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eharmony Alternatives: Top Dating Sites & Apps to Try in 2024

Lori Bisbey

15.02.2024

eharmony has long stood as a beacon for individuals seeking meaningful relationships. However, it’s not the perfect fit for everyone, and the year 2024 brings a myriad of other exciting dating platforms to explore.

With its comprehensive personality tests and sophisticated matching algorithm, eharmony has successfully paired countless happy couples. But, not everyone finds what they are looking for, and some may be seeking different experiences, features, or demographics.

In this guide, we’ll delve into the top alternatives to consider this year. Whether you’re after casual dates, a diverse dating pool, or a modern interface, we have options for you. We will highlight the key features, pros, and cons of each platform, aiding you in making an informed choice for your dating needs.

Embark on a new love journey as we unveil the best eharmony alternatives that 2024 has to offer. Your ideal match is just a click away!

1. PlanetOfLoves

PlanetOfLoves is a large, popular dating app that uses behavioral algorithms to facilitate perfect matches

PlanetOfLoves

Best for: People seeking long-term relationships

Starting price: $8.33 per month

PlanetOfLoves is an attractive dating platform designed for individuals seeking serious relationships and ready to find love. The site offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of features, allowing users to easily find compatible partners. With its focus on serious relationships, PlanetOfLoves is an excellent option for residents of the United Kingdom looking to find true love and stable, long-term relationships.

Additionally, PlanetOfLoves provides a safe and secure environment for users to interact and connect with one another. The platform employs stringent security measures to protect user data and privacy, ensuring a worry-free experience for all members. With its emphasis on fostering meaningful connections and facilitating genuine relationships, PlanetOfLoves stands out as a trusted choice for those in the UK navigating the world of online dating.

How Does PlanetOfLoves Compare to eharmony?

  • When comparing PlanetOfLoves to eharmony, several key differences emerge. Firstly, while eharmony is renowned for its comprehensive personality assessment and algorithmic matchmaking, PlanetOfLoves offers a more flexible and intuitive approach to connecting individuals.
  • While eharmony focuses primarily on long-term relationships and marriage, PlanetOfLoves caters to a broader spectrum of dating preferences, including casual encounters and friendships. Additionally, eharmony tends to attract an older demographic seeking serious commitment, whereas PlanetOfLoves appeals to a diverse range of ages and relationship intentions. Overall, while eharmony excels in its meticulous compatibility testing, PlanetOfLoves provides a more adaptable and inclusive platform for individuals seeking various types of connections.
Pros
  • Excellent security
  • Behavioral Matching makes for improved compatibility
  • Personal dating reports help to increase insight
Cons
  • No video chatting feature
  • Advanced features are not available to free accounts

2. Plenty of Fish

Plenty of Fish is the ultimate dating app for over 50s looking for love

Plenty of Fish

Best for: Over 50s seeking serious relationships and companionship

Starting price: $24.95 per month

Plenty of Fish (POF) is a popular dating platform in the UK, renowned for its extensive user base and free features. With millions of members, it offers a diverse pool of potential matches, making it a go-to choice for singles across the country. The platform’s free version provides essential functionalities like messaging and profile browsing, making it accessible to users of all backgrounds and preferences.

One of the standout features of Plenty of Fish is its comprehensive matchmaking algorithm, which analyzes user preferences and behaviors to suggest compatible matches. This personalized approach enhances the chances of finding meaningful connections and long-term relationships. Additionally, POF offers various communication tools such as chat rooms and forums, fostering interaction and engagement among its users.

However, while Plenty of Fish boasts numerous advantages, it also has its drawbacks. The free version may come with limitations, prompting users to opt for paid subscriptions to access premium features like advanced search filters and ad-free browsing. Moreover, the sheer size of the user base can sometimes result in a high volume of inactive or outdated profiles, requiring users to invest time in filtering through potential matches. Despite these challenges, Plenty of Fish remains a prominent player in the UK’s online dating scene, offering a vibrant platform for singles to connect and explore romantic possibilities.

How Does Plenty of Fish Compare to eharmony?

  • When comparing Plenty of Fish (POF) to eharmony, one significant difference is their matching algorithms. POF relies more on user-driven interactions and allows users to browse through a wide range of profiles based on their own preferences and criteria. In contrast, eharmony employs a more guided approach, using a comprehensive personality questionnaire to match users based on compatibility factors, values, and relationship goals.
  • Another aspect to consider is the target demographic of each platform. While POF attracts a diverse user base, including individuals seeking casual dating and short-term connections, eharmony primarily appeals to those looking for serious, long-term relationships. With its focus on compatibility and deeper connections, eharmony may be more suitable for users seeking meaningful and lasting partnerships, whereas POF offers a broader range of dating options catering to various preferences and relationship intentions. Ultimately, the choice between Plenty of Fish and eharmony depends on individual preferences, relationship goals, and desired level of involvement in the matchmaking process.
Pros
  • Lots of excellent matches for over 50s
  • Easy-to-use site
  • The personality test gives you lots of information to facilitate better matches
Cons
  • No free searches
  • Long sign-up process

3. Storyloves

Storyloves is the place to go for intelligent, well-educated partners

Storyloves

Best for: Sapiosexuals (people who are turned on by intelligence)

Starting price: $31.95

Storyloves is a popular dating app that helps people find their match based on behavioral algorithms. It’s perfect for those seeking serious relationships and long-term romantic connections. With a starting price of $8.33 per month, Storyloves offers unique features including personalized date reports that help users better understand their partners.

