eHarmony
eHarmony sets itself apart from most of the online dating sites by offering high compatibility matching based on their patented 29 Dimensions of Compatibility Algorithm. These dimensions have been empirically proven to create long-lasting strong relationships between people. And with 44,000 member weddings annually (that's a huge number of 120 eHarmony weddings per day!), there is almost no doubt that eHarmony has brought the personality matching system all the way down to a scientific level.
Packages and Features
eHarmony offers 2 different types of packages, the Basic Plan and the Total Connect Plan. Each one provides different features and pricing options so that members can select the one that suits their needs.
| Feature | Basic Plan | Total Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Send/receive contact requests |  |
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| See who has looked at your profile | |
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| Request photos from potential partners | |
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| View photos of potential matches | |
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| Personality evaluation and explanation |  |
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| Secure telephone conversations | |
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| Potential partner ID verification | |
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In addition, eHarmony offers 2 standout features for both unpaid and paid members.
Pricing
| Duration of Contract | Basic Plan | Total Connect |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | $59.95/mo | NA |
| 3 month | $39.95/mo* | $44.95/mo |
| 6 month | $29.95/mo | $33.95/mo |
| 1 year | $19.95/mo | $23.95/mo |
*Although the prices are offered on a monthly basis, eHarmony actually bills their customers as a one-time expense.
You can take advantage of various promotions that are offered on the site, which can be redeemed upon registration.
eHarmony also offers a Profile Advisor service which will help you polish your profile and help it attract positive attention. The cost for this service is $99.95. eHarmony accepts multiple payment types including Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover cards, as well as debit cards that feature either the Visa or MasterCard logo. You can also pay via PayPal or Bill me Later.
Membership Base
- Over 20 million members
- Services singles in approximately 200 countries
- Provides personality matching for heterosexual singles, while its partner site, Compatible Partners, offers comparable gay online dating services
- People who are married or separated are not eligible to register for eHarmony's services
How eHarmony Works
eHarmony’s compatibility matching system provides a specific framework through which you contact and communicate with other singles. You are required to complete four stages of Guided Communication before you can enjoy Open Communication with a potential partner. The four stages of Guided Communication include:
eHarmony's Open Communication System provides the ability to interact freely and securely without transferring any contact information until the necessary time. Singles who are mutually eager to proceed can opt for a Fast Track communication through which they bypass the Guided Communication stages.
Registration
eHarmony's enrollment questionnaire contains approximately 258 questions that were carefully chosen based on the company's 3 year study of 5,000 married couples. The goal of the questions is to encourage you to provide a detailed outline of your preferences and relationship goals so that eHarmony's technology can provide successful compatibility matching. The registration process should take approximately 1 hour to complete but since eHarmony provides match suggestions upon completion, the time required for the search process is minimal.
Sample Questions from Questionnaire
Like other compatibility matching services, eHarmony provides a personality analysis that probes into different aspects of your character. While eHarmony's personality profile was accurate in describing me as a person, the explanations and descriptions of my persona seemed generalized instead of more personalized as the personlity analyses of Chemistry.com and PerfectMatch were. Still, eHarmony's evaluation offered more focused insights onto a greater number of personality traits than any other personality profile.
Customer Support
eHarmony offers both phone and email customer support. I tried to call their customer service center at 2:36pm EST on a Monday afternoon. After 3 minutes of waiting on hold, the customer service representative answered my questions about the registration process helpfully. However, when asked about a customer satisfaction guarantee, he said only that eHarmony does not promise a specific number of matches, nor do they offer a satisfaction guarantee. He encouraged me to 'invest in potentially finding the love of my life', which was hardly a persuasive sales pitch. Overall, the phone service was satisfactory.
eHarmony's email customer service, in contrast, was excellent. I submitted a query at 1:43pm EST on a Thursday and received a response at 3:16pm the same day. The response was personal, helpful and encouraging. My question was if there was something wrong with my profile settings as I did not receive as many matches as I had expected.
eHarmony in the Media
ABC News courtesy of YouTube - September 2009
Secrets Behind eHarmony
Los Angeles Times - January 2010
eHarmony agrees to make site "welcoming" to gays and lesbians, ending L.A. lawsuit Read Article
ABC Utah - July 2009
Are online matches happier? Read Article
Electronic Retailer - September 2009
Harmonious Pairing: eHarmony CEO Greg Waldorf marries his passion for technology with his knack for building successful businesses Read Article
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - December 2008
Budget dating: Get creative when times are tight Read Article
Summary
 Positive Features
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 Negative Features
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