If you’re considering using paid dating platforms like eHarmony and Match.com to find your perfect match, it’s important to do your homework and select the one that seems like the best fit for you.
Paid online dating platforms have a lot of advantages over free options like Tinder, Bumble or Hinge.
In addition to potentially introducing you to a whole new pool of people who you haven’t seen on those other apps, they also use complex algorithms to connect you to people with whom you’re a lot more likely to share common ground.
(And, as you’ll read below, in my experience these algorithms work exceptionally well.)
But unlike the free apps,Match or eHarmony both cost a bit of money, so it’s important to understand the pros and cons of each one before you decide which one to invest in.
In this post I’ll do a deep dive to explore both popular dating sites in detail, reveal my personal experience using both platforms, and help you answer the all important question:
eharmony vs Match – which one should you use?
eHarmony vs Match.com
Which one is right for you?
An Overview of Each Platform
Let’s start by exploring how each platform works,and dig into each one’s features, pluses and minuses to get a sense of what each site actually does, and (most importantly) what it can do for you.
How eHarmonyWorks
Of all the dating apps and sites, eHarmony takes what’s arguably the most scientific approach.
When you sign up for eHarmony, you fill out a fairly lengthy questionnaire.
But unlike other dating platforms like OkCupid – where the additional questions are optional – with eHarmony you’re required to answer them right up front.
After you sign up, they’ll ask you dozens upon dozens of questions (I forget the exact number, but it’s a lot) that you have to answer before you can even get to your profile.
Every other user has to do the same, and then based on your answers, eHarmony creates a personality profile for you, and then pairs you with other users based on multiple dimensions of compatibility.
But unlike free sites like OkCupid, where you can scan through the profiles of every other user to find compatible matches on your own, with eHarmony you can only see the users the site selects for you.
In theory this means that each user you see is more likely to be a good potential partner. It also provides a certain ease of use because all you can really do is login each day to see who the site has chosen.
But in practice, it often means that you see the same people over and over again, while the majority of users remain hidden because the algorithm doesn’t think you’ll like each other.
eHarmony Age Range and Demographics
People Looking for Long-Term Relationships
At the risk of making sweeping generalizations, in my experience eHarmony is used more by people looking for a committed, long-term relationship than by people looking for a short-term fling.
While you increasingly hear stories about long-term relationships starting on apps like Tinder or Bumble, a lot of people tend to switch to eHarmony after using those apps for awhile.
In the United States and Canada (where I’m from), many people find that the free apps are better at connecting you with potential first-date prospects than they are at identifying potential long-term mates.
eHarmony specializes in being the opposite:
Its algorithm is supposed to identify people who you’re likely to be highly compatible with, which makes it more suited to long-term pairings—and attracts people looking for just that.
eHarmony Age Range
The other thing to note is that the eharmony age range is slightly older than some of the other apps.
Apps like Tinder, Bumble and Hinge are common with people in their early 20s, but eHarmony is more popular with people in their late 20s and above.
(My wife and I both started using it when we were 29—a story I’ll elaborate on below.)
There are probably two reasons why the average of eHarmony users skews older.
First, as noted above, it’s better suited for people looking for long-term relationships, which is aplace where many people find themselves intheir late 20s or early 30s.
After spending their early and mid-20s dating around, people tend to switch from dating apps to eHarmony when they want to “settle down.”
The other reason is because of the cost, which we’ll look atin much more detail below.
One of the reasons why apps like Tinder and Bumble are more popular among people in their early 20s is because they’re free.
This makes them a lot more attractive when you’re still at a stage in life where money is hard to come by, and annoying things like rent and food keep sucking your wallet dry.
SinceeHarmonycosts money, the people who are most likely to use it are the ones who have enough disposable income to afford it—which tends to mean people over the age of 25.
eHarmony Pluses:
Easy to Find Your Tribe
There are a lot of advantages toputting yourself at the mercy of eHarmony’s algorithm and letting the platform find some potentially compatible partners for you.
First, to borrow a metaphor from another dating site, eHarmony is probably thebest pond to fish in if you’re looking for a long-term relationship.
Because of all the factors covered above, eHarmony tends to self-select for people who are more mature, have more disposable income and are more interested in finding a partner for a long-term relationship than one for a short-term fling – and that’s before it starts looking into your personality traits.
