In-depth, Independent Research
Online dating is more efficient, convenient, and cost-effective than meeting people in bars. Instead of wasting time meeting people who aren't right for you, you can browse though a large database of matches and narrow your options via email and instant messages before you commit to meeting in person. Some online dating services cater to a very specific niche, while others offer something for everyone. We've reviewed some of the most popular services, with the largest user bases. A large user base means more potential matches for you, which increases your chances of finding that special someone, even if you are searching for a match with a particular set of qualities. But each online dating service is different, so it's important to consider your needs and goals when deciding which is best for you. If you have more questions about online dating services, visit our FAQ.
Credit Card Reviews & Prices
Updated 04-03-2013
| Service Name: | Cost/Month: | User Base*: | Matching Method: | Features: | Bottom Line: | Rating: |
 | $13.33/month See All Discounts | 14+ million singles; 56% 44% | Relationship Seekers | Automated matching based on personality test; no searching |
| Our Rating: Read Review Sign Up |
 | $13.59/month See All Discounts | 20+ million singles; 51% 49% | Casual & Serious Daters | Search by age & location; custom search; keyword search |
| Our Rating: Read ReviewSign Up |
 | $23.96/mo See All Discounts | 20+ million singles; 57% 43% | Relationship Seekers | Automated matching based on personality test; no searching |
| Our Rating: Read Review Sign Up |
 | Free standard membership; $12.49/mo for 6-month subscription See All Discounts | 40+ million singles; N/A N/A | Casual & Serious Daters | Zoosk's Scientific Matchmaking Service sends you matches to anonymously vote up or down |
| Our Rating: Read ReviewSign Up |
 | $16.63/month See All Discounts | 11 million singles; 55% 45% | Relationship Seekers | Matches suggested based on personality test; search by age & location; custom search; keyword search |
| Our Rating: Read Review Sign Up |
 | Gold: $11.99 Silver: $10.99 | 1.5+ million singles; 47% 53% | Casual & Serious Daters | Search filter called "Cupid"; Myers-Briggs personality testing; astrological compatibility |
| Our Rating: Read ReviewSign Up |
 | 100% free for all new members and signups in the U.S. See All Discounts | 2 million singles; 40% 60% | Casual daters | Search by age & location; custom search |
| Our Rating: Read ReviewSign Up |
 | $9.99/month See All Discounts | 2 million singles; 43% 57% | Casual Daters | Matches occasionally suggested based on profile; search by age & location; custom search; keyword search |
| Our Rating: Read ReviewSign Up |
 | 12-Month: $15.95 6-Month: $26.95 | 1.7+ million singles; N/A N/A | Casual Daters | Private Matchmaker, but more focused on searching/chatting |
| Our Rating: Read Review Sign Up |
*Quantcast Data used for male/female ratio and accurate as of June, 2012
Chemistry.com Review: Online DatingSign Up | Back to Chart
He Said/She Said Ratings
We took two volunteers, a man and a woman, and had them sign up for each online dating site, fill out a profile, look at their matches, and then give us their impressions. We also asked them to choose their favorite online dating site, resulting in our Guy's Choice award (Match.com) and our Lady's Choice award (Chemistry.com). Here's what they thought:
He said:
"...Chemistry.com wasn't great for me, but it wasn't bad either. I don't know, maybe I'm hard to match, but after the initial slate of 10 or so matches, it stopped giving me new ones. I like how the site looks, it feels personal, but the matching felt kind of simplistic, based more on personality types (leader, builder, etc.) which I don't place a lot of stock in, personally. I'm more into common interests, I guess. Having said that, I think one of the matches was pretty good, at least I liked her."
She said:
"...Overall, I really liked the highly personal feel of the guys' profiles and felt like this site had a lot of cool people to choose from... I had to do some "sensory perception" tests and there was also a part where I had to tell them if my index finger was longer, shorter or the same length as my ring finger. The background/preferences portion of the profile quiz was much better. The questions were relevant and fun to fill out.
What was really interesting was that when I finished the profile and got my matches back, I swear the quiz picked up on some of my more hidden traits. Some of the guys who I was matched with were into obscure books or movies I like that hardly anyone else does. So maybe there was something to that sensory perception, index finger bit after all. "
Site Details
Chemistry.com was created by Match.com to cater to users who are seeking a committed relationship with a highly compatible partner. Like eHarmony, Chemistry.com suggests matches based on a detailed personality test. Unlike eHarmony, Chemistry.com goes beyond matching similar personality types to insightful analysis of how different personalities are likely to compliment one another. This type of online dating site is not for everyone, but it is very well designed to serve those who are truly serious about finding a soul mate.
Profile Creation
Creating a free profile on Chemistry.com requires a bit more time and effort than most online dating sites, since you will be taking a personality test in addition to providing basic information about yourself and your desired partner. The personality test includes puzzles and questions that may seem strange or irrelevant, but the result is a fairly insightful analysis of your major and minor personality types, as well as the personality types with whom you're likely to be compatible, and dating tips specifically tailored to your personality. As with Match.com, you'll also write a minimum 200 word description of yourself and your ideal match, upload a primary photo and have the option to add up to 25 additional photos.
Matching
Unlike most online dating sites, Chemistry.com does not allow you to search or browse though potential matches. Instead, you will only be able to view profiles that are suggested by Chemistry.com's matchmaking system. This means that the matching criteria you indicate in your profile are especially important, since these preferences, along with the results of your personality test, will be used to help select your suggested matches. It also means that Chemistry.com offers more privacy than most online dating sites, since your profile is only visible to those whom the system has identified as a compatible match.
