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Comparing Elite Singles versus eharmony is like comparing two types of luxury vehicles — they can both get you where you need to go, but the ride may be a little different depending on the features available.
Elite Singles and eharmony both market themselves to single adults who are looking for a serious relationship, but the platforms differ in how they support that goal.
We’ve assessed Elite Singles and eharmony based on their pricing, membership demographic, matchmaking tools, and success rates, so online daters can make an informed decision about which will work best. And we’ve also thrown in a few extra dating app recommendations — just to give you more options. Take a look at the information below to learn the pros and cons of premium dating sites for professionals.
Overall Review | Cost | User Base | Features | Success Stories | Bonus Alternatives
Overall Reviews for Elite Singles vs eharmony
We will look at the big picture first. Single professionals can expect to find quality matches on both eharmony and Elite Singles. These top dating sites have gotten positive reviews from our team of online dating experts. Here’s a basic rundown of what you need to know before you create a new dating profile.
Elite Singles Has an Expert Rating of 4.7 Stars
Elite Singles launched in 2013 with a smart approach to online dating. Its founding concept was to use the Big Five Personality Model developed by psychologists to spark social and romantic connections online.
Our experts rate Elite Singles with 4.7 out of 5 stars because it does a great job at delivering quality results to single professionals with a free or paid membership.
★★★★★
Relationships: Serious Relationships
Match System: Search, Receive Partner Suggestions
Our Experts Say: “EliteSingles is a leading dating site just for busy, single professionals. More than 80% of members have earned a college degree, and most are looking for a serious commitment…” Full Review »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| All Singles* |
44%*
56%*
|
2 Million* | Browse Profiles Free |
The Elite Singles personality test isn’t very long (it takes less than five minutes to complete), yet it provides deep information about personality traits and lifestyle choices. Singles can also set criteria for their potential partner and let the algorithm know what they’re looking for in a perfect match.
And eharmony Also Has 4.7 Stars
Most people are familiar with the name eharmony because it has been in the online dating business for over two decades. Its commercials have been playing on television since before some of its current members were even born.
The reason eharmony has such staying power is, in large part, because of its proven love formula. The online dating site uses a compatibility quiz and icebreaker questions to connect single people who have a lot in common. In recognition of its commitment to quality and true love, our experts give eharmony 4.7 stars. Check out our eharmony review to learn more.
★★★★★
Relationships: Casual Dates, Deep Relationships
Match System: Personality test suggests matches
Our Experts Say: “Accounting for 2% of U.S. marriages, eharmony’s compatibility-based system and commitment-minded user base are ideal for those seeking a serious relationship…” Full Review »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
4.1 Million* | View Profiles FREE |
Let me just say that eharmony isn’t for everyone. The dating platform asks for a lot of personal information and emotional honesty, and only users with a paid membership can engage in conversations past a certain point. The system requires a lot from users as a way of weeding out casual daters and fake profiles. If you are willing to give your all to eharmony, the online dating algorithm will work overtime to make it worth your while.
Conclusion: It’s a Tie Because Both Dating Sites Put Quality First
Both eharmony and Elite Singles rank highly in our estimation. Our dating expert reviews have given them a 4.7, which means they have tied for being overall pretty excellent at matchmaking. The online dating sites have employed scientific methods to make sense of the local dating pool and find a single person’s perfect match.
Cost Breakdown for Elite Singles vs eharmony
Let’s talk dollars and cents. Pricing is an important factor when choosing a dating site or app, especially for singles on a budget. Both Elite Singles and eharmony start with a free basic membership, but the free option will only get you so far. If you want to have the best odds of meeting a compatible person, you’ll want to upgrade to a paid subscription, which can vary in price.
Elite Singles Premium Plans Starting at $14.95 a Month
Elite Singles has made a name for itself by catering to educated professionals in the dating scene. These individuals can afford to spend a little money on a matchmaking service. But they need to know it’ll be worth the investment.
