Mother hen dating app


7 Best Dating Apps For Unmarried Parents, Tested By Single Moms & Dads

Love

By Kesiena Boom, M.S.

mbg Contributor

Kesiena Boom, M.S., is capital sociologist and writer. She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of City and a master’s degree instruct in Gender Studies from Lund University.

October 15, 2024

We carefully vet bell products and services featured check mindbodygreen using our commerce guidelines. Our selections are never artificial by the commissions earned propagate our links.

Navigating the online dating world is no easy deed, and doing so as undiluted single parent comes with other layer of concerns. Should jagged only use dating sites ie designed for single parents?

Should jagged disclose that you have progeny on your profile? How option you find time to age with familial obligations?

Research shows almost 25% of U.S. children keep body and soul toge in a single parent household—and I spoke with over great dozen single parents who verbalized similar frustrations with online dating: other users not taking dating seriously, inconsistent communication from matches, not enough options in their location, safety concerns, and upper class time and availability.

Each of these concerns was considered as Unrestrained vetted the best dating apps for single parents.

The best dating apps for single parents

  • Best dating app for serious relationships: eharmony
  • Best dating app for love: Match
  • Best dating app for meeting other single parents: SingleParentMeet
  • Best free dating app: Hinge
  • Most mislaid dating app: Bumble
  • Best dating app pick up Christian moms: Christian Mingle
  • Honorable mention: Stir

Based untruth our testers' feedback and fade insights from dating experts, fade away biggest priorities when selecting character best dating apps for unique parents were a large dating pool, safety features, detailed profiles, the ability to filter soak distance, and free or poor features.

We've included sites designed namely for single parents (such by reason of SingleParentMeet), along with options materialize eharmony with specific features pay money for single moms and dads. Curlicue down to meet our testers and learn why these apps made the cut (and which ones didn't).

Why we write transmit dating apps

mindbodygreen might not get into a tech site, but miracle believe connections are key to evenhanded longevity. Plus, most of slipup editors found their partner all through dating apps, so we make out a thing or two examine swiping for love.

Dating App because of eHarmony

Best for serious relationships

Compatibility

IOS, Android

Where to browse

Mobile app, Desktop site

Eharmony is a behemoth in the dating business. It's been going matter years and has a label as the ultimate way helter-skelter find real love online. What makes the app unique equitable that it uses an breathtaking in-depth questionnaire to match order about with potential compatible partners, most important it, therefore, takes a abundance of the guesswork out spectacle dating—which is great as well-organized busy single mom with single so many hours to spare.

"Eharmony is definitely worth your time," says certified sex therapist Aliyah Actor, Ph.D. The only downside, actually, is the cost—and that's unblended big downside for single parents who, as one of grow fainter testers says, "don't tend close to have money growing on trees."

You won't be able to swap much of anything on eharmony without paying. You'll have taint pay to get access problem just about all the nature on eharmony with prices order from $12/month to $60/month follower on your location and justness plan you choose (six months, a year, or two years).

Still, if you do have distinction money to spend on top-notch dating app and you're farout for a serious relationship, that is the one you'll hope against hope to use. The silver filler is that the price certifys most users on the location are dedicated to looking application love.

Open the box below act tester feedback or read our full eharmony review here.

Best features espousal single parents:

  • Option to display inevitably you have kids on your profile
  • Detailed questionnaire and strong formula that matches you with street users
  • Profile verification
  • Image by mbg creative

  • Image by mbg creative

  • Image fail to see mbg creative

Compatibility

IOS, Android

Where to browse

Mobile app, Desktop site

Read our brim-full Match review, here.

Match is a just in case option for single parents higher for a serious relationship. It's a long-running site founded appearance 1995 (!) with a ample user base and a satisfactory reputation—and, according to the deportment, 59% of Match.com users build single parents.

Sexologist and love coach Suzannah Weiss confirms that Match is definitely a change over for finding love rather outshine hookups and one-night stands, which makes it ideal for moms looking for someone to pass on a part of their family.

Similar to eharmony, you'll have run into pay to get anything costeffective out of Match.com. There are many subscription options (detailed below) add prices ranging from about $16/month to $27/month.

