EHARMONY.COM

There’s no sure thing when it comes to finding love, but some online dating sites claim to have found the magic formula.

In a world inundated by online options designed to complement every possible offline experience, the wide selection of possible dating apps available should come as no surprise to hopeful daters looking to find love.

Of course, this begs the eternal question of the digital age: when faced with so many options, which one is right for you?

Today, I’m talking about an online dating option that was one of the first to come on the scene — this is the eHarmony investigation.

Since its founding in 2000, eHarmony has created thousands of successful matches and is responsible for approximately 4% of marriages in the US.

But is this old-school dating site right for you? Keep reading and decide for yourself.

How Does eHarmony Work?

eHarmony is a dating site like many others, but what it holds over top competitors like Match.com and OkCupid is a patented dedication to the science of matchmaking.

This factor is evident from the hallmark of the eHarmony signup process: the personality profile.

Unlike most low-commitment sites where you create a generic profile and can immediately start swiping, eHarmony members are greeted with a lengthy compatibility quiz before their eHarmony profiles can even be finalized.

This feature is what’s known as the 29 Dimensions of Compatibility Quiz and is the basis of their relationship-building formula. The roughly 100-question survey also works as a deterrent for people who aren’t as interested in a serious relationship. This means that you can be sure that the people you find on eHarmony are exactly as committed to the process as you are!

Since it’s not possible to finish sign-up without finishing the assessment, I would recommend setting aside a generous amount of time to put thought and care into your answers.

The answers that you put for these questions will determine how much you are able to get out of the site because you want the Compatibility Score listed with each of your matches to be an accurate reflection of your true personalities.

An early mistake that new users often make is to be overly optimistic in their quiz answers. When asked a question like “Rate your emotional stability,” most people don’t want to admit whether they’re prone to react before thinking about a situation.

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These half-true answers can skew the functionality of the compatibility matching system. The way that eHarmony is designed, the goal is to find people compatible with even your worst features (and yes, these people do exist).

If you aren’t brutally honest with yourself in the questionnaire, you may find that your matches are more compatible with the person you imagined yourself to be instead of your true self.

No one wants that in a relationship, so I recommend taking the bitter medicine, asking for help from a friend that you trust to give honest answers, and carefully evaluating what has and has not worked for you in relationships in the past. This way, you can guarantee that you’re giving the service the best possible chance of success.

eHarmony Membership Cost

While the below table gives a very thorough summary of the pricing of various eHarmony subscriptions, I also want to take the time to talk through what these numbers mean, and what you’re getting with each level of the service.

eHarmony is on the pricier side of dating apps. This is not unreasonable, though, given the extent and quality of the service. To help mitigate this, they offer various pricing options to choose from depending on your financial situation.

Here’s how it breaks down:

As you can see, price is inversely correlated with the time commitment, meaning that the longer a duration you choose, the less you’re paying per month.

It is also worth mentioning that eHarmony’s premium plans are not tiered. That is, if you subscribe to any of the above plans, you get the same quality and level of service, the only difference is the length of the commitment (and the associated price).

eHarmony is so confident in its matchmaking ability that it has a 3-month satisfaction guarantee. This means that if you are not successful in finding a match in three months, you will get the next three months completely free of charge!

The eHarmony guarantee is an extra vote of confidence that this system really works. It also effectively cuts the price of the Premium Light plan in half if you aren’t immediately sold on the service.

There are sporadic special offers like free weekends (often around holidays) and various deals — like 50% off for the first month or three months.

It’s also worth mentioning that plans are not usually paid in monthly installments but in bulk sums of 1, 2, 3, or 4 payments per period. Keep that in mind when making your decision because it means that the number reflected on your credit card statement will likely be a bit larger than the quoted, per-month price.

You can also read more about eHarmony cost here.

Which eHarmony Subscription is Best?

The answer to this question really depends on your preference. If you’re ready to commit for as long as it takes and want to benefit from the lower per-month costs, go for Premium Extra. If you want to test the waters and get the highest return from the satisfaction guarantee, go Premium Light. A happy medium — and the most popular — is the twelve-month Premium Plus plan.

All Premium options will give you access to the same features, and you won’t be pestered by pesky in-app purchases after subscription, so the choice really comes down to which pay scale and time commitment feel most comfortable to you.

Quality of Matches

Price point, profiles, and matchmaking philosophy can be debated back and forth forever, but what really matters in a dating app is the quality of the matches made.

eHarmony has filed matchmaking down to a science. This was their winning quality in 2000, and it remains true today.

If you’re looking for a long-term relationship, love, and marriage, the developers of eHarmony are the experts. The matches they provide are truly unparalleled. While their system may not be reminiscent of Tinder or other fast-casual dating apps, that’s because their clientele expects more.

How does eHarmony fulfill its promise to create a new love match every 14 minutes? The answer is in the algorithm. With compatibility scoring backed by psychology and countless studies of successful relationships, you can trust that the algorithm knows what it’s doing.

