Honest eHarmony Review 2023: Everything You Need To Know
Online daters share a common struggle: finding the right platform for their search for romance. More often than not, there’s always that one catch that keeps us from using a dating site consistently.
Fake profiles. Expensive membership costs. Vague matchmaking systems.
A bummer for those who simply want to look for love.
Let us introduce you to eHarmony, the latest site on our radar. It gave us a couple of delightful surprises as we created this review.
Hint: Evidence-based dating technology. If you don’t know what that is, don’t worry. We didn’t even know it was possible before reviewing it.
eHarmony is an older, reputable dating site established in the 2000s. Even after two decades, the active user base and the number of successful daters say a lot about them from the get-go.
Intrigued yet?
Find out how they succeeded in the online dating world with this eHarmony review below.
eHarmony For Starters
The Good
- More than two decades of experience
- Big and active eHarmony dating pool
- Best for serious relationships and commitment
- Good male-to-female user ratio
- Good quality user interface
- Uses dating behavior data and research
- Detailed Match Preference filters are available
The Meh
- Requires an email address
- Useful features require payment
- Limited payment methods
- Long commitment period for membership plans
eHarmony Deals You’ll Get
- eHarmony offers three premium plan choices
- Light eHarmony worth $65.90 per month (6 months)
- Plus eHarmony worth $45.90 per month (12 months)
- Extra eHarmony worth $35.90 per month (24 months)
- Unrestricted messaging and photo viewing
- Use their distance function for matching
- Access to more detailed profiles
- Regular Flash Sales for up to 50% off
eHarmony review – Overall Rating: 4.5/5
eHarmony is absolutely one of the best dating sites out there, which is why we’re giving it a 4.5 out of 5.
While we wish they offered more free features and gender selections, and had monthly payment plans, they definitely make up for it with their tried and tested matchmaking technology and unmatched Personality Profiles.
What stood out was the Compatibility and Matchmaking Quiz, which pulled us in within a few seconds of creating our free account. The quiz interface reflects just how much work these guys put in to create detailed profiles for each user.
And they show exactly that through their Press and Research reports.
No wonder millions have started lasting love stories on this site. Here’s how you can too.
Zooming Into eHarmony 
Making Your Profile
eHarmony markets itself pretty well the moment you arrive on its homepage. Below the sign-up prompt and a few high-definition photos of happy couples, you see statements that may just persuade you to put your full trust in the site for your romantic venture.
And these aren’t just empty promotions. They provide proof of their success in the online dating world through surveys and user data.
Hence, evidence-based online dating.
The first step is to determine who you are and what you’re looking for. And, of course, your email and your password. Very basic stuff for veteran online daters. As an alternative, users can sign up with their Facebook accounts.
We wished there were more gender preferences available for selection on the first step of signups for more inclusivity. We imagine the current choices could send away a number of potential users if they do not identify with any of the two options given.
Many sites offer more comprehensive lists that can be applicable to non-binary and queer folks.
We’re not going to lie; we expected the signup process to take longer. But after clicking the Join eHarmony Now button, the famous eHarmony Compatibility Quiz already welcomed us. But we’ll get into the nitty and gritty of this later.
For now, let us tell you about eHarmony’s premium plans just so you know what to expect before sitting down and detailing your own personality profile.
Available Membership Plans
eHarmony offers its members three kinds of premium plans: the Light, the Plus, and the Extra. While all three offer the same membership features, they vary in the period of time you can use them for: 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively.
We know what you’re thinking. “No monthly plan?” We even see your narrowed eyes through the screen. But don’t click exit on this review just yet. Read on to know why a 6-month plan is worth the risk.
Don’t get us wrong. A free eHarmony account is still available. But after purchasing the Light plan for the purpose of this review, we definitely felt a palpable difference between the free and paid use of the site.
And we dare say we’re never turning back.
Unfortunately, free users can’t use the unlimited messaging and photo viewing functions. But you can still get matched, browse through profile information, and send Smiles and Likes before any payment needs to be made.
With a premium account, however, you can enjoy unlimited messaging, distance search, viewing detailed profiles, and unlimited matches, among other premium features.
And if you’re a curious cat (and for a bit of a confidence boost, of course), you can also access a list of the people who have viewed your profile.
We went for the 6-month at the original rate of the premium plan to start with. But eHarmony usually releases flash sales to get up to 50% discounts on their premium plans.
You better keep your eyes peeled for those extra savings.