You'll receive up to five new matches each day, and you'll be able to review each suggested match's profile, photos, a graphic highlighting your common interests, and a brief prediction of how your personality types would be likely to click. You can discard the match if it doesn't seem promising, decide later if you aren't sure, or, if you are a Chemistry.com subscriber, you can choose to start getting to know your suggested match. If you choose to discard a match, you'll be asked to give a reason so that the system can provide more accurate matches in the future.
You must review and categorize your matches in order to continue receiving new suggested matches. Meanwhile, your profile will be suggested as a potential match for other Chemistry.com members, who may indicate interest in getting to know you. Suggested matches aren't sent simultaneously, which reduces visible rejection and increases opportunities for potential matches. Although you are able to review suggested matches for free, you will only be able to review the profiles of members who have indicated interest in you once you have subscribed. This can pose a problem for subscribing members, who have no way of knowing whether the profiles that interest them belong to nonpaying members who will be unable to respond or even review the subscribing member's profile.
Communication
When you decide you'd like to get to know a suggested match, you'll begin Chemistry.com's four-stage communication process. During the first step, both you and your match will rank different criteria that often come up during relationships, such as neatness, feelings on family life, or pets, and review each other's answers to see if there is enough compatibility to move on to the next stage. During the second step, you'll each choose two pre-written questions for the other to answer, and then you'll review those answers. Once you have completed the first two steps, you can communicate through Chemistry.com's secure email system without revealing your personal contact information. If all goes well, Chemistry.com will facilitate a casual meeting at a public, mutually convenient location, so that you can gauge the level of chemistry between you and your match. These steps are designed to make the process easy and comfortable for both you and your match, but some users may find it excessively time-consuming.
Bottom Line
Those who are eager to view or meet as many potential matches as possible are likely to find Chemistry.com frustrating. But for those who are patient and dedicated, Chemistry.com could be the perfect place to find true love.
Discounts
| Cost/Month | Total Cost | Savings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months for the price of 1 | $13.33 | $39.99 | $79.98 |
| 6 months | $20.99 | $125.94 | $114 |
| 7-day free trial* | $- | $- |
Match.com Review: Online DatingSign Up | Back to Chart
Editor's Note
For a limited time, Match.com is offering NextAdvisor.com readers a 20% discount off a 6 month subscription. To take advantage of this promotion, simply click any Match.com link on NextAdvisor.com.
He Said/She Said Ratings
We took two volunteers, a man and a woman, and had them sign up for each service, fill out a profile, look at their matches, and then give us their impressions. We also asked them to choose their favorite online dating site, resulting in our Guy's Choice award (Match.com) and our Lady's Choice award (Chemistry.com). Here's what they thought:
He said:
"...Match.com's matches were really superior, at least for what I'm looking for. In fact, it found several people that are pretty promising. I think it also has a younger, more urban user-base, which is good for me. I'm in my early 30s and live in a big city. Match didn't seem as touchy-feely with its questions, I think it's more interest-based, but that's important to me. So, I can't be sure that it's the matching features, or the people signed up, but... How can I put this? The people are attractive and interesting, and well suited to my type. Plus, hey, someone actually sent me an email, so that's a success, isn't it? This one would be my first choice."
She said:
"...I took a list of over 2,000 guys and narrowed it down to 87 guys in under two minutes based my preferences. It was easy and actually fun and I instantly found three hot guys! Nice! I found the profile quiz to be thorough and not too long, I also appreciated its common sense approach. Once I got my matches back I saw that Match.com stayed within my age preferences; however, they seemed to ignore my request for matches to be within 25 miles of me and sent me guys a few states away. Overall, I felt comfortable with this site and I was able to get a great feel for the personalities of the guys matched with me, if only they lived in the same state."
Site Details
Match.com is one of the most popular online dating services, with a large and diverse pool of potential matches. If you want to peruse hundreds of possible matches or search for someone with a specific set of characteristics, Match.com should be your first stop.
Profile Creation
It's free to create a profile on Match.com, and the process is relatively quick and easy. You'll answer basic questions about yourself and your desired partner by selecting from checklists and drop-down menus, with occasional chances to elaborate in your own words. The only required long answer is a minimum 200 word description of yourself and your ideal match. Finally, you'll upload a primary photo and, even before you've subscribed, you'll have the option of adding up to 25 additional photos.
If you have difficulty with the written portion of your profile, or if your profile doesn't attract as much attention as you'd like, Match.com offers a service called ProfilePro. For $39.99, a dedicated expert will review your information and offer advice to help you make the most of your Match.com experience, and a professional writer will help craft a profile that makes the best possible impression.
Matching & Searching
Match.com's matching system is fairly simplistic, suggesting five potential dates each day based on a few shared interests or preferences. The search function, though, is Match.com's most impressive feature. You can do a quick search for same or opposite sex matches by age and location, or search based on the preferences you indicated in your profile, or you can do a custom search, which allows you to fine-tune your criteria. Or you can search for a word or phrase, if you're looking for someone with a particular hobby or trait.
Communication
Once you've found a profile that seems promising, you can indicate your interest by sending a free wink. If you want to send an email or instant message, you'll need to subscribe to Match.com. Paying members can send messages to nonpaying members, but nonpaying members are not able to respond or even see who sent the message. Since Match.com does not distinguish between active members with paid subscriptions and those who are unable to send or view messages, this can be problematic and frustrating for members who send messages that may never be seen by the recipient. In our opinion, this is the most significant flaw in Match.com's service.
If you do choose to subscribe, you'll be able to communicate with other members via email, instant message, or phone, without having to reveal any of your personal contact information. You'll also be able to see who's been viewing your profile, who's saved you to their favorites, and who found you interesting when your profile was suggested as a potential match. Plus, you'll have access to tools to help manage and track your connections.
