While love is at the forefront of their search for a partner, single parents also have other priorities to keep in mind: their kids. If you’re a single parent who wants to try dating apps, it can be challenging to know which platforms offer a family-friendly understanding, parenting-dating balance, and other features you might be looking for.
That’s why we’ve put together a comprehensive list of the best dating apps for single parents, including overviews, features, and pros and cons.
There are some specific features to look out for on your search for single-parent dating apps.
Is the app designed for single moms and dads, and does it have a supportive, single-parent community dating pool? If not, does it at least allow filters for those who want kids? After all, finding a sense of community in the single-parent dating life is key.
Dating apps should offer safety and privacy features that make searching for a partner comfortable and stress free.
Every single parent knows that balancing the day-to-day is challenging—between work, kids, and personal lives. That’s why it’s important to find a dating app (1) where all users have a mutual understanding of this dynamic or (2) that narrows down profiles based on family values.
Take a look at the best apps out there for single parents on the hunt for long-lasting love.
Stir is a dating app from Match Group focused on helping single parents find love.
Stir aims to make dating easier for single moms and dads who find that connecting with singles on other dating apps is difficult, especially when the “kids” conversation comes up. With Stir, parents looking for a partner are presented with matches that align with answers to a personality and values test and that fit their location parameters.
Stir has a 3.9-star rating on the Google Play Store and a 4.3-star rating on the Apple App Store. Here’s what people said on the app stores and on Reddit:
The takeaway from these reviews? People note that they like the concept but feel that the app doesn’t deliver.
Frolo is one of the only apps for single parents that provides both dating and community connections.
Zoë Desmond started Frolo after separating from her partner and realizing that she was missing a supportive community of other single parents. Frolo is designed to be a safe, empowering place for solo parents to make connections. The app’s dating mode features profiles that list the number of kids you have, if you want more children, the type of relationship you’re looking for, and even what your “favorite family day” looks like.
One of the biggest downsides of Frolo for single parents stateside is that the app doesn’t seem to have many US users (it was originally released only in the UK). Most of the positive reviews on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store are about the community mode, while negative reviews mention the glitchiness of the app.
SingleParentMeet is a dating site for single parents, where creating a profile takes just minutes, then you can start searching.
People can use SingleParentMeet to get matched with single parents in their specified location. Users can browse with the free version, but a monthly membership is needed to chat with matches.
SingleParentMeet is only available through its website; there is no app. Additionally, the site is difficult to navigate and looks outdated. While these are probably the biggest downsides of the dating platform, SingleParentMeet offers low pricing tiers, making it a good alternative to more expensive apps.
As one of the first dating sites, eHarmony is a popular pick for singles looking for love.
Launched in 2000, eHarmony has been around the dating block for nearly 25 years, making its dating app a go-to option for many singles. It doesn’t cater to any specific demographic, single parents included, but it does have a reputation for drawing in those looking for serious relationships.
It features a personality test that helps provide matches according to a compatibility score and offers basic (free) and paid premium memberships.
Let’s start with the pros. According to Apple App Store reviews (where eHarmony has a 3.7-star rating), some people note that though the sign-up process isn’t fast, they appreciate the level of detail requested.
Now for the cons. On the Google Play Store (where the dating app has a 3.1-star rating), many reviewers complain about the high membership price and that they’re locked in for six months, a year, or two years. Similar to free versions of other dating apps, there’s not much users can do without paying for an eHarmony membership. Additionally, a scan of various Reddit threads shows that people don’t think it’s worth the cost.
Those who don’t want to use Match’s single-parent-focused app Stir can simply search for potential partners on the Match dating app.
Match began as an online dating site, the first of its kind, in 1993. Since then, it has grown to include a dating app, which offers daily match recommendations, video chats, access to dating experts, and conversation starters.
The Match app has a 3.8-star rating on the Apple App Store and a 3.1-star rating on the Google Play Store. Reviews range from quite negative, complaining about the price and lack of filtering options, to positive, noting the quality of matches and that the date coaching is a nice feature.