So if you feel like you fall in any of those buckets—or want to meet people who do—then eHarmony will probably have a high success rate for you.
In addition, the fact that it’s a paid site means that people don’t bother spending the money to set up fake profiles, so there’s less fear of catfishing or people not being honest about who they are.
Match is also a paid service, so it has the same advantage.
Avoid Overwhelm and Decision Fatigue
Another advantage of eHarmony is that it helps you avoid the choice overload and decision fatigue often caused by other dating apps.
In theory, having the ability to scan through hundreds of even thousands of dating profiles soundspretty appealing.
But in practice, it quickly comes to feel more like a chore than anything.
It can make you feel fed up with whatever app you’re using, and less inclined to invest the time and energy required to scan through profiles and try to suss out the ones with similar interests.
Butwith eHarmony you can only see the profiles of the people its algorithm has matched you with,and it only revealsa handful of people to you at any one time.
By exchanging a higher quantity of people for (in theory) a higher quality, you not onlygainaccess to better potential matches, you also avoid the anxiety and annoyance that comes from spending hours scrolling through profiles and failing to findany diamonds in the rough.
eHarmony Minuses:
Only a FewMatches at a Time
In a perfect example of a glass-half-full/glass-half-empty scenario, the same feature I just listed as a plus above might be viewed as a minus to some.
Unlike other online dating services, eHarmony doesn’t provide a search results page that would allow you to see and scroll through everyone who’s on the platform.
Instead, it sends out a small handful of daily matches who, based on its algorithm, the system thinks you’ll be compatible with.
This can be great at first since it avoids the overwhelm problem noted above.
But over long periods of time it can become a bit frustrating if you feel like the personality test it put you through isn’t accurate, or the algorithm is being a little too rigid in its selection of who it sends you.
Match.com
Another paid site, Match basically splits the difference between OkCupid, which provides open access to all profiles, and eHarmony, which doles out matches based on its algorithm.
Like OkC, it allows you to see all users who have signed up, but like eHarmony it also makes a point of sending you users that it’s selected for you based on its own algorithm.
The result is a pretty happy middle ground that gives you the best of both worlds: the flexibility to see everyone, with the potentially time-saving recommendations provided by the algorithm.
Who’s on Match?
Match.com Age Range and Demographic Breakdown
Whereas eHarmony self-selects for people who tend to be older and more interested in serious relationships, Match caters to a pretty wide spectrum of people.
In terms of strict demographics, here’s how Match breaks down their membership:
- 25% are under age 30; 48.6% are ages 30-49; 26.5% are age 50+
- 74% have some college or college degree
- 67.5% non-smokers, 23.6% smokers, (8.9% did not answer)
- 46% do not have children, 23% have children who at least sometimes live at home, 21.6% have children away from home, (8.8% did not answer)
- The 50+ age group is Match.com’s fastest growing demographic
(I couldn’t find similar stats for eHarmony, but I suspect that the percentage of people on eHarmony under the age of 30 is even lower than 25%.)
What They’re Looking For
In terms of what people on Match are looking for, in my experience people on Match are somewhere in the middle of the dating spectrum.
They range from hookups and casual relationships on one end, to perfect life partner on the other.
Mobile apps like Tinder are where you go to find someone for a fun, casual fling, and eHarmony is where you go to find a more serious, committed relationship.
But Match is where you go when you’re somewhere in between the two and want to keep your options open.
Match.com Pluses:
Keep Your Options Open
That ability to straddle the fence between looking for something breezy and fun, and looking for something serious and long-term, makes Match one of the best online dating sites.
If you find yourself thinking that it might be nice to find a relationship that’s a little more serious or stable, but you don’t want to close the door to casual daters and fun short-term flings just yet, Match can be a one-stop shop that could potentially serve both purposes.
Combination of Algorithm and Openness
The other nice thing about Match is that it essentially splits the difference between OkCupid, which gives you total freedom to peruse the profiles of all its members, and eHarmony, which only shows you the matches that its algorithm churns out.
Based on the data you’ve entered in your profile, Match uses its own algorithm to identify people it thinks might be a good match for you, then sends you links to their profiles. But it doesn’t limit your ability to see other profiles.
