Dating is, famously, not easy. Single parenting, is also, famously, not easy. Put them together, and dating as a single parent feels damn near impossible.
The good news is, you’re certainly not alone. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly a quarter of children in the United States live in single-parent households. That means there are tons of people out there just like you — single parents who are devoted to their family and wouldn’t mind some romance in their lives. On top of that, the best dating apps for single parents can also connect you with men and women who aren’t parents themselves but also aren’t afraid to date someone with a family.
To help make online dating feel less impossible, we’ve vetted the best dating apps and sites for you. We know — dating apps don’t always have the best rep, but there are actually apps made just for parents these days, and some features on more well-known apps like Hinge can help the dating process along.
Why it’s so hard to date as a single parent
Sometimes, the most obvious answer is also the most accurate one, and for single parents, free time can be a huge constraint on their dating life. We know you don’t have time to swipe through Bumble and send out dozens of messages that might lead to a date.
“If someone is full-time responsible for parenting their child(ren), time is the most difficult/delicate issue,” said Karen Bonnell, a co-parent, stepfamily coach, and author of The Stepfamily Handbook, in an email to Mashable. “Even when the children move back and forth in a two-home family, dating time is often modified to reflect that schedule and can feel compressed and/or a bit like a whipsaw from ‘independent adult dating’ and ‘responsible parent parenting.'”
Even though dating apps take some effort and time, using the right ones can help streamline the process of meeting someone new. That’s why we think they’re a solid option for single parents looking for love, fun, and friendship. An algorithm that actually shows you people you’re compatible with, rather than anyone with a pulse in a 10-mile radius, is a major bonus.
Bonnell also told us it’s important to be upfront about your time constraints and responsibilities.
“Dedicating time for communication (‘after the kids are down’) or setting the children up in an activity while letting them know ‘Mom/Dad’s going to do a little computer work now,’ or ‘taking a call’ can work, but it’s not easy,” Bonnell wrote. “The ability to openly talk about these barriers and to come to reasonable agreements will predict the long-term durability of the relationship with a parent.”
What’s the best dating site for single parents?
Popular dating sites are the best places to find a wide array of users, but when you’re dating as a single parent, curation can be key.
The dating app market also includes apps specifically designed for parents. In 2020, single parents and family-minded folks alike could start looking for love on heybaby (sadly, this dating site for single parents is no longer active). In 2022, Match Group launched Stir, a platform made specifically for single parents (though anyone can join).
Keep reading to find the best parent-centered dating apps, plus our favorite mainstream dating apps for parents.
How we tested
We make sure to actually spend time on the dating sites that we recommend. That means creating profiles on every app and site, scrolling through users, and testing out the chat and matchmaking features that promise to help you find your special someone.
Each and every app in this list has been tested by a Mashable staff writer or freelancer with experience writing about relationships and dating. Wherever possible, we’ve linked out to full, in-depth reviews of the dating sites and apps.
Here are the major criteria we considered in the choosing apps for this guide:
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Time-saving: Whether you’re co-parenting or not, single parents can struggle to find the time to devote to dating. With that in mind, we chose apps with specific time-saving features and effective algorithms that won’t just show you every profile under the sun.
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Values sharing: If you’re a single parent, you’ll probably run into complications if you start dating someone who isn’t kid-friendly. That’s why we looked for apps that allow you to filter by people who want or have kids already, so you’re starting on the same page when you match. We also looked for apps that tended to favor serious connection (and hopefully communication), which are both super important when bringing a new person into your life and maybe eventually your family.
We also evaluated, as we do with all our dating testing for parents or not, how active the user base is, the general vibe of the user base, what features you’re getting for the money you’re spending (where applicable), and how gimmicky or useful the stand-out features of each app are.
Finally, to understand what single parents need in a dating app, we also reached out to licensed marriage and family therapists and a divorce and co-parenting coach, who offered their expertise on what struggles single parents face when dating.