Age-gap relationships aren’t something new, but what about relationships where younger men date older women? In fact, around 34% of 40-60-year-old women have dated a younger man, and most importantly, such a scenario is getting more and more socially accepted.
So, where do they usually meet? Of course, some of them are lucky enough to find their perfect date IRL, but most still join real cougar dating sites, and we’ve already chosen the 5 best platforms on the market for you.
Top 5 Cougar dating sites
| Rank | Site | Free Link | |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | CougarLife |
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| #2 | CougarPourMoi |
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| #3 | Seeking |
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| #4 | Secret Benefits |
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| #5 | AshleyMadison |
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1. CougarLife
BEST FOR:
Sugar mommas and sugar cubs
FEATURES WE LIKED:
Private photos, Discover feature, Priority messages
OUR EXPERTS SAY:
CougarLife is one of the niche cougar dating sites designed exclusively for cougars and cubs. Also, the company is encouraging older women to join the community by making messaging completely free for them, and it works. There are multiple useful features to use to find a partner and get to know them better online.
More Information
CougarLife
Gender ratio:
45%
55%
Visits/Month:
149K
Key takeaways
Site: Cougarlife.com
Paid or free: One of the free cougar dating sites for women, partially free for men
- A niche dating site for older women and younger men launched in 2006
- Around 200,000 monthly visits, 50% of the audience is from the United States
- Messaging and access to private albums are the only premium features, all other features are available on the free version of the dating site
Why did we choose it?
CougarLife is actually a popular cougar dating app. It doesn’t have millions of members like mainstream dating websites, but it’s really big in the cougar segment of the market. It works for a narrow target audience, which improves the chance of finding a partner in the shortest time and helps balance the gender ratio which is now around 60% younger men to 40% older women. There are some special features like priority messages that work for those who want to improve their success rate, as well as the detailed free search and convenient online messenger. The system works to connect you with the right partner, and it’s assumed that after a few conversations, members will meet IRL.
Features we liked
- Discover feature, opportunity to adjust multiple useful search filters
- Private albums let members seeking extra privacy hide all or part of their photos
- Opportunity to create very detailed profiles and add media files for free
- Priority messages for those who don’t want their perfect match to miss their message
2. CougarPourMoi
BEST FOR:
Finding a partner in the shortest time
FEATURES WE LIKED:
Free profile promotions, profile boost, advanced search, media file exchange
OUR EXPERTS SAY:
CougarPourMoi is an international cougar dating site that accepts all older women and younger men regardless of their relationship goals. No matter if you’re looking for a casual relationship or something long-term, this niche dating site is likely to be effective just because there’s a good set of communication features and a very active community of singles.
More Information
CougarPourMoi
Gender ratio:
44%
56%
Visits/Month:
156.6K
Key takeaways
Site: Cougarpourmoi.com
Paid or free: Paid with some free features
- About 250,000 monthly visits
- The largest share of audience comes from the US, Western Europe, and Canada
- 60 to 40 male-to-female ratio—a good gender balance for a cougar dating site
Why did we choose it?
CougarPourMoi is one of the best cougar dating sites for international users. Though it may seem that it’s available only in France, it actually has a lot of registered users in the United States and Canada, too. It’s promoted as a casual dating platform, but it can work for mature women and younger men who are looking for long-term and serious relationships. The system itself is simple and will work great for both beginners and experienced online daters. You can join the platform for free, use search, browse profiles, get bonuses to chat with someone, and upgrade to use more advanced features if CougarPourMoi turns out to be the website you were looking for.
Features we liked
- Free profile promotion for people who’ve just joined this cougar dating site
- Free access to profiles (Looking For information and full-size photos can be viewed only by premium users, though)
- Media file exchange improves the experience and doesn’t cost extra money
- Premium support available to paying users
3. Seeking
BEST FOR:
Having a social media-like experience
FEATURES WE LIKED:
Video calls, Vibes, instant messaging, extended search feature
OUR EXPERTS SAY:
Seeking is a website designed for people looking for any type of romantic relationship, including older women-younger men relationships. Though it’s not exactly one of the niche cougar dating apps, it has a lot to offer to a user, and that’s not just an online messenger but also such special features as video chat and gift wishlists.
More Information
Seeking
Gender ratio:
58%
42%
Visits/Month:
300K
Key takeaways
Site: Seeking.com
Paid or free: Paid with some free features, can be free for women
- A mainstream dating website with over 9 million monthly visits
- Most popular in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada
- More expensive than most other sites but offers some exclusive communication features
Why did we choose it?
Seeking.com has transformed into an exceptional website that works for most categories of singles, including mature women and younger men who’d like to start a romantic relationship with someone special. What’s good about it? A lot of things, actually. Here, you can add Vibes just like Stories on Instagram, send private messages, make video calls, get your profile highlighted by becoming a Featured member, get special badges after an upgrade, add private photos, create your own, view other members’ gift wishlists, and more.
Features we liked
- Vibes that can be shared and viewed by all members for free
- User notes you can take on others right on their profiles
- Background verification that allows getting way more attention on the website
- Video calls that make Seeking one of the safest platforms in the online dating market
4. Secret Benefits
BEST FOR:
Starting a mutually beneficial relationship
FEATURES WE LIKED:
Video verification, Secret albums, instant messaging, extended search
OUR EXPERTS SAY:
Secret Benefits is an online dating website designed exclusively for people seeking mutually beneficial arrangements. There are younger women and older men looking for partners, and there are also many mature women who don’t mind dating younger men and compensating them for their time.
