eHarmony vs Match: A Head-to-Head Look at The 2 Dating Sites

Today, there are literally hundreds of different sites and apps where you can sign up for dating and making other connections with people. Of course, many of the sites that are out there now are modeled after eHarmony and Match.com, providing further proof that these two sites are the ones to measure up to in the world of online dating.

So, how do they measure up to each other? And which one is best for your online dating needs? That’s what we’re going to cover in this guide. Match.com seems to be popular among the younger generation and those seeking casual dating, while eHarmony seems to draw in more serious folks and those who are older or looking for a more lasting connection.

Of course, that’s just at first glance. There's a lot more to learn about each. Let’s dive in.

You can use these platforms to connect with people locally and around the world, and they all have their own features and benefits to consider.

EHarmony.com

Since the year 2000, eHarmony.com has been helping people find someone that they can spend their lives with. The site has always been focused on very traditional dating and relationships, and the brand believes that both partners should bring something to the table. They’re also big on compatibility with important life matters like family planning, finances, and others.

There’s a pretty detailed personality test available for users of eHarmony, and it has actually helped create more than 14 million matches on the site each and every day. The site is designed for all ages, but the most popular demographic is the 25+ category of single adults. There are plenty of great features to check out and you can even find a free trial to get started. You'll also be able to navigate easily and enjoy security features to protect your privacy.

After all, you’re using a site that is well-known in the online dating world, so reputation comes standard. Now, let’s look at our favorite and least favorite features.

Our Favorite Features

There are a lot of great features at eHarmony.com. Our favorite is the in-depth personality quiz that helps you connect with the best matches possible. You'll also get a free trial for 7 days when you sign up at eHarmony, and the site is secure and easy to navigate. The people here are seeking serious relationships and long-term love, which is why it’s one of our favorite sites. The reasons we love eHarmony are many, but these are the highlights.

You can enjoy access to millions of other singles, the support of the eHarmony brand, and even a host of resources like blogs and online dating safety tips to help you along the way.

What Doesn’t Work

eHarmony.com has just about everything that you’d expect from an online dating site, including the chance to browse profiles and connect with millions of people around the world. eHarmony is a bit pricier than other dating sites, but we find that it’s usually worth the investment. Although it lacks advanced search features like some dating sites, the algorithms are much more effective at making matches than people realize.

Therefore, what “doesn’t work” here isn’t really that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. After all, the best dating sites will have membership fees, so that’s just standard. At least eHarmony offers a good success rate in return.

Match.com

Match.com was founded in 1995 and bills itself as one of the brands that started the online dating world. The dating site focuses on long-term connections, but also offers the option for finding friends and more casual connections. The site has a vast network of people of all ages, and despite the efforts to cater the site to younger members, there are several older people on the site looking for love, as well.

You'll enjoy daily matches and mobile apps so that you can Match on the go, and a signup questionnaire will help you filter the potential matches and save you the work of sifting through the ones that don’t match. You’ll also find an advanced search with a filtering tool, but you’ll have to pay for premium membership to access all the features on the site.

Our Favorite Features

Match.com offers a well-designed website that is easy to navigate and use. It's also well-suited for all ages and has a relatively quick sign-up process. It offers an advanced search feature so that you can seek out people specifically based on stats, interests, and more. You can even enjoy video chatting with a full membership, but it will cost you. Fortunately, the quick signup process helps balance it out here.

The Downsides

While there aren’t a lot of dislikes to be found at Match.com, there are a couple of red flags that really were keeping us from calling this one the winner. For starters, the free version is so limited that it’s hard to sell as “free”. Secondly, the profile approval process takes a long time, and no one wants to wait 24 hours to start using their profile. When it comes to instant connections, this site drops the ball with that element.

Which is better eHarmony or Match?

While both eHarmony and Match offer long-term dating services that are impressive, there is a clear winner here. Match.com is a lot more limited with its free version and you have to wait a full 24 hours for profile preapproval, which means that you can’t even get started right away. The sign-up process is more challenging at Match and it’s just more difficult to look around the site. Match also doesn’t have the advanced compatibility features, but it does offer the advanced search. If you think eHarmony and Match both don’t suit you, here are other top dating sites for options as follow: EliteSingles.com, Zoosk.com, Silversingles.com and Christianmingle.com.

Of course, if you’re using the compatibility feature, you shouldn’t need an advanced search because the right matches will find you. That’s why eHarmony comes out on top time and time again. It’s just a better choice overall, in terms of quality of matches, compatibility, features, and functionality. Plus, it’s known for being responsible for countless numbers of marriages for US couples, so it clearly works.