Match Guarantee
New users who sign up for a six month subscription are eligible for the Match.com Guarantee, which offers an additional six months free if you don't find someone special during the first six months. In order to take advantage of this guarantee, users must create a truthful profile that includes a primary photo, and keep it visible for the duration of the first six months. Users must also communicate with new matches throughout the first six months, sending emails through Match.com to at least five different members each month. In order to receive the additional six months free, you must go to the 6-Month Guarantee Progress page within your Match.com account during the last week of your initial six month subscription, and confirm your eligibility.
Bottom Line
Match.com provides more potential matches than any other online dating service, along with plenty of resources to help you find the person you're searching for. If you know what you want, whether it's a conservative Christian who loves riding horses and can't wait to have kids, a vegan liberal who speaks three languages, or the most attractive person in your zip code, Match.com is a great place to look.
Discounts
| Cost/Month | Total Cost | Savings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20% off 6 months | $13.59 | $81.54 | $20.40 |
| 20% off 3 months | $15.99 | $47.99 | $12.00 |
| 20% off 1 month | $27.99 | $27.99 | $7.00 |
| 7-day free trial* | $- | $- |
eHarmony Review: Online DatingSign Up | Back to Chart
He Said/She Said Ratings:
We took two volunteers, a man and a woman, and had them sign up for each online dating site, fill out a profile, look at their matches, and then give us their impressions. Here's what they thought:
He said:
"...there's actually nothing I can say about eHarmony's matching system. It found me unsuitable for any matches, which is a bit shocking and, I don't know, maybe insulting too. It's not that they didn't have any matches for me just yet, but they would never, have any matches for me, ever. So, I guess there's a certain personality profile that doesn't fit with their philosophy. I said I was divorced, and maybe it coupled that with some other answers in my personality evaluation.
Maybe I'm not traditional enough, for their profile system, I don't know. But, you know, as Groucho Marx said, 'I would never want to belong to any club that would have someone like me as a member,' so maybe there's something to it, after all."
She said:
"...The eHarmony quiz was LONG. Plus, I feel like they asked me the same questions on spirituality over and over in different ways. However, I did appreciate the detail they asked for on my favorite movies, books, TV shows, and activities. I think these things say a lot about a person and I would like to meet someone who's into the same things I'm into. So I'd say the length of the profile quiz was worth it, but I would only tell someone to embark on it if they have a whole afternoon to kill.
As for the matches that came back for me, they were... interesting. I understand eHarmony is a site that caters to a cleaner, more conservative audience, but some of the personality profiles were a little too fluffy... [with one guy's profile] I couldn't help but roll my eyes and wonder if he was for real."
Site Details
eHarmony caters to users who are looking for a serious relationship based on a deep and meaningful connection. Like Chemistry.com, eHarmony suggests matches based on a detailed personality test, but with a greater emphasis on shared values and similar backgrounds. Because this online dating site was designed to serve a specific type of user, some will find that it does not serve their needs at all, while others will be sure to appreciate this uniquely detailed and insightful approach to online dating.
Profile Creation
You'll have to be willing to dedicate a fair amount of time and effort to complete eHarmony's free personality test, but if you do, you'll be rewarded with an extensive and nuanced analysis of your personality, based on agreeableness, openness, emotional stability, conscientiousness, and extraversion. Unlike other online dating sites, eHarmony declines to match about 20% of potential users, based on the results of this personality test. The results of your personality test will not be revealed to potential matches unless you choose to do so. Instead, your profile will include a primary photo and up to 11 additional photos, as well as short answers to several questions about your personality, interests, and lifestyle. If you have difficulty with this written portion of your profile, eHarmony offers a profile advising service. For $99.95, professional writers will work with you to craft thorough answers that showcase your personality. eHarmony also offers an optional service called RelyID, which, for $5.95 a year, will verify and authenticate your name, city, and age, in order to reassure potential matches that you are indeed who you say you are.
Matching
eHarmony, like Chemistry.com, does not allow users to search or browse through potential matches. Instead, you will only be able to view profiles that are suggested by eHarmony's matchmaking system. This means that the matching criteria you indicate in your profile are especially important, since these preferences, along with the results of your personality test, will be used to help select your suggested matches. You can always tweak your matching criteria in order to expand, limit, or change the types of matches that eHarmony provides. Since your profile is only visible to those whom the system has identified as a compatible match, eHarmony is more private than most online dating sites.
You'll be able to review your suggested matches' profiles prior to subscribing, but you will not be able to view their photos or communicate, aside from sending a pre-written icebreaker message. eHarmony does offer occasional free communication weekends, to allow nonpaying members to contact or respond to suggested matches. Outside of these weekends, though, nonpaying members will not be able to respond to communication requests, which may be frustrating for subscribing members who cannot determine whether a particular profile belongs to a paying or nonpaying member.
Communication
Once you have subscribed to eHarmony and are interested in communicating with a suggested match, you can choose to begin a four-stage communication process or skip directly to email. The guided communication process is designed to facilitate the process of getting to know one another, but some may find it too drawn-out. During the first step, you'll both choose five multiple choice questions for the other to answer. During the second, you'll each share ten qualities that you must have in a partner, and ten that you can't stand. During the third step, you'll both answer three open-ended questions that reveal more about your inner thoughts, feelings, and values. The fourth step is email sent through eHarmony, which does not require you to reveal your personal contact information. You can also move directly to email at any point during the guided communication process.
eHarmony has also created an entire website dedicated solely to dating and relationship advice, with a strong emphasis on self-assessment and self-awareness. This advice section includes a wealth of thoughtful and informative content as well as forums where you can discuss dating and relationships with other eHarmony members.
Bottom Line
If you want to browse through many potential matches, or are looking for a casual date, eHarmony is probably not for you. But if you want a more guided online dating experience and are ready to make a commitment based on shared perspectives and values, eHarmony can help make that happen.