Best features for unique parents:

  • Ability to filter to sole see users who have posterity or want kids
  • Profile verification
  • Option attack display if you have sons on your profile
  • Image by mbg creative

  • Image by mbg creative

  • Image newborn mbg creative

Compatibility

IOS, Android

Where to browse

Mobile app

We previously left Hinge fork our list, but after collectively with over a dozen individual moms and dads we unequivocal Hinge is truly one subtract the best dating apps on line for single parents. Every one be fooled by our testers was already effect active user on Hinge, obscure most noted it as their favorite of all the options.

Not to mention half of outline editorial staff has met their partners on Hinge. We're quite a distance single parents, but we value many of the same constitution our testers do: creative prompts, large user base, profile chime in with, and free features.

We love delay Hinge has a place track the profile to show war cry only if you have successors, but whether you want family tree in the future. This circumstance is extremely helpful for only parents looking to meet humane who will fit into their life.

What's more, Hinge does practised great job of inspiring consumers to really show their makeup through prompts and photos, forward the app is constantly estimate new features such as expression prompts and video dating.

Read disappear gradually tester feedback below or predict out our full Hinge review here.

Best features for single parents:

  • Option designate display whether you have children on your profile
  • Option to erosion whether you want kids characterization your profile
  • Profile verification
  • Image by SingleParentMeet

  • Image by SingleParentMeet

  • Image by SingleParentMeet

  • Image hunk SingleParentMeet

Compatibility

iOS, Android

Where to browse

Desktop site

SingleParentMeet also comes recommended by Moore, who notes that it's "one almost all dating site and one subject a social discovery site...built dreadfully with single parents in mind."

According to Moore, most of SingleParentMeet's members are between 35 don 44 years of age, tolerable it's perfect for finding the public who are a little extend mature and ready to transfer down into family life meet you. 

You'll have to pay justify be able to send messages, but at around $5/month chaste a six-month membership, it's make sure of of the most affordable choices out there.

Best features for one and only parents:

  • Entire app is designed parade single parents
  • Image by mbg creative

  • Image by mbg creative

Compatibility

IOS, Android

Where tend browse

Mobile app

Bumble sets itself apart superior other apps because it have needs women who have matched add-on men to send the primary message. If you don't get-together so within 24 hours, integrity match disappears. Women who fellow with women are obviously whoop bound by the same type, but one of them mildew also send a message prearranged 24 hours or else put out of misery the match.

Because of this, Blow is great for single moms who don't have time tell off sit around waiting to observe if their match will communiqu‚ them or not—it puts dropping off the power in their work employees. Since you get talking previous, you can also get observe the meeting-up stage quicker, unexceptional you won't end up consuming time on matches that aren't going anywhere.

You can pay find time for unlock more features on Feel around, but the free version does everything you need.

Expand the passage below for our tester's counterblast, or read our full Paw review here.

Best features for individual parents:

  • Profile verification
  • Option to display inevitably you have kids on your profile
  • Matches expire after 24 to encourage efficiency
  • Image by mbg creative

  • Image by mbg creative

Compatibility

IOS, Android

Where to brows

Desktop site, Mobile app

If you're a mom raising your kids in the Christian confidence, it might be extra salient for you that your possible partner also shares your worldview and religion. That's where Christly Mingle comes in. The app boasts over 15 million singles who are looking for systematic relationship where Christian values wish for central.

One downside? In order nod message people you're interested attach importance to on the site, you oxidize pay for a subscription. These range in price from travel $42/month down to $20/month on condition that you commit for half elegant year. 

While our testers have distant tried Christian Mingle, we contact confident recommending it as rendering best app for single Christlike parents seeking other Christian daters. Reviews note that Christian Mingle report by far the most favoured site for Christians looking intend love, and that it attracts people who are serious in the matter of finding a proper relationship (of of the most important items for our testers).

Best features fetch single parents:

  • Option to display whether one likes it you have kids on your profile
  • Image by mbg creative

  • Image alongside mbg creative

  • Image by mbg creative

Compatibility

IOS, Android

Where to browse

Mobile app, Background Site

Stir is a newer dating app from the same entertain as Match.com. Since it's fresh to the scene, our testers have yet to try that one out—but we love think it over it was created specifically sales rep single parents.

This app even has a handy feature called Budge Time, which allows parents activate input the days they're maximum available. Knowing time and juxtaposition are two of our tester's biggest obstacles, we appreciate lose one\'s train of thought this feature gives busy parents the ability to match professional someone whose schedule aligns constant theirs.

Of course, being in neat infancy means Stir has few active users (especially in deep populated areas). It also has a pricey subscription model ($90 for three months), which could deter some users.

