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A pioneer among online dating sites, Match debuted in 1995, and since then, many other online dating sites have emerged, followed by the introduction of dating apps in the late aughts[1].
In fact, three in 10 U.S. adults say they’ve used an online dating site or app, according to a 2020 survey conducted by Pew Research Center[2]. Of those users, 57% say their experience with these platforms has been very or somewhat positive.
And for people looking for companionship and love, online dating sites like Match may offer a helpful conduit to connect with prospective partners.
Continue reading for a comprehensive review of Match and the features it offers.
(Note: Service details and pricing are accurate as of the publication date and are subject to change.)
- Millions of registered users
- Compatibility Quiz produces a Compatibility Score that breaks down what you’re looking for in a partner
- Personality Profile helps you understand how you and your matches matches connect
- Members represent individuals of all ages and demographics
- Access to dating advice articles, videos & blog posts created by experts
Our Verdict
Match is a global online dating platform designed to bring singles together in the hopes of finding the type of relationship they’re seeking, according to the company. Match offers users an online platform, Match, as well as an accompanying app.
While this service has been around since the ’90s, it has since evolved with features like more inclusive profile options, a user-friendly app and more sophisticated matching algorithms.
Key Features
- Demographics: According to Match’s website, 19% of Match members are between the ages of 18 and 29, 44% are between 30 and 49 and 37% are 50 and up. Eight in 10 members have attended college or have a college degree, and 59% are single parents, according to the company[3].
- Safety: Match recently bolstered its safety features by partnering with Garbo, a background check service that helps users screen dates before in-person meetups.
- Add-on features: Users can boost their Match subscription with several add-on features including Reply for Free, Private Mode, Email Read Notification and matchPhone—a feature that allows users to call and text matches using a Match-generated number without revealing their actual phone number.
Launched in 1995, Match is owned by Match Group, a tech company that houses a global portfolio of brands, eight of which are the world’s biggest dating brands, according to the company: Tinder, Hinge, OkCupid, Match, Plenty of Fish, OurTime, Meetic and Pairs.
Match at a Glance
- Intended use: Match is designed to help users connect with other singles based on the criteria they’re looking for.
- Cost: Match offers free, standard (from $21.84 per month) and premium (from $23.11 per month) plans.
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating: The Match Group is not a BBB-accredited company and has a 1.04 out of 5 star rating on the site based on 191 customer reviews.
How Does Match Work?
To get started with Match, head to Match and create a free user account (you can upgrade your account later on in the set-up process, or at a later date).
First, you’ll specify who you are and the type of person you’re seeking—such as, “I am a woman seeking a woman” between the ages of 35 and 45, for instance—and your zip code. Then, Match will ask you to select your gender, enter your birthday, first name and email address.
Next, you’ll be offered a series of screening questions to help users learn more about you, including details on the following:
- Relationship status (never married, currently separated, divorced or widow/widower)
- Parenting status (whether or not you have children or want to have children)
- Appearance (height, body type)
- Lifestyle (whether or not you smoke or drink, your stance on marijuana)
- Education
- Faith
- Ethnicity
- Hometown
- Languages spoken
- Career
- Political views
- Pets
- Exercise habits
- Interests (entertainment, sports, wellness activities, causes, food and drink, creative outlets and more)
After you make selections for yourself, you can then select preferences you desire for a match based on many of the same categories as above.
Next, you can fill out different icebreaker prompts like, “for fun I like to,” “right now I am reading” and “zombie attack. Run, fight or join them?”
Then, you can add photos of yourself. Profiles can include up to 26 photos. Match recommends uploading at least three in order to get 50 times more likes and messages.
Once you complete your profile (you don’t need to complete it all at once), Match’s algorithms will narrow the pool based on the preferences and lifestyle selections from your profile and the profiles of potential matches. You can view user profiles and have the option to select “Like” or “Skip.”
Users can sort matches by:
- Distance (enter your zip code and search matches from a one to 975-mile radius)
- Age
- Username
- Match picks
- Activity date (the date when a match was last online, communicated with another user or checked their matches)
- Newest first (users who have joined most recently)
- Photo counts (users with the highest number of photos)
- Two different algorithms: Reverse Match (meaning one user fits the other users’ preferences) and Mutual Match (meaning both users are interested in each other)
You can take your interaction a step further by messaging other users and eventually setting up a time and place to go on an in-person date. Note: Unlike other online dating platforms, Match allows you to message other users even if they didn’t “Like” you. The extent of this feature differs depending on the plan you choose; Standard and Premium plans offer unlimited messaging while free plans limit your messaging.