Discounts
| Cost/Month | Total Cost | Savings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20% off 6 month subscription w/coupon code EHCODE | $23.96 | $143.76 | $35.94 |
| 1 month | $59.99 | $59.99 |
Zoosk Review: Online DatingSign Up | Back to Chart
He Said/She Said Ratings
We took two volunteers, a man and a woman, and had them sign up for each online dating site, fill out a profile, look at their matches, and then give us their impressions. We also asked them to choose their favorite online dating site, resulting in our Guy's Choice award (Match.com) and our Lady's Choice award (Chemistry.com). Here's what they thought:
He said:
"Zoosk was great! It takes all the best parts of all the dating and social networking sites out there and puts them together. The compatibility questions are a perfect way to narrow down your matches. And the news feed is a completely different way to discover new matches based on what people are doing. Overall, it is a fun and inventive twist on online dating."
She said:
"I like that Zoosk has a lot of features similar to a social networking site, which is something that I am pretty comfortable with and use everyday. The compatibility questions were relevant and a lot of them were things I actually really care about in a potential date. Though the questions should have narrowed my potential matches, I unfortunately did not see many people that I was attracted to or would actually go for. I like the idea of this site and how it mixes dating and social media; however, I really didn't like the selection. But to each her own."
Site Details
Started in 2007, Zoosk built a sizable user base quickly by tapping into the existing user bases of popular social networking sites. It has since maintained its user base, making it one of the larger online dating sites. Zoosk is similar to Match.com, but with a friendlier atmosphere reminiscent of popular social networking websites like Facebook and gaming interfaces like Zynga.
You can get started directly through Zoosk's standalone website, or by using Zoosk's application for Facebook or Bebo. You'll have the same user experience, with access to all of Zoosk's features and the ability to connect to any Zoosk member, regardless of which platform you choose.
While Zoosk has an impressive number of features and a cool interface, a few of our reviewers made comments about the lack of selection on the site. As the site grows, the selection should also increase, but it seems to be an issue at this point in time, so be warned.
Profile Creation
One of the best parts about Zoosk is that you can quickly and easily create a basic profile, and then add to it as you have time. To begin, you provide some basic information including name, email and birth date. Zoosk then gives you the option of importing friends from Facebook or from the email you provided. Next, you select your relationship status and whether you are looking for women or men, and then you can start searching profiles.
Of course, to assist Zoosk in finding you a better match and so people can get to know you, it's better to add to your profile. Zoosk will walk you through finishing your profile by prompting you to fill out a few short answers about yourself and your ideal match. You can upload up to six pictures, but you must provide at least one. You can also invite friends to write testimonials about you, which will be visible to potential matches.
Zoosk also has a compatibility section that allows you to answer questions about yourself to see how compatible you are with other members. They include questions like "Would you date someone with children?" and "How often do you try to make your date laugh?" If both members have answered questions, Zoosk will present your answers side by side when you view other profiles, as well as give you a compatibility star rating based on three stars.
Matching
Zoosk offers a number of ways to find matches. You can, of course, use the search function to look for people in your area. You can flip through profiles one by one or pick one of the other display options to include more profiles at once. You can only search by age and location, which is kind of limiting.
In addition, Zoosk offers a Facebook-like news feed that highlights what potential matches are doing with their Zoosk profiles. It covers everything from updates to musical preferences to added photos. It's an easier way to see specific parts of user profiles without sifting through hundreds of profiles with the search function.
Zoosk's most effective, yet slowest, means of matching is their Zoosk Scientific Matchmaking Service. To initiate the service, Zoosk asks you a few basic questions about your dating preferences to help match you with potential dates. They then send you a match about once a day that you can either say "yes" or "no" to, depending on your interest. If you both answer yes, Zoosk sends an email to both members to alert them of the match. Otherwise, it's completely anonymous. Your yes and no answers also help Zoosk pick future matches for you, much like Pandora's rating system for music.
Communication
All of the above features are free for all members. The one thing that Zoosk does charge for is communication. Zoosk free members can only send one message to other members, which makes communicating difficult. If you try to do more, it'll prompt you to become a subscriber. Even though a good majority of Zoosk is free, the whole point of a dating site is to communicate with matches, so it's pretty much guaranteed that you'll need to become a subscriber.
Once you've subscribed, Zoosk offers you a wide variety of ways to communicate. Like on other dating sites, you can wink at potential matches that you fancy, or send them a message. Zoosk's messaging capabilities are much easier than most dating sites, allowing you to write messages right from the person's profile.
Zoosk also took a page out of Zynga's playbook and will allow subscribers (and non-subscribers) to buy coins that they can use on the site to buy gifts for other members, enhance the delivery options of their messages, or select other special features on the site.
The best communication tool that Zoosk offers is a great chat function. ZooskMessenger, a program you can download to your computer, essentially offers the website in online chat form. Within the chat window, you can still search for matches, look at your inbox, see who has viewed your profile, video chat, and more. It is everything you need in one place.
Bottom Line
If you are an avid social networker, Zoosk is a great online dating site for you. All of its social features makes it feel more like a social hub, as opposed to a static website. And subscribers get an even more impressive list of features. Although the selection of matches can be frustrating at times, the sleekness of the site should continuously bring in a new crop of potential dates.
NOTE: you need to sign up for Zoosk (which is free) before you can upgrade to a Premium Membership.
| Cost/Month | Total Cost | Savings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign Up for Zoosk | Free | Free | --- |
| Upgrade to 6 month premium subscription | $12.49 | $74.95 | $104.75 |
| Upgrade to 3 month premium subscription | $19.98 | $59.95 | $29.90 |
| Upgrade to 1 month premium subscription | $29.95 | $29.95 | -- |
PerfectMatch.com Review: Online DatingSign Up | Back to Chart
Editor's Note
For a limited time, PerfectMatch.com is offering NextAdvisor.com readers a buy 2 months, get 2 months free discount. To take advantage of this promotion, simply click any PerfectMatch.com link on NextAdvisor.