As a result,you’re free to look around and message as much as you want, but the system will also make some recommendations that might help you direct your efforts.
Match.com Minuses:
I mean… I guess the name is a little on-the-nose?
Maybe this is my own personal bias coming into play, but personally I don’t see many downsides with Match.
The combination of an algorithm that suggests potential matches with the ability to peruse profiles and discern for yourself makes it one of the mostappealing and effective dating sites on the market, at least for my money.
And, yes, it will cost you a bit of money (read the section below on cost to find out how much).
But as I noted in my intro, oftentimes making the switch to a paid service is well worth the money since it gives you access to a pool of people who, byinvesting in a paid dating platform, have shown that they’re a little more serious about meeting someone great.
Anecdotal ButInteresting:
My Own eHarmony/Match Success Story
Before I goany further into theanalysis of eHarmony and Match, I just want to quickly explain my personal experience with both platforms, and reveal my bias.
I used both services pretty extensively, and it would be no exaggeration to say that, in my particular case, both platforms improved my life in ways I could never have imagined. Why?
Because I matched with my wife on both eHarmony and Match.
Yep, it’s true. Michelle and I were both using both services simultaneously, and both algorithms matched us together at around the same time.
I ended up messaging her through both services (once I found her, there was no way I was risking her not seeing my message), we agreed to meet up for our first date, and the rest is history.
That puts me in the unique position of having found an equal amount of romantic success using both platforms, which is why I consider them both to be two of the best dating sites you can choose.
I wouldn’t necessarily recommend signing up for both platforms, but if you can afford it, it sure can’t hurt.
In fact, it might be one of thebest things you ever do. It definitely was for me. (My wife’s still on the fence…)
So with that personal anecdote of the way, let’s take a look athow other people have assessed both Match and eHarmony’s value.
Reviews of eHarmony vs Match
What do other people say about each platform?
While I’ve had super positive experiences using both platforms,I’m under no illusions that what workedout really well for me (and, I would say, reasonably well for my wife) will work for everyone.
So let’s take a look at what a few of the top reviewing sites and aggregators have to say.
eHarmony Reviews
Over at DatingAdvice.com, eHarmony received a 4.7/5 rating from Editor-in-Chief Hayley Matthews.
“eharmony puts together comprehensive personality profiles to connect singles with eligible dates who have similar backgrounds, temperaments, and life goals,” Matthews writes. “On average, eharmony is responsible for 542 marriages a day in the US — or roughly 2% of all new marriages.”
Meanwhile, over on Mashable, writer Leah Stodart foregoes the star ranking and echoes my own personal experience with eHarmony.
In a review titled “A long, annoying sign-up process makes for a long, happy marriage,” she sums the site up perfectly:
“eharmony is no AdultFriendFinder, but they’re not Christian Mingle either,” she writes. “If you can ignore the slow pace, it’s where marriage-minded individuals can go to find people who take dating as seriously as they do — and where it’s okay to be a hopeless romantic.”
Match.com Reviews
Match seemed to fair better pretty much across the board.
Hayley atDatingAdvice.com gave it a 4.9 out of 5, noting that “Match has facilitated more first dates, relationships, and marriages than any other dating site in existence.”
She also highlighted Match’s “Reverse Match” feature, which shows you a list of users who are looking for someone like you, and “Mutual Match,” the list of people who are compatible with you (according to the almighty algorithm).
Writing from the (obviously) male perspective, the editors at AskMen.com had similarly high praise for Match, giving it an overall9.3/10 rating, including 9.5 ratings for “Quality of Members” and “Safety,” and a 9.0 rank for “Ease of Use.”
And finally, over at DatingNews.com (side note: I wish “dating news” had been a major back when I went to journalism school), writer Amber Brooks asks if Match.com is still a worthwhile dating site after nearly 25 years in existence, and concludes that in their case experience is an asset.
Giving Match a 4.9/5 ranking, Brooks writes, “You’ll see a lot of positive Match.com reviews out there, and that’s no accident.
As the longest-running dating site, Match has set the standard for online dating for decades, and its team knows a thing or two about matching up compatible singles.”
eHarmony vs Match Costs
How do they stack up in terms of price?
