eHarmony joined the dating scene in 2000 when Dr. Neil Clark Warren a clinical psychologist with a master’s degree in Divinity, decided there was a better way to find love. Instead of just relying on luck, Dr. Warren found that if people were to find true, compatible partners, he would need to find what makes a long-term, fulfilling relationship successful.
Note: While the brand previously ran a sister site called Compatible Partners for people seeking same-sex relationships, this site was integrated into the standard eHarmony site in 2019. Now users just set their preferences when creating their eHarmony account and profile.
What is the eHarmony signup process like?
Consumers can sign up for this dating platform on the web or through mobile apps. The free eHarmony app is available for Android and Apple devices. In-app purchases will apply if you wish to upgrade to an eHarmony subscription.
Unlike other online dating sites and mobile dating apps, eHarmony’s matchmaking services uses a scientific matching algorithm encompassing 32 Dimensions of Compatibility. When creating an eHarmony profile, users complete an intensive relationship questionnaire for compatibility matching with other members. Users are then given different membership options. eHarmony members can also receive expert advice on dating on and offline for free.
eHarmony customer support is available 24/7 via an online submission form, as well as on-site live chat.
Read eHarmony reviews and complaints to see what other online daters are saying about their experience with this dating app.
The Good
- The eHarmony Guarantee
- Relationship Questionnaire and Matching System
- Senior Dating Advice
- History of Success
The eHarmony Guarantee
eHarmony stands behind its services and genuinely wants to help its users find meaningful connections. That being said, the eHarmony Guarantee states that if an online dater is not satisfied with their matches in three months, eHarmony will allow that member to use the service for an additional three months at no cost.
All eHarmony asks is that members meet the following requirements:
- Complete the Relationship Questionnaire
- Build a profile (with a minimum of 3 approved photos; profile must be completed within the first 5 days of the current subscription)
- Send or reply to a Qualifying Communication Form (from at least 5 other members; messages or favorites)
- Be a paying member for at least a 3-month paid membership
- Comply with the General Terms and Conditions
Members should be aware that the guarantee can only be redeemed once per account, and it is non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for money.
*Users may redeem guarantee prior to their expiration/renewal date by contacting customer care via phone, email, or chat.
Relationship Questionnaire and Matching System
When signing up for this online dating platform, users fill out a compatibility test. The eHarmony questionnaire is comparable to a personality test mixed with questions about relationship wants, needs, and goals.
While it previously took about 45 minutes to fill out the online questionnaire, the number of questions has been reduced and takes about 20 minutes to complete. However, users have the option to save and come back to the dating site later to complete the remaining questions.
After completing the compatibility quiz, each user can see their matches that meet their Match Preferences — location, age, etc. The aim of this drawn-out registration process is to help users find compatible matches, rather than just view the full pool of local singles. eHarmony states that its compatibility matching system aims to set members up with people they have the most potential for a long-term relationship with, based on its 32 Dimensions of Compatibility.
eHarmony experts have conducted and analyzed numerous studies of happy couples and found that there are many personality factors that influence a compatible match. These personality traits can generally be categorized within the following groups:
- Emotional Temperament
- Social Style
- Physicality
- Relationship Skills
- Values and Beliefs
Senior Dating Advice
eHarmony states that the company is committed to helping men and women find love, no matter their age. In order to help seniors struggling with online dating, eHarmony offers a variety of dating resources on its free senior dating advice site. Older adults can get expert advice or talk with other members in the dating scene.
History of Success
eHarmony has helped 600,000 married couples tie the knot and counting. According to a Harris Interactive study, an average of 542 people who met through its online dating service are married every day in the United States. If these numbers are accurate, that means almost four percent of all marriages in the United States happen thanks to eHarmony. This track record and focus on long-term relationships should help prospective customers to know whether this is the option for them.
The Bad
- Limited Free Account Features
- Extra Features Will Cost You More
- No Background Checks
- Information Sharing
Limited Free Account Features
While it’s free for users to start an account and review their potential eHarmony member matches, you must be a paid member to send and receive messages.
A messaging paywall is not uncommon in the industry, it can be frustrating for those not wanting to pay for a premium account.
The free account and mobile app does allow members to create a personality profile—members can include physical appearance, personal characteristics, religious preferences, partner expectations, interests, opinions, relationship status, sexual orientation, commitment level, etc.
Extra Features Will Cost You More
After filling out the questionnaire, eHarmony presents users with a few membership options. You can keep the basic profile for free, but you won’t be able to do much in terms of interacting with other users or viewing full profiles. Upgrading from the basic plan to a Premium membership will add several more tools to your search for love, including the following:
- Enhanced search features, including distance/proximity search
- Access to your detailed personality profile and analysis
- Unlimited messaging
- View photos of matches
- See who has viewed your profile
- A complimentary review of your dating profile with tips for improvement
Premium Plans
In addition to free user access, paid members of this dating service can browse anonymously, receive read receipts on their messages, and be featured with Spotlight. Occasionally there will be online eHarmony discount codes premium memberships, as well as promotional introductory offers.
Premium Lite
- 6-Month Plan
- $59.90 per month
Premium Plus
- 12-Month Plan
- $35.90 per month (standard price)
Premium Extra
- 24-Month Plan
- $25.90 per month (standard price)
No Background Checks
When you join eHarmony, the company does not currently conduct criminal background check services. However, the terms and conditions state that the company reserves the right to conduct a criminal background check at any time using available public records.
Information Sharing
As members use eHarmony, legally the online dating company can record and keep the information shared. The information collected may be used to improve its services or be collected as information for studies and similar companies around the world.
eHarmony members will also receive emails upon signing up. These emails sometimes come from eHarmony or other related brands. Members can choose to opt-out of these emails in their settings but should plan on receiving multiple emails daily from eHarmony or one of its partners. Especially for free members, these newsletters and promotions are a good place to look for coupon codes.
eHarmony also discloses that if a person chooses to connect their social media accounts to their dating profile, the company has permission to use the information collected. The terms and conditions state, “By connecting the eHarmony account to a social networking site, members consent to the continuous release of information to eHarmony.”
The Bottom Line
If you’re serious about trying online dating services with the goal of a relationship, eHarmony works with like-minded people. It uses scientific data and personality trait analysis to add some order to the chaotic dating world, rather than just showing nearby singles in your age range as many other dating apps do.
While eHarmony may not be the best choice for daters looking for short-term relationships or “hook-up” type dates, it is a promising option for marriage-minded singles aiming to find a compatible partner.
As with all dating sites, users may come across some fake profiles or scammers, so it is best to be cautious when giving out sensitive information.
Consumers can try out eHarmony for free to test the waters, but a paid eHarmony membership is necessary to reap most of the benefits the platform has to offer. Although users will probably get more out of their online dating experience as a premium member; the free membership only offers limited communication, but still allows users a chance to access eHarmony, build a profile, and get an idea of their potential match opportunities.
Still not sure about this dating website? Scroll down to check out the latest consumer reviews. If you are trying to decide between eHarmony or Match, check out our side-by-side comparison: eHarmony vs Match
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