That’s why Elite Singles starts with a totally free membership that includes unlimited browsing and some communication options. The dating platform shows single people what it has to offer and provides upgrades for those who want more features and assistance. Here are the subscription prices:
- $14.95/mo for 12 months — one-time payment of $179.40
- $17.95/mo for 6 months — one-time payment of $107.70
- $32.95/mo for 3 months — one-time payment of $98.85
As you can see, Elite Singles offers a monthly discount for subscriptions that last longer than the standard three months. All three subscription plans include the same features — private messaging and photo access being the main ones — and the only difference is the length of the premium membership.
The eharmony Subscription Starts at $21.54 per Month
It’s the same story with eharmony. All users begin with a free membership that allows them to view local profiles and express interest in a potential match. However, only premium members can send private messages to anyone they like.
The eharmony team has been known to set high prices for its paid membership plans (it’s been as much as $65 for one month), but we’ve also seen a lot of discounts knock the price down substantially. As a way of welcoming back post-COVID daters, eharmony has offered a sitewide 40%-off deal. Here are the prices you can expect right now:
- $21.54/mo for 24 months — one-time payment of $516.96
- $27.54/mo for 12 months — one-time payment of $330.48
- $39.54/mo for 6 months — one-time payment of $237.24
Not only is eharmony more expensive than Elite Singles, it also requires a longer period of membership on the dating site. If a single person is willing to invest that time in finding a potential partner, then it could be a worthwhile endeavor. However, many casual daters end up going elsewhere.
Conclusion: Both Are Free to Join, But Elite Singles Is More Affordable
Both online dating services start with a free membership and offer messaging as a premium feature. Free members have to deal with more restrictions in their inboxes. That means a premium member is more likely to find success on these upscale dating sites. Elite Singles is a cheaper option than eharmony, so it easily wins this match-up of costs.
User Base Comparison of Elite Singles vs eharmony
Elite Singles and eharmony have the same basic target audience. Both dating platforms strive to entice single professionals to create a free dating profile and meet quality matches. Such a premium introduction service can help mature adults get their foot in the door with someone special. However, the membership demographics of Elite Singles and eharmony have some important differences that merit further discussion.
Elite Singles Sees About 2 Million Monthly Visits
Looking at the numbers, Elite Singles holds its own in the online dating scene. It sees approximately 2 million monthly visitors who are spread across 25 countries. This isn’t the largest singles database in the world, but then again it’s not trying to be. The Elite Singles mission statement values quality over quantity, which means it isn’t for everyone.
Elite Singles is a dating site that is up front about its high standards and impressive user base. But what does it mean to be an elite single? It basically means leading a life of success and wanting an equal partner to share in a wealth of experiences. Over 80% of Elite Singles members are college graduates, and over 90% say they want a long-term relationship, not a casual hookup.
It’s also worth mentioning that Elite Singles has a sister site called Silver Singles that caters to an older age group of senior singles.
★★★★★
Relationships: Friendship, Casual Dates, Serious Relationships
Match System: Search by age, location, height, education, ethnicity, and religion
Our Experts Say: “SilverSingles is a fast-growing, easy-to-use niche dating site exclusively for active daters over the age of 50…” Full Review »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| Mature Singles (50+)* |
41%*
59%*
|
800,000* | Sign up for FREE |
If you’re over 50, Silver Singles may be a better fit for you than Elite Singles. Both dating sites have mature date options, but Silver Singles has a greater focus on the senior dating niche. Elite Singles offers online dating for all educated professionals, so its users range in age from 18 to 80.
eharmony Has Over 10 Million Monthly Active Users
Since 2000, eharmony has appealed to love-driven singles in the U.S. and abroad. Its membership base includes many single adults who are tired of swiping games and are looking for a meaningful connection.
While eharmony has not released user counts in years, many experts have done their best to estimate the size and scope of the user base. One analysis found that eharmony has around 750,000 paid subscribers and over 10 million active users. This statistic speaks to eharmony’s incredible popularity and staying power in the online dating industry.