The Cost
Match offers free, standard and premium plans. As previously mentioned, you can add on to your subscription with several paid-for features.
All subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled. You may cancel at any time, however, you must finish out the payments for the term of your subscription. Match accepts promo codes and gift cards.
The Fine Print
To use Match, you must be 18 or older, single and seeking a one-on-one relationship—this includes friendship, companionship or a romantic relationship.
You must also adhere to the platform’s community guidelines including:
- No nudity or explicit content
- No engaging or encouraging others to engage in targeted abuse or harassment against any other users
- No posting content that promotes violence, physical harm or hate speech
- No sharing of sensitive information (yours or anyone else’s), such as social security numbers, passwords or financial information
- No using an account for spam, promotion or solicitation
- No impersonating another person
If you notice any behavior that violates the listed community guidelines, you can report it to Match’s customer care team.
When it comes to privacy, all communication between members happens through an anonymous email network, and contact information remains confidential until a member makes the decision to share their information with a match. Match says its customer care team screens every photo posted for appropriateness.
What Experts Say
Research suggests that romantic relationships play an important role in our overall well-being[4]. And when it comes to mental health, online dating platforms have several advantages and disadvantages, says Nakpangi Thomas, a licensed professional counselor and clinical traumatologist in Michigan.
According to Thomas, online dating platforms can:
- Boost users’ mood: Receiving a match and engaging in chats increases dopamine in the brain that leads to feelings of happiness.
- Help individuals with social anxiety disorder: Online dating can be an effective way to meet prospective partners for people with social anxiety disorder.
- Be deceiving: Some people may lie about their age, appearance or preferences. They may also seek monetary gain or lie about their intent in other ways.
- Lead to negative feelings: Online dating can cause depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and self-doubt when a person is rejected or ghosted, according to Thomas. The mental toll of deception or feared deception can lead to mistrust, low mood, fear and feeling devalued.
While Thomas says platforms like Match can be exciting and positive, she recommends you steer clear of online dating if you are sensitive to rejection, have problems separating reality from delusions, are easily manipulated or experience extreme anxiety.
There are ways to navigate dating sites in a healthy manner, adds Thomas. “I first recommend that you are emotionally ready,” she says. “Be open to meeting all types of people, do not get down if you do not have frequent matches, understand that some people are only looking for a hookup and not long-term relationships and do not accept disrespect.”
Above all else, Thomas advises Match users to protect their privacy. Do not post identifying information and if someone asks for money, report them immediately, she says.
Explore Our Featured Dating Partners
The Product Experience
Match Group, LLC is not a BBB-accredited business and has a 1.04 out of 5 star rating on the site, with a total of 1,945 complaints in the last three years. These include complaints from Match users, as well as subscribers to Match Group’s other platforms like Tinder or Hinge.
Some of these complaints included concerns regarding being wrongfully locked out of an account and difficulty while deactivating a membership.
One complaint wrote, “I have had an account on the Match dating website for many years. Without explanation, they suddenly started blocking my ability to log into my account. When I attempt to log in, I get an error message “There is a problem with your account. Please refer all questions to ***********@support.match.com.” I have sent them repeated requests for an explanation and to unblock my account. They have not sent any explanation and have not unblocked my account, and they no longer respond to my emails.”
Match Group also has 191 BBB reviews, with many concerned with poor customer service and their accounts being mysteriously banned. One of these reviews writes, “Let it be known that this company REJECTS PAYING CUSTOMERS and would recommend anybody to use a service not owned by Match Group (Hinge, Tinder, Match, etc.) as they lack communication, transparency and compassion for their customers.”
Get Who Gets You
We understand it can be difficult to find a match with whom you share a similar background, goals, or beliefs, and regardless of who you may be looking for, eHarmony wants to help you find the love of your life.
On eHarmony's Website
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does Match cost?
Match is available in free, standard and premium plans. Prices range from free to $40.41 a month, depending on which plan and how many months you choose to subscribe to.
How does Match work?
Match is an online dating service that can be used via app or online. You can get started by setting up a free account and providing Match with information about yourself and what you’re looking for in a partner. You will then have the ability to start viewing, liking and communicating with potential matches in your chosen radius.
How do I cancel Match?
If you have a free subscription or have already turned off auto-renewal for a paid subscription, you can cancel your subscription by visiting your Account Settings and clicking Manage Subscription. Your profile and photos will then be hidden from other members, and if you choose to do so, you can always reactivate your Match account.
Further cancellation details related to app, web, free trials and additional features can be found on Match’s help page under “Cancelling.”
