Best sites · Lifestyle & needs
The best dating sites for single parents save you time. eHarmony sends a few compatible matches a day, Match lets you search by whether someone has kids, and Stir is built only for single parents, with a scheduler for your free evenings.
| Site | Fit for single parents | Overall | Best for | Free version | Paid from | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eHarmony | Serious relationships and marriage | Limited | shown after you sign up | Visit | ||
| Match | Serious daters who like to search | Yes | ≈ $19.99 (US App Store) | Visit | ||
| Stir | Single parents who need dating to fit a busy schedule | Yes | ≈ $19.99 for 1 week (US App Store) | Visit | ||
| Hinge | Finding a relationship in your 20s and 30s | Yes | ≈ $16.99 (US App Store) | Visit | ||
| Zoosk | Casual to serious dating on a budget | Limited | ≈ $29.99 (US App Store) | Visit | ||
| Plenty of Fish | Free messaging and searching a big pool yourself | Yes | ≈ $19.99 (US App Store) | Visit |
We rank for this audience, so the order follows the fit score. The overall rating reflects the site as a whole. How we score.
Fit for single parents · Overall rating 4.4
Best for: Serious relationships and marriage
Compatibility matching sends you a few suggestions a day instead of an endless feed, which helps when free evenings are scarce. Built for people who want a committed relationship; messaging is paid.
Fit for single parents · Overall rating 4.2
Best for: Serious daters who like to search
Lets you search by whether someone has or wants kids, so you can avoid mismatches early. Detailed profiles suit parents in their 30s to 50s; some filters need a paid plan.
Fit for single parents · Overall rating 3.7
Best for: Single parents who need dating to fit a busy schedule
Match Group’s single parents dating app. Stir Time lets you share when you’re free, such as your weeks without the kids, and see whose schedule fits. Messaging mutual matches is free.
Fit for single parents · Overall rating 4.5
Best for: Finding a relationship in your 20s and 30s
Profiles can show whether someone has or wants children, and subscribers can filter by it. Prompts make it easy to mention your kids naturally, and messaging matches is free.
Fit for single parents · Overall rating 3.8
Best for: Casual to serious dating on a budget
A mix of browsing and swiping, with SmartPick suggestions that learn from your activity. Free to join and browse, so you can test it before paying to message.
Fit for single parents · Overall rating 3.6
Best for: Free messaging and searching a big pool yourself
Search, browse and message for free, which helps when time and budget are tight. Free sign-up attracts more fake profiles, so video call before you arrange a date.
If you’re a mom, our separate ranking of single mom dating sites looks at the same choice from your side.
If you’re a single dad, keep it simple: a line such as “dad of two, every other weekend” tells people what they need to know. Show your life and interests in your photos without showing your children, and be upfront about your custody schedule so dates are easy to plan.
There’s no fixed rule, but it’s wise to wait until you’re confident the relationship is serious and stable. Talk to your kids before the first meeting, and keep early get-togethers short and low-key, such as a trip to the park.
Don’t share your children’s names, ages or school with someone you’ve just met, and be wary of anyone who asks a lot about your kids early on or pushes to meet them. Meet in public, tell a friend where you’ll be and video call first. Our guide to verifying someone online shows simple checks.
Dating for single parents works best when you’re upfront. Say you’re a parent in your bio; the right person will appreciate the honesty, and it filters out people who aren’t open to it. Don’t post photos of your children, and keep their names and school private.
Plan short first dates around childcare, such as a coffee or a lunch, and wait until things are serious before introducing a partner to your kids. Our first date ideas include quick options you can fit around school hours.
We ranked sites on match quality, features, value, safety and ease of use, and weighed how well each fits this audience. See how we rate dating sites.
eHarmony is the best choice if you want a few compatible matches a day, Match lets you search by whether someone has or wants kids, and Stir is built only for single parents. Hinge is the best free app, with profiles that show whether people have children.
Yes. Stir is Match Group’s dating app for single parents. Its Stir Time feature lets you share when you’re free, for example the weeks your kids are with your co-parent, and see whose schedule fits. Messaging mutual matches is free; paid plans add extras.
Yes. Saying you’re a parent filters out people who aren’t open to it and builds trust from the start. Keep the details brief, such as “mom of one” or “dad of two, every other weekend”, and leave your children out of your photos.
Some. Plenty of Fish is free to search and message, and Stir lets you message mutual matches without paying. Hinge’s free plan includes messaging but only a handful of likes a day. eHarmony and Zoosk let you join and browse for free, then charge to message, while Match lets free members chat with their matches.
Be upfront that you’re a dad and share your custody schedule, so dates are easy to plan. Use photos that show your life and interests without your kids, and write a prompt or bio line about what you enjoy doing on your free weekends.