Conclusion: eharmony Is More Popular & Has Greater Diversity
When it comes to sheer size, eharmony is about five times as big as Elite Singles, but it also has more in-depth profiles and more LGBTQ+ users, so this battle wasn’t really very close. The eharmony user base has grown substantially over the last 20 years, and it connects serious daters in matches that can lead to marriage.
Online Dating Features Assessment of Elite Singles vs eharmony
One of the most common questions we get about online dating sites and apps is a simple: How does it work? That’s what this section is all about. We’ll let you know the ins and outs of Elite Singles and eharmony, so you’ll know the tools available and have a game plan ready when you set up your user profile.
Elite Singles Provides Daily Matches Based on User Criteria
As we’ve mentioned earlier, Elite Singles uses a personality test to target specific traits and identify compatibility between two users. The chemistry test is the foundation for the daily match list and matching score provided on the dating website and app.
Users can dive into their Preferences to provide information about the characteristics they’d like their compatible match to have. For instance, some users say they’re interested in a tall person with a college degree, while others view religion, age, or location as the most important factors in a potential date.
Users should note that setting overly strict date parameters can limit their match options. That’s part of why Elite Singles developed its Have You Met? section where it will feature dating profiles that meet some, but not all, of the user’s criteria.
The profiles have a wealth of information available, and users can view a custom compatibility assessment based on their personality test results.
Free members can explore profiles on Elite Singles for as long as they like, and they can send smiles and photo requests to show interest. However, only paid members have the ability to send private messages and view photos on the dating platform.
eharmony Has Become Famous for Its Personality Test
A Christian theologian and psychologist came up with the idea for eharmony because he wanted to strengthen the institution of marriage. He drew from psychology to develop the compatibility quiz that still powers matches across the dating website and app.
The eharmony platform offers compatibility breakdowns based on communication style, personality traits, and host of other important relationship criteria. This is a gold mine of information for relationship-driven individuals.
Taking the compatibility quiz, browsing matches, and sending icebreaker quizzes are all free on eharmony; however, direct messaging is a premium feature. Users must pay the subscription price if they want to text via eharmony.
Conclusion: It’s Hard to Beat eharmony’s Scientific Compatibility Ratings
When it comes to finding a compatible match, eharmony has gotten it down to a science. The online dating platform has an incredibly detailed and savvy love algorithm that gets a read on personality and lifestyle traits to form a promising new connection.
Success Stories for Elite Singles vs eharmony
It can be difficult to measure success in some industries, but it’s pretty straightforward in the online dating world. If a dating app creates a match that leads to a date, that’s a small success. If a premium dating site inspires a long-term relationship or marriage, that’s a huge, life-changing success. Elite Singles and eharmony both go for the big win, they have seen a lot of success in the field.
Elite Singles Connects Over 2,000 Couples Every Month
Elite Singles does not post many success stories or testimonials, but we have heard of power couples who met through this network.
“It was clear from our first couple of emails that I had found someone special,” said Shirley in an Elite Singles review. “Don’t give up! No matter what age you are, or how difficult your life has been. There is someone out there just looking for you!”
According to internal statistics, over 2,000 couples meet on Elite Singles every month. That adds up to nearly 25,000 love connections a year!
More Than 2 Million eharmony Couples Met on the Site or App
So many people have eharmony to thank for setting them up with their future husband or wife. The dating site has been remarkably successful in the modern dating scene.
In fact, chances are you already know a couple who met on eharmony. Seriously, ask around. Over 2 million couples in the U.S. found each other on the eharmony network, and the platform creates a new match every 14 minutes.
The eharmony team publishes its favorite success stories on the website for all to see.
Sara and Richard met on eharmony in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdowns, and they messaged every day until it was safe to meet in person. The couple took things slowly for the first few months and knew a lot about each other by the time they got to their first date.
Conclusion: eharmony Has a Longer Track Record of Success
At the end of the day, eharmony is one of the most successful matchmakers of all time. Elite Singles is good too, but it hasn’t been around as long nor built as strong a reputation. The eharmony team has inspired love stories around the world, and that’s why it’s one of the most trusted names in dating.
