Love
Author:
June 11, 2024
Relationship Coach
By Julie Nguyen
Relationship Coach
Julie Nguyen is a relationship coach, Enneagram educator, and former matchmaker based in New York. She has a degree in Communication and Public Relations from Purdue University.
Image by mbg Creative June 11, 2024 We carefully vet all products and services featured on mindbodygreen using our commerce guidelines. Our selections are never influenced by the commissions earned from our links. The original hubs of online dating, eharmony and Match use advanced algorithms based on in-depth quizzes and profiles to determine partner compatibility—and both have a reputation asthe best dating apps for serious relationships. But which of these dating sites reigns supreme in 2024? We reached out to dating experts and sites' spokespeople to get the full rundown on each, and we exhaustively tested both apps to help you determine which is the right option for you. Below, find our detailed comparison of eharmony vsn Match, including each dating app's cost, success rate, and the quality of the matches. For those who know exactly what they want,Matchhas a powerful filtering system and an expert in your pocket that can take your connections to the next level. If you like learning more about yourself, know exactly who you are, and want to match with people that take the same approach in dating, you'll likeeharmonybetter. Known for Serious relationships Main age demographic 30+ Available on IOS, Android App rating: 4.0/5.0 See all specs Clear out an afternoon to give yourself time to set up your eharmony profile. While it's lengthy, the site tries to make the involved process fun and informative as you work through a thought-provoking compatibility quiz to learn more about your boundaries, attitudes toward relationships, how you react to everyday scenarios, communication styles, and more. When you set up your bio on your page, take it as an opportunity to showcase yourself and what you're all about since you'll have plenty of room. The extra detail will pay off with more information for its AI to improve the algorithm for you later on. Once completed, eharmony leverages those same data points to match you with other users based on your answers and compatibility score. Image by mbg Creative The premium version of the site comes in varying bundle lengths: Depending on location, subscription type (the more months you purchase, the cheaper the monthly plan), and the features you want, you can pay anywhere between $12 and $60 per month. First-time subscribers can also save on their membership by using promo code MBG20. Be sure to cancel auto-renew for whatever plan you choose so it doesn't accidentally enroll you for another membership unless you choose to opt into it. FYI: We sought real insights from individuals who have navigated eharmony. Read our full review. Search around for deals, as eharmony offers discounts regularly. Although they price out their plans with monthly rates, you'll need to either pay for the entire subscription in one lump sum or in four monthly installments. Image by mbg creative Image by mbg creative Image by mbg creative About Website & app with detailed profiles and fastest-growing user base for seniors Available IOS, Android Main age demographic 50+ Known for Serious relationships See all specs Match doesn't require as heavy of a lift to set up your profile—although you shouldn't skimp on the details if you want to get right to the matches. As soon as you log on, you have the opportunity to fill out basic prompts to help filter out the wrong matches and filter in the right people. You can set your geographic preferences, body type, relationship aspirations, exercise habits, and alcohol/smoking habits. You also type out your interests and bio to summarize what you're all about, though the site makes it easy with built-in topics so you're not staring at a blinking cursor on a blank page. Then you can use their robust search engine to start matching people and "liking" potential dates. Image by mbg Creative Match has three standard plans and three premium plans (all of which come in three- to 12-month bundles) that you can purchase. Similar to eharmony, if you choose a higher monthly bundle length, the prices are lower. The plans can be paid in one go or through four installments. If you want to purchase the premium add-ons like read receipts, Match Phone, or allowing any user to respond to your messages, it can run between $2 and $10. FYI: Want more information? Read our comprehensive review of Match. Image by mbg CreativeNo time to scroll? Our verdict
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eharmony vs. Match: A comparison
Match | eharmony | |
---|---|---|
Description | Touted as the original dating site. Match includes various features for finding your perfect match. | eharmony is known for its compatibility matching system. Focuses on long-term relationships. |
Number of members | Roughly 75 million members | Roughly 45 million members |
Types of relationships | Casual dating/serious relationships/marriage | Emphasizes long-term relationships and marriage |
Cost | Varies based on subscription plan/starting from $19.99/month | Varies based on subscription plan/Starting from $25.90/month |
User age | Predominantly between 30-49 years old | Predominantly between 30-49 years old |
App Store rating | 3.8 | 4 |
Which app is more worth the cost: eharmony or Match?
