Why Is eharmony So Expensive? (2024 Review)

Cost is an important consideration in the online dating scene, and one question we see a lot from today’s users is “Why is eharmony so expensive?” Many popular dating apps are free or close to free, but the eharmony membership costs a pretty penny. What gives?

Founded in 2000 by psychologist Dr. Neil Clark Warren, eharmony notably uses a one-of-a-kind compatibility test with science-based questions to determine a person’s temperament, communication style, and life goals.

eharmony boasts a sizable pool of users and, better yet, online matches that have turned into lifelong partners. The dating app has helped over 2 million people find true love. While eharmony may be pricier than its competitors, the online dating platform has a number of unique features and attributes that make eharmony worth the investment.

eharmony markets itself as a legitimate dating app for single people who want to find real love and a long-term, meaningful relationship. The typical eharmony user tends to be slightly older than users on mainstream dating apps that target people in their early 20s. 

The majority of eharmony users are in their mid-20s to mid-30s, and users in the next highest age range are in their mid-30s to mid-40s. eharmony attracts singles who have graduated college and are ready to ditch the hookup culture and settle down in a lasting relationship. 

It stands to reason that if you’re ready to commit to a dating service’s long-term membership fee, you’re most likely also ready to commit to a long-term partner.

eharmony

★★★★★

4.8/5.0

eharmony

4.8/5.0

About this rating

Our team of editors and writers draw from their industry expertise to calculate dating site and app ratings based on a variety of criteria that impact the user. We compared pricing and analyzed factors such as:

Subscription cost versus value

Popularity and niche interests

Free search, chat, and swiping features

Safety measures

Customer support

Our rating system is independent of commission rates, and any platforms we partner with do not have a say in their scores.

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Relationships: Casual Dates, Deep Relationships

Match System: Personality test suggests matches

Our Experts Say: “Simply put, eharmony is where you go if you’d like to speed up the marriage process. Complete a free questionnaire, get matched for free, and find your lifelong partner all in one fell swoop…” Full Review »

Browse Free: View Photos Now

User Base	Gender Ratio	Popularity (Visits/Mo.)	Free Trial
All Singles*	48%* 52%*	4.1 Million*	Join eharmony FREE

The eharmony dating platform encourages professionalism and honesty by providing suggested guidelines for photo uploads and profile pictures. Every person with a basic membership must upload a profile picture to be visible on potential match lists. eharmony’s photo guidelines benefit mature singles looking for long-term, real love.

Rather than a heavily filtered selfie or a misleading group photo, eharmony encourages users to upload recent, clear, and descriptive photos. The best dating profile photos show eharmony users in a natural setting or participating in an activity they enjoy. As an additional feature, eharmony has implemented a photo review process to eliminate profile pictures of solo pets or children as well as provocative or heavily altered images. These glimpses into a single person’s real self removes much of the uncertainty typically involved in online dating matches.

Another one of the many things that sets eharmony apart from competitors is its science-backed compatibility test. People who sign up for eharmony are likely attracted to this free account feature. Its compatibility ratings take the guesswork out of matching and conversing with many different people. eharmony presents a more intentional dating experience, one that attracts committed, relationship-minded people who genuinely want to expand their dating pool to find a like-minded partner.

While eharmony offers a basic free membership, the paid premium membership offers a lot more access and upgraded features. The paid plan has some key matchmaking features you’ll need to find local or long-distance love, including the ability to view photos, search by proximity, and message every potential match without limits. 

With the free version of eharmony, you’ll still be able to take the compatibility test, match with an unlimited number of singles, and use basic communication tools. 

While eharmony’s basic membership may not be your ticket to true love, don’t discount the free trial because it allows you to enjoy eharmony’s dating platform before you invest in a paid subscription lasting six months or longer. Here’s the current eharmony cost breakdown:

• Free Membership: $0/month
• Premium Light: $39.54/month
• Premium Plus: $27.54/month
• Premium Extra: $21.54/month

These rates are heavily discounted at the moment — the typical eharmony plan has been as expensive as $54.90 per month.

Unlike dating apps geared toward casual relationships, eharmony’s user base is full of serious singles and boasts a nearly equal gender ratio. eharmony’s matching process is also unique in the way it calculates a compatibility score.

Rather than swiping through photos, an eharmony member has a curated match list updated daily as new compatible singles join the network. The time and effort involved in the typical online dating process is essentially eliminated as your matches are handpicked based on the results of the personality questionnaire and any selected parameters, including proximity, religious views, and education.

If your end goal in signing up for and using a dating app is to find a serious, committed relationship, eharmony’s paid premium membership offers the necessary features for a science-backed match and a meaningful connection with your future partner.

The eharmony legacy is well-known and respected in the online dating industry. The compatible match system is one of the most successful in the world, and every day the dating website and app provide organic introductions that lead to something more. Many of eharmony’s success stories begin with the couple saying they chatted online for at least a few weeks before meeting in person and that they valued the platform’s deviation from the hookup culture associated with other dating sites. 

It’s common for the featured eharmony members to say they felt safe and heard with their now-partner upon matching. With over 2 million people having found love on eharmony, the online dating platform is a highly credible and productive way to find a long-lasting partnership.

Compared to other online dating sites, eharmony’s compatibility matching scheme results in a high marital satisfaction rate. This also correlates to a lower marital separation rate, approximately halving the marital divorce rate of all non-eharmony online dating platforms.

If you’re still skeptical about online dating, take a look at the statistics regarding couples who met offline. In a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, divorce rates for couples who met online are considerably lower than the U.S. average, with only 7% of surveyed couples who met online divorced or separated.

Clear reasons exist for these vast differences in numbers, both between online and offline dating as well as eharmony and non-eharmony online dating. First, singles on dating apps, especially eharmony where you dedicate yourself to a premium fee, are more likely to be ready for marriage. Second, compatibility algorithms, including those developed for eharmony, narrow potential partners to a pool specifically created for you, your personality traits, and your future goals.

If your ultimate goal with online dating is to find true love and a long-term partner, the eharmony premium membership can provide many promising date prospects based on your criteria. 

Not every swiping dating app gives you the opportunity to match with compatible singles as easily as eharmony does. But if you’re a single person seeking a casual relationship, the lengthy questionnaire and detailed profiles may not be in line with your goals and priorities. Carefully weigh your options (and budget) to determine if eharmony’s price points are too expensive for your needs or just the type of investment you’re looking for in your love life. Best of luck!