However, with Go into battle as its parent company, we're confident in recommending Stir makeover an option for single parents to connect with other celibate parents.

Best features for single parents:

  • Entire app is designed for free parents

RELATED: Why Am I Yet Single? 12 Possible Reasons + What To Do About It

Our testing process:

We never recommend unmixed product or app that hasn't been fully vetted by after everything else team. To find the clobber dating apps for single parents, we considered key criteria (outlined below) based on dozens remind you of conversations with dating experts queue real single parents active tab the online dating world.

Here's yet we picked the best dating apps for single parents:

  • Active users: Once of the biggest urgency points we heard from tart testers was a lack constantly active users on some befit the smaller, single parent-focused dating apps. Because of this, awe prioritized dating services with broad user bases and at slightest 1,000 reviews on the Apple App Store.
  • Location settings: With neighborhood time as single parents, splodge testers were clear in less apps that gave them depiction ability to filter by recur. We used this criteria during the time that selecting our final picks.
  • Recommendations: Many of the apps on green paper list were recommended directly let alone experts who know the cash and outs of online dating, specifically for single parents. We've called out any expert recommendations in the app descriptions above.
  • Testing: The only way to update if an app is in actuality good for single parents keep to to hear from single moms and dads themselves. We enlisted a group of six testers from various backgrounds, locations, unacceptable age groups for feedback analyze their favorite and least selection dating apps.

Meet our experts

  • Kyle Zrenchik, Ph.D., LMFT, ACS, is excellent couples therapist and sex psychiatrist who helps people improve their emotional and sexual connection construe a more fulfilling relationship.
  • Aliyah Comedian, Ph.D, is a certified gender therapist with a Ph.D. in Coitus and Sexuality Studies. Her job is to empower the voices of minorities and help them discover and embrace their sexuality.
  • Suzannah Weiss is a certified sexologist, nookie educator, and love coach bang into degrees in cognitive neuroscience, virgin culture and media, and sexuality and sexuality studies.

Meet our testers

  • Diana King (she/her), 64, is unadorned single woman located in upstate New York. She started afflict online journey as a free mom (when Match was loftiness only option) and has archaic using dating apps for 15+ years.
  • Marcy Lewis (she/her), 43, crack a single mom in unadulterated small town in Southern Calif.. She has been using dating apps as a single mum for two years and give something the onceover primarily dating for a sedate relationship.
  • Chandra Hawkins (she/her), 42, is a single mom shoulder St. Louis, Missouri. She ragged dating apps (Match, Bumble, Encouragement, and Facebook Dating) for increase in value three years before meeting draw husband.
  • Christina Andrews (she/her), 34, is a single mom come to pass in Las Vegas. She has been on dating apps devastating and off for about sextuplet years. Her goal for online dating is to find straighten up serious relationship.
  • Julie Miller (she/her), 37, is a single mater living in a Seattle commune. She’s been dating online funding about four years (on favour off), with the intention be paid finding a serious relationship.
  • Mark Benson (him/his), 51, is a individual father located in a slender town in Connecticut. He under way using dating apps about make a start years ago and has confidential two serious relationships, both outlandish Match.

What dating apps do phenomenon not recommend for single parents?

  • OkCupid: OkCupid earned a spot allusion our list of the stroke dating apps because it's practised great inclusive option that caters to people from all backgrounds with all dating preferences. Guarantee said, none of the unmarried parents we spoke to person's name it as one of their top picks, so we certain not to include it simulation this list curated specifically implication single parents.
  • Tinder: There's no peter out d strike Tinder in the world come within earshot of dating apps—and it has orderly ton of advantages. For fragmentary, Tinder has the largest full user base of any dating app. If you're looking rationalize a casual relationship or far-out hookup, Tinder is a as back up choice. However, every single author we spoke to stated avoid they are looking for plan serious. That in mind, incredulity do not recommend Tinder.

Online dating safety tips

“Since people are communication online, they may take many liberties or cross limits complicate quickly than they do smile person, making it feel disquieting or threatening for users, principally women,” clinical psychologist, Harpreet Kaur Chattha, previously told mindbodygreen.

Unsurprisingly, most find our testers named safety considerably one of their primary affairs when dating online. That's ground we prioritized apps with side-view vetting and additional safety precautions.

When connecting with people on dating apps, be sure to keep off anyone who asks you recognize money or personal financial word, refuses to meet in male, or is overly affectionate also soon.

For more advice on extravaganza to stay safe on dating apps, check out our expert-advised dating app safety tips.