He Said/She Said Ratings
We took two volunteers, a man and a woman, and had them sign up for each online dating site, fill out a profile, look at their matches, and then give us their impressions. Here's what they thought:
He said:
"...the experience leaves me a little cold, there's just something a little robotic about the whole thing. Or maybe I just wasn't excited about my matches... almost all of them were from other cities, and the things they matched on, these personality traits, didn't seem quite accurate for me, even though I answered the questions as well as I could. The site really highlights their matching engine, instead of what people say about themselves too. I'm not a very black-and-white person, and I feel that answering these detailed questions with true/false answers didn't really capture my character."
She said:
"...the Perfectmatch.com profile quiz was interesting. Just as eHarmony seemed to be skewed toward asking questions about religion, Perfectmatch.com seemed to ask a lot of questions on my views on the environment, like whether I could be with someone who has opposing views on this issue and how often I recycle. And although the quiz was thorough, when my matches came back I discovered that only the standard text from the quiz was included under their profile. So I really didn't get any experience of hearing them "in their own words." This detracted a lot from the process I thought, since it pretty much canceled out any way to get a feel for personality before actually contacting someone.
Also, it appeared that the only categories we were matched on came down to surface stuff (level of education, sports participation, smoking preferences) rather than any sort of core values. It would have been nice to know if the matches I browsed were introverts or extroverts, close with their family or not, adventurous or cautious, etc. Overall, I felt Perfectmatch.com was too vague, not giving me enough detail at all to help me decide if I wanted to pursue any of these people."
Site Details
PerfectMatch.com is similar to Chemistry.com and eHarmony, in that it relies on a lengthy personality test in order to generate matches based on compatibility. While some members may find PerfectMatch.com's Duet Total Compatibility System effective, many will be disappointed by the website's limitations and the number of inactive members.
Profile Creation
To create a free PerfectMatch.com profile, you'll provide basic information about yourself by answering multiple choice questions or selecting from checklists or drop-down menus, and you'll answer true or false questions about your core values, your attitude toward love and money, and your relationship tendencies. You'll write a brief personal statement and answer several short questions in your own words, and then upload up to three photos if you are a nonpaying member or eight photos if you're a subscriber. Finally, you'll take the Duet Compatibility Test, which consists of more true or false questions designed to measure your "romantic impulsivity," "personal energy," "outlook," and "predictability." The questions tend to be fairly specific and detailed, making them difficult to answer with a simple true or false. Your Duet Analysis uses one set of four letters to predict personality types that will be similar to yours, and another set of four letters to predict personality types that will compliment yours. These letter codes resemble those generated by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, but their interpretations are less nuanced and more difficult to comprehend.
Because PerfectMatch.com profiles consist almost entirely of answers to multiple choice or true or false questions, they tend to be rather formulaic, which makes them less engaging than those on other dating websites. On the main profile page, your picture is very small, and your personal statement and short answers are inexplicably buried at the bottom of the page and hidden by default. Since the "In My Words" portion of the profile is deemphasized, many users do not fill this section out at all, which makes it difficult to get any sense of a potential match as an individual. Many PerfectMatch.com users also fail to post a single photo.
Matching & Searching
You'll receive suggested matches based on the results of your Duet Compatibility Test. PerfectMatch.com provides fewer matches than Chemistry.com or eHarmony, but once you subscribe, you'll also be able to search for matches on your own. You can do a quick search by age and location, a compatibility search based on the various factors measured by the Duet Compatibility Test, a custom search for particular traits, or a keyword search. These tools are not quite as sophisticated or easy to use as those provided by Match.com. For example, the keyword search does not allow you to select for age or location, which makes it fairly useless to most users.
Communication
Once you have subscribed to PerfectMatch.com, you can indicate interest in another member by sending an icebreaker consisting of up to four pre-written questions to find out more about your potential match and initiate conversation. As your exchange progresses, you'll be able to choose from a second set of pre-written icebreaker questions that are more personal, before you move on to email. PerfectMatch.com tracks and stores your icebreakers and responses in one place, to help you gauge the potential of many matches at once. If you prefer, you can skip past the icebreaker questions and go directly to email communication.
Like eHarmony, PerfectMatch.com includes a section dedicated to dating and relationship advice, but the advice is somewhat simplistic and generic. This section is unlikely to be particularly informative to most users, but those with less dating experience may find it helpful.
Bottom Line
PerfectMatch.com stands out by combining an in-depth personality test with a decent array of search features. For those who wish to take advantage of a matching system designed to predict compatibility as well as basic browsing tools, this may be the best of both worlds. For those who want more matches to choose from, or who are unwilling to rely so extensively on the Duet Analysis when evaluating potential matches, one of the higher ranked dating services might be a better choice.
Discounts
| Cost/Month | Total Cost | Savings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55% off 3 month subscription | $16.63 | $49.88 | $98.98 |
| Buy 2 months and get 2 months FREE | $24.98 | $99.90 | $70.94 |
| 30% off 2 month subscription | $24.98 | $49.96 | $29.94 |
| Buy 1 month and get 1 month FREE | $30.00 | $59.99 | $19.91 |
| 6 months | $33.33 | $199.95 | |
| 3 day free trial | free | free |
FriendFinder Review: Online DatingSign Up | Back to Chart
He Said/She Said Ratings
We took two volunteers, a man and a woman, and had them sign up for each online dating site, fill out a profile, look at their matches, and then give us their impressions. Here's what they thought:
He said:
"... it was fun, sort of like LavaLife, but I question the matchmaking. For instance, I'm an atheist, and the top matches it found for me were Catholics. Having said that, I did enjoy going through and looking at the matches, many of whom where hot, but in a way that didn't seem exactly real, like they were on the game. A lot of bikinis and tube tops. And many of them were well outside my city.
