy tokens, the site’s currency for add-ons, you can send image gifts such as a digital rose.
5. Success Stories Show Users Love the Site
Navigation and communication features are good to know about, of course, but they matter less than whether the site actually works. Luckily, OurTime’s UK branch has showcased lots of success stories from members who met and fell in love and who now enjoy a fresh chapter in their lives.
Trish and Daryl fell in love after meeting on OurTime.
Trish and Daryl are one of those couples. They joined OurTime because they liked that it catered to people over 50. In their view, the site was “very easy to use,” and getting likes and messages gave Trish more confidence in online dating. Since connecting in October of 2023, the pair have been very happy together. “We have been for many meals, we have spent time away together and been to a lot of different events and walks,” Trish said. “We see each other quite a bit and we do have future plans to live together.”
Another couple who met thanks to OurTime is Karen and David. Karen signed up after losing a spouse, sensing that her life was meant to include a second love. “After losing my husband 16 months ago I decided it was time to move on so I joined this site to meet someone,” she explained. “We started chatting on-site in May. Then exchanged mobile [numbers] and started chatting on messenger,” Karen said. “We had our first date June 7th […] Had a meal and drinks and things went from there.” They don’t live together right now, but that isn’t off the table yet. “We do not live together at the moment but have planned long weekends away and a holiday abroad next year as well as some other events,” Karen said. For now, David is still meeting members of the family.
Clive met Ali on his very first day on the site. What brought him there? The ads. “At age fifty-nine I really thought my time was over, however the advert did offer a glimmer of hope, someone to chat to at the very least,” Clive said. “My first impression was my goodness, there are a lot of people of my generation and single, out there.” Still, Ali stood out as one of the earliest people he really clicked with. “We hit it off after a couple of tentative texts and agreed to meet a week later,” he said. “We are already planning a future together!”
Lots of senior singles might assume their dating days are behind them, but plenty of people are still hoping to find the one, and many of them have joined OurTime to make it happen.
1 Alternative to Consider
As you weigh whether OurTime is worth it, you might wonder how it stacks up against other dating sites aimed at seniors. OurTime is one of the leading dating destinations for daters over 50, but it’s far from the only serious dating site around. Enter: eharmony.
- Relationships: Casual Dates, Deep Relationships
- Match System: Personality test suggests matches
- Our Experts Say: “eharmony helps senior singles explore whether a match shares the beliefs, priorities, and relationship expectations that matter most to them.” Our Review »
- Browse Free:View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | Today’s Deal |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Singles | 48%52% | 4.1 Million | View Profiles FREE |
The eharmony site has existed since 2000, so it has decades of experience making love connections online. It isn’t meant solely for seniors the way OurTime is, but its membership is very diverse, and many members are in their golden years. “Senior singles have to contend with things their younger peers don’t. Many have at least one long-term relationship behind them and those can come with significant baggage.”
“While the dating landscape may have changed, the potential for meaningful connections has not,” the site says. People around 60 tend to want a warm, compassionate relationship built on support and acceptance. Senior daters have already lived full lives, so they’re usually less interested in having someone change what they already know than in adding to the life they have now.
As for finding love, eharmony sends you a personality test to complete so it can identify your best matches. It’s enjoyable, and it can teach you something too: Maybe you’ve never stopped to think about what you’re after, or about your own style as a dater. As you look through profiles, each will show a “Compatibility Score” drawn from the test, which is eharmony’s method of guiding you toward strong one-on-one rapport. Knowing love has no age cap, the site works well for singles of any age.
FAQs: Is OurTime Worth Paying For?
The saying “you get what you pay for” applies to online dating, too. Plenty of people have found matches without spending a cent, but most sites today, OurTime included, give you a limited free experience and keep the bigger features behind a subscription. With a free membership, you can browse profiles, check how many members have looked at yours, and send a set number of “likes” daily. Sending a “like” is a handy way to show someone you’re interested. Messaging someone directly, however, is a paid perk.
It’s sensible to begin using OurTime for free and upgrade to a paid membership if you’re pleased with how many local singles show up. If the pool is big, paying to explore your connections more fully is worthwhile. If it isn’t, a free membership may be all you need for now.
Signing up for OurTime is free, so newcomers can scope things out first.
So what do you get with an OurTime monthly subscription? Besides unlimited messaging, you can see who has “liked” you, which might aid your search for love, plus you’ll get confirmation when another member reads your message. That alone is a helpful way to learn whether your note hit home or it’s time to move on and reach out to other people. If you’d rather talk by phone, a paid membership also unlocks ConnectMe, which lets you place calls using a masked phone number.
There are three premium OurTime payment options to pick from: a single large payment covering at least six months at a time (though ideally longer), a month-to-month plan, or a fixed six-month payment that expires when the period ends. Buying more time saves you money, but month-to-month may suit you best if you put a lot of time into dating.
