In this article, I will compare two of the most popular dating sites that millions of singles flock to daily, eHarmony and Chemistry.com.
These are two of the most widely-used dating websites worldwide. Millions of people from all walks of life find love and relationships on both websites; eHarmony has been online since 2000, while Chemistry went online in 2006.
Key Points
- There are over 20 million registered users on eHarmony, while Chemistry has a much smaller user base, with 1.5 million registered users.
- eHarmony's matching algorithm is based on a 29-dimensional personality questionnaire, while Chemistry's matching algorithm is based on a personality test called the Fisher Temperament Inventory.
- eHarmony has a more straightforward, more intuitive user interface. eHarmony’s user interface is much more minimalist, while Chemistry.com is a little busier with more widgets and other on-screen features.
- Both sites use extensive questionnaires to get to know users, but eHarmony's questionnaire is more detailed.
- eHarmony has a slightly higher success rate, with 72% of users finding a match, and eHarmony is responsible for 5% of all marriages in the US.
Both eHarmony and Chemistry target a similar brand of singles - middle-class professionals looking for a committed relationship or even marriage and are willing to pay higher subscription fees.
They also place a lot of emphasis on deep compatibility. For example, each site requires its members to take detailed personality tests that break down their interests, dating history, philosophical views, and ideal partner.
Both sites allow you to browse members for free but require you to pay for other features.
Keep reading because, in the next section, I’m going to dive deeper into both these sites and compare:
Chemistry.com vs eHarmony: Detailed Comparison
This is a theme I’ll keep returning to, but when it comes to features, eHarmony.com and Chemistry share many of the same features, with a few significant differences.
1. Site Navigation & User Interface
There’s no denying that eHarmony and Chemistry.com are both good-looking websites. Both sites are responsive and dynamic, but eHarmony is the winner in this category because its website is easy to navigate, and the user interface is simple and straightforward.
Chemistry.com also looks excellent, even if you can tell that they’ve tried to position themselves as a “colorful and casual” player in online dating.
I can see how users who don’t like eHarmony’s minimalist design would be drawn to this. But there’s no denying that sometimes, the Chemistry.com website can be a little crowded and, at times, difficult to navigate.
Chemistry.com crowds its website with widgets and extra features like the “chemistry starter” games that users can play with potential matches. This became a problem for me when I tried to use Chemistry.com on my smartphone.
2. Interacting With Potential Matches
With eHarmony, users will find themselves in a “walled garden” of sorts where they can only communicate with potential partners. While you’ll receive possible matches by e-mail every day, eHarmony doesn’t offer a way to log in and start browsing a vast pool of matches.
Instead, when you see a potential match you’d like to communicate with, you can initiate contact or vice versa. After you’ve started communicating with a match, you’ll go through a four-step process that leads to the option to chat openly.
During the matching process, either you or the match can end contact for any reason if you don’t think it’s a good match.
Chemistry.com takes a more flexible approach when interacting with potential matches. While Chemistry.com sends you matches based on how you answered the questions on the personality test during the sign-up process, generally, it’s a lot more casual.
There’s a “flirt” feature and an instant messaging feature that’s open to everyone, including free users. There’s also a chatroom, and subscribers can sign up to receive alerts whenever a potential match flirts with them or expresses interest.
With the Chemistry.com app, users have the option of setting up four questions that matches are required to answer before communication is allowed.
Significantly, Chemistry.com gives you the option to expand your profile and make it visible to the entire site, not just your potential matches.
When it comes to declaring a winner by communication with potential matches, I would say that Chemistry.com makes it a lot easier, even if some people prefer eHarmony’s method.
3. Size of Subscriber Base
This is another feature I look for because the more subscribers a dating website has, the greater your chance of landing high-quality matches. When you compare eHarmony and Chemistry by the size of their respective subscriber bases, eHarmony wins hands down.
eHarmony has over 29 million subscribers, with 16 million active weekly users, while Chemistry.com has roughly 1.5 million subscribers.
Globally, eHarmony claims members across the globe in over 200 countries, with matches routinely finding love even though they’re in different parts of the world. Chemistry.com does have some overseas users, but the majority of its subscribers are in the U.S.
While both sites cater to users who are around 30 or 40 years old, eHarmony also attracts a small number of users in their mid-to-late twenties, which is something I typically don’t see on Chemistry.com.
eHarmony goes out of its way to cater to 50-plus singles, while Chemistry.com does not.
4. Subscription Packages & Pricing
Both eHarmony and Chemistry have expensive subscription packages that provide some free features, while others require payment.
Both eHarmony and Chemistry.com offer a free trial to new subscribers, and both dating websites run frequent promotions and offer discounts to both current subscribers and former members.
Pricing Structure
eHarmony offers three different subscription packages to members as of April 2024:
You can learn more about eHarmony memberships and pricing structure on this page.
Chemistry.com offers a similar number of subscription packages:
Chemistry.com Beats eHarmony On Price, With Tradeoffs
As you can see, Chemistry.com is significantly cheaper than eHarmony.com, but the tradeoff is that you get far fewer subscribers.