In short, it's not the place where I think I would find a long term relationship, but it is kind of a fun place to hang out. Again, it was more like LavaLife in that way."
She said:
"... I had a great time filling out the profile information! I took the Myers-Briggs quiz (ESFJ), talked about my dreams and goals, and promoted my favorite TV shows. I also had a blast with the bling editor, although I didn't really have any reason to use my creation.
The men on the site run the gamut: seeking friends of both sexes, looking to have an affair, begging for a wife. They come from all over the globe. Most have one thing in common, though: desperation. Many haven't put up photos of themselves, but even if they have, the site won't let you see a version larger than a thumbnail.
I was disappointed by the site's interface. I found it ugly, confusing, and hard to find specific features. I found new features every day, and I'm confident I haven't discovered everything FriendFinder has to offer. I had information overload; even if someone seemed to be a good match for me, the site analyzed it to such a degree that it became a turn-off. If you know what you want—in your online dating experience or in a relationship—this is not the place for you."
Site Details
You might have seen certain types of FriendFinder advertised all over the web, but this one is rather innocent by comparison. Since 1996, FriendFinder, which also runs such sites as AdultFriendFinder and ALT.com, has been helping people around the globe find friends—and much more.
Profile Creation
It's free to get started on FriendFinder. But it's overwhelming and difficult to find the features that are really useful. The cluttered, '90s-era interface has so many options! You can add friends to your network, add other users to HotLists, join Groups (discussion forums), join a chat room (largely abandoned), set up a blog, instant message other users, shoot videos, record voice messages, read articles, and more.
Once you get a handle on the things you can do in FriendFinder, it has the potential to be fun. You can fine-tune your profile, answering myriad questions from giving more information about your ethnicity and choosing from a drop-down menu for your ideal date to checking boxes describing your hairstyle and taking the Myers-Briggs personality test.
Matching & Searching
After you set up your profile, you can browse other users by who's online, location, VIPs (more on that later), newbies, your new matches, popular members, your Myers-Briggs score, or your Cupid preferences. Cupid is the name of FriendFinder's search filters for the kind of partner you're seeking: age, sex, education, substances, kids, etc. When viewing members, FriendFinder shows your compatibility with each member on a five-star ranking, a score out of 100, a preference table, and astrological signs.
Communication
When you find someone of interest, you can view most of his or her profile, but you can only see more photos if you upgrade. Send an email (to which you can attach photos), a voice message, or an instant message, and proceed however you like from there.
You can generate "points" with FriendFinder by buying them or engaging in certain activities, such as adding an article (30 points) and getting your real-life friends to sign up for FriendFinder (2,000 points). Redeem these points for bling (customizable image that you can give to other users), virtual flowers, or "featured member" status. You can also write testimonials about other users, although it's not polite to kiss and tell.
FriendFinder has several different levels of users. Silver and Gold memberships allow you to see more and more, respectively, of FriendFinder's members, blogs, articles, phone support, groups, videos, and photos. You also get more visibility and promotion. VIP membership, on the other hand, can only be purchased once you are a Gold member and simply maximizes your visibility, putting your photos and videos in a special section called "Meet the VIPs."
Bottom Line
This site is best for people who are flexible with their relationship goals. It's also great for someone with a lot of free time to learn the site's navigation, comment on articles, customize your profile, add even more pages to your profile page, and send messages of varying types. It's like a cluttered, overwhelming Facebook for daters.
Discounts
| Plan | Cost/Month | Total Cost | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8-Month Gold Membership |
$11.99 | $95.92 | $184.00 |
| 6-Month Silver Membership |
$10.99 | $65.94 | $72.00 |
| Standard Membership | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Lavalife Review: Online DatingSign Up | Back to Chart
He Said/She Said Ratings
We took two volunteers, a man and a woman, and had them sign up for each online dating site, fill out a profile, look at their matches, and then give us their impressions. Here's what they thought:
He said:
"...I was kind of wary of filling out another lengthy personality profile, so it was a relief that LavaLife doesn't ask you to do that. But then you really have to figure out how to use it yourself. I'm not sure there's a lot of matching, and while I saw some attractive people, I didn't find anyone that really appealed to me. It's weird, because they have three categories: dating, relationship, and intimate. The last one is a little scary, and it's hard to tell the difference between the first two. I mean, LavaLife is kind of fun, but it feels more like I'm at a singles bar in another city, since it liked to give me people well outside the area I live in."
She said:
"... the Lavalife profile creation was easy, maybe a little too easy. It really seemed like they're letting anyone in the gates. I initially checked out the 'Dating' section, and the first guy I found had a laundry list of requirements he's looking for, such as [specific clothing colors she should wear] ... The next guy I checked out said in his profile that he was looking for 'someone to save him from this site, PLEASE!!!' When I moved onto the 'Intimacy' section, I was hit with a nightmare list of guys walking the line between desperate and creepy. And even though I put down I was looking for guys between the ages of 24 and 38, the site sent me profiles from older men anyway, some over 60. Lavalife's motto is 'Where Singles Click,' but from a woman's point of view, I'd say it should be 'Where Unattractive Men Go to Find Anything They Can.'"
Site Details
Lavalife cultivates a more playful atmosphere than most online dating sites. If you want a committed relationship, you're better off looking elsewhere. But if you're in the mood for something more casual, you could have a lot of fun flirting and chatting with other singles on Lavalife.
