Finding the best dating sites for single moms can be a challenge, but I'm here to help! I have tried many of these and can give a legit review of the good, bad, and ugly! Keep in mind, even with the paid sites, you will still get guys talking about sex right away, I don't think there is a sure fire way to prevent that from ever happening! But, it happens less often with more high caliber sites.
Match is One of the Best Dating Sites for Single Moms
Match is still the most popular dating site and it looks like it's here to stay! There are the most users, therefore the most men, on Match! It is one of the best dating sites for single moms, definitely by sheer quantity of users and a good experience in terms of what the app and site are like. You can either login on the site, using your computer, or download the app to use it quickly on your phone.
They change the way it works slightly from time to time but usually you can search for men within certain criteria (location, height, etc.) and then get a bunch of profile photos to check out. You can click on a profile photo and that takes you to the man's profile. The profiles are lengthy enough to give pertinent and fun information about the person. Usually then you can also see additional photos the person has.
Pros
- High caliber men
- Large amount of men
Cons
- Paid site (may be a negative if you have a very tight budget)
- Random dudes can message you
eHarmony is One of the Best Dating Sites for Single Moms
The next big one is eHarmony! It is one of the best dating sites for single moms! You can either login on the site, using your computer, or download the app to use it quickly on your phone. This one has quite a lengthy setup, like seriously the longest questionnaire you've ever taken in your life. Almost like a college application essay or something. Ok, maybe not that bad but you do have to know that you should be prepared to spend a long time on the questions. The reason for these questions is to get you very targeted matches, so they go really in depth.
Then, after the questionnaire is reviewed (I think by an algorithm), then you are shown your matches and you can click on them to learn more, chat, etc. This format works for a lot of people. For some reason, I don't know why, I could not get into it. I felt like lots of the guys were either not into me or not asking out or something.
Some of the pros can be cons, depending on how you like to date or use those sites:
Pros
- Extensive questionnaire (so you get really specific matches)
- high caliber men
- small amount of matches so you don't get overwhelmed
Cons
- Extensive questionnaire (it can take a lot of time)
- Paid site (may be a negative)
- small amount of matches so you don't have many options if the guys who are your matches don't talk much
Bumble is One of the Best Dating Sites for Single Moms
Bumble is a free app that works similar to Tinder, where you swipe right on people if you like them and then they become one of your matches. When they are one of your matches, you can then message them. But, Bumble is different because it favors women and the woman must send the first message.
Also, you as the woman, only have 24 hours to send the first message, then the man only has 24 hours to respond. So you can feel the urgency if you seem like you will really like this guy you gotta send that message! The app is usually pretty good by only letting you match with someone when you have been active on the app for a few days, on a regular basis, so you don't usually miss out on your 24 hour window. Don't knock Bumble until you've tried it; I have met and gone out with some rally awesome men from Bumble! In fact, my current squeeze I met on Bumble! It really is one of the best dating sites for single moms!
Pros
- Free
- Women are in charge and no one can look down on you for sending the first message
- Only matches can send to each other, after the woman makes the first move
- Still some high caliber men!
- Urgency to respond and not take forever getting back to someone
Cons
- Really short profile, very photos based
- May have people focusing on looks more than personality or interests
- Woman may feel confused about what first message to send, since there may be very little in a man's profile to go from
Tinder
Ok, so most people are familiar with how Tinder works, even if you haven't even used it. It is kind of part of our culture now, for better or for worse. So it's a free app, that is very photos based, with a very short profile, maybe one paragraph. You swipe right if you are interested in a guy and then if he swipes right on you, you made a match! Then, once you are a match, you can message each other.
There is no time limit on how long until you message or gender limit on messaging first. Tinder has kinda come to be known as the hook-up site, although that is not always true. I have had some friends get serious boyfriends and even husbands from Tinder but it is not easy to find that kind of guy. But, yes, some people on Tinder are just looking for a date tonight, a one-night stand, etc.
Pros
- Free
- Lots of men are on there
- A random dude cannot message you unless you match
Cons
- Lots of quantity of men but not the greatest quality of men
- Many people on there are looking for a casual date and/or casual sex (cool if you want that, not so great if you want a long term relationship)
- Really short profile, very photos based
OKCupid
OkCupid is an app that is kinda a blend between eHarmony and Tinder. You answer questions, some serious, some funny, like Do you for sure shower every day? You can answer as many questions as you want and then be done with question answering whenever you want. Then, you can see if you match with anyone, based on their answers to quetsions.
Here's the thing, unless they have updated this recently, it was kinda weird because if a man only answered 3 questions, but those were the same answers you gave to those questions, then they would say that he is a top match for you! But it was only 3 questions. I bet lots of people would be matches if they only had to agree on a few questions,. But, they may have updated this recently. Luckily all these apps are pretty on top of things and adjust often. Anyway, you upload photos and can usually only message those who are top matches with you!
Pros
- Free
- Question-based algorithm
- Like/matches are based on similar quiz answers
- A random dude cannot message you unless you like/match
Cons
- A mixed bag of guys (some great, some average)
- Since it feels like a game, there is not much urgency to get off the app
Plenty of Fish is Not One of the Best Dating Sites for Single Moms
Ok, ladies, this is the last one and the bottom of the barrel for you. This is a site and an app. It is kinda like Match, in that there is a stream/list of guys in your area and then you can click on their photo to go to their profile. There is a wide variety of profiels, with some men putting good info on there and soe men not.
It has a reputation of being creepy guys, who are just there for a hookup. I would not recommend this site, unless you just want some practice in talking online to men but it's almost not even worth it because you may jujst feel so bad about dating that you give up forever because of this site! Ok, maybe not but at the very least, it may bum you out. The guys just have no clue, they either talk about sex or some of them actually want to go on a date but they must have their head up their butt because in my experience, they will flake on that date.
Pros
- Free
- Lots of men on there
Cons
- Bottom of the barrel
- Some nice guys but mostly sketchy guys
- Like, seriously, don't do it, probably not even for dating practice
Others
Ladies there are gazillions of dating apps and sites out there, it is a multi-billion dollar industry! I have highlighted the ones that I am most familiar with and mostly the ones that will give you the most bang for your buck. If you want more info on some other sites, I would recommend this article by Wealthy Single Mommy. Some people have also said they really like Hinge, but that one I don't know much about. Hinge may also be one of the best dating sites for single moms. Hinge I have heard is swipe and photo-based like Tinder and Bumble and offers “Prompts,” short questions to add to your profile.
And the Winner of the Best Dating Sites for Single Moms is…
It's a three-way tie for Match, eHarmony, and Bumble! Match I have gone out with great men from there! eHarmony I did not have much luck with but many statistics say that it is one of the top ones for a relationship. If you are seriously strapped for cash, you should try Bumble! For real, there are so many awesome men on Bumble, I have gone out with some multiple times or long term!