These sites can do a lot for your friendships and your offline community, but once you find your person and are comfortable chatting with them away from the site, you’ll likely cancel your subscription.
Does OurTime Have Fake Profiles?
Sadly, every dating site is vulnerable to fake profiles slipping into its database. OurTime works hard to show only genuine singles, but its moderation tools won’t always flag a bot or fake profile before a member has interacted with it. Fortunately, once you’ve learned the art of spotting a fake, your experience should be a good, honest one.
Be careful with profiles that offer very little information. Fake profiles tend to lean on the photo rather than the person’s backstory. They’re designed to grab your attention, so if something seems off, trust your gut; it’s almost always right. Fakes also often come with fake photos, and a picture that looks filtered or photoshopped may not be real either.
A fake profile will always look just a bit too good to be true.
Some fake profiles exist just to stroke the account owner’s ego, and your messages might never get a reply. Others are set up to win your sympathy with a made-up sob story and con you out of money. A request for your password and bank account number, or for a gift card, almost certainly means a scam. Don’t hand out personal information to anyone on the internet, no matter how strong an instant connection feels. Scammers may also love-bomb you, coming on very strong to win your trust fast. You’re probably very easy to love both online and off, but when someone professes their love within your first few days of chatting online, that’s a red flag.
Try a reverse Google search of someone’s profile photos, too; it’s another good way to catch fakes. Scammers often use random images pulled from the internet, so you might be able to track down where the photo really came from. It also helps to have a trusted friend or relative with you while you set up your account. A second pair of eyes is always useful when a profile or a message reply just doesn’t feel right.
Still, don’t let the chance of running into fake profiles put you off online dating. Lots of people use dating sites to meet others whose intentions are as good as their own. Where a site offers video chat, use it: It’s an especially good way to confirm that your match is a real person who is who they claim to be. A video chat before you arrange an in-person meeting can give you peace of mind.
Which Senior Dating Site Is Best?
OurTime ranks among the best senior dating sites. It’s user-friendly, has the Match Group behind it, and gets nearly 9 million visits a month. Its strong search features also help you narrow the pool of singles to spot the people you’d get along with best. If you have particular preferences, don’t hesitate to name them when you search. At this stage, you likely have a clear sense of your tastes and of what to watch for in a profile, which could make browsing even easier than it was in your 20s and 30s.
That’s not all, though. OurTime may be the largest name in senior dating, yet SeniorMatch has loyal fans too. Over 6,000 members log in daily, and the site reports upward of 36,000 success stories. It’s also a great place to find compatible friends.
If you’re a lonely senior who feels uneasy about starting new romantic relationships at this point in life, SeniorMatch might be the place for you. Beyond romance, it can help you find new people to keep you company. Be clear in your profile about what you want, and you’re sure to meet plenty of great people who’d be happy to catch a movie or stroll around the park with you, no romantic expectations attached.
Can I Look Around OurTime Without Signing Up?
Yes, definitely. A free OurTime account lets you browse and see who’s on the site. You will, however, be asked to fill out a profile and answer a few questions first. OurTime will ask what kind of person you’re looking for (a man seeking a woman, a man seeking a man, or some other arrangement) and for your ZIP code.
Next, it will ask for your email address and birthday. You can set a password, and then you’ll answer questions about your physical appearance.
Be honest in your profile, since every relationship deserves an honest start. Next come questions about your partner preferences, and the more specific your answers, the more compatible your matches will be. Once you’ve finished those introductory steps, you can start browsing. Browsing profiles is allowed, but to send a full message to someone who appeals to you, you’ll need to pick a subscription tier.
Is There an AARP Dating Site?
AARP doesn’t run an official dating site, but its community message boards can put you in touch with other seniors. You might find a virtual pen pal there, or some support and a listening ear during a big life transition. The boards are less structured than a dating site, so take extra care when sharing details about yourself. AARP also offers great resources on family and relationships, plus advice for the later stages of your career.
The Bottom Line: OurTime Is a Great Choice for Older Daters
Even with so many dating sites and apps out there, OurTime is a leading contender for meeting new partners. The site puts the senior community first and is a welcoming spot where seniors can meet people and find their way through this new chapter of life.
Not quite ready to commit to a relationship? OurTime can still give you a community to lean on while you work through a hard divorce or the loss of a spouse. People join for different reasons at this point in life; if you’d rather go slowly, you’ll likely meet someone happy to move at that speed. There’s no telling who you’ll meet on OurTime, and since it’s free, it’s definitely worth a try.
About the Author
By: Scarlett Walker
Lifestyle Writer
Scarlett Walker is a lifestyle writer helping readers navigate healthy relationship communication on thecandiddate.com.
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