eHarmony vs Coffee Meets Bagel – Which One is Better in 2023?

By: Michele Baird
Updated: January 3, 2023
Coffee Meets Bagel versus eHarmony header

In this article, I will be comparing features of eHarmony against Coffee Meets Bagel so that it will be easier for you to make the right choice.

As someone who has had difficulty finding the perfect partner, I am highly familiar with dating apps. I have gone through them all, good and bad.

As a result, I know exactly what makes for a good dating website. I feel confident that I can extend my advice to anyone who may be looking for a good dating app.

Key Points:

  • eHarmony is focused on helping people find long-term, committed relationships. In contrast, Coffee Meets Bagel is designed to help people find more casual, short-term dating experiences.
  • eHarmony uses a more in-depth personality test to match users, while Coffee Meets Bagel uses an algorithm that matches users based on mutual Facebook friends.
  • eHarmony has a more diverse user base, while Coffee Meets Bagel has a more targeted user base.
  • A 2017 study by eHarmony found that people who use the site are more likely to get married than those who don't. Coffee Meets Bagel had the most satisfied users in the 2018 Consumer Reports survey, with a score of 79 out of 100.

Keep reading to find out how eHarmony and Coffee Meets Bagel compare to each other. 

eHarmony vs. Coffee Meets Bagel

Both eHarmony and Coffee Meets Bagel are modern online dating sites. While they have similar goals, they go about the process in different ways. 

1: Setting up

Setting up a profile on a dating site is often the first task you have to accomplish to find success. The way that eHarmony and Coffee Meets Bagel allow you to join their platform is different from each other.

With eHarmony, you can set up your account on a mobile account or desktop. But with Coffee Meets Bagel, your only option is to download the app. This difference isn’t a big deal to most people, as mobile apps are the new normal.

However, not everyone likes to keep dating apps on their phones. Not everyone even has access to a smartphone. For this percentage of people, having the option to use a dating platform on a computer comes in handy. 

For this category, eHarmony is my recommendation.

2: Pricing

Access to potential love often comes with a price. Many dating services will charge an amount of money in exchange for using their services.

Using all of the services that come with eHarmony will come with a price. You can start a free account with eHarmony, however.

To use the features that make the dating site worth it, you will need to pay for a certain plan. With eHarmony, there are three plans that you can choose from. These plans include a light plan, a premium plus, and a premium ultra. 

The light plan is $55.90 for six months of use. Using the second plan will lower the cost to $35.90 for twelve months. The premium ultra plan is $25.90 for two years of use. Read more details on the pricing here.

When it comes to pricing the plans, eHarmony only considers the length of time someone is using their service. That means that all plans will provide the same features. The only difference is when the subscription ends.

Coffee Meets Bagel is almost entirely free, on the other hand. There are a few features that you can pay to access. These features include being able to like certain profiles and seeing when people read your messages. 

In terms of pricing, I have to give the upper hand to Coffee Meets Bagel. You can use almost the entirety of the service without having to pay for any subscription. Coffee Meets Bagel is the better option for those on a budget.

3: Matching

Both eHarmony and Coffee Meets Bagel work hard to match their users with a perfect partner.

Coffee Meets Bagel focuses on eventually being deleted from people’s phones. A lot of current dating apps follow the same formula. The user downloads the app, creates a profile, swipes a bit, and then forgets the app.

Coffee Meets Bagel strives to change up the boring formula that turns so many people off. This dating app intends to find someone who makes you want to delete the app. 

Coffee Meets Bagel will take information from your profile and who you interact with to customize an algorithm for its users. Every day each user will get a unique list of profiles that Coffee Meets Bagel recommends.

However, eHarmony also works hard to provide accurate matches between its users.

The site originally got its reputation for finding special matches between two people using compatibility tests.

Part of the onboarding process of eHarmony is taking a personality test. This test helps the site understand who will work well for who in a romantic scenario. You can also list all of your interests, hobbies, and what you are looking for in your eHarmony profile. You can find more about how eHarmony works in our review here.

If you are looking to date casually and explore, Coffee Meets Bagel may be a better option for you. But if you are looking to find the perfect match, I have to recommend eHarmony. The dating site has been working on its match-making formula for years now. 

eHarmony vs Coffee Meets Bagel: The Winner

Overall, I have to give the winning trophy to eHarmony. I find that the site is great for finding someone with whom you will click. The dating site is also extremely trustworthy and works hard to ensure that all user information is kept private. 

Best For

Not every dating situation is the same. I understand that while eHarmony may work best for me, it won’t work the same for everyone. There are situations in which I think that Coffee Meets Bagel would even work better. 

Coffee Meets Bagel is a good option for a younger audience. It is a modern approach to an age-old dating problem. People looking to date around and explore may want to start with Coffee Meets Bagel. 

Using eHarmony can feel like you are being set up for your future if you are new to the dating scene. But if you are ready to start looking for that special someone, eHarmony is a good fit.

Both eHarmony and Coffee Meets Bagel are good platforms for members of the LGBTQ community. One of the first things you may notice when looking at eHarmony is that you can choose whichever gender you are looking for. 

What's the Difference Between eHarmony and Coffee Meets Bagel?

Right off the bat, there are aesthetic differences between the two love apps. Overall, eHarmony focuses on the general aspects of dating. Coffee Meets Bagel focuses on finding your life partner, so you will never have to use a dating app again.

Authenticity is another big aspect of Coffee Meets Bagel. With eHarmony, the site focuses on finding a compatible match for people of all personalities and genders. 

Which is Better and Why?

Different dating apps lend themselves better for different locations. For example, an app that is popular in one area may have no members in another area. 

Overall, eHarmony is a very popular dating site. It has been around for at least twenty years. The site currently boasts itself as the number one trusted dating app, which I can believe. 

Because eHarmony is more likely to have a wider range of options, I have to recommend eHarmony over Coffee Meets Bagel. 

Best For

Those who fall on the LGBTQ spectrum are likely to feel welcome with eHarmony at first glance. The LGBTQ community benefits from having more options, as dating in the LGBTQ world can be tricky. 

Those who are looking to try a different approach to online dating may appreciate Coffee Meets Bagel. The dating site does not rely on a lot of the typical online dating cliches. 

Final Words

Online dating doesn’t have to be difficult, and all anyone needs to know is that there is a perfect match out there. I recommend joining eHarmony if you are ready to settle down and find the love of your life.

You can find a perfect match through setting up a profile on eHarmony. By taking a personality test, you can better understand who you are and what you're looking for in a partner.

By setting up a profile that is honest and upfront about what you're looking for, you can attract potential partners that are also looking for the same things. 

Related eHarmony Comparison Articles:

  1.  Click here to read eHarmony vs Match comparison.
  2.  eHarmony vs Hinge – Everything You Need To Know
  3.  Bumble vs eHarmony – Everything You Need To Know