Widely acknowledged as the most popular dating site in the world, Match.com prides itself on having the largest amount of active users and the largest amount of dates, relationship and marriages in the online dating world. Since its launch, back in 1995, Match.com has worked hard to gain the reputation it enjoys today. It is available to singles in 24 different countries and its website is available in 15 different languages. Since love is international, as they say at Match.com, different approaches and features unique to different cultures are available. And let`s not forget the Match.com guarantee: if you don`t find someone special within 6 months, they will give you additional 6 months free. Read our full review below.
User overview
Table of Contents
At Match.com there is something for everybody. Although the site is primarily focused on serious dating and long-term relationships, the number of people looking for casual hookups and one night stands is considerably bigger than in the past. So, let`s start with some statistics. The number of active members in the world of online dating, generally speaking, is witnessing a constant rise since its early beginnings. And the most solid proof of this is Match.com.
In 1996 the number of registered members was 100 000, and today there are more than 42 million singles globally enjoying its benefits. During the busy season, Match.com saw an increase of certain groups joining. For instance single parents (45%), singles who work in education (up to 46%), curvy single women (up to 50%), singles quitting smoking (up to 45%) etc. The biggest user group is the age range between 25 and 44. The male to female ratio, or the gender distribution tends to be 50/50 at all online dating sites, and particularly at Match.com this ratio is 49/51 which means the number of registered women is bigger than the number of registered men by 2%. However, one thing that we should consider here is the fact that registered members and active members are different terms. The number of registered members is usually bigger than the number of active members. For instance, Argentinian match, last year announced to have 4 million registered members, out of which only 1 million were active. The usual ration is the following: there are half active members out of all registered ones.
And one more thing we would like to mention here is how truthful the profiles are. Many online dating sites have been accused of scamming profiles just to lure more candidates, however at Match.com there are many authentication processes which lead to more genuine profiles.
Overview of the paid service
Before you commit yourself to Match.com, you are given a chance to try out the site for free and check out members living in your neighborhood. What usually happens is people instantly fall in love with it and decide to go with the paid service after a few hours. Fortunately, the paid services have no astronomic prices and the monthly subscription prices cost less than a night out. Also, Match.com offers some very nice deals for those of you who will decide to take a 3 or 6 month membership.
So what do users get by using the paid version? Let`s be honest from the start, you can`t do much without firstly paying a monthly fee. After you make the payment, you can start looking into other profiles, write e-mails and send winks. By using the paid service, you can use MatchWords i.e. search by keywords. Match.com Platinum is a professional matchmaker which offers an opportunity to all busy people to find a match without spending time on the search. MindFindBind offers a monthly program to get your mind to date