Our verdict: Match
"When it comes to cost considerations, eharmony has a more extensive process of matching than Match, which in theory will connect users with more aligned matches," says Alyssa Dineen, a dating expert, author of The Art of Online Dating, and founder of Style My Profile.
"However, in most areas, Match is more widely used and therefore would have a better selection of potential dates, making it theoretically more worth the cost."
"As with all dating apps, the usage varies geographically, including usage by age," she tells mbg. "For example, within major cities, neither eharmony nor Match is widely used for people under 60. Even outside of metropolitan areas, in my experience, Match is more popular than eharmony."
As for which app is worth your buck, Dineen recommends choosing the dating service that works best for you and your unique situation.
Which dating site is better for people over 50: eharmony or Match?
Our verdict: eharmony
Ruiz and Phillips both recommend eharmony as the preferred dating site for people over 50, especially if you're looking for a serious relationship or to get hitched.
They agree the dating app is better dedicated to finding long-term partners, whereas Match can also feature people interested in casual dating.
For people over 50, it can also be harder to sort through bots and fake profiles, which are seemingly more prevalent on Match.
How do Match and eharmony compare to apps like Bumble?
If you're new to dating and want to try out free options before moving toward a paid model, apps like Bumble may be a great option to start with.
If you're interested in exploring polyamory or LGBTQ+ relationships, eharmony and Match may not hold a candle to apps like Bumble, OkCupid, and Hinge.
"Even though eharmony now has gay and lesbian users, it's not that inclusive of the whole of the LGBTQ community. This is partly because eharmony was originally started as a more 'traditional' pro-marriage dating site, founded by a Christian, and it's still very much thought of in that way," Dineen explains.
"By comparison, Match is more inclusive than eharmony of the LGBTQ community, but it's still not as inclusive as apps like Tinder and OkCupid or LGBTQ-specific apps like Her, Grindr, and Feeld," she says.
How to choose the right dating app for you
Although it's never been easier to be single and find matches, the trap of technology and having too many choices can also pose its own unique set of problems: Why is it so hard to get a conversation going? Why are first dates so freakin' awkward? And perhaps most pressingly, does the other person want to hook up or date seriously?
It's already tough putting yourself out there, and uncertain intentions and ambiguous expectations make it harder to swipe and keep the momentum going. To optimize success, it's important to recognize that, for every dating app out there, there's a different approach and demographic to lean into.
Some apps, such as Tinder and Feeld, lean into casual sex—so it's easier to form casual connections there. Other apps, such as Hinge, eharmony, and Match, are known for interesting profile prompts and a curated feed of high-compatibility matches—and this latter category generally translates to more serious daters.
“We tend to see more cisgender heterosexual singles use Match and eharmony,” certified sex and couples therapist Lee Phillips, LCSW, CST, tells mbg. “For people who would like to pursue a long-term relationship, people use both apps.”
FAQ
Which dating site has the highest success rate?
eharmony has one of the highest success rates of the dating apps on the market in 2023, with more long-term relationships, active users, and a strong algorithm working on your behalf.The dating app reports a new match is made every 14 minutes, and they claim to be responsible for 4% of marriages in the U.S.
Which dating site is better: eharmony or Match?
eharmony is often considered the better dating site, but by a thin margin. Hard work pays off. The dating service requires you to put in time, effort, and information for the AI algorithm to learn about you and set you up with viable matches, whereas you can get set up and start browsing profiles much more quickly with Match.
What is the average age for eharmony vs. Match?
Both eharmony and Match tend to be more popular among older daters and have users that are generally in their late 20s or above.Though for eharmony, over half of the users are in fact Gen Z and millennial. On Match, 19% of users are aged 18-29, 44% are aged 30 to 49, and 37% are 50 and up.
Do people still use eharmony and Match in 2024?
People still use eharmony and Match, but because the apps respectively require more detail and a financial investment to interact with the app fully, they aren’t as popular as free apps such as Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge. However, it’s good to give these sites a try if you aren’t having as much luck on the other platforms or if you’re looking for something very specific (age, religion, distance, children) and want to take advantage of being upfront about your preferences off the bat.
The takeaway
eharmony won't be for you if you want to swipe and go, while Match probably won't be your speed if you don't want to commit to putting in the time and effort to search for your matches. Times have changed, but eharmony and Match have been able to keep up with contemporary dating and connecting people with like-minded singles to nurture enduring relationships.
If you don't mind spending a little bit of money on your dating life, these dating apps are attractive options to widen your net to find your match.