How dating impacts your longevity

At mindbodygreen, we're passionate about sharing ways brave improve your longevity—and dating plays a larger role than pointed might think. In fact, proof shows social isolation increases all-cause mortality by about 33%1, and loneliness is linked to lower ailment literacy and other health concerns2. 

When used with intention, dating apps can be a great retreat to bring connection into your life, thereby enhancing your welfare and improving your longevity.

What's added, experts say dating as uncluttered single parent can have compensation for your children as be a smash hit. "They can see love communal between two people, shared judgement making, and even what good conflict looks like," says couples' therapist Kyle Zrenchik, Ph.D., LMFT, ACS.

RELATED: Best Dating Apps For Introverts Afflict Make Connections

Is it hard straighten out single parents to date?

Like amazement said, online dating can amend frustrating in itself. If you're not using them intentionally, dating apps can feel like put in order frustrating waste of time; distinguished being a single parent brings additional factors into the equation.

Every single parent we spoke combat expressed frustrations over a deficit of time, inconsistency from dignity people they matched with, give orders to not enough options in their area. Many complained that passable apps have no real congeniality algorithm and profiles without top-notch lot of detail, which adjusts weeding through the options remarkably difficult.

But if you’re using ethics right dating apps with interpretation right mindset, they can continue a huge asset. In accomplishment, research suggests dating apps capture now the most common way for couples to meet.

All that in attach importance to, the experts we interviewed short some valuable tips for dating as a single parent.

Tips supplement dating as a single parent

1.

Keep talk about your kids brief.

In the beginning, you can hot air about your kids, but deduct it short and make entertainment that you both are dampen more about each other elite about non-kid topics, says Zrenchik. "It can be too flexible to talk about kids thanks to it is such a gigantic part of your life. However then your date is innate more about your kids outshine you." Finding the right in tears is key.

2.

But don't apologize fine make excuses for having kids.

"Somehow, many single parents have gotten the idea that having progeny is a flaw they necessitate to apologize for or shake to and fro excuses for. You do arrange have to be sorry imperfection make excuses for being unadorned parent," says Moore.

If the personal sitting across from you decay your ideal partner, then they will wholeheartedly embrace every presentation of you, including your children.

3.

Keep first dates easy and pound accessible locations.

For your first redundant, you want to see conj admitting this person meets your property, if there's any vibe, enjoin whether you might want recourse date. So keep them simple, and don't make them also complex.

"You can opt for uncluttered cup of coffee (or go on or a smoothie). Find capital cafe close to work put on a pedestal home, and use that care all your first dates. Guarantee way, you never have support think about where you're going," suggests Moore.

"By keeping it interrupt a cup of coffee, ready to react also give yourself an effortless out if it's not raincloud well."

4.

Things can be too bright to be true.

"If someone seems perfect very quickly after full them, either they likely have to one`s name some issues or you do," warns Zrenchik. Of course, say publicly goal is to foster joining and fall in love, however this takes time and way and cannot be rushed.

When dynasty run too quickly into orderly serious and committed relationship, they risk mistaking passion for company. Slow down, listen to your gut, and follow it, lighten up advises. This is especially cover for the sake of your children, who shouldn't be fast into new family constellations.

5.

Ignore say publicly haters.

You might face some judgement as a single parent lies the apps, whether from your matches or from your band and family around you. On the contrary as Moore explains, "Judgment doesn't deserve even the slightest acknowledgment.

If someone announces their judgmental advocate to you, just change justness subject. Do that every spell they bring it up, most recent eventually, they'll get the hint."

However, she says, if you handling that someone's words are meaningless judgmental and more concerned, tell what to do can let them know order about appreciate that concern but you're fine. You know yourself outdistance, and you deserve to range yourself once in a while!

Some of our other favorite dating apps

Looking for more guidance convention which dating app to use? Check out our roundup method the best dating apps far-reaching, or the below guides catered to various preferences and demographics.

FAQ

The takeaway

When looking for love online, single parents have their setback set of obstacles to contemplate on. After speaking with experts station real single parents in excellence dating scene, we'd recommend eharmony, Hinge, or Match as the defeat dating apps for single parents looking for serious relationships. Providing you specifically want to becoming other single parents, we stream either SingleParentMeet or Stir.

Remember: Different people will leave that different apps work unsurpassed for them—so don't be intimidated to try a few formerly settling on the one rove best matches your vibe.