More Information
Secret Benefits
Gender ratio:
58%
42%
Visits/Month:
400K
Key takeaways
Site: SecretBenefits.com
Paid or free: Paid with some free features
- One of the most popular niche dating sites for sugar daddies, babies, and mommas with over 15 million monthly visits
- Available worldwide but has most members in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia
- One of the safest cougar dating websites with video verification
Why did we choose it?
Secret Benefits is not a niche cougar dating site, but it’s a niche sugar dating site with a lot of registered sugar mommas and sugar cubs looking for female benefactors. The website has pretty much everything that a good dating website is supposed to have, from instant messaging to great search filters and Secret albums, but the highest level of safety is what attracts users the most. Here, you can share your verification video and improve your response rate or add profile videos to get more attention. Profiles are detailed and carefully moderated—all suspicious accounts are suspended, so members don’t have to worry about scams and catfishing.
Features we liked
- Profile photos and especially videos make Secret Benefits a much safer website
- Members can make part of their photos private
- Great selection of search filters that really help find a person who meets all your criteria
- Fixed prices for unlocking a conversation with a member, sending all the messages except for the first one is entirely free
5. Ashley Madison
BEST FOR:
Cougar women and younger men looking for casual relationships
FEATURES WE LIKED:
Priority mails, extended search, private albums
OUR EXPERTS SAY:
Contrary to popular belief, Ashley Madison is more just an affair site. It has transformed into one of the world’s most popular casual dating sites and now works as one of the best cougar dating sites, too. It’s free for ladies, and there are a lot of great features that improve the experience for all users.
More Information
AshleyMadison
Gender ratio:
57%
43%
Visits/Month:
800K
Key takeaways
Site: AshleyMadison.com
Paid or free: Free for women, partially free for men
- Over 20 million users worldwide, 7 million monthly visits
- Over 60% of traffic comes from the United States
- Improved security system, no data breaches or complaints about privacy since 2015
Why did we choose it?
Ashley Madison is one of the legendary online dating sites with a long history, but not so many people know that it can work as a cougar dating app, too. Unlike most other cougar dating websites, it’s entirely free for women, which is a big bonus for cougars, and men also don’t need to spend a fortune here. Messaging and access to private photos are the only premium features, while all the other services are free for everyone. Also, registration takes just a few minutes, so you can start browsing profiles and searching for matches right away.
Features we liked
- Good online messenger and media file exchange
- Opportunity to create private albums and grant access to the users you like
- Multiple useful search filters that allow finding perfect matches with just a few clicks
- Members can get their messages highlighted in another user’s inbox
Tips to help pick the right cougar dating site for you
How to choose the right platform out of the abundance of cougar sites out there? Here are some recommendations that will help you select the right website and have the best experience possible:
- Do background research, collect all the information on the website, and find out what other customers think of the value for money, quality of features, etc.
- Analyze the user base to make sure you can meet many younger men or older women who meet your criteria.
- Pay attention to profile quality and moderation—romance scam statistics are very disturbing, so you should know if the platform takes enough measures to protect the users.
- Check the prices—the website can be more or less expensive, but there must be good value for money and absolutely no hidden costs.
- Make sure there are all the features you’d like to use like secret albums, video chat, good search and matchmaking features, etc.
It will take time, but the deeper the research, the better chance not to go wrong with the choice and find a perfect match soon.
How to find a cougar, a sugar momma, or a cub?
Choosing the right website is half the battle, but there’s always another half. How to succeed when looking for a partner online? Here are some basic rules to follow:
- Make your profile work—provide as much useful information as possible and don’t forget the photos.
- Briefly discuss the terms of a potential sugar arrangement if you’re looking for a sugar momma or a sugar cub before you meet—that will save you a lot of time.
- Don’t focus on appearance/income only; use search and matchmaking features to find a compatible partner in the shortest time.
- Follow etiquette regardless of the type of relationship you are looking for, and if you’re looking for a cougar, try to impress her with your intelligence and manners.
- Get to know your partner better online—have at least a few meaningful conversations, don’t rush things, and surprisingly, you’ll spend less searching for the right person online.
If you want to succeed, you need a good strategy—a rational approach works much better for most singles looking for a new partner on cougar platforms or any other websites.
Our editor’s conclusion
“Many older women and younger men who are now in an age-gap relationship report high satisfaction levels, and though social stigma still exists, it’s way weaker than decades ago. So, if you believe that such a relationship is what you need, just give it a try—today, finding an older or younger partner is easier than ever before—of course, if you choose the right website. “
FAQ
Is there a free cougar dating site?
Are cougar dating sites free? In fact, most cougar dating apps and online dating sites in this segment of the market are subscription-based, but some websites, like CougarLife, are free for women. All other platforms are rather “freemium,” which means that there are some free as well as paid features and that members still need to pay to communicate.
What to expect from a sugar momma?
A sugar momma is a mature woman who’s dating a younger man and compensates him for his time and companionship. Younger guys can expect such women to act pretty much like girlfriends—the only difference is that you get paid for following the terms of your specific sugar arrangement.
Can you really find a cougar on dating sites?
Yes, it’s absolutely possible if you choose one of the best cougar dating apps with good moderation, profiles, and communication features. If you’re looking for options, you can find 5 top cougar dating websites in this guide.
Are there cougar dating apps for iOS or Android?
Yes, but you should also consider that some top cougar sites have apps, some don’t, and some have apps only for Android or iOS. For example, the Ashley Madison cougar dating app is available on both app stores, the Cougar Life app is available only on App Store, the Seeking app is available only on Google Play, etc.
What’s the best cougar dating site?
The truth is you should choose a website that will suit your needs among the best cougar dating sites available in the market. Still, there are more versatile platforms, and in the cougar segment, it’s CougarLife. If for some reason, it doesn’t work for you, you can find 4 more legit cougar dating sites in our guide.
