Interested in online dating, but unsure about which site to sign in to? LoveBondings gives a detailed comparison between the two pioneered dating sites, eHarmony and Match.com.
Of all the people who got married in the United States in 2012, 1 out of every 5 met online!
Who doesn’t want to find a mate at some point in their life? Being single has its own set of benefits. You have all the space in the world. You can do whatever you wish to, and you have your dating options open until you find the right person.
- But look at the other side―having someone for cherishing beautiful moments, or finding a person that you can face life’s harsh times with, is really a great thing to have.
- Gone are the days where Aunts would find a perfect match for us all. In this world of technology and networking, a lot of folks have gone the digital route instead of the bar route, and they spend their time surfing the web, finding dating site profiles.
- Online dating has become easier than ever, but it also has its set of challenges: deciding which website to use, one that is trustworthy and actually effective!
We did a eHarmony vs. Match.com analysis to help you decide.
| eHarmony | Match.com |
| Background | |
| Dr. Neil Warren, who is the founder of this site, says that eHarmony is the first dating site to match people using a scientific approach. | Match.com said that it initiated the dating site industry, which is a little strange, considering the fact that many people were not very active on the Internet in the mid-90s. |
| It started in the year 2000 with the goal of creating long-term, meaningful relationships for singles. | They started with the goal of helping singles find romantic relationships in 1995. |
| Currently, they offer service to the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the U.K. and have around 20 million members. | Match.com service is available in 24 different countries and 15 languages. Match claims to have around 30 million members worldwide. |
| How It Works | |
| The site asks every user to fill in a very long, detailed questionnaire. These questions are the result of over 35 years of clinical psychology experience plus a further three years of research and development, formulated for each new country of operation in order to ensure the best possible matches according to the culture and people that will be using the site. | Life on Match.com revolves around people’s one-page profile―the most basic form with primary details to be filled. They have the two most important parts of each profile: the photos and various free writing sections like About me and Whom I am looking for. |
| The site offers you a “guided communication” process, after you’ve signed in. It includes sending answers to your potential match, to eHarmony’s pre-written questions,revealing each other their lists of must haves and can’t stands, and getting advice from eHarmony’s founder, based on your personality profiles. | Profiles can include some 25 photos, with additional advantages involving the person they’re searching for. Members can instantly see photos and read about potential matches in their area, on a mouse click. |
| After your profile is up, you can start browsing yourself, or wait to be found by potential suitors. Match.com has a search based on obvious criteria, i.e., age and location. | |
| The Search Option | |
| It doesn’t have a regular search. There’s not much browsing to do. You will have very limited options for browsing other profiles, comparing, choosing, or picking out the favorites. eHarmony actually does all that for you, based on what you said in your personality test and profile, which is why it is crucial to answer those questions honestly (but not as if answering a test!) to reflect your inner side out. | Match, on the other hand, has an extensive search feature. It is easy to use and has loads of options where you can either narrow down your search to very specific details, or just do a quick search by seeing who’s nearest to you and when they were last online. |
| It is great for that surprise element to see who’s going to turn up in your matches list each day. Matches that are carefully been chosen and picked for you. | You also have the option for saving your search criteria, and thus, keep performing the same search every time you feel like it. You can remove profiles from the search results that you don’t consider to be useful for you, etc. |
| Who Uses It/Level of Seriousness | |
| eHarmony users on an average, are found to be a bit older, or those who are serious about relationships and interested in long-term affairs or marriage. | This site is most popular among people wanting to exclusively date, or flirt, but not falling in some serious stuff and getting married. |
| Currently, eHarmony is only for heterosexuals. The founder launched a separate same-sex dating site called Compatible Partners, but it isn’t as popular as eHarmony and lacks flexibility. | You’ll find straight, lesbians and gay, old and young, those in search of true love, and those looking for a fling. |
| Additional Features | |
| There are several little features that aid you in contacting your match, which include an icebreaker question, eHarmony mailing system, makes or breaks, and digging deeper. | Pretty basic when it ease of communication. There’swinking; which lets the other person know that you like what you see. Then, there are others like who viewed me, who favorited me, and muchTalk. |
| Subscription and Cost | |
| Nothing worthwhile comes for free is what eHarmony believes in! It lets you take a tour before signing up. | Match lets you join for free, where you’ll be able to create a profile, post pictures, carry on searches, and send and receive winks. |
| They call it gift memberships: $18.65/month for 12 months, $29.95/month for 6 months, and $39.95/month for 3 months. | Match offers subscriptions of $23.99/month for 3 months and $17.99/mo for 12 months. It is US$35 per month if you go for a month-by-month plan. |
| *Note: Prices may change over time. Do check official websites for the updated information. | |
| Privacy | |
| eHarmony is more secure, and has a higher degree of privacy. The only people who see your profile are the members who you have been matched up with, and the subscribers can see photos. | It is less secure. Your profile is visible to everyone if it’s public. Even non-members will be able to find your profile in the search results. It gives you the option to hide your profile, but then no one will be able to find you. |
| Downsides | |
| Not being allowed to search for matches on your own can mean you’ll have to wait a while before viewing a profile that sparks your interest. Moreover, if you’re interested in a same-sex pairing, you can forget about that here; heterosexuals only! | The fact that members can contact any member they wish may lead you to receive attention from people who don’t match your desired criteria at all. |
| The Verdict! | |
| If you are looking for a serious relationship, and you find it a little difficult to strike up a conversation, then eHarmony is the right place for you. | If, on the other hand, you belong to the straightforward and explorer type, and are looking for a lot of search options, choose Match. |
If you’re still unsure, we suggest you to sign up to either (or both) of them and get a feel for yourself. If you are reading this post, we presume you are single and nervous (likely) about entering the world of online dating. To which we say, Go for it! Whichever site you choose, we wish you the best of luck. Have fun, and happy dating!