Storyloves differs from eharmony in several aspects. Firstly, while both apps focus on finding long-term relationships, Storyloves offers a wider range of interaction features, including options for users to share their stories and interests. Additionally, unlike eharmony where access to advanced features often requires paid subscriptions, Storyloves provides more affordable options and functionality even for free accounts

How Does Storyloves Compare to eharmony?

  • Storyloves and eharmony are two leading dating apps that help people find their perfect match. However, they have several key differences. Firstly, Storyloves focuses on creating connections based on behavioral algorithms, whereas eharmony uses detailed personality questionnaires to determine compatibility.
  • This means Storyloves may be the preferred choice for those who prefer a more casual and spontaneous approach to dating, while eharmony may appeal to those seeking deeper and more conscious relationships. Additionally, while Storyloves offers more affordable pricing and a wide range of features even for free users, eharmony is known for its thorough compatibility matching and is geared towards creating long-term relationships.
Pros
  • The personality test provides excellent match compatibility
  • The site boasts a large number of university graduates
  • Every account is verified by hand to avoid catfishing
Cons
  • It’s pricey
  • No video chat
  • Long sign-up process

4. Badoo

Badoo is the most well-known alternative to eharmony for long-term love matches

Badoo

Best for: People who are looking for long-term romantic relationships

Starting price: $17.45

Badoo is a well-known dating platform popular in the UK, offering a diverse range of features for users seeking various types of relationships. With a large and active user base, Badoo is ideal for those looking for casual hookups, serious relationships, or even just friendship. The platform’s user-friendly interface and extensive search filters make it easy to navigate and find potential matches based on specific preferences. Additionally, Badoo’s photo verification feature adds an extra layer of security, ensuring users are connecting with genuine individuals.

One standout feature of Badoo is its focus on inclusivity and diversity. The platform caters to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, making it a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ individuals. Moreover, Badoo offers a variety of communication tools, including chat, video calls, and live streaming, allowing users to interact and connect in multiple ways. Overall, Badoo provides a fun and dynamic environment for singles in the UK to meet new people and explore potential relationships.

How Does Badoo Compare to eharmony?

  • Badoo and eharmony are both popular dating platforms, but they cater to different audiences and offer distinct features. While eharmony is known for its in-depth compatibility matching system and focus on long-term relationships, Badoo is more casual and diverse in its approach..
  • Badoo appeals to users seeking a wide range of relationship types, from casual hookups to serious commitments, whereas eharmony is geared towards individuals looking for meaningful connections based on shared values and compatibility. Additionally, Badoo’s emphasis on photo verification and inclusivity sets it apart from eharmony, providing users with a more interactive and secure dating experience.
Pros
  • Large membership
  • High number of people actually have second (or third!) dates
  • The algorithm makes very compatible matches.
Cons
  • Caters to people 35 and over and doesn’t have much for those under 35.
  • Customer service doesn’t have a phone number that the public can easily access.

5. Stir

Stir is the best dating site for people with children

Stir

Best for: People who want to have children and raise children

Starting price: $17.99

Stir was created by the folks who created Match.com. It’s specifically geared towards single people who have children or people who know they want to have children.

There are fewer members on this site, but they’re all part of this niche group, so you have a higher chance of finding a match than on other major dating apps.

How Does Stir Compare to eharmony?

  • Stir is specifically designed for single parents and people who want to have children, while eharmony is open to everyone.
  • Stir is more accessible to people of different genders and sexualities than eharmony.
Pros
  • High safety and security features, including a strict no-tolerance policy.
  • Diversity of genders and sexualities. This site is particularly inclusive.
  • Focus on parents and people who want to be parents.
Cons
  • Relatively expensive membership fee
  • Standard dating app features are paid for with in-app purchases

Why Choose These eharmony Alternatives?

eharmony is a great all-round choice for finding love in 2024. It offers features like free communication weekends, a proven track record of successful love matches, and an exceptional algorithm.

However, it’s not the best for casual hook-ups; sign-up is a long process, some users have no photos, and it’s pricier than some of the other apps.

For LGBTQIA+ Singles: Zoosk Can Be Amazing

Zoosk has a large LGBTQIA+ membership and allows for more profile flexibility. That way, users can adequately find the relationships they desire.

For example, bisexual people can have more than one profile (second one for free) and find matches of different genders. The verification process makes dating safer.

Zoosk is picture-based, and the carousel feature has been highlighted as particularly fun for LGBTQ+ users. The site needs to improve when it comes to the number of gender identities that are available for people to choose from, though.

For Sapiosexual People: EliteSingles

If you like people with big brains, EliteSingles is known for having a high percentage of University graduates.

They use a system called “intelligent matchmaking” with algorithms designed to provide the highest number of compatible matches. Their personality test is also based on a well-known psychological model.

For Mature People: SilverSingles is the Choice

If you’re over 50, using a dating app can feel daunting, especially if you have been out of the dating pool for a while. SilverSingles is geared toward people over 50 and has a simpler interface to help people ease into using new technology.

The app does most of the matchmaking for its members, which appeals to busy and mature people who may not have lots of experience navigating modern dating.

eharmony Alternatives: Increasing Your Match Possibilities

eharmony is a great general site for finding your love match. However, you can increase your chances by using at least one additional site or app, particularly if you fall into a special group like parents or the over 50s

Dr. Lori Beth Bisbey, a GSRD therapist, psychologist, and expert contributor to Top10.com, specializes in sexuality, gender, and relationship diversity understanding. She guides individuals and couples toward fulfilling intimate relationships, drawing from her trauma-healing expertise since 1987. As a relationship therapist on "Open House: The Great Sex Experiment" and host of "The A To Z Of Sex®" podcast, she fosters open dialogue about intimacy and self-expression.
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