To say that single parents have a full plate is an understatement. Caring for your kids is a nonstop job — and is often paired with maintaining a full-time career — so it’s no wonder that many solo moms and dads feel they simply don’t have the time to pursue a romantic life.
The good news is that the people behind dating apps and websites know what a struggle it can be, and they’re here to help. There is no shortage of options available, and some are better suited for single parents than others — some were even designed with you in mind! Here are our top picks for dating apps and websites for single parents.
Match
Price: Free for basic features; premium subscriptions start at $17.99 per month
Odds are that Match is older than your kids — it was born in 1995! While its 30 million users should be a draw for anyone looking for love, there are many reasons that single parents rave about this service. It allows you to customize your search for a special someone down to nitty-gritty details, including hobbies, location, and whether they’re also a parent. It hosts social meetups across the country where you can meet your matches or new prospects. Match also has stricter privacy settings than many other dating sites, so you can feel confident that your family’s privacy is protected during your quest for love.
Single Parent Meet
Price: Free for basic features; premium subscriptions start at $6.99 per month
With more than 1,000 new profiles created every day, Single Parent Meet is the leading service dedicated to helping single moms and dads find their other half. It allows you to search for potential partners, but also sends recommendations on who you should connect with based on your profile preferences. It’s also a great way to build friendships with other single parents, with many users reporting using it as a way to find post-divorce peer support.
EliteSingles
Price: Free for basic features; premium subscriptions start at $17.95 per month
Created with busy people in mind, overwhelmed single parents — especially those also juggling a career — may find EliteSingles to be their perfect match. Users fill out a comprehensive questionnaire when they sign up, and are sent up to 10 matches per day based on its results. Not only does the site dig a little deeper to learn about your personal beliefs and goals for the future in order to provide you the best possible candidates, its Customer Care team vets all user profiles.
eHarmony
Price: Free for basic features; premium subscriptions start at $19.95 per month
Even people who have never entertained the idea of online dating are bound to be familiar with eHarmony. It’s one of the most popular love connection sites in the world, and claims to start a serious, long-term relationship every 14 minutes. It’s one of the go-to choices for marriage-minded singles, especially those whose current (or future!) family comes first.
SingleParentMatch
Price: Free for basic features; premium subscriptions start at $9.99 per month
SingleParentMatch claims to be the original dating site for single parents, and it’s got an old-school feel to prove it. Complete with features such as chat forums, instant messaging, and a blog, it’s a fun site for meeting like-minded mamas and papas and spending some time browsing once the kids are in bed.
SingleParentLove
Price: Free three-month trial; premium subscriptions start at $7.50 per month
While its mission is to help single mothers and fathers find meaningful relationships, SingleParentLove is a little different from other dedicated dating platforms: it welcomes those who don’t have kids of their own, but are interested in dating solo parents. It’s also more straightforward than many dating services. All you have to do is sign up, search for singles, and send messages to potential paramours.
Just Single Parents
Price: Free for basic features; premium subscriptions start at $8.33 per month
If you’re looking for a convenient way to meet people but still love the magic of face-to-face meet-and-greets, Just Single Parents might be your perfect compromise. While you can search for your perfect partner using a variety of advanced filters, the site doesn’t use compatibility tests to seek out matches for you. It’s up to you to decide if it’s worth building a relationship with someone you strike up a conversation with!
As a parent, your children are the loves of your life, but if you dream of finding romance, don’t sell yourself short. There are plenty of dating apps and websites just waiting to put you in touch with your next great love.