The 29 Dimensions of Compatibility Test — that lengthy questionnaire that I mentioned earlier — that’s the basis of how the magic happens. Your results help eHarmony decide your compatibility with potential matches and guide you towards a successful relationship with the person you ultimately choose.

Rather than swiping right with just a picture, age, and bio to go off of, you get a personalized compatibility measure for every potential suitor, which covers fifteen different personality features that are demonstrated markers of relationship success.

Additionally, you can add other fun Q&A’s to your profile and read your match’s answers to such important philosophical quandaries as, “Do dogs go to heaven?” The more information and personality you convey through your profile, the more interesting you will come off to potential matches, and the more success you will have in connecting with new people.

In order to start you down the path of finding the one, eHarmony will send you daily individualized matches straight to your inbox, so that you can continuously meet new people you’re compatible with until you connect with your perfect match.

If you aren’t feeling the suggested “compatible” matches that eHarmony sent to you on a given day, you can view up to 30 additional matches with your premium subscription.

Finding options “outside of your suggested matches” doesn’t inherently mean that the additional people you find will be incompatible with you. Think “opposites attract” when you conceptualize this feature. The “opposites” you find will be different in a way that’s complementary — perfect for looking outside the box but avoiding dreaded red flags.

This additional search feature works very much like any other dating site, but with a little added eHarmony flair. This means that you can search generally or narrow down your results with filters, but each option you find will also have a compatibility breakdown for you to consider.

All-in-all, eHarmony has the process of creating relationships figured out. Yes, their process takes time, but if you’re looking for a winning, long-term commitment, chances are you’re willing to put in the time and effort.

If meaningful relationships have been difficult for you in the past, you might also benefit from eHarmony’s relationship and dating advice, accessible through both the app and their desktop website.

Those who commit themselves to the eHarmony process have been very happy with the results. This is evident through both the 3-month satisfaction guarantee mentioned earlier and the incredible gallery of success stories that you can read all about on their website.

The Interface & Usability

Although eHarmony is primarily a matchmaker, it is also an app and a website, so features and usability become an important component for users to consider as well.

I’ll break down the primary feature interface and rate its overall usability in two different sections. First up: interface.

Interface

eHarmony has quite a few notable features alongside many of the usual dating app suspects. However, for a site that prides itself on standing out from the crowd in terms of lasting commitments created, it also has some unique surprises for those that are used to a certain style of service.

Right off the bat, the 29 dimension personality test is a notable distinction. This is the first step towards letting the algorithm work for you. Once your compatibility measures are set and your profile is set up, you can begin browsing.

However, browsing matches on eHarmony is also unusual, to put it simply. Instead of searching through and filtering out a wide net of options, you are hand-delivered twelve new matches to your inbox every day. This lower number of matches is designed to ensure that you really consider all of your options. Sometimes the one turns out to be someone you never would have expected!

To start a conversation, you can reach out with Smiles, computer-generated Icebreakers, or your own personalized introductions. These different options allow for different comfort levels to have success, but ultimately they all serve the same purpose: letting people know you’re interested and taking the first step towards getting to know them.

After messaging back and forth in the app for a little while, you will get the option to start a Video Date. This popular feature was added to preserve the integrity of the first date experience, despite the necessary limitations of social distancing orders.

The Video Date option is not immediately available with a new match — the service wants you to get to know each other a little bit first. However, once you meet their interaction threshold, it’s a great way to test the waters without having to exchange contact information prematurely.

As you meet and interact with different people, you can mark favorites and access them in a separate tab next to your daily recommended matches.

Usability

Hand-in-hand with the interface of features comes its practical usability.

There are two main groups of people that the eHarmony website needs to appeal to in order to satisfy this criterion.

The first of these is today’s young adults, who grew up with technology and expect a certain level of sophistication and style from the websites they interact with.

eHarmony has a newly redesigned layout that’s consistent on both PC and mobile devices (IOS and Android) and formatted in a way that is reminiscent of other dating platforms, making it easily usable for tech-savvy millennials.

The second group consists of older users, who don’t have as much inherent tech know-how but still want the opportunity to find a successful match.

Luckily, eHarmony has none of the confusing additional options and notifications of other dating apps, meaning that the system is easy to learn, even for those who aren’t used to spending their free time on all manner of mobile apps.

If you’re unsure about how workable eHarmony will be for you, you can always set up a free account and test the layout for yourself!

Analysis

If you’re looking for a long-term commitment but haven’t had much luck with the dating scene recently, chances are you’re not about to rush headlong into a relationship without knowing it’s right for you.

eHarmony’s design is strategically tailored with your situation in mind. Their matchmaking and guided dating processes are slower than one might expect from competing platforms, but what eHarmony lacks in instant-gratification, it makes up for with a much higher chance of success.

