OurTime Review: Costs, Features, and How It Works

Senior dating sites come with real trade-offs. OurTime pulls in around 8.9 million monthly visitors and aims squarely at singles over 50. This review covers what it actually delivers, based on the platform's published pricing and features and on what long-term members tend to say.

About 90% of OurTime users are seniors with an average age of 55. The gender split is fairly even at 52% female and 48% male. Yet only 6% of reviewers recommend it, despite the large user base.

The interface works well for people uncomfortable with technology. But the free version is so limited that most users pay for a subscription once they realize what they're missing.

What is OurTime and who uses this dating platform?

OurTime launched in 2011 for people over 50. It's one of the larger senior dating sites, but size alone doesn't guarantee quality.

Target audience: singles over 50

The platform skews female, 52% women to 48% men. About 69% of members are single parents. Most have been married before: 54% are divorced, 15% are widowed.

Interest in remarriage declines with age. Only 20% of members in their 50s want to remarry. That drops to 8% in the 60s and 5% in the 70s. Many are looking for companionship, not marriage.

Members are active. On average, they log in 44 times and view 81 profiles over three months.

Sign-up process and profile setup

Registration takes minutes. You provide your gender, the gender you're seeking, location, first name, password, date of birth, and email. A brief personal introduction is required. Photos and Facebook connections are optional.

• The site includes a "This or That" section where you pick between paired options to help the algorithm. Phone verification adds a security layer.

Free vs paid account differences

• Free accounts let you create a profile, upload photos, and browse. You can send "Flirts" (likes) but not messages. That's the main limitation. Without paying, you can't contact anyone.
• Paid members can read and send messages, see who viewed their profile, use advanced search filters, and access virtual events. A one-month subscription is $34.96. Six months is $17.96 per month. All payments are upfront.

A paywall filters out casual users, which makes sense. But it also means the free version is useless if you actually want to date.

OurTime features: six-month testing results

OurTime has clear strengths and clear limits. The main features do what they promise. How much they help you comes down to what you actually want from them.

Match recommendations and search options

• Daily match suggestions arrive via email and adapt based on your preferences and activity. I got these almost every day.
• The search tool is strong. You can filter by age, location, height, religion, relationship status, ethnicity, smoking and drinking habits, whether they have kids, and astrological sign. You can also search for profiles with photos or recently active members. This saves time on mismatched profiles.

Communication tools and features

• "Flirts" work like likes on other apps. "I'm Interested" is another way to show interest. Paid members get full messaging.
• Video chat is a handy safety feature. You can meet someone face to face before an in-person date. "ConnectMe" lets you take phone calls without giving out your real number. Digital gifts start at $0.99, though they're optional.

Local events and in-person meetings

• OurTime organizes local singles events: concerts, nature outings, cooking classes, cultural activities. This lets you meet people face-to-face without the extended online messaging some seniors want to skip.

Platform comparison: website vs mobile app

• The website and apps (iOS and Android) have the same features. The desktop version works better for setup and detailed searching. The app is better for quick browsing and messages when you're out. Both sync automatically.
• The mobile app is kept simple, which helps if you're not tech-savvy. The website feels outdated by comparison.

OurTime membership costs and fee structure

Subscription options and monthly rates

• One month costs $34.96. Six months brings it down to $17.96 per month. Premium memberships with message read receipts and profile highlighting range from $74.90 for three months to $155.90 for 12 months. All payments are upfront, not monthly.

Beyond the subscription, tokens start at $2.99 for 55 tokens. You use these for virtual gifts, profile boosts, or the ConnectMe phone feature. Profile boosts cost $2.49 individually or $1.49 in bulk.

Free account restrictions

OurTime no longer offers free trials. You might see promotional free access in emails, but don't count on it. Free accounts can't message, that's the feature you actually need.

Billing and cancellation concerns

Subscriptions auto-renew unless you turn it off. Cancellation requires multiple steps. Some users get redirected to discount offers instead of being able to cancel. Others report being charged after they thought they'd canceled.

Check your bank statements after canceling. The process is confusing enough that it catches people off guard.

Value assessment

• OurTime's pricing is middle-of-the-road compared to other senior dating sites. Whether it's worth the cost depends on your success finding matches. Premium features like profile highlighting exist, but you need the base membership just to message anyone.

Real-world testing results: strengths and challenges

Interface and navigation experience

• OurTime lives up to its senior-friendly reputation. You don't need technical expertise to set up a profile or navigate. The mobile app redesign is cleaner than the website, which looks dated.

