Do you know what it is you really want out of a dating site? You might be serious about making life-long matches, but you still need to figure out the features, interface, and pricing plans you need.
In this research, I'll be comparing eHarmony and EliteSingles to let you know what they can do for you. I'm going to assess these options based on the following factors:
Key Points:
- Target Audience: eHarmony focuses on a broad range of users looking for serious relationships, while Elite Singles targets educated professionals seeking long-term commitment.
- Matching Algorithm: eHarmony uses a comprehensive 32-dimensional personality test to match users, whereas Elite Singles matches based on education level, income, and set preferences.
- User Demographics: eHarmony has a diverse user base in terms of age and background. Elite Singles, on the other hand, primarily attracts users between 30-55 years old with higher education degrees.
- Pricing and Subscription: Both services are premium, but eHarmony offers a variety of subscription plans and frequently provides discounts, while Elite Singles generally maintains higher, more consistent pricing.
- Success Rate: When it comes to success rates, eHarmony often stands out for marriage seekers. eHarmony is responsible for 5% of marriages in the US. eHarmony's detailed compatibility tests and extensive user base give it a slight edge in fostering successful, long-term relationships.
Elite Singles vs. eHarmony: Detailed Comparison
After reading this review, you will be able to decide which dating site is most suitable for you and the one most likely to lead you to find love.
1. Who is Popular?
Looking at which dating sites out of Elite Singles and eHarmony rank as most popular for internet users, they are not far apart in the competition. Users feel they get similar benefits from each site.
EliteSingles free version seems to appeal to audiences to some extent. However, users prefer eHarmony because it attracts a larger number of users. More users essentially mean more options.
If you look at hard data from Google Trends, you can see that people favor eHarmony over EliteSingles.
2. Sign-Up Process
When you sign up for any online dating site, you have to undergo an extensive questionnaire (a.k.a compatibility quiz) about the kind of person you are and what you're seeking.
eHarmony
eHarmony's sign-up questionnaire can take anywhere between a breezy twenty minutes or a much more time-consuming hour. There is an option to come back later if you need it.
You may want to brace yourself for some questions as it gets deep:
- Do you go through mood swings?
- Other than your parents, who has been the most influential person in your life, and why?
- Does life sometimes seem meaningless?
These are just a few examples of how real eHarmony gets, and it makes sense why; to match you with ideal candidates, it needs to get to know you as much as possible.
The fact that not much remains unsaid is arguably a good thing. If you want to find 'the one,' why would you leave anything to chance and the questions you should have asked? During the sign-up process, there is also an option to add a photo of yourself, which I highly recommend.
Elite Singles
Like eHarmony, you will have to fill out a personality test when setting up your profile on EliteSingles. This questionnaire is slightly longer and has 200-points as opposed to eHarmony's 150-points.
These questions will dig deep into the person you are. Expect to unveil your sexual interests, what your friends' opinions of you are, and how you cope with stress.
After the initial questionnaire, it will ask seven more questions about you. It would be best if you answered these thoughtfully and did not rush. Your results will tastefully be on display on your profile, so bear that in mind.
eHarmony wins in the sign-up process compared to EliteSingles. The sign-up for Elite Singles is slightly longer than eHarmony's, which can make getting dates take longer.
Despite eHarmony's shorter sign-up process, its matchmaking doesn't compromise on the quality of questions, which seems to make it a preferable option for users.
3. Members & Making Interactions
The point of these platforms is to make contacts and interact with people you may otherwise not get to meet.
Header | eHarmony | Elite Singles |
---|---|---|
Number of Active Members | 10 million+ | 5 million+ |
Users From U.S | 5 million+ | 2 million+ |
Target Audience | Long-term relationship and marriage seekers | Successful and well educated users |
Gender Distribution | 52% female 48% male (estimation) | 44% female 56% male (estimation) |
eHarmony
eHarmony has a much larger user base than EliteSingles and a higher number of monthly active users. If more people visit the site monthly, you may have more chances to meet someone.
