Online Dating Site Review: eHarmony

Special Features of eHarmony

• The system eHarmony uses to assess personality and preferences and to match couples based on compatibility was the first among online dating services, and there is growing evidence that the system does help many people find their “soul mates.”
• The soul-searching questionnaire tends to weed out men who are looking for a one-night stand and favors men who are self-aware and willing to explore their feelings, so women are more likely to encounter men who are serious about relationships and equipped to sustain one.
• Because women outnumber men 2:1 on eharmony, men have a better chance of making a good match because there’s less competition.
• For people who are already married or part of a couple, there is eHarmony Marriage, an online service that helps couples prepare for marriage, tune up their marriage, or work on specific problems and issues in a private program.
• An interactive Advice section offers dating, relationship and lifestyle guidance and advice to eHarmony members and encourages members to contribute comments.
• eHarmony Labs offers members the chance to take part in relationship studies.

Potential Drawbacks of eHarmony

• Although eHarmony offers four price plans, there doesn’t seem to be any clear refund policy for members who decide to resign before the subscription runs out.
• Remember that only subscribers can communicate with each other. So if you join eHarmony to communicate with some of the matches on your list, you may not be able to contact them because they haven’t opted to pay.
• While it only takes one person to make a great match for you, the ratio of women to men could limit women’s match opportunities in some geographical areas or age groups.
• eHarmony matches heterosexual couples only.
• eHarmony subscribers have complained to me that they felt categorized by their appearance and were not allowed to meet members who were not in their "category."

Last Words about eHarmony and Online Dating

If you choose to register, consider this advice:

• Be honest when you answer the questions.
• Treat your potential matches with the respect you’d like to receive.
• Be patient; making a good connection can take time.
• If you don’t find a great match, try another online dating site.

Without completing the Personality Profile, it's impossible to assess how many eHarmony members are 50, 60, 70...and older. If you would like to share your eHarmony experience, email seniorliving.guide@about.com.