Pros & Cons of eHarmony

Every service comes with its pros and cons, and eHarmony is no exception. If you’ve stayed with me this far, you likely already have a pretty good idea of what will and will not work for you on this dating site. In case you’re still unsure, I’ll summarize the main points here:

Pros:

Cons:

Conclusion: Is eHarmony Worth It?

Based on the features, philosophy, and success metrics described above, I have to say that eHarmony’s subscription really delivers on its promise.

It’s true that the price point is a little higher than a more general service, but if you’re committed to settling down with someone, the price can also work in your favor. Someone looking for a quick fling or a no-strings-attached relationship likely isn’t interested in forking over that monthly cost.

eHarmony is the premier service for dating with the intent to marry, and if that’s your goal, I can think of no better place to look.

At the end of the day, the factor that really convinces me, though, is the quality of the matchmaking service that you get for a very competitive price. All of the algorithms are fully tailored to finding you a compatible match.

The success stories speak for themselves, so if you want to start your adventure towards a lifetime of love and join their lofty ranks, look no further than a subscription to  eHarmony.com.

FAQs

If your research on eHarmony has left you with any more burning questions, this list touches on some of the most frequently asked questions and will hopefully include the answer you’re looking for!

Can you use eHarmony for free?

eHarmony does have a free service, although the features accessible are rather limited. You can only access suggested matches and send Smiles or a handful of preselected questions with a free account. You also cannot view profile photos or access any advanced communication features.

The free version is mostly designed as a demo that allows you to create a profile and test out the layout before committing to a subscription. It is worth noting that free weekend specials will allow you to test out the full array of features during select points in the year.

Does eHarmony work?

eHarmony has a high reputation for success. They boast responsibility for 4% of marriages in the US and make a new love connection every 14 minutes. They’ve made millions of matches over 20 years of business and are continually improving on their process.

If you want to be inspired by some of their success stories, check out their gallery!

Why is eHarmony so expensive?

eHarmony’s service delivers on what you pay for. As one of the best dating services for providing long-term commitments, their price tag is slightly higher than some of their competitors.

That said, a higher price point also keeps people who aren’t ready to make a long-term commitment away from the site, meaning that everyone you meet on eHarmony is as dedicated to finding love as you are.

Is it worth paying for eHarmony?

In my opinion, eHarmony is worth the price. It delivers on the promise you pay for, and if you aren’t satisfied within three months, you will get another three months free. That’s how confident they are in their process!

Can eHarmony be cancelled?

You can delete your eHarmony account entirely, or you can mute it for a while by making the profile invisible to others. However, if you are in the middle of a paid subscription, you may have to contact customer service to permanently delete your account.

Does eHarmony have fake profiles?

eHarmony does not have fake profiles. In order to access the full array of features, you have to have a paid, active account. Generally, the people on eHarmony are there because they are actively looking to start a relationship, so you have a pretty good chance of making a connection when you find a profile you like and reach out to the person to start a conversation.

Does eHarmony do background checks?

eHarmony doesn’t do background checks per se, but it does create matches based on your individual compatibility. This means that you are unlikely to match with someone with who you would feel unsafe with.

Further, eHarmony has a strict behavior policy, and if you are offended in any way by another user, you can report them to the administrators. Repeat offenders can be permanently blocked from the service, and you can also individually hide specific users that you yourself do not want to interact with.

What age group is eHarmony for?

eHarmony is really good for any adult age group. The majority of users are in the 25-34 age range, but younger and older age groups have seen and increased in representation in recent years.

Is eHarmony good for over 50 or seniors?

There are a sizeable number of people in age groups over 50. 55+ is one of the lower-represented groups, but given how many people use the service, you definitely still get a wide selection and a high chance for success within the lower-represented groups.

How reliable is eHarmony?

eHarmony is incredibly reliable in terms of the likelihood of obtaining a good match. They are so confident in their service that if you do not find a match in three months, you get the next three months free.

eHarmony is also consistent. While the site’s look has been updated and modernized, that same patented system that worked for 20 years is still in use. If you’re willing to sit back and let the system do what it’s best at, you’re very likely to find a successful match.

Is eHarmony a safe dating site?

eHarmony makes safety one of its highest priorities. The dating process is slowed down to be sure that you trust the person you are communicating with before you exchange phone numbers or any other personally identifying information.

Free users also cannot view profile pictures (they’re blurred out), so you can be sure that your privacy is protected.

Further, if you don’t trust anyone or simply don’t want to talk to them, you can hide their profile or report their actions to the administrators.

Is the LGBTQ community welcomed on eHarmony?

Since folding their companion site, Compatible Partners — which catered to gay and lesbian individuals — into their main site, eHarmony now allows all three options: straight, gay, or lesbian.

It is worth noting that you cannot select both options on one account, so individuals who identify as bisexual or any other gender or sexuality besides that binary might not have as many options as they would like.

That said, eHarmony is moving towards a more inclusive model, so I am hopeful that this aspect may be remedied in the future.