Profile Creation
There are three distinct communities within Lavalife, for dating, relationships, and intimate encounters, and you can maintain a profile within any or all of these communities. Creating a profile is quick and easy. You can use the same basic profile for all three communities, with a few extra questions specifically pertaining to each section.
Lavalife profiles are less informative than those on other online dating sites, since there is less emphasis on finding a uniquely compatible match. You can upload one profile picture for each profile, plus up to 30 additional photos and another ten "backstage" photos, which will only be visible if you grant a particular user a "backstage pass." You can also upload up to six videos. If you only want to participate in one or two of the three Lavalife communities, you should take care to ensure that you haven't accidentally posted your basic profile information in all three, or you may receive unwanted attention from members with different agendas than yours.
Matching & Searching
Searches are confined to a single section of the site at one time. You can do a quick search by age and location, with the option to select for users who are currently online and profiles that include at least one photo. Or you can do custom searches with more specific criteria, and save those searches for future reference. You can save profiles that interest you to a "hotlist" for future reference. Instead of allowing same- or opposite-sex searches on a single website, Lavalife hosts Manline for gay singles and Womanline for lesbian singles.
Communication
To indicate interest, you can send a free smile, along with a pre-written message selected from an extensive list of options. You can also send and respond to an email or an instant message. It is not possible to turn off the instant message function, which can become disruptive if you are attempting to browse for potential matches.
Lavalife also hosts one-hour online parties five times each day, where members flirt and chat in real time. Depending on your area, you may be able to participate in speed dating events, which are held at 9 PM every evening, where members can chat with up to ten local singles in a half hour. There is an additional fee to participate in a speed dating event, but new members can participate in one free speed date within the first week of membership.
Lavalife includes an advice section, with articles about dating, relationships, and sex, as well as horoscopes and other resources. While some of this content may be informative, the primary focus is entertainment.
Bottom Line
The Lavalife interface is a bit cluttered and difficult to navigate, and displays ads, even to paying members. Since Lavalife also has fewer members than the higher rated dating sites, it is unlikely to be the most efficient option for finding potential matches in your area. But if you enjoy chatting online, and are more interested in casual dating or intimate encounters than serious relationships, you're likely to enjoy the virtual party at Lavalife.
Discounts
| Cost/Month | Total Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | Free | Free |
Date.com Review: Online DatingSign Up | Back to Chart
He Said/She Said Ratings
We took two volunteers, a man and a woman, and had them sign up for each online dating site, fill out a profile, look at their matches, and then give us their impressions. Here's what they thought:
He said:
"...felt way less personal. Then again, as soon as I signed up I started getting notices of interest, which sounded good, right? But then I saw that my profile had no views, which seemed weird. In fact, I got a number of interest notifications from people who had not even viewed my profile (although maybe they viewed it on the sister site, Matchmaker.com, I couldn't tell). One of the women was about 600 miles away, across a large body of water, and we had nothing in common. There's no real matching. It didn't seem great for my demographic (mid 30s, urban, college graduate)."
She said: "...One of the things I really didn't like about Date.com was that it gives you options for the physical characteristics of the guy you're looking for but you're only allowed to choose one hair color, one eye color, etc. And I don't want to be stuck with only brown-haired, brown-eyed guys even though I do like that type. I mean, what if my Mr. Right has blue eyes? I'm just out of luck then? This seems way too narrow. And although Date.com seemed to really want to nail down the particular details of what I was looking for in a guy physically they asked me not one question about personality, values, interests or hobbies.
Also, this site doesn't give you instant matches like some other dating sites. Instead, you enter the age range you're looking for and your region and Date.com gives you a long list to sift through to determine who you have what in common with. For me, this was way too much time to spend looking. I'd rather have the site give me instant matches based on compatibility. But I will say most of the guys seemed okay (i.e., non-creepy) so I give them points for that."
Site Details
Date.com is a fairly standard online dating service, with very basic matching and searching functions as well as instant messaging and chat rooms. Date.com acquired Matchmaker in 2006, and the two websites are now essentially identical, although Date.com is slightly cheaper. If you create a Date.com profile, it will also be visible on Matchmaker, and vice versa.
Profile Creation
It's easy to get started on Date.com, but fully completing your profile is a somewhat convoluted process. You'll be prompted to answer a few questions about yourself by selecting from drop-down menus, and to upload a primary photo and up to nine additional photos, and then given the option to write a headline and brief personal statement. In order to find and complete the other sections of your profile, though, you'll need to click around a bit without much guidance or prompting. For this reason, many users have incomplete profiles that are less informative in determining interest. Be sure to find and complete the section in which you indicate your preferences for your desired partner, as this portion is easy to miss.
Matching & Searching
Date.com will occasionally suggest matches based on a few of the preferences in your profile. When a match is suggested, both parties receive an introductory message from Date.com, encouraging you both to view each other's profiles. However, these suggestions are offered very rarely, and will not necessarily match all of the criteria you have indicated. The search functions are more effective, allowing you to conduct a basic search based on age and location. You can tailor your basic search by including a keyword, excluding profiles without photographs from search results, or specifying members who are currently online, new members, or members who are having a birthday that day. Or you can conduct an advanced search based on more specific criteria, such as body type, horoscope, Chinese horoscope, ethnicity, or income. Paid subscribers and users who have uploaded photos are ranked higher in search results, which is a nice feature that makes it easier to find someone who appeals to you and is likely to respond to a message.
Communication
If someone catches your eye, you can save his or her profile to your favorites, show interest, or, if you are a paying member, you can send an email or an instant message. Showing interest on Date.com means sending a message that says, "I am interested in you," rather than a wink or smile, or selecting from a list of pre-written icebreakers. You can also purchase a virtual gift, such as a picture of a flower, heart, stuffed animal, or beverage. Most gifts are $1.00 each, but some cost as much as $9.00. Even if you are not a subscriber, you can see who has viewed your profile or saved your profile as a favorite, and you can respond to instant messages sent by paying members. Subscribers also have access to chat rooms, as well as audio and video messaging.
