Yes. Widowers or Widows and Chapter 2 are UK dating sites made for people who have lost a husband, wife or partner, and both are free to join. 2nd Chances is a smaller US app for widowed people aged 55 and under. If you would like a wider pool, eharmony, OurTime and SilverSingles welcome widowed members alongside everyone else.
We run Widowers or Widows, so read what follows with that in mind. Where another site does something well, we say so.
Why a site for widowed people feels different
On a general dating app, being widowed tends to come up early and awkwardly. You either explain your loss in the first few messages or carry it quietly until it feels like a confession.
On a site built for widows and widowers, that moment is already understood. The person writing to you knows why you might mention your late husband or wife on a first date, why some anniversaries are hard, and why you might want to take things slowly. Many people find that this shared starting point makes the first conversations gentler and more honest. If you are still wondering whether you are ready at all, our guide to dating again after losing a spouse is a kind place to start.
Dating sites for widows and widowers, side by side
| Site or app | Who it suits | App or website | Free to join | Where it works | Profile checks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Widowers or Widows | Widows and widowers who want a gentle, unhurried start | Website that works on any phone, tablet or computer | Yes, joining and searching are free | UK and US | All profiles checked, Scamalytics anti-scam screening |
| Chapter 2 | Widowed people of any age who also want a forum and events | App and website | Yes, messaging needs Premium | UK, US, Canada, Australia | Profiles vetted at sign-up |
| 2nd Chances | Widows and widowers aged 55 and under | App (iPhone and Android) | Free download, chat needs a $12.99 monthly subscription | US, not in the UK App Store | Not described on its listing |
| eharmony | Anyone set on a long-term relationship | App and website | Yes, full features are paid | UK, US, Canada, Australia | Every photo reviewed before it appears |
| OurTime | Over 50s who like local activities as well as messaging | App and website | Yes | UK and US | Photos and descriptions moderated |
| SilverSingles | Over 50s who want matches based on compatibility | App only in the UK | Free download, with paid membership | UK and US | Every visible profile verified, it says |
Checked October 2026 on each service's own website or app store listing.
Widowers or Widows: a gentle place to start
Widowers or Widows is a dating site for people who have lost a spouse and feel ready, in their own time, for companionship again. It has around 4,000 members across the UK and US, and nearly seven in ten are women. The biggest age group is 45 to 54, and most of the men are over 55.
Joining, building a profile, searching and daily match suggestions are free, and free members can send a limited number of messages each day and reply to VIP members. VIP opens up unrestricted messaging and advanced search, and the pricing page shows the current plans. Every profile is checked, Scamalytics screens for scammers, and the site is protected by the Online Dating Protector programme. It is part of a wider dating network, so your profile can also be seen by members of partner sites, which gives you more people to meet near you.
Chapter 2: a community as well as a dating app
Chapter 2 was set up in 2022 by Nicky Wake, who lost her husband in 2020, and it is open only to widows and widowers. It started in the UK and now also runs in the US, Canada and Australia. Basic access is free and lets you create a profile, add up to ten photos, search and like members. Premium is needed to send and read messages and to see who has viewed or liked you, with prices shown by country.
Its strength is everything around the dating: a forum, articles and in-person events. Profiles are vetted at sign-up. Its iPhone app was last updated in May 2024 and has only a handful of reviews, so you may find the website smoother to use.
2nd Chances: for younger widows and widowers
2nd Chances was created in the US by a widow and widower couple, one of whom is a grief counsellor. It is only for widowed people aged 55 and under, which makes it a good fit if you lost your partner young and want to meet others at the same stage of life. The app is free to download on iPhone and Android, and chat needs a subscription of $12.99 a month. It is not listed in the UK App Store, so in practice it suits people in the US.
When a mainstream site is the better fit
Some widowed people would rather not have their loss be the first thing anyone knows about them. If that is you, a larger site for over 50s or for serious relationships can work well, and you can share your story when it feels right.
eharmony starts with a compatibility quiz and suggests matches from your answers, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. It suits people who know they want a long-term relationship. See how it compares in Widowers or Widows vs eharmony.
OurTime is for singles over 50 and runs local activities as well as online dating, with photos and descriptions moderated. It is a good choice if you would like to meet people at an event rather than one to one. Read Widowers or Widows vs OurTime.
SilverSingles is for over 50s and suggests matches based on compatibility. In the UK it is now an app, and its old silversingles.co.uk website no longer loads. Its app listing says every visible profile is verified. More in Widowers or Widows vs SilverSingles, and all our side-by-side guides are on the comparisons page.
How to choose the right site for you
Start with what you want the first conversation to feel like. If you would like the other person to understand your loss from the outset, choose a site for widowed people: Widowers or Widows if you want something quiet and simple in the UK, Chapter 2 if a forum and events appeal, or 2nd Chances if you are under 55 and in the US. If you want the largest possible choice and are happy to explain your story yourself, eharmony or OurTime will give you more people to browse.
Join free, look at who is active near you, and only pay once you have found people you would like to talk to.
Staying safe after a loss
Romance scammers sometimes target bereaved people, often by building a deep connection very quickly and then asking for money. A genuine person will be patient. Keep conversations on the site until you trust someone, never send money or gift cards to anyone you have not met, and suggest a video call before meeting. Meet in a public place the first few times and tell a friend or family member where you are going. Our safety page has more.
Our verdict
Yes, there are dating sites for widows and widowers, and you do not have to settle for a general app where your loss needs explaining in every chat. For a gentle, free start in the UK with people who understand, we would naturally suggest Widowers or Widows. Chapter 2 is a warm alternative with a strong community side, and eharmony and OurTime are sensible choices if you want a bigger pool.