Is it legit? 5 min read
Is Local Cougars Legit?
Yes, Local Cougars is a legitimate dating site. It has introduced older women to younger men since 2013, has more than 2,000 members across the UK, South Africa, the USA and Australia, runs on the HubPeople dating platform, and you can join, browse and send messages without paying anything.
By the Local Cougars team
In short
- Local Cougars began in 2013 and runs on the HubPeople dating platform.
- More than 2,000 members in four countries, the women mostly in their late thirties and forties and the men mostly under 35.
- Free ID and video checks put a verified badge on real profiles.
- The free account never runs out; paid plans show their price before you pay.
- Cancel any time from your account settings.
Who runs Local Cougars
Local Cougars began in 2013 as LocalCougars.com. Today the site is part of HubPeople, which operates a family of specialist dating sites and looks after the accounts, payments, moderation and a 24-hour support team staffed by real people. HubPeople takes part in the Online Dating and Discovery Association, the industry's safety standards body. In practice, the checks that protect members on every HubPeople site protect you here too.
Are the members real?
Yes. We have more than 2,000 members, and we publish the real make-up of our membership: most of the women are aged 35 to 44, three quarters of the men are under 35, and in the UK almost two thirds of members are women. Every photo, video and post is screened as it is uploaded, by software and by people, and behaviour is monitored for the patterns that give scammers and bots away. Any member can verify for free, with ID or a quick live video chat with a moderator, and the badge that follows tells you who is genuine.
How to spot a fake profile anywhere
No dating site can promise every profile is genuine, so it is worth knowing the signs. Be wary of a profile with one glamorous photo and no detail, a match who is very keen very quickly, someone who cannot or will not video call, a push to move to WhatsApp or text before you have met, and any request for money, gift cards or help with a fare. On Local Cougars, the site warns you if someone tries to take the chat elsewhere, and you can block and report anyone in a tap. Our safety page has the full list of protections and habits.
What is free and what is paid
Joining is free and the free account does not run out. You can build your profile, browse, see your daily matches, use the feed, message a few people every day and answer anyone on a paid plan. VIP and VIP Plus lift the message limit and add extras such as advanced search and seeing everyone who likes you. Every price is on our pricing page, shown before you pay, and the shorter plans say clearly that they renew until you cancel.
Can you cancel easily?
Yes. You can cancel a paid plan from your account settings at any time, and paid features carry on until the end of the period you paid for. The 12-month plan is a single payment that does not renew at all. Your free account stays open unless you choose to close it.
Is it discreet?
Other members only ever see your username and nearest town. Your name, email and address stay private. Explicit images are blurred until the viewer chooses to see them, and your data, messages and payments sit on secure, encrypted systems. If you would like to know how Local Cougars compares with the other cougar sites, read our comparisons.
Questions people ask
Is Local Cougars a scam?
No. It is a real dating site with real members, free to join, with uploads screened and free ID checks for anyone who wants a verified badge.
Is Local Cougars free?
Joining, browsing, daily matches and a number of messages each day are free. VIP and VIP Plus add unlimited messaging and extras.
Who owns Local Cougars?
HubPeople, which runs a number of specialist dating sites and their moderation and support.
How do I delete my account?
From your account settings. Cancelling a paid plan and closing your account are separate, so do both if you want to leave completely.