Once you’ve decided for how long you want access to eHarmony’s premium features, you can start matching and mingling with your heart’s desire.
Finding Your Match at eHarmony
eHarmony’s Compatibility Matching System is one of the most thorough dating tests we’ve encountered in a while. Heck, it’s one of the most thorough tests, period.
Frankly, we’ve never had a dating app ask us which of two images made us feel more at ‘ease’ and then show us two pictures of squiggly lines in varying patterns.
But it’s fun and (we assume) useful, so we’re not going to comment negatively on that at all.
Before any question is shown to a new user, eHarmony advises you to take about 20 minutes to answer the test without overthinking.
After all, the best answers are the ones made spontaneously.
General categories of questions include relationship arrangements, preferences and interests, image selection, habits and outlooks, and some final questions. Except for the final personal information questions, the entire quiz consists of multiple-choice questions.
And the choices are capital E extensive.
After every few items, updates are given about how much of the quiz you have finished (15%, 40%, etc.). So it’s not going to be a monotonous quiz experience.
Trust us; some of these questions will get you thinking.
If you like taking those quizzes that tell you what kind of fruit you are or what movie represents you, you’ll definitely find it easy to speed through eHarmony’s compatibility quiz.
What made the experience even more interesting were the questions that gave us no inkling of how they were going to help with the matching process.
But hey, we’re not the data experts here.
And in general, the quiz actually helped us get to know ourselves better on a deeper level. Nothing improves the eHarmony dating site experience more than having a good grasp of your sense of self.
After completing the quiz, expect a few more personal information to be asked of you before being led to your official homepage. Find the Upgrade to Premium button, pay for your premium membership, and match away.
Note that they have limited payment options at the moment, so have a credit card ready if you plan to start your Premium plan today.
Profile Matching Features
Like most dating sites, you’ll gain better matches by completing your eHarmony dating profile. Almost no one sends a message to a blank profile. And almost everyone sends a message to a charmingly detailed one.
So eHarmony advises all users to upload photos and complete their profile information before proceeding.
Little reminders like this are scattered throughout the site, letting us know just how committed eHarmony is to providing its users with the best matches possible. And, of course, no fake profiles and catfishes.
We’ve had enough of those on other dating sites. No shade intended.
The user interface after the Compatibility Quiz somehow reminded us of social media website designs way back in the early 2010s.
But navigation is a breeze, and everything is easy to find. Maybe we wish there were a few more graphics and pops of color, but we take it they’re going for a simple and clean aesthetic.
We were itching to know just how well the Compatibility Quiz did to narrow down our matches, so after completing the profile information, we went to the Matches tab and scrolled right away.
At first glance, you’ll see a grid of your matches’ photos, names, ages, occupations, locations, and the number of likes they’ve received. It’s quite sufficient if you’re a visual online dater. But most of us want a little more detail.
Clicking on the individual profiles gave us just that. Detail.
If you’ve tried dating apps like Bumble or Tinder, you’ll know how attractive a match could get just from their self-written short biographies and linked Spotify playlists. Well, eHarmony is no different.
You’ll see small details about their ideal first date, taste in music, hobbies, and so on littered between more of their pictures within just a few scrolls.
We found out one of our matches would love to travel with potential matches to try Asian and Italian food just a few seconds after opening their profile. The conversation starters were just under our noses.
Introverts, eHarmony has got your back.
Of course, you don’t have to send a message right away. Send your matches a Smile or a like, add them to your Favorites list, and come back later to assess your choices. But if you’re feeling bold and brave, sending cute little greetings won’t hurt.
If you hate to waste your time on inactive profiles, you’ll also see when your Match last logged in just beside their profile picture. God knows, if the last time they logged in was a month or two ago, a reply wouldn’t be likely. And you’re better off trying your other matches.
Do note that most people on eHarmony are on the search for long-term, committed, and stable relationships. So if, at this point in your life, you’re simply up for a good hookup, try other dating apps, as eHarmony may not be the place for you. Yet.
Additional Features
Additional features that caught our eye were definitely the Match Preference filters, the Dating Advice tab, and the Success Stories tab.
Matches are listed on the Matches tab at random if you’re a new user. But eHarmony gives you the choice to narrow them down further through the Match Preferences filter on the upper right-hand corner of the tab.
These filters are more limited for free users. But members with premium plans can use the categories like religion, ethnicity, income, education, and distance, the latter increasing the chance you’ll find someone just a stone’s throw away from you.
