DatingDirect has been recognized by the online dating community as being the most unique online dating site available on the market. Since its launch in 1999, the dating site has focused on providing a safe and secure environment for people from all around the world where they can find more unique ways to meet singles. DatingDirect has brought online dating to a whole new level by organizing singles events internationally. For instance, DatingDirect events in UK are held in 21 different cities across the country thus giving its members a special opportunity to meet new people in a fun and relaxed environment. Spontaneity is considered to be a priority at this site. For more details read our review below.
User overview
Table of Contents
DatingDirect`s mission is bringing happiness to its members. This means that if a registered member is trying to find the love of his/her life, DatingDirect works hard on accomplishing this goal. If someone is looking for a hookup, DatingDirect is again helping its active member find a perfect match based on his/her needs. Romantic love, casual hookup, long-term commitment and flirting are all to be found here. Similar to Match.com, DatingDirect is a general online dating provider which focuses on the needs of its members no matter how unusual or typical they might be. There is something for everyone.
When it comes to its members, DatingDirect is proud to host registered members ranging from 18 to 65. In terms of sexual preferences, the dating site is open to straight, gays and lesbians, single divorced and widowed people. The gender distribution is nearly perfect with 49% females and 50% males. The men/women ratio has changed over the years, however at DatingDirect it usually stays close to the ideal 50/50 one. Sometimes there are more women than men, such as the current case, but the 2% difference is considered to be an insignificant one.
Another issue worth considering when reviewing online dating sites is the registered/active members ratio. As you probably already know, for marketing purposes most online dating sites boast to have the largest number of registered members on their platform. However, the more experienced users are well aware of the fact that the number of registered members itself does not tell much if it is given without the number of active accounts. Some dating sites have 2 million registered members, out of which only 500.000 are active. At DatingDirect the situation is different and its managers claim that 80% of the registered members are active and truthful.
Overview of the paid service
In order to enjoy all available features at DatingDirect you will have to subscribe to a paid service or as people in the online dating world call it paid membership. Make sure you check the available promotions, sometimes there are free weekends where you can use all paid membership features for free.
So, what are the benefits of the paid membership? If you want to use messenger, video chat or email you are obliged to subscribe to the paid service. No communication between members is allowed with the basic/free membership i.e. you can neither send nor receive messages. The paid service includes a premium search option and allows you to create and save favorite searches. You are also allowed to see other members` video intros and to view all their details including their gallery and personal characteristics. Fortunately, the cost of the paid membership at DatingDirect is not sky-high and everyone can afford it. Check the cost details, in the cost overview section below.
What does the free variant offer?
The free membership at DatingDirect has no expiration date. This means you can join the site and use part of its features (the free ones) for the rest of your life. Of course this is not what DatingDirect aims at, and that is why it allows access to the most important features only to paid memberships. By subscribing to free membership you get to create a profile, add photos, see who is online and wink at members. No further communication is allowed.
How good is the matching algorithm?
DatingDirect prides itself on having developed a unique matching process nowhere to be found on the online dating market. It consists of two steps. The first one is the usual creation of profile where you give details about yourself and describe what type of people you are interested to meet. The second one is the popular one: attending events. DatingDirect gives three main reasons why singles should attend these events: 1 in every 2 people met someone at an event, you can invite up to 3 friends and there are lots of single guests.
The single events can be divided into two types: DatingDirect nights and DatingDirect socials. By visiting a DatingDirect night, you are usually invited to a casual bar where you meet other singles to get to know each other over drinks. The other guests are people of a similar age. The socials on the other hand, bring people together over shared interests: cookery classes, photography lessons etc.
Having in mind the fact that most of the matching process is done through these exclusive events where people meet other singles face to face, the success rate is very high. DatingDirect claims that 1 in every 2 people met someone at an event. The success stories available at the website only serve as a proof of this. In terms of fake profiles, their number at DatingDirect is very small again due to the fact that most of the registered members are expected to show up to events in person.
Registration procedure and profile creation
It will take a few minutes to create a profile. Once you visit their website, you are asked to fill out a simple sing up form. You should provide some personal information such as your name, age, location, relationship status, occupation, religion etc. Then, you are asked to give a physical description of yourself and add a photo. After you upload a photo, you write about your interests and preferences, and you describe your perfect match. All these steps are optional, and you can choose what information you are to give.
Once you create your profile, you can start searching potential matches by typing a keyword in the search box. If you want to use some premium features and visit events you will have to subscribe to a paid version.
Cost-Overview
As we mentioned in the beginning, DatingDirect is not an expensive online dating site. In fact, the standard procedure includes three different membership types: a one month membership, a three month membership and a six month membership. The longer your subscription lasts, the cheaper you pay. For instance, one month membership costs £22.80. But if you subscribe to a three month membership you save 35% and each month costs £14.99. The six month membership offers the biggest discount 55%: you pay £9.99 per month, which means you save £12 each month.
When your subscription ends, it is automatically renewed. This means if you want to end your subscription in order not to be billed for the following month you will have to visit the website and do it manually.
Are there any bonus offers and vouchers?
Unfortunately, we did not manage to find any information regarding bonus offers and vouchers at DatingDirect. In the past, it used to offer free weekends to new users and some special holiday promotions, but nowadays they are no longer available. Maybe finding some unofficial codes will help you get discounts on your memberships.
DatingDirect considers the 3 month membership discount and the 6 month membership discount to be special promotions. However, taking into consideration the fact that these discounts are available on every single online dating site we will not count them as an additional benefit to be enjoyed exclusively.
Support
DatingDirect cares about its members and sees them as an investment. To satisfy their needs, it offers a useful help section on its website. Here, you can search by category or by typing a keyword in the search box. The results are given as answers to the most frequently asked questions. If you can`t find your answer here, you can contact the efficient support team directly by sending an e-mail.
Security and privacy
If you want to keep your account info protected and personal to you, you should consider a few things connected to safety and security. First of all, safety and security does not only depend on the provider but it also depends on your personal choices. This means, when reviewing the privacy policy of a dating site, make sure you specify your preferences regarding your personal info. Also, check how other members rate the provider. DatingDirect is considered to be one of the safest and most secure online dating providers in the online dating world.
More background about the operator
DatingDirect is one of the first online dating sites available in the UK. In its early beginnings, in 1999 to be more precise, there were only 40.000 registered members. By 2003, this number witnessed a rise and 800.000 people in the UK decided to join DatingDirect. The dating site is considered to be one of the most reliable online dating sites in UK and it is known for some unique features such as the organized events for singles, the well laid-out interface, the informative help system etc. It supports other countries such as the USA and Canada, but the majority of its registered members are UK citizens and other Europeans. With many new competitors on the market, DatingDirect is planning on introducing even more new features which will make the whole experience of its members more unique and memorable.
Conclusion
All in all, DatingDirect is a very innovative online dating provider that enjoys an enormous popularity among UK citizens. The special events it organizes are considered to be its unique feature that makes DatingDirect different from its competitors. When it comes to its drawbacks, DatingDirect is sometimes criticized for its ”not so thorough” matching system: all matching is based on the keyword you type in the search box. However, the actual events make up for this and the number of registered members is bigger day by day.