PROS
- Robust privacy and security features
- Thorough profile-building process
- No in-app transactions
- Video dating
CONS
- Expensive
- Basic features locked behind paywall
- Sign-up survey can be daunting
| EHARMONY SPECS | |
|---|---|
| Video Calls | √ |
| Desktop App | √ |
| Starting Price | $59.90 per month |
| Mobile App | √ |
| Free Account Offered | √ |
Eharmony is a well-known dating app that has been in the industry for a long time. The company faced a lawsuit in 2005 for not making its services available to same-sex couples. To accommodate the LGBT market, eharmony launched a separate service called Compatible Partners. In late 2019, the company integrated the LGBT dating options into its main service. Eharmony matches its members based on a comprehensive personality quiz and detailed profiles. While communication with other members requires a paid subscription, the app does not use gimmicky in-app purchases.
Match is our Editors’ Choice for finding longer-term relationships. Although it may not be as thorough in assessing personality, it has measures in place to filter out casual browsers. Additionally, it provides a more user-friendly interface and excellent filtering options. For young mobile users seeking love, Tinder is our other Editors’ Choice. Nevertheless, eharmony is a viable alternative for individuals seeking meaningful, long-term connections.
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Getting Started
To begin using eharmony, you can create your profile on the web or through the iOS and Android apps. Our team tested eharmony on all available platforms and found that the sign-up process and user experience were consistent across each one.
Once you provide your name, email, and location information, and indicate how you heard about eharmony, you can begin setting up your profile. The registration process then presents a series of questions. Initially, eharmony asks about the number of children you have, followed by your age and religious affiliation. However, the website does not offer agnostic or atheist as options and instead requires you to select “Neither Religious nor Spiritual”.
eharmony now provides same-sex dating options, allowing users to specify their gender preference on the initial sign-up screen. Men can now search for other men, while women can search for women. Although more contemporary dating apps like Hinge and OkCupid offer a broader range of gender identities, eharmony’s inclusion of same-sex dating is a step in the right direction, especially given the company’s history. Users who previously had an account on Compatible Partners can also transfer their data to eharmony.
After completing the initial questions about personal information, users are prompted to answer open-ended essay questions, such as “What are your passions?” or “What activities do you enjoy during your free time?” Another question prompts users to list three things they are thankful for. eharmony requires that users provide a response for each question before allowing them to proceed to the next step of the profile setup.
After completing the essay questions, users are prompted to specify their preferences for potential matches based primarily on age and location. Users have the option to search for potential matches in any country worldwide. The next step is the Compatibility Quiz, which is an extensive questionnaire consisting of over 100 questions. The questionnaire includes a spectrum of answers, similar to a focus group questionnaire. It includes multiple questions about the importance of monogamy and religious beliefs, as well as a series of questions reminiscent of the Myers-Briggs personality test. Users can expect to provide immediate responses to questions such as which shapes they find most appealing, among others.
Upon completion of the quiz, you will need to upload a profile photo, after which you can start using the app. The entire process of setting up a profile on eharmony is more extensive compared to other dating apps. For instance, Tinder, which is focused on casual hookups, only requires basic information before allowing you to browse. Match, on the other hand, closely examines your profile before it can be published, making it the closest competitor to eharmony in terms of thoroughness. The added effort required to build a profile on eharmony may be appreciated by users, as it enhances investment in the process, ultimately increasing the chances of finding a compatible match.
Interface and Profiles
Once you finish the survey, you can proceed to find your matches, but not without eharmony asking you to sign up for a monthly plan. Although you can opt out and browse for free, the free version is more like a demo and lacks much functionality.
Free users are limited to viewing only the most compatible members selected by the app. To access a wider range of matches, you must subscribe. The free version also restricts users to “favoriting” profiles, sending “Icebreaker” multiple-choice questions, and viewing mutual favorites. To communicate with anyone, you must pay for a subscription, which the app prompts you to do when you reach the limit.
The Matches section offers a few compatible users every day. The company limits the number of profiles to focus more on each one. However, without a subscription, you cannot even see the faces of your matches. This is one of the most restrictive free dating app experiences available, making it a great security feature for those concerned about members knowing too much too soon. Bumble is another excellent dating app that prioritizes security by not allowing men to contact women unless they have already expressed interest.
Profiles display users’ basic information such as name, age, height, and ethnicity. Tabs allow viewing of their photos and Q&A. The app also shows your compatibility in various areas as percentages, including Romance, Emotional Intimacy, and Social Values. This feature sets the app up to avoid political arguments with potential matches.
Premium Features
To truly take advantage of eharmony, a subscription is required. There are three membership tiers: Premium Lite, Premium Plus, and Premium Extra. Each plan requires a progressively longer commitment, but the monthly price decreases accordingly. Premium Lite is priced at $59.90 per month for a six-month plan, Premium Plus costs $35.90 per month for a one-year plan, and Premium Extra costs $25.90 per month for a two-year plan. The only difference between the tiers is the length of the subscription and the subsequent discount.
Premium members have access to basic features typical of dating apps, including unlimited viewing of photos, unlimited messaging, and the ability to access more matches and see who has viewed their profile. While limited messaging options for free users is common among dating apps, many of eharmony’s other premium options are standard features on other services. For instance, search results on other dating apps are not as restricted, and apps like OKCupid allow free messaging without subscribing. Additionally, no other app is as restrictive as eharmony in terms of un-blurred photos. Unfortunately, regardless of how much you pay or which plan you subscribe to, you cannot opt-out of being served ads.
While eharmony is generally more expensive than most other dating apps, it does not charge for additional microtransactions, such as Boosts, Super Likes, Tokens, Coins, or other forms of paid features that most other dating services offer.
How to Go on a Virtual Date During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a surge in demand for online dating platforms. People are seeking social connections, despite being confined to their homes. In response to this, many dating apps including eharmony are now offering more virtual dating options. With eharmony’s Video Date feature, Premium users can initiate a video call either through messages or directly on a match’s profile.
Other dating apps such as Bumble, Match, and Plenty of Fish also offer virtual dating features, including video chat. During the quarantine, Tinder even allows users to match with people who are too far away to meet in person. Hinge allows matches to set up a video date, albeit on a different app. Facebook’s Tuned app for quarantined couples also pairs well with Facebook dating.
Working for Love
Joining eharmony requires filling out an extensive and time-consuming survey and paying for access. However, once inside, the app serves connections based on values and other quantitative data, which is different from the photo-heavy Tinder. Although it may not be as user-friendly and inclusive as our Editors’ Choice, Match, eharmony is a worthy alternative for those searching for “the one” with its good-hearted and well-intentioned desire to help people find their ideal mate.
PROS
- Robust privacy and security features
- Thorough profile-building process
- No in-app transactions
- Video dating
CONS
- Expensive
- Basic features locked behind paywall
- Sign-up survey can be daunting
CONCLUSION
Eharmony, a dating app that emphasizes data over visual content, offers a dependable albeit expensive option for individuals seeking committed relationships.