The reason there are more members on eHarmony may be that it's more accommodating for everyone, no matter your job or educational background. eHarmony's users average around 30 years old. This demographic data set is more inclusive for people of varying ages.
eHarmony offers a guarantee that if you don't find someone in three months, you get three months free, which will help with your search.
Elite Singles
In terms of potential matches, on EliteSingles, you will be more likely to find a partner who is highly educated or has a successful career.
It's also worth remembering that with EliteSingles, 90% of users are 30+. So depending on your age, the narrower age group may or may not be an advantage for you.
Although eHarmony is slightly less exclusive in terms of people's professional success, with a 3-month free guarantee, its competitive factors make it a winner for members.
4. Quality of Matches
The quality of the match is an essential factor to consider in finding love. It would be a waste of time to get more matches if all the candidates were subpar. Therefore, the quality comes down to the dating sites' matching processes.
eHarmony
eHarmony uses a science-based method to match users. It uses something called 'main effects,' which evaluates the potential impact both you and your partner's traits may have on each other's feelings. As users will have 'About' and 'Compatibility' sections on their profile, this is where you can get a real insight into whether someone is suitable for you.
eHarmony doesn't just match you with other users based on the things you like and dislike but on the more profound things, such as how you view the world. Being able to compare how you resonate or differ with others in certain areas can be valuable and exciting.
Elite Singles
Elite Singles is similar to eHarmony in its matching process but doesn't have a 'compatibility' component. EliteSingles will provide you with around 3-7 matches daily, and this round-up of candidates considers your education, location, relationship preferences, and personality.
Despite EliteSingles not having the compatibility advantage, the 'about' section for users is concise and descriptive. This way, users should be able to get an accurate enough grasp on whether they like someone.
The compatibility section is a significant factor in finding the right match. The use of science is also something you can't argue with, making eHarmony the obvious choice here.
5. Features
The features can impact your user experience and whether a dating app works for you and your lifestyle. The right features will help you prioritize the qualities you want in your significant other and determine how easy it is to meet a match.
eHarmony
Add to favorites — You can select profiles of the people you're interested in and add them to a list of 'favorites' by clicking the star icon.
Send a smile — This friendly little gesture is a way of letting someone know you like them. Just click the smiley face icon under the profile photo.
What if — This feature gives you an additional 30 matches. You'll see people who would otherwise be outside your preference list. You never know; opposites attract!
Send questions — If you want to start a conversation or keep one going, this feature will send automated questions to help break the ice.
Video chat — Sometimes, you can't meet up with the person when you want in person. You can use this feature to chat with users over video from wherever you're comfortable.
Elite Singles
Have you met? — This feature generates a list of people that you potentially missed while viewing your match recommendations
Wildcard — This feature is for paying members and will give you 20 extra matches daily.
Personality analysis — Elite Singles uses what is called "The Big Five" personality analysis. The Big Five consists of Openness, Agreeableness, Extraversion, Conscientiousness, and Neuroticism. You will match with others based on your compatibility, focusing on these factors.
Favorites list — By pressing the star icon on another user's profile, you can add them to your favorites list and easily find them again later.
Advanced search — You can narrow down searches to look for more specific details about someone, e.g., drinking habits, height, income, desire to have kids, etc.
You can find out more about the features in our EliteSingles review.
Elite Singles' added features are more intricate, and stops you from missing people you potentially could have. Plus, the Big Five makes up for the compatibility aspect it lacks in the profile.
6. Pricing
Pricing is crucial whenever you shop for a service, but with dating sites, it is absolutely essential. If you use the platform for a year or longer, you don't want to break the bank trying to find a date.
eHarmony
One unique aspect of eHarmony's pricing is that they don't offer a subscription for less than six months. However, they do occasionally provide discounts to registered members or on special occasions like Valentine's Day.