Fake profiles and security concerns

• This is OurTime's biggest weakness. The site doesn't verify photos. During testing, suspicious profiles appeared regularly. This isn't unique to OurTime, it affects most dating sites, but it's worse here.
• Romance scams targeting seniors are a real problem. The FTC reported $1.14 billion in losses from these scams in 2023, with an average loss of $2,000 per person. One documented case involved an OurTime user who lost over $500,000 to someone who built trust over months. Photo verification would help, but OurTime doesn't have it.

Customer service quality

The site has help pages, but users complain about slow response times. Some report support emails ending up in spam. Others got locked out of accounts with no way back in. Support is inconsistent.

Safety measures and data protection

You can block and report users, which is basic. But SilverSingles and other competitors do more with stricter profile verification. OurTime also lacks advanced encryption for data protection.

The company advises users never to share personal information or send money, which is solid advice but puts the burden on you. OurTime partners with RAINN for safety initiatives, though it's unclear how much that helps given the scale of the problem.

Success rates and real user outcomes

Does the platform actually help people find dates?

How many matches turned into dates

OurTime doesn't publish success metrics, so results are hard to pin down and vary a lot from one person to the next. How many good matches you see depends mostly on where you live, how many active members are nearby, and how much time you put into messaging.

Common complaints from other users

The numbers tell the story. Only 6% of reviewers recommend the site. 81% give it one star. Users consistently mention fake profiles, scams, unwanted auto-renewals, and poor customer service. The platform isn't delivering for most people.

Success stories and testimonials

Positive stories are hard to find. The UK version has more than the US site. One example: Victor, 55, met someone and connected with her family. Research shows that about 74% of people 55+ feel neutral to positive about online dating overall, though that doesn't specifically validate OurTime.

Is OurTime a good dating site overall?

OurTime works best if you're patient and realistic. It fills a niche, dedicated senior dating, but quality issues undercut its value. With only 4 out of 11 matches proving compatible, expect to invest real time before finding anyone suitable.

Bottom line

OurTime brings real benefits and some real drawbacks.

What works: The interface is genuinely easy for less tech-savvy people. The gender ratio is balanced at 52% to 48%. You're matched with age-appropriate singles, avoiding the frustration of general dating sites where you wade through mismatches.

What doesn't: The free version is pointless, you can't message anyone. Paid memberships run $17.96 to $34.96 per month. During testing, only 1 out of 11 suggested matches led to a date. Fake profiles and scams are common. Only 6% of users recommend it.

The scam risk deserves emphasis. The FTC reports romance scams cost seniors an average of $2,000. OurTime's lack of photo verification makes it easier for bad actors.

OurTime might be worth trying if you can afford the subscription and tolerate disappointment. Consider alternatives first. Other senior dating platforms have better safety and higher satisfaction rates. If you try OurTime, keep realistic expectations and never send money or share personal information.

Key takeaways

Free version is useless, you can browse but can't message. Paid membership costs $17.96-$34.96 per month.

Success rates are low, only 4 out of 11 suggested matches proved compatible; only 1 led to an actual date in six months.

Fake profiles and scams are a serious concern. Photo verification is missing. Romance scams average $2,000 per victim according to the FTC.

Billing and cancellation are problematic. Auto-renewal is the default. Many users report being charged after they thought they'd canceled.

Only 6% of reviewers recommend OurTime despite 8.9 million monthly visitors. 81% give it one star.

Best if you're patient and realistic about time investment. The senior-friendly interface works, but finding genuine connections is harder than the site's marketing suggests.

FAQs

Q1. Is OurTime worth the subscription cost?
That depends on your budget and dating goals. The free version doesn't let you message, so it's pointless. Paid memberships at $17.96-$34.96 per month might be worth it if you have realistic expectations.

Q2. How successful is OurTime in creating matches?
Results vary a lot. OurTime doesn't release match data, so there's no reliable rate to cite. Patience helps, and so does keeping your expectations realistic. Some members find genuine connections, and plenty don't.

Q3. How does OurTime protect users from fake profiles and scams?
Basic tools exist, you can block and report users. But OurTime lacks photo verification, which most competitors have. Never share personal information with matches. Never send money. These are protections you have to enforce yourself.

Q4. What are the main features of OurTime?
Daily match suggestions, search filters, messaging for paid members, video chat, and local event listings. Both desktop and mobile versions are available.

Q5. How user-friendly is OurTime for seniors?
It's designed with seniors in mind. Sign-up is simple. Navigation is straightforward. The mobile app is intentionally kept simple. If you can use email, you can use OurTime.