With the size of eHarmony’s user base, it’s definitely not unlikely.
The Dating Advice tab is filled with countless dating, sex, and relationship articles geared toward users with any kind of dating site experience. Even the most experienced dater could use a new flirting tip or two.
Here’s a helpful little piece of advice we got from one of their new articles on emotional attraction: “Take time to consider your feelings, and when you are ready to date, try eHarmony.”
A superb reminder. Never date when you are not emotionally ready!
Meanwhile, the Success Stories tab is to showcase those who have made it to the other side of the dating pool with the help of eHarmony. These are the people who are enjoying what eHarmony has promised: true love.
If you’re in need of a little motivation and a reason not to stop using dating apps, this tab is for you.
The eHarmony Mobile Dating App
Good news! The eHarmony app is available on Android and iOS for those who want quick and easy access to match profiles and messaging on the go.
Just like the desktop site, you can expect the eHarmony dating app interface that’s clean and easy to navigate.
We’re going to be honest. For the few weeks we used eHarmony, we were on the mobile app 80% of the time. It’s just easier and more accessible to us as working professionals. And we’re sure that’s how it’s going to be for most of you readers as well.
It’s great that you’ll never have to wait until you get to your computer before you can continue that amazing conversation with your new and dreamy match. Remember, keeping up the momentum is key at the start of a new relationship, especially on dating apps.
Find the eHarmony dating app on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and install it to add eHarmony to your daily browsing routine on the train, at lunch, or anywhere else you may be.
The Standout Quality of eHarmony
Have you ever experienced getting turned on by someone’s intelligence? Weirdly, that’s how we felt about eHarmony’s extensive dating research.
We’ve never seen any past dating sites put this much dedication into quantifying and analyzing user data to make matchmaking more successful and satisfying for online daters. And because of this, we believe eHarmony is the cool nerd of the online dating community.
Don’t believe us? See it for yourself on eHarmony’s Press and Research tab.
Yes, they dedicated a whole, publicly accessible tab for annual dating trends reports and more. You can explore topics like love, generational differences, money and consumerism, happiness, and how they affect dating in these countless articles.
It’s no wonder many award-giving bodies have given eHarmony recognition for being a trusted dating app. After all, the data never lies.
If you want to geek out in between chats with your matches, just have a go at these articles and learn a thing or two about the dating landscape from a bigger perspective. There’s some interesting stuff right there.
For example, did you know that personal growth work makes you statistically more attractive to others? By a whopping 73%!
How Does eHarmony Compare to Other Dating Sites?
Within the more than two decades that eHarmony has been around, a lot of alternatives have sprung up from all over the world. We’ll briefly describe how some of them match up to eHarmony in terms of dating success, demographics, cost, and general experience.
Zoosk – Men’s Choice Hookup Site
Pros
- More than a decade of experience
- Younger demographic
- Safe space for kinky dating
- Modern interface
Cons
- High-cost membership
- Imbalanced gender ratio
Like eHarmony, Zoosk also has significant years of experience under its belt, making it a worthy competitor. Its claim to fame is the energetic and carefree environment that encourages its users to explore their sexual horizons.
Compared to the eHarmony website, which is geared towards more serious and committed relationships and has a more balanced gender ratio, Zoosk’s demographic consists of users who are looking for casual dating, hookups, friends with benefits, or one-night stands. They are also more geared towards straight men due to the high number of female users.
At a price of $29.95 per month, lower than the eHarmony cost or monthly charge but still relatively more expensive than other dating apps, users can enjoy a youthful crowd of daters who are not afraid to embrace their kinks. Read our full Zoosk review and >>Discover Zoosk dating today
Seeking – For Luxury Dates
Pros
- Best for luxurious dating
- Conducts background checks
- Smooth mobile application
Cons
- Not for long-term relationships
- Can be quite superficial
Although eHarmony is open to daters of any age and social status, it doesn’t necessarily cater to those who are into luxury dating. Seeking is a dating app that was created especially for that reason.
Users on Seeking are categorized either as Successful or Attractive for the purpose of matching.
Messaging on the app is free for women, but premium plans start at as low as $15 monthly for both men and women, for features such as gift-sending features and ad-free use.
