eharmony vs. Match: How The Top Dating Apps Compare, Based On Reviews & Experts

Falling in love is one of the best feelings we can experience as humans. There's something magical about that instant click when you meet your person. The sun shines a little brighter and life feels better when you're less lonely. In fact, Harvard University once conducted an 80-year study about joy and found that a close, happy relationship was the greatest predictor of happiness and overall well-being.

The good news? With all of this new technology at our fingertips, it's never been easier to find a romantic connection. And if you're looking for a serious relationship, eharmony and Match happen to reign supreme in the world of dating apps.

These dating sites were the original dating hubs for singles to find long-lasting love, near and far. For both, the algorithm relied on a high level of compatibility filtering via in-depth profile information and quizzes to parse out your future partner. Because of the level of commitment it takes to fill out your profile, eharmony and Match have held tight to their reputation as a detail-rich dating destination for serious-minded daters. But which one is the better app to use for what you're looking for in 2023?

To take a closer look between eharmony and Match, we've reached out to dating experts and the sites' spokespeople, and we've exhaustively researched all the pros and cons to help you figure out which is the best app for your needs. Read on to learn more about each of these dating apps' unique features, success rate, user base, and more.

Although it's never been easier to be single and find matches, the trap of technology and having too many choices can also pose its own unique set of problems: Why is it so hard to get a conversation going? Why are first dates so freakin' awkward? And perhaps most pressingly, does the other person want to hook up or date seriously? It's already tough putting yourself out there, and uncertain intentions and ambiguous expectations make it harder to swipe and keep the momentum going.

To optimize success, it's important to recognize that, for every dating app out there, there's a different approach and demographic to lean into. Some apps, such as Tinder and Feeld, lean into casual sex—so it's easier to form casual connections there. Other apps, such as Hinge, eharmony, and Match, are known for interesting profile prompts and a curated feed of high-compatibility matches. This latter category generally translates to more serious daters.

“We tend to see more cisgender heterosexual singles use Match and eharmony,” certified sex and couples therapist Lee Phillips, LCSW, CST, tells mbg. “For people who would like to pursue a long-term relationship, people use both apps.”

Phillips some pros and cons for the sites below:

Clear out an afternoon to give yourself time to set up your eharmony profile. While it's lengthy, the site tries to make the involved process fun and informative as you work through a thought-provoking compatibility quiz to learn more about your boundaries, attitudes toward relationships, how you react to everyday scenarios, communication styles, and more.

When you set up your bio on your page, take it as an opportunity to showcase yourself and what you're all about since you'll have plenty of room. The extra detail will pay off with more information for its AI to improve the algorithm for you later on. Once completed, eharmony leverages those same data points to match you with other users based on your answers and compatibility score.

The premium version of the site comes in varying bundle lengths: a six-month Premium Light membership, a 12-month Premium Plus membership, and a 24-month Premium Extra Month membership. Depending on location, subscription type (the more months you purchase, the cheaper the monthly plan), and the features you want, you can pay anywhere between $12 and $60 per month. First-time subscribers can also save on their membership by using promo code MBG20.

Pro tip: Search around for deals, as eharmony offers discounts regularly. Although they price out their plans with monthly rates, you'll need to either pay for the entire subscription in one lump sum or in four monthly installments. Be sure to cancel auto-renew for whatever plan you choose so it doesn't accidentally enroll you for another membership unless you choose to opt into it.

Match doesn't require a heavy lift to set up your profile—although you shouldn't skimp on the details to get right to the matches. As soon as you log on, you have the opportunity to fill out basic prompts to help filter out the wrong matches and filter in the right people. You can set your geographic preferences, body type, relationship aspirations, exercise habits, and alcohol/smoking habits. You also type out your interests and bio to summarize what you're all about, though the site makes it easy with built-in topics so you're not staring at a blinking cursor on a blank page. Then you can use their robust search engine to start matching people and "liking" potential dates.

Match has three standard plans and three premium plans (all of which come in three- to 12-month bundles) that you can purchase. Similar to eharmony, if you choose a higher monthly bundle length, the prices are lower.

Their cheapest plan, their Standard Plan, for one year is $12 per month, or their Premium Plan for one year is priced at $14. The plans can be paid in one go or through four installments. If you want to purchase the premium add-ons like read receipts, Match Phone, or allowing any user to respond to your messages, it can run between $2 and $10.

"When it comes to cost considerations, eharmony has a more extensive process of matching than Match, which in theory will connect users with more aligned matches," says Alyssa Dineen, a dating expert, author of The Art of Online Dating, and founder of Style My Profile. "However, in most areas, Match is more widely used and therefore would have a better selection of potential dates, making it theoretically more worth the cost."

"As with all dating apps, the usage varies geographically, including usage by age," she tells mbg. "For example, within major cities, neither eharmony nor Match is widely used for people under 60. Even outside of metropolitan areas, in my experience, Match is more popular than eharmony."

As for which app is worth your buck, Dineen recommends choosing the dating service that works best for you and your unique situation. Just like any other person you're dating, treat the apps the same way. Be choosy and selectively pick the apps that can garner success for you. Don't look at the overall general reviews, but instead check out reviews from people who are in a similar demographic and geographic area.

Ruiz and Phillips both recommend eharmony as the preferred dating site for people over 50, especially if you're looking for a serious relationship or to get hitched. They agree the dating app is better dedicated to finding long-term partners, whereas Match can also feature people interested in casual dating. For people over 50, it can also be harder to sort through bots and fake profiles, which are seemingly more prevalent on Match.

If you're new to dating and want to try out free options before moving toward a paid model, apps like Bumble may be a great option to start with.

If you're interested in exploring polyamory or LGBTQ+ relationships, eharmony and Match may not hold a candle to apps like Bumble, OkCupid, and Hinge. "Even though eharmony now has gay and lesbian users, it's not that inclusive of the whole of the LGBTQ community. This is partly because eharmony was originally started as a more 'traditional' pro-marriage dating site, founded by a Christian, and it's still very much thought of in that way," Dineen explains.

"By comparison, Match is more inclusive than eharmony of the LGBTQ community, but it's still not as inclusive as apps like Tinder and OkCupid or LGBTQ-specific apps like Her, Grindr, and Feeld," she says.

For those who know exactly what they want, Match has a powerful filtering system and an expert in your pocket that can take your connections to the next level. If you like learning more about yourself, know exactly who you are, and want to match with people that take the same approach in dating, you'll like eharmony better.

eharmony won't be for you if you want to swipe and go, while Match probably won't be your speed if you don't want to commit to putting in the time and effort to search for your matches.

Times have changed, but eharmony and Match have been able to keep up with contemporary dating and connecting people with like-minded singles to nurture enduring relationships. If you don't mind spending a little bit of money on your dating life, these dating apps are attractive options to widen your net to find your match.

4/18: Content was updated to reflect the discontinuation of eHarmony's video date feature.