Bonus Information: 4 Alternative Dating Sites for Educated Singles
We’ve talked a lot about Elite Singles vs eharmony in this article, but it’s worth mentioning that these aren’t the only two dating services available. Our experts have ranked some good alternatives for singles who want to explore different dating scenes.
1. Match
★★★★★
Relationships: Friends, Dates, and Relationships
Match System: Browse by zip, age, appearance, more
Our Experts Say: “Match has facilitated the most dates and relationships of any dating site, and its large audience and high success rate make it our top review…” Full Review »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| All Singles* |
49%*
51%*
|
39.7 Million* | Try Match FREE |
Match.com launched in 1995 and pioneered online dating as we know it today. Its personality profile is full of information about a single person’s interests, values, and lifestyle, and it allows free chatting between members who rank as each other’s Top Picks.
Our experts have compared Match vs Elite Singles and Match vs eharmony, and Match.com came out ahead in both matchups.
The Match algorithm has been honed by years of research, and it has a longstanding reputation for success. Countless relationships and marriages have begun on this dating platform. Who knows? Your next love story could be waiting in the site’s free daily matches.
★★★★★
Relationships: Dates and Serious Relationships
Match System: Search by gender, age, education, more
Our Experts Say: “ChristianMingle is among the largest dating sites in the industry that only caters to single Christian men and women, and the site has some of the best search filters and safety features…” Full Review »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| Christian Singles* |
44%*
56%*
|
3.5 Million* | Try Now for $19.99/Month |
Christian Mingle is a Christian dating site and app that puts religious values front and center. Christian singles can discuss their favorite Bible verses or provide a testimonial of faith without encountering harsh judgment from nonbelievers.
About 90% of Christian Mingle members are Christian singles, and the other 10% are either interested in converting or getting into an interfaith relationship.
According to a recent survey, Christian Mingle has introduced nearly one-third of Christian couples who said they’d met online.
3. OkCupid
Our OkCupid review has a lot of positive things to say about its smart algorithm and interactive features, but, let’s be honest, it’s the free messaging that keeps users coming back for more. This free dating site and app provides unlimited communication to all basic members, and that’s reason enough to sign up and have a look at its themed swiping lists.
Much like eharmony, OkCupid has developed a lengthy questionnaire to get to the heart of dating compatibility. The main difference is that OkCupid allows users to answer as few or as many questions as they like, and they can skip questions or make their answers private if they prefer.
OkCupid also allows members to identify themselves as looking for no-strings hookups, casual dating, friendships, relationships, or all of the above. It’s a great place for singles who want to keep their options open.
4. Tinder
Finally, we have to give a shoutout to Tinder — aka the original swiping app. This all-purpose dating app can help singles meet new people, and it doesn’t charge a subscription fee for private messaging. Thanks to its swiping technology, Tinder has inspired countless friendships and relationships (and a lot of hookups too!) over the years.
Tinder has the statistics to back its reputation. The dating app has created over 65 billion matches since its launch in 2012, and experts estimate that it’s responsible for about 1.5 million first dates every week. What’s more, the app is available in 190 countries, which means it has a larger international reach than eharmony or Elite Singles do.
Which is Better? We’re Going With eharmony Over Elite Singles
Our experts have good things to say about both of these premium dating sites, but there can only be one winner in the battle of Elite Singles vs eharmony. And we’re giving it to eharmony.
In terms of the features, user base, and success stories, eharmony has made an impressive showing and proved why it has been in the love business for over two decades. The only matchup where Elite Singles beat eharmony was the cost breakdown. Singles have to invest a bit of money to make the most of their eharmony experience, but even that aspect is by design. The eharmony team aims to attract financially stable and serious daters who are ready to make a serious commitment in their lives.
If you’re looking for true love online, you will be in good hands if you choose eharmony, but you can always keep your options open with a free membership on other dating sites and apps as well. Best of luck!
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