If you’re looking for love online and you want to cast a wider net and maybe start looking for potential matches overseas, Chemistry.com doesn’t give you very many options.
5. Profile Setup
Both sites require users to complete detailed personality tests and psychological assessments.
Psychologist Dr. Neil Clark Warren developed eHarmony’s famous matching system.
Dr. Helen Fisher, an anthropologist, developed Chemistry.com’s matching system. So, both sites use matchmaking methods developed with the aid of scientific research.
When it comes to comparing eHarmony and Chemistry by profile setup, it’s a tie. The fact is that signing up for either dating site not only costs a significant amount of money but setting up your profile takes time, with most users finishing their profiles over a period of days.
So while it might be time-consuming if you sign up for either of these dating sites, be prepared to put in the time and complete the process to ensure you’re paired off with the best matches once you’ve finished the sign-up process.
6. Profile Information
In many of my dating site reviews, I run into men and women who want to date online but are concerned about their privacy and security. In this section, I will discuss what information each site makes visible in its member profiles.
In your eHarmony profile, you’ll find all the information you included in your profile under the “About Me” tab, which includes age, education, location, religion, and more. This is also where you’ll find your preferences for potential soulmates and the level of compatibility potential matches need to have before you’re open to chatting.
The compatibility tab is where things get interesting because members rank on various metrics, including intellect, altruism, affection, conscientiousness, and physical intimacy. This is perfect for finding out whether individuals make good couples even before going out on dates.
There’s also an area for photos and other demographic information.
If you set up a profile on Chemistry.com, you’ll see that you have the option of making your profile very detailed if you want to. But unlike eHarmony, which requires users to provide a great deal of information before they’re allowed to use the site, Chemistry.com is more casual.
The result of all this is that if you’re on Chemistry.com, you’ll see quite a few profiles where a lot of the information has been left blank.
7. Security & Privacy
In the world of online dating, it’s essential to take steps to protect your safety and your personal information. In this section, I will look at each website’s measures to keep its users safe and secure.
As I said earlier, eHarmony was the first primary dating website to require identity verification to use the site.
More recently, eHarmony has also started rejecting prospective users who exhibit certain behaviors during the sign-up process or provide false information.
While eHarmony doesn’t do background checks or any other screening, a visit to its website reveals frequent tips on safety. eHarmony also uses data encryption, firewalls, and password hashing to keep its site secure.
While Chemistry.com does protect its website with the encryption provider Verisign, there’s very little in the way of security on the actual website. Chemistry.com’s website does contain all the usual boilerplate verbiage about safe online dating practices, but that’s about it.
While there have been increasing reports from eHarmony users whose accounts were shut down or suspended for suspicious behavior, on the other side of the coin, it appears that eHarmony takes its users’ safety more seriously than Chemistry.com.
8. Special Features
While each of these sites interacts with subscribers differently, they both offer a wide array of unique special features to make the matching process fun, less stressful, and more accurate. In addition, these sites also offer a wide variety of security and verification features.
It’s no surprise that despite its limited communication methods, eHarmony has quite a few unique features, even though most of these special features are less about fun and more about safety.
eHarmony users can flirt using the “Send a Smile” feature. There’s also a secure phone call feature built into the website that allows matches to talk on the phone anonymously.
eHarmony users can “favorite” matches and sign up for a “What If?” feature where they can chat with matches who don’t quite fit their profile.
Chemistry.com has many features that are common to other dating websites, such as the ability to flirt and message other users. However, it also features a chatroom and the ability to message other users for free.
Chemistry.com users can also search users using various traits, such as location, height, ethnicity, and zodiac sign. Users can also favorite other users.
Chemistry vs. eHarmony : The Winner?
So it’s probably no surprise to any of you that in my head-to-head comparison between eHarmony and Chemistry.com, eHarmony is the clear winner.
Which Dating Site is The Best Overall?
eHarmony is the better dating site because of its intuitive design, enhanced privacy features, and superior quality of matches, not to mention its vast pool of subscribers.
Go With eHarmony if You Have the Time and Money
eHarmony is better suited for men and women who have the money to invest in an expensive subscription and the time to go through a rigorous matching process. eHarmony takes work, but you can make a connection with some truly great matches if you put in the time.
Go With Chemistry.com if You Want a More Casual Experience
If you’re not looking for a serious relationship but want to make friends and have a little more flexibility, go with Chemistry.com. Chemistry.com is also the better option for people who don’t want to pay a fortune for a subscription.
With Fine-Tuned Matching, eHarmony is the Better Site
While I’m reluctant to refer to either site as the “winner” in this review, I’m going to come right out and say that I think eHarmony is just simply better. eHarmony has been in the online dating space for over two decades, and they’ve got the matching part of the equation down to a science.
Surveys consistently rank eHarmony as the website with the most successful matches. eHarmony was also the first major dating site to require identity verification for its subscribers. eHarmony makes online dating more accessible because you’re more likely to meet a good match.
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