For single parents specifically, you can filter matches according to if someone wants or has kids, but other than that, there is no single-parent focus. Additionally, while Match requires a paid membership to unlock certain features, the higher monthly price than, say, other free dating apps might weed out individuals who aren’t looking for a serious partnership.
Plenty of Fish is a dating app that focuses on messaging matches rather than relying on looks alone.
This app started as a dating site in 2003. Its unique features include an in-depth questionnaire to set up your profile, a first-message limit to promote more substantive intros, and a virtual speed-dating game. Plenty of Fish is not specifically designed for single parents.
Reviews of Plenty of Fish are more negative than positive (take a look for yourself on the App Store and Google Play Store). Many users complain about scammers, claiming that many of their matches were fake profiles. While concerning for anyone using the app, this could be even more of an issue for single parents, who are looking for someone to eventually introduce to their children.
However, the detailed profiles on Plenty of Fish are useful for getting a well-rounded view of a potential match, as opposed to choosing solely based on a profile picture. Additionally, the free version is more robust than other dating apps, but full functionality requires a paid membership.
OkCupid is a dating app that encourages users to embrace the fun in dating and finding meaningful connections.
When new users sign up for OkCupid, they’re asked a series of questions to help inform the people you’re matched with. The questions range from the basics to unique (like “I value . . .” and “A perfect day . . .”), making the sign-up process more engaging. Another notable feature is deal-breakers (only for paid members), where you can set certain traits as non-negotiables that are filtered.
While OkCupid isn’t necessarily focused on single-parent dating, it might be a better option than others for those who identify as LGBTQIA+. The inclusive dating app offers 22 genders and 12 orientations. Additionally, single parents on the app can set deal-breakers (say, for users who note they want kids), allowing them to narrow down their search. Another pro? OkCupid allows messaging for free users, unlike other dating apps on this list.
According to reviews on the App Store and Google Play Store, some people complain about repeat profiles who they’ve said no to, matches not being accurate, and that the app is glitchy and hard to navigate.
The Bumble dating app is known for its unique approach of having women message men first.
Although the original design of the app had women messaging men first, it now allows any user who is part of the LGBTQIA+ community to send messages first. Another special feature of the Bumble app is the 24-hour time limit on messaging a match, which helps to speed up the process of making connections.
For parents flying solo, it should be noted that Bumble is not intended solely for this demographic. While the time limit might be nice for single parents who have a finite amount of hours in a week to spend on an app, this feature is also one of the top complaints from reviewers across the App Store, the Google Play Store, and Reddit. Additionally, reviewers also mention that the monthly price is too expensive and that full functionality essentially requires being a paid user.
Here are some top features to search for in dating apps for single parents.
Make sure that the apps you choose allow you to search profiles based on your values. For example, if you have kids, you’re probably looking for someone who is open to having or caring for children. In this case, filtering your search based on family friendliness is crucial—your dating app should provide this feature.
Ensure that your chosen dating app requires profile verification, which might include a moderator approving profiles and photos and a phone-number verification. Some apps even offer enhanced safety features, such as date check-in tools, the ability to block messages, or not allowing intro messages from non-matched profiles.
There are some inherent challenges for single parents when dating online, including setting aside time to search for a partner and finding someone who understands their lifestyle.
Parenting is a full-time job, which can make it difficult to squeeze in online dating amid the hectic work, school, and kid schedules. Single parents often don’t have extra hands to help out with the day-to-day, so they might not be able to dedicate much time to finding a partner—making it more important than ever to use a dating approach that prioritizes that sacred thing called time.
Single parents don’t have to search only for singles who are also on the solo-parent journey, but they probably need to find someone who understands their priorities and the complexities—and beauty—of a life with children. These individuals might be harder to locate in certain dating pools, but finding them makes the search all the more rewarding.
Searching for a partner as a single parent doesn’t have to use up all your free time, nor does it need to be stressful. Tawkify is the best option for single moms and dads who are ready for a relationship but might not have all the time in the world to dedicate to their search. Our matchmakers learn about everything they can about your personality, values, priorities, and lifestyle before hand-selecting matches from our network of more than 1 million singles—even curating first dates! Its features like this that single parents need in their approach to finding love. Find your person today.
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