Dating can be awkward, scary, and a pain at any age. True, being in the over-60 group may mean that more people your age are already off the market, but online dating can help you find mature singles in your area that you would have never met otherwise. And to help you find meaningful connections, Mashable has tested the top senior dating sites.

If you're hesitant about trying online dating as a senior, you're not alone. Finding a dating site that feels comfortable and natural is intimidating for everyone, and even the best senior dating sites can feel especially awkward. Young folks are completely desensitized to these apps, and there's a bit of a learning curve for new users. But here's the thing: Seniors actually have tons of advantages when it comes to online dating.

For starters, many people in their 20s aren’t ready to settle down. But as an experienced lover over 60, you’ve been figuring out this whole “love” thing for longer than millennials have been alive. You know the red flags, and you know what you want. EliteSingles’ senior dating blog notes that older individuals realize that life is just too short to play games.

Plus, online dating gives you access to a wider pool of potential matches. When you’re limited to meeting people in your local area, your options can be pretty slim. But the best online dating apps open up the world to you, so you can connect with people from all over. Not only that, but they're also convenient. You can use a senior dating site from the comfort of your own home at any time of day or night. This makes it easy to take your time and really get to know someone before you meet in person.

We've gathered the best dating sites for seniors below based on our own experiences, hands-on reviews, and research with dating app users. We've also included some info to help you make the most of online dating.

How to avoid senior dating scams

Unfortunately, not everyone online is looking for a real connection. You can also find heartless scammers who are only interested in luring in seniors and stealing their hard-earned money. These scammers use false information to create a fake profile and pose as someone they're not (such as a member of the military). They may also pretend to be interested until you've formed an emotional bond — and then the demands for money start coming.

The Department of Homeland Security has a guide for spotting romance scams online. Here are some additional tips for avoiding online dating scams:

• Be wary if your match always makes excuses to avoid meeting in person. While you can definitely form meaningful relationships online, romance scammers will always make up excuses to avoid meeting in person. They may make and repeatedly break dates, or they'll pretend their webcam isn't working properly.

• If someone asks you for money, proceed with caution. Here's a good rule of thumb: If someone asks you for money, assume it's a scam.

• Don't give out your personal information. This includes your social security number, bank account information, or credit card number. Scammers can use this information to steal your identity or commit financial fraud.

• Meet in public for your first date. Meeting in a public place gives you an extra layer of safety and gives you the chance to see what their intentions are before getting more involved.

• Trust your gut. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. If you have a bad feeling about someone, don't ignore it. Walk away from the conversation or block them from your account.

If you think you've been scammed, report the scammer to the dating site or app you're using and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You can also place a fraud alert on your credit report, just in case your personal info was compromised in any way.

What are the best dating sites for seniors?

After trying these dating sites and apps for ourselves, we put together a list of the five best dating sites for seniors, as well as one last-resort option. Many dating sites offer matching features for users over 50, but our favorite senior dating sites feature additional matching options for singles over 60 and 70. All of the sites have free memberships, but you'll probably need a paid account to access the real in-depth features, such as unlimited messaging or seeing photos. (Note that prices for dating apps and sites are constantly changing. We update regularly, but there might be minor price differences.)

Mashable tested all of the senior dating sites included below. From easy-to-use apps to more serious-minded dating websites, here’s to finding love later in life!

UPDATE: Aug. 25, 2023, 5:00 a.m. EDT This article has been updated to reflect our latest hands-on dating site reviews. Ultimately, we decided to remove Zoosk and relegated Our Time to "last-resort" status.