Now that we’ve compared their features,looked at who uses each platform and found out what other reviewers have to say about them, let’s get down to brass tacks: how much do these things cost?
eHarmonyCost
How much does eHarmony cost?
eHarmonyadvertises that it’s free to signup, and that’s true. You can sign up, complete the aforementioned questionnaire and gain access to your profile for free.
While you technically can gain access for free, there is—of course—a catch: you won’thave access to many of the site’s features unless you pay.
In particular, eHarmony will limit the number of messages you’re able to send, so even if you see the profile of someone who you think you might like to contact, you’ll have to pay for the privilege.
Their payment structure is tiered so that the more months you sign up for, the less you pay per month (but the more you pay overall).
eHarmony cost:
- 6-month plan for $29.90 a month
- 3-month plan for $29.95 a month
- 1-month plan for $59.95
It’s worth noting that theyalso offer a free 3-day trial period, but calling it “free” is a bit of a misnomer.
In truth, you have to sign up and pay for your preferred plan type, but if you decide to cancel within the first three days, they’ll give you a full refund.
The catch is that three days is hardly enough time to really test out the site, so unless you decide that you totally hate it for some reason, you’ll probably need to hang around longer—and forego the refund—beforedetermining whether or not it’s right for you.
Your Best Bet
If you’re not sure, sign up for the one month plan to start.
Sixty bucks mayseem expensive compared to the other monthly rates, but if after a month you find you don’t like the service or haven’t had time to explore it fully, you’ll be glad you’re not on the hook for two or five more months, andpotentially hundreds more dollars.
For a more in-depth look at eHarmony’s costs, check out the deep dive we put together that breaks down why eHarmony is so expensive compared to other online dating platforms.
Match Costs
How much is Match?
Like eHarmony, Match also offersthe chance to join for free and then upsells you after that, but their free offering provides a few more features.
Once you sign up, you can create your profile, browse other people’s profiles, send virtual “winks” (a quick means of saying hi without having to type out a message) and even send a few messages—but only a few.
From there, Match also offers a tiered pricing plan, but their per-month rates are better than eHarmony’s. If you just want to try it for a month, you’ll only have to pay $35.99, a pretty big discount compared to the $60 eHarmony charges.And it gets cheaper from there.
Match.com Cost:
- $23.99/month for 12 months
- $26.65/month for six months
- $31.99/month for three months
While Match’s 3-month plan is a couple bucks more than eHarmony’s, all of their other plans are cheaper, making Match the more affordable option overall.
Your Best Bet
Again, I’d recommend starting with a month and going from there. One month might not be enough to meet your soul mate, but it’s definitely enough to determine if this platform is worth investing more time and money into.
Plus, the one-month plan is only $36/month, while the three-month plan is $32/month—hardly the biggest difference.
So you can test the waters for a month at $36, and if you decide it’s not for you, youwon’t be out of pocket very much.
Plus, if you decide to stick around it gets cheaper from there, so your totalper-month cost will end up being even lower.
The Verdict: eHarmony or Match?
Which one should you choose?
As I confessed from the outset, I have a soft spot in my heart for botheHarmony and Match, since both led me to the right person.
Both dating websites off a number of advantages, including a more committed pool of potential matches than the free apps and the ability to do a video date before you meet IRL.
And on a more personal note, both led me to true love with the most amazing, beautiful woman I’ve ever met—and gave us a great “meet cute” story that we’ll be telling at co*cktail parties for the rest of our lives.
So, while there’s no clear winner for me, if I were forced to recommend just one of the two platforms, I would say go for Match.
By splitting the difference between free-for-all platforms like OkCupid and the algorithm-only approach of eHarmony, Match can essentially provide you with the best of both worlds, which is an important factor to consider.
(Plus, Match offers a 3-day free trial, so it’s a good choice if you want to try it for free before committing to a paid subscription.)
With that said, it obviously comes down to a personal choice on your part.
If this is not your first dating site and you’re ready to ditch the apps and find a committed, long-term relationship, then eHarmony may be the better option for you.
But whether you’re leaning toward Match or eHarmony, hopefully after reading all 3,000 words in this post (thanks for hanging in there, by the way), you now have enough information to decide which platform is best for you.