Both eHarmony and Seeking boast of little to no fake profiles. Those who are looking for mutually beneficial flings, casual dating, and hookups can use Seeking safely as they do background checks on potential matches and verify them to confirm their legitimacy. >>Start luxury dating on Seeking
FriendFinder – Platonic and Romantic Dating Site
Pros
- For wholesome relationships
- Offers live streams
- Affordable dating site
- Similar to Facebook
Cons
- Many fake profiles
- Not everyone is here to date
- Can’t message other users for free
Friend Finder is not strictly a dating site, as its name suggests. But many people use it to find long-term relationships. While eHarmony is mostly used for dating alone, it’s similar to Friend Finder in this aspect.
Some have said that Friend Finder functions similarly to Facebook, with social media features like live streaming available on the site.
However, unrestricted access to most of these features requires a premium payment that starts at $34.94 monthly, which is around the same as the eHarmony cost.
Compared to the sites mentioned above, Friend Finder can have several fake profiles due to limited moderation. Keep your guard up for suspicious profiles looking to trick you if you decide to use this site.
>>Find friends or more right now
EliteSingles – Rich Dater’s Paradise
Pros
- For all types of relationships
- Supports long-term relationships
- Good male-to-female ratio
- Successful users
Cons
- Mostly used for sugar dating
- Premium account only
Elite Singles was created by established dating site creators to make dating easier for some of the world’s most successful singles. Their users are mostly professionals of higher social status in their 30s, looking for stable and committed relationships with like-minded people.
Because of this, many people use this as one of their go-to sugar dating sites.
Unlike eHarmony, which allows use with a free version or basic account, Elite Singles require a premium payment for access to any of its dating features. But matchmaking is pretty similar across both sites, with detailed questionnaires used to create the best matches.
The monthly premium on Elite Singles starts at $59.95.
eHarmony Review: FAQs
Can I use eHarmony for free?
Yes, eHarmony can be used for free. However, those who opt for the free version or basic membership can only enjoy limited features like matching, messaging, profile viewing, and sending Smiles and Likes.
To unlock unlimited messaging, users would have to avail of the 6, 12, or 12-month premium plans that start at $65.90 per month. Payments can be made with most credit cards.
Will I find matches to date in eHarmony?
Yes, you can find matches to date on eHarmony if you’re looking for long-term and committed relationships, which is what most users here are looking for. You can either use their desktop site or download the mobile application for on-the-go use.
How do I match with people in eHarmony?
To match with people on eHarmony, a new user would first have to answer the 20-minute Compatibility Quiz prepared by the site. This creates their Personality Profile and is used to determine compatibility quiz points with other users.
After that, a user can scroll through their matches, view profiles, send likes, or message their potential matches.
How much does eHarmony cost?
eHarmony subscriptions are available in three premium plan choices, ranging from $35.90 to $65.90 monthly.
The Light eHarmony plan is worth $65.90 per month for 6 months. The Plus eHarmony plan is worth $45.90 per month for 12 months, while the Extra eHarmony plan is worth $35.90 per month for 24 months.
Is eHarmony safe?
Yes, eHarmony is safe. Part of their customer support services is making sure their users are safe from fake profiles and scammers that could spoil the online dating experience. Also, millions of people have sworn by eHarmony as a trusted site to match and meet real-life partners.
What dating site is similar to eHarmony?
A dating site similar to the eHarmony dating app would be Elite Singles. It may be considered the rich man’s eHarmony. They are similar due to the extensive quizzes they offer to new users as a way to improve the matchmaking algorithm. However, the latter requires a premium account for any use.
What is the best online dating site in 2023?
The best online dating site in 2023 for people looking for tried-and-tested online dating technologies and long-term relationships is eHarmony.
They have been in the online space for more than two decades and continue to develop evidence-based approaches to online dating, making it an ideal site for people looking for serious relationships.
eHarmony Review: Our Final Say
After a few weeks of using eHarmony, we can confidently say that this site deserves a top spot in the online dating space, even after more than two decades in the industry.
It was definitely a thrilling experience overall, and one of our favorite parts was seeing the compatibility scores for each of our matches.
There are definitely points for improvement, such as their gender inclusivity and payment plans, but eHarmony still does what it promises: find its users the best matches to date. We attribute this to the extensive research they poured into the Compatibility Matchmaking Quiz.
Truly groundbreaking and exciting stuff.
If, like many singles out there, you’re on the lookout for something long-lasting, stable, and committed, the eHarmony app might just have the thing for you.
Who knows? You might just be the next headliner of their eHarmony dating site Success Stories.