Date.com offers a surprisingly thorough advice section, which includes thoughtful and well-written articles discussing various relationship issues. You'll also find success stories from users who found love on Date.com, dating and relationship advice columns for straight women, straight men, and gays and lesbians, basic tips on safety, online flirting, and dating, and an astrology section.
Bottom Line
Date.com offers an adequate array of features for those who want to search for potential dates in their area, but with a smaller user base than comparable dating sites and a somewhat clunky interface. If you are particularly interested in voice and video chat, or virtual gifts, Date.com may be the best option for you, but otherwise, you may be better off using a similar service with a larger user base, such as Match.com or Yahoo! Personals.
Discounts
| Cost/Month | Total Cost | Savings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 months | $9.99 | $119.88 | $239.52 |
| 1 month | $29.95 | $29.95 |
SpeedDate Review: Online DatingSign Up | Back to Chart
He Said/She Said Ratings
We took two volunteers, a man and a woman, and had them sign up for each online dating site, fill out a profile, look at their matches, and then give us their impressions. Here's what they thought:
He said:
"... speeddate.com doesn't really seem analogous to real-world speed dating. It's like dating for hyperactive multi-taskers. There was just too much going on here. It's overwhelming. Plus it seems pretty male-dominated. It was surprising how many people were looking for speed dating at 10:00 AM. I guess it's a good way to judge if they really are employed. Most are not.
"Also, it seems like there's no real matching, and I wasn't really into anyone I had a speed date with. There seems to be a lot of desperation, and it didn't seem like people were choosing me because they thought I'd be a good match for them, but because I was there. The profiles also seem extremely simplistic. In short, it's not my thing. I felt vaguely dirty even being there."
She said:
"... this site is out of control. Was it called 'SpeedDate' because you have to be on speed to keep up? There appears to be no limit on the number of speed dates you can have at once, and the site frequently ignores you when you tell it to pause speed dates. I was constantly bombarded with so many speed date windows that I wasn't able to respond to all of them before the five minutes allotted for each were up. Whenever I clicked on anything, most of the time I'd see a pop-up window exhorting me to sign up for the paid subscription.
"The site's Private Matchmaker is anything but. Despite stipulating that I was interested in 25- to 40-year-old liberals in San Francisco who did not want children, 18-year-old militiamen from Montana who wanted to impregnate somebody ASAP kept popping up for my speed dates. SpeedDate.com left me exhausted, annoyed, and kind of grossed out."
Site Details
SpeedDate.com is a fast-paced, chat-focused dating site with nearly 2 million members and has been connecting singles in five-minute, online speed dates since 2007.
Profile Creation
When you fill out your profile, you have the option to answer many questions—about your favorite music, movies, television shows, books, and quotes; about your political views, income, weekend activities; even about your "secret." You can be equally detailed regarding what you're looking for, yet SpeedDate's Private Matchmaker system doesn't take much of this into account.
Matching & Searching
The SpeedDate interface resembles Facebook quite a bit: You can navigate among blue tabs and red balloons signifying your notifications, and chat windows pop up in a blue toolbar at the bottom of the screen. View different profiles by clicking "next profile" or "previous profile" for each "match" SpeedDate chooses for you, or browse members by age, location, and so on.
Communication
If you're a basic member, SpeedDate lets other users initiate with you a five-minute instant messenger chat session, or "online speed date"; subscribers can extend that time. When you view a profile, SpeedDate tells you what preferences your potential date matches, what preferences you match for the other person, and finally what you have in common, even if it's only that you both speak English. These summaries are based on what you've filled out in your profile.
The speed dates come fast and furious the instant you log in. But you're somewhat powerless over the number of speed dates you have and the speed with which they pop up; the onslaught often continues even after you've asked the site (nicely) to pause speed dating. Anytime you close a speed date window, the site forces you to select a reason, and then you can either have a speed date with someone else or ask the site to give you a break.
But you don't get a break; the site relentlessly bombards you with pop-ups featuring an attractive cartoon woman asking you to share your SpeedDate.com activity with your Facebook friends or, more frequently, to become a paying SpeedDate member. You can't see messages or who's "liked" you or initiate a chat with someone SpeedDate hasn't selected as a match without paying, and the friendly cartoon lady will not let you forget it even for a second. She also desperately wants you to SpeedVerify your profile, which proves that you're a real person for $0.50 a month.
One cool feature SpeedDate offers is an "Icebreaker." During a speed date, click on the button, and a random question like "What is your best childhood memory?" or "If you could have any superpower, what would it be?" appears in the chat window.
Bottom Line
It's hard to explore SpeedDate.com when you're interrupted by one new speed date after another and constant petitions to upgrade your membership, but if you want to e-meet a large number of diverse strangers in a short time period, SpeedDate could be quite engaging.
Discounts
| Plan | Cost/Month | Total Cost | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-Month Subscription |
$15.95 | $191.40 | $288.00 |
| 6-Month Subscription |
$26.95 | $161.70 | $78.00 |
| Standard Membership | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Popular Services Reviewed:
Credit Monitoring Services |
Find Us On:
Copyright© 2006 - 2013 NextAdvisor.com - All rights reserved.
Disclosure: NextAdvisor.com is a consumer information site that offers free, independent reviews and ratings of online services. We receive advertising revenue from most of the services we review. Our editors thoroughly research and whenever possible test each service we review and offer their honest opinions about each one. We are independently owned and operated and all opinions expressed on this site are our own.