eharmony evaluate (2026): Is the relationship app well worth the excessive price?

Desk of Contents

I’ve been testing relationship apps for a very long time now, and the query my mates ask me most is not “how does the algorithm work?” however somewhat “which app is definitely one of the best?”

Recently, as we have all gotten older (and extra keen to quiet down), eharmony has snuck into the dialog extra typically than I’d wish to admit. It’s identified for being the go-to for the over-50 crowd, however its “hip” new commercials recommend the corporate is determined to draw a youthful person base.

No matter their advertising and marketing technique, the declare that “each 14 minutes, somebody finds love on eharmony” piqued my curiosity. So, I made a decision to offer it an actual school attempt to see whether or not its notorious questionnaire and algorithm-based matching system really work. Beneath is my detailed expertise with eharmony, from sign-up to connecting with different customers.

Getting began on eharmony

When you obtain the app, you may have two selections: “Be part of now” or “Log in.” There is not an choice to register with Fb or Google on this display screen. (Given the app’s older demographic, I actually anticipated a Fb login to be entrance and heart.)

Subsequent, you choose your nation and your gender. You will have three choices: lady, man, or nonbinary.

After you decide one, a observe pops up letting you realize you’ll be able to “replace your gender at any time.” That is cool contemplating eharmony’s historical past of being less-than-welcoming to homosexual and nonbinary of us. However that feeling of progress evaporates while you’re requested, “Who’re you open to assembly?” You possibly can decide ladies, males, or nonbinary individuals — however the app would not allow you to make a number of choices. It’s a serious draw back for queer and bisexual daters who need a wider pool.

If you happen to resolve to maintain going, you’ll share what you are searching for (informal, severe, or simply looking) after which get smacked within the face with a large consent pop-up.

I did not click on “settle for all,” and it nonetheless let me transfer ahead, so a minimum of there’s no gatekeeping there. Lastly, the app asks you to enroll along with your electronic mail handle, Apple, or Google account. It’s bizarre that they bury this step so deep within the onboarding course of as a substitute of placing it on the very starting, however I ultimately selected Google — it’s simply simpler that means.

You’re in. Now what?

After efficiently getting by the preliminary registration, you’ll get a cute little welcome message: “Congrats — you’re taking step one in the direction of discovering somebody who will get you. Now, let’s see what’s subsequent for you.”

That is the half we’ve all been complaining about for years. This in depth questionnaire is a trademark of eharmony, and it’s what the corporate claims is the “secret sauce” to its matchmaking success. The primary display screen is simply an intro that mainly says to search out somebody best for you, one of the best place to look is inside your self. (I believe this makes complete sense.)

Clicking “proceed” brings you to a display screen with two ideas: Spend 10 to twenty minutes taking the quiz, and go along with your intestine. (I’m curious if the upcoming questions are primarily based on whether or not you selected man, lady, or nonbinary on your gender desire. It might be attention-grabbing to see if a male person will get completely different phrasing than a feminine or nonbinary person.)

I’m not going to record each single query, however right here’s a fast rundown of the primary 15 %:

• The place is your supreme place to dwell? (No matter the place you are actually.)

• Why would you like a relationship? You possibly can select three choices, together with issues like “emotional safety,” “so I’m not alone,” and “frequent intimacy” (go eharmony for together with that one!).

• Why are you single? (To start with, impolite. Additionally, unsure a few of you might be able to go down that rabbit gap.)

• Would you sleep in a single mattress or separate bedrooms?

One factor I didn’t love is that should you change your thoughts about a solution, there isn’t a “again” button to revise it. When you click on, you’re dedicated.

Shifting on… the subsequent set of questions focuses on particular pursuits. Some are a number of selection, whereas others demand “precisely two solutions required.” It covers the fundamentals like smoking and consuming, plus life-style questions like whether or not you like cooking or going out to eat (once more, questioning in the event that they ask the fellows this, too). I appreciated that you may select “none” for sports activities, but it surely was bizarre that it requested if I performed an instrument, however by no means requested which one.

Truthfully, by this level, I used to be able to faucet out, however I’m doing this for all of you singletons on the market who’re prepared to search out your endlessly particular person.

The subsequent part is picture-based and begins to really feel a bit like a Rorschach check. It provides you two shapes and asks which appeals to you extra. As soon as that’s over, you get an encouraging pop-up: “Midway there — stick with it!” Then, extra photos — this time of houses, flowers, and nature scenes.

Probably the most attention-grabbing a part of this part was a query about your “speedy response” if somebody near you upsets you. After I picked my first selection, I acquired a bit pop-up scolding me: “Most individuals have a tendency to select this reply as a result of it appears essentially the most logical. Please take a second and ensure you are selecting the correct reply that applies to you.” OK, eharmony.

It randomly hits you with a local weather change query, after which issues get severe. Nevertheless, the wedding query didn’t sit proper with me. Not due to what it requested (“What do you concentrate on marriage as an establishment?”) however due to the solutions it didn’t provide. It felt restricted. It additionally locations a query about whether or not “intercourse sells” proper beneath a query about set mealtimes, which is… a selection.

When you lastly end, you’re met with a congratulations display screen. You made it.

Much more particulars, should you can consider it

OK, so that you’ve made it this far — congrats! Now, it’s a must to fill out your full identify, birthday, occupation, top, schooling stage, annual revenue, whether or not you may have kids, faith, and ethnicity. I actually felt like I used to be filling out a mortgage utility.

In addition they ask on your marital standing. The one choices are single, separated, divorced, and widowed. At first, I believed this was bizarre for a “endlessly love” app, however then it clicked. Since so many eharmony customers are older, figuring out if somebody is divorced or widowed is definitely useful context. (That stated, dangerous information for the poly crowd: there’s completely no possibility for moral non-monogamy right here.)

Subsequent, you select two required prompts to reply (500 characters max) and write a brief bio. Then comes the picture part. Wildly sufficient, eharmony allows you to “skip” this step totally. If you happen to attempt, a pop-up gently nudges you to rethink since you’ll “stand out extra,” however you’ll be able to proceed and not using a face. For a web site this severe, that seems like a loophole for catfish.

eharmony is infamous for being expensive, so when a “Welcome Present” display screen popped up, I braced myself for what was to return. Positive sufficient, clicking “unwrap present” reveals a 50% off premium subscription provide.

Warning: If you happen to click on “Subsequent” on this display screen, it instantly asks for fee information. It appears to be like like a paywall, however don’t be fooled — you can hit the “again” button to bypass it and get to the free model. Do not allow them to trick you.

How a lot will relationship on eharmony price you?

Whilst you can join eharmony without cost, the app actually pushes you to get a paid subscription. (The Australian Competitors and Shopper Fee has really sued the corporate for auto-renewals individuals didn’t consent to, so… proceed with warning.)

Anyway, this is the pricing construction I used to be provided. Be aware that yours might differ relying on the place you reside, while you enroll, and so on.

Premium gentle: $14.90 monthly

• Limitless messaging with 15 matches month-to-month

• See one picture of every profile

• Distinctive character profile

• Search close to you

Premium plus: $16.90 monthly

Premium limitless: $18.90 monthly

The matching course of (lastly!)

In any case that information entry and the predatory subscription BS, the app tells you it is lastly prepared to point out you your “featured profiles” — mainly three members you’re speculated to fee. You possibly can skip this part, however I moved ahead so I might inform you what occurs.

Clicking “Let’s go” introduced me to my first profile. I could not even view her picture; tapping it instantly triggered a request for fee.

Then I seemed on the particulars. She was a strong two hours and half-hour away from me. She was additionally seven years youthful than me (bizarre, because the app by no means requested for my age desire earlier). The one good factor? It stated she was “on-line yesterday,” which suggests she’s an lively person — if she’s actual.

The profile did present some information, like top, sports activities, and our “widespread trait” (we each “search consolation when issues go flawed,” apparently). You get the choice to “Like” or “Skip.” If you happen to click on “Like,” it allows you to ship a message, and I assume it notifies them. My different two “featured” choices had been additionally over an hour away, regardless of the app figuring out my zip code.

When you get by that, it says “See who’s right here” and dumps you right into a feed of BLURRED PHOTOS. There’s additionally a vibrant orange banner on the prime, consistently making an attempt to pressure you into shopping for a subscription. It feels aggressive.

Is eharmony well worth the obtain?

To be blunt, I believe it’s best to attempt actually any of our different top-recommended apps earlier than contemplating eharmony. Sure, I typically fee it because the “finest for marriage,” however that’s nearly totally due to the sheer quantity of knowledge it collects. (Even after “ending” the quiz, I discovered there have been nonetheless 24 extra questions ready for me in my profile, plus tons of sections so as to add pursuits.)

The one who must be on this app is Charlotte York, in each sense. She’s centered on discovering her knight in shining armor, she lives in NYC (so she’d have far more choices than I do in a small Virginia city), and he or she has disposable revenue.

If you happen to match that profile, then cool — this may really be one of the best place to search out your soulmate, supplied you’ll be able to dodge the aggressive advertisements for a premium subscription (although should you’re Charlotte, you’ll be able to afford it).

However should you’re not keen to shell out any money and you realize you’re not searching for something severe, I’d say it’s most likely advantageous should you by no means obtain the eharmony app.

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