American Way Mag

I Tried “Granny” Dating Sites: My Honest, First-Hand Review

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I’m Kayla, a 62-year-old grandma who tests tech and loves strong coffee. I knit, I garden, and yes, I date. This month, I tried a few “granny” or senior-friendly dating sites to see what actually works when you’re past the college crowd. I went all in—real profile, real messages, real dates. No fluff.
I also found some handy travel-meets-lifestyle inspiration in American Way that reminded me dating can feel like a fresh adventure at any age.

For readers who want another angle on “granny” dating, the editors at American Way compiled a candid, first-hand review of several granny dating sites that pairs well with my own trials.

I tested: OurTime, SilverSingles, SeniorMatch, and OlderWomenDating. Different flavors, different headaches, and a few sweet wins. Let me explain.

Setting Up: Photos, Filters, and a Few Face-Palms

I made the same profile on each site:

  • Photos: me on my porch with my tomato plants; me at my granddaughter’s piano recital; one from a church bake sale (crust a bit too dark, but it’s me).
  • Bio: “Midwest grandma. Loves Motown, road trips, and cinnamon toast. Coffee first. Hearing aids second.”
  • Filters: age 58–75, no smokers, within 100 miles of Milwaukee.

The UX part? OurTime and SilverSingles had clean on-boarding and selfie checks. SeniorMatch felt dated, like a 2009 dashboard, but it worked. OlderWomenDating… well, it led to a swarm. More on that in a minute.

Quick note: verification is worth it. The selfie badge cut down the nonsense. Not all of it, but some.

If you’re debating just how flirty your photo gallery should be, there’s a cheeky, step-by-step primer on how to send tasteful, no-regret nudes that breaks down lighting, angles, and privacy settings so you can tease confidently while still protecting your digital footprint.

Real Messages I Got (The Good, The Odd, and the “Oh, Honey, No”)

  • OurTime: “Hi Kayla, your porch garden looks better than mine. I grow hot peppers. Trade?” —Dennis, 70. Simple. Normal. I liked it.
  • SilverSingles: “Your Motown line made me smile. What’s your go-to?” —Joyce, 66. We talked Temptations vs. Supremes for half an hour.
  • SeniorMatch: “Do you do breakfast dates? I bring crosswords.” —Jim, 67. That line got me.
  • OlderWomenDating: “I’m 34 and I love older women.” —I got a dozen of these. My filter said 58–75. The site didn’t care.

I also had two “oil rig engineer” guys who wanted to move to WhatsApp in five minutes. Big red flag. I reported them. Poof.

Two Real-Life Dates That Tell the Story

  • Panera Coffee with Jim (OurTime): He wore bright socks with tiny chili peppers. We talked gardens, Wisconsin winters, and why he brings backup reading glasses. He was frank about his hearing aids, which I liked. We didn’t rush. Second date was at a garden center, where he asked for help picking herbs. Sweet, low pressure.

  • Park Picnic with Denise (SilverSingles): We started with a video call first. She wanted to “check my vibe,” which made me laugh. We met at a park. Simple picnic: egg salad, grapes, and a thermos of tea. She had a calm style. We planned a museum walk but had to rain check when her grandson’s soccer game ran long. Life happens.

Not every meet turned into a spark. One man talked at me for an hour about his ex-wife’s blender. Another no-showed. But that’s dating, right?

What Worked on Each Site (And What Bugged Me)

  • OurTime

    • Pros: Big pool, decent filters, easy video chat, local events. I got steady, age-appropriate messages.
    • Cons: So many upsells. The ad pressure wore me down. Auto-renew is sneaky; set a reminder.

  • SilverSingles

    • Pros: The personality test nudged better matches. The feed felt calmer. Less spam. The daily picks were on target.
    • Cons: Heavy paywall. You’ll peek at a smile, then hit a lock icon. I pay, but it’s a lot.

  • SeniorMatch

    • Pros: Friendly messages, group forums, and cute date ideas (like “park walk” or “thrift run”). Felt like a slower porch chat.
    • Cons: The site looks old. Some features lag. Support took two days to answer my question on a profile report.

  • OlderWomenDating

    • Pros: If you want younger men showering you with attention, here you go. It’s a flood.
    • Cons: Filters didn’t stick. Lots of DMs from men way under my set range. More spam. I kept reporting. It kept coming.

Still unsure whether to invest in OurTime or SilverSingles? This in-depth comparison of SilverSingles vs. OurTime breaks down features, costs, and overall vibe so you can pick the right fit for your style and budget.

If the idea of age-gap encounters intrigues you beyond traditional dating sites, you might appreciate this no-holds-barred breakdown of MILF-themed OnlyFans subscriptions—it’s a different platform, but the lessons on expectations and boundaries overlap.

Pricing I Paid (Your Deals May Vary)

  • OurTime: My plan was about $30/month. Cheaper if you stack months.
  • SilverSingles: Around $25–$40/month depending on the term. The longer plan made sense if you’re patient.
  • SeniorMatch: Similar to OurTime, with random promos.
  • OlderWomenDating: About $30/month when I tried it.

Tip: Everything renews. Use a calendar reminder. I also screenshot my receipts, like a little CFO of Love.

Prefer something more local and informal than a monthly subscription? Some seniors in Washington swear by scrolling the community classifieds for coffee buddies and garden-swap pals. A quick glance at the Bedpage Mount Vernon listings can reveal low-key meet-ups right in your backyard, and the built-in location filters plus user reviews help you sift genuine invites from the usual spam.

Safety Rules I Actually Used

  • I didn’t give out my last name, address, or where I babysit the grandkids.
  • I kept chats on the app first. If someone pushed for WhatsApp fast, I slowed down or blocked.
  • First meet was public—Panera, busy park, or a diner with good pie.
  • I told my sister my time and place, and I shared my live location. Paranoid? Maybe. I also came home safe.

Red flags I saw:

  • A widow story plus an oil rig job plus a rush to move off-platform. Classic scam script.
  • Gift card asks. Done. Blocked.
  • Love bombs by day three. Sweet words, messy intent.

Before you head out for that first latte or park walk, skim these 10 dating safety tips for senior women to double-check your game plan and keep your guard solid.

The Little Stuff That Made a Big Difference

  • Large fonts helped. OurTime had better text sizing than SeniorMatch.
  • Filters that stuck. SilverSingles saved my search well; I didn’t have to redo it each day.
  • Faith, smoking, and pet filters mattered. I don’t want smoke with my tea.
  • Voice notes were handy when my hands hurt from knitting. If only more folks used them.

You know what? Humor helps. One man set his profile song as “My Girl.” I hummed it all week.

Who Should Try What?

  • New to dating again? OurTime. It’s busy but familiar.
  • Want curated matches over noise? SilverSingles. Slower pace, better fit.
  • Like forum chatter and group feel? SeniorMatch.
  • Curious about age-gap attention? OlderWomenDating. Wear your boots—it’s a wild field.

Divorced and testing the hookup waters again? Give this straight-talk guide to post-divorce hookups a read—it covers what worked, what flopped, and how to keep your sanity.

Stuff That Bugged Me (But Didn’t Break It)

  • Ghosting. You’ll send a nice note and hear crickets. Don’t take it personal.
  • Paywalls. I pay, but the nickel-and-dime vibe gets old.
  • Auto-renew tricks. They hide the cancel button like it’s a treasure hunt.
  • Younger men steamrolling my filters on the niche site. I had to block more than I wanted.

My Real Outcome

I kept OurTime for three months. I paused SilverSingles for now, but I’ll be back when I want a calmer feed. I check SeniorMatch on

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