You can learn more about different plans and detailed eHarmony costs here.
6-month
premium membership
$
55.90
per month
12-month
premium membership
$
35.90
per month
24-month
premium membership
$
25.90
per month
Elite Singles
For Elite Singles, there is a premium and basic membership option. The basic option is free yet limited, just like eHarmony. It allows you to take a personality test and try basic site features. For the premium membership, there is no one-month option. Users must subscribe for at least three months.
There are three subscription options for Elite Singles:
3-month
premium membership
$
57.95
per month
6-month
premium membership
$
44.95
per month
12-month
premium membership
$
31.95
per month
Elite Singles is the cheaper option of the two (but can you really put a price on love?). Seriously though, eHarmony is noticeably more expensive.
One thing to note is that the costs can fluctuate, so keep this in mind when signing up.
7. Ease of Use
With eHarmony and EliteSingles, ease of use is a difficult comparison point. Both sites are accessible and won't create that frustration and confusion.
eHarmony
eHarmony is simple to use. They welcome users of all age groups, including those 60+, so it makes sense that they have an all-encompassing platform. The site will carefully guide you through the sign-up process. Once you've filled in information about yourself, the rest is pretty straightforward (usability-wise, anyway).
One thing to note is that eHarmony has no search feature. Each day, you will get a batch of matches on your profile, ready for you to view. You can set up filters to make your matches more specific to what you want from a partner.
Elite Singles
Elite Singles generally is full of helpful advice and guidance throughout the initial stages of building your profile. However, they do try to encourage a more do-it-on-your-own approach.
It is also because of the DIY approach that the platform is so streamlined. The layout is straightforward, and as you can't search for matches directly, this takes out any fiddly bits in that area.
eHarmony layout is super simple, and although do-it-on-your-own is good, it's not for everyone. The set filters on eHarmony are more intricate and interest-focused than those on Elite Singles.
8. Customer Service
If you compare the "Help" sections for eHarmony and Elite Singles, you'll find plenty of resources for both members and non-members. However, contacting customer service seems like it's a bit tricky for both sites.
eHarmony
eHarmony has an FAQ center, which is easy for members to use. You can search for the terms that you are looking for here, and you can also find the 'Contact us' button in this 'Help' section.
eHarmony can be contacted by email or phone, and they are also active on social media, so customer support is available through those channels as well.
Elite Singles
The Elite Singles FAQ page is the primary way for people to troubleshoot their issues. This page displays popular search terms and some of their main categories.
To contact customer support, you'll need to scroll to the 'Contact Us' button at the bottom of the page. Clicking this button will redirect you to another page. While they recommend you keep searching, there is another contact button that should lead you to a form.
The option on eHarmony to call or contact via social media is helpful. With this platform, you also have a better chance of getting a response quicker.
Who is it for?
Both dating sites are best suited for those looking for serious relationships.
eHarmony
eHarmony's users are predominantly 30 years of age and older. Still, the user community feels very young at heart. Also, the site does not discriminate!
No matter your preference, you are likely to find people that suit you and your lifestyle. It attracts those looking for serious relationships and potentially having marriage in mind.
Elite Singles
Elite Singles targets well-educated users. They claim that around 82% of their users hold a bachelor's degree.
EliteSingles is for those looking for a high-achieving partner and a stable relationship. The predominant age range for users is 30-50.
Overall Winner
There's a lot that I have weighed up here, comparing eHarmony and EliteSingles. While both seem to be popular choices, it's clear that eHarmony is better than Elite Singles.
eHarmony doesn't discriminate based on your education or income level but takes an honest look at who you are as a person. This platform has a simplistic layout and better ease of use.
Although it is more expensive, the initial sign-up process is incredibly thorough. eHarmony's matching process works based on science and human psychology.
For those looking to find new love that will last, I believe eHarmony triumphs over Elite Singles.
Related eHarmony Comparison Articles: