- Best for: Ages 30+ looking for serious relationships and marriage
- Special features: Ability to save a list of profiles; members receive a free profile review with tips; compatibility scores
- Free version available: Yes
- Cost: $36–$66/month, depending on plan and duration
- Availability: eharmony.com, App Store, Google Play
Eharmony has been around for more than two decades and, according to the brand, has led to more than 2 million people finding love. It remains one of the most trusted apps for serious relationship seekers. “It is one of the best dating apps for serious-relationship seekers who want to find a compatible partner based on a comprehensive personality test and a matching algorithm,” says LeMeita Smith, PhD, director of clinical services at United Health Services.. “It is ideal for people who are searching for long-term commitment and marriage.”
When I signed up for eharmony, I was impressed by the 70-question compatibility quiz that everyone takes before deciding between a free basic membership and a subscription. The survey offered detailed questions that got down to the nitty-gritty of who I am and what I’m looking for, and tackled the nuances of a real-life partnership by presenting scenarios and asking how I’d react (e.g., if I attended a wedding with a person, would I worry most about the gift, how attractive we look together, or what my friends might think of them). Its prompts ranged from the significant to the more mundane: “Why do you think you’re still single?”, “What’s your approach to planning things?”, or “What’s your ideal temperature for the house?” Once my profile was complete, I could browse my potential matches (anonymously, even) and send and receive unlimited likes at no charge—with caveats. No photos! And limited messaging. I could send icebreakers, greetings, replies to prompts, and up to five messages with someone before having to pay. And in order to view someone’s pictures, I had to pay. It was refreshingly Love Is Blind, in a way, to not see my match, but ultimately rather annoying.
Still, if I were on a quest to find a long-term partnership or marriage, I’d turn to eharmony as one of my first stops. Its reputation draws in people after a similarly meaningful goal in a way that it doesn’t with Tinder, say, and its built up its pool over decades. I also like its compatibility score, which shows on profiles and is based on communication, organization, and personality.
3. Best Dating App for Serious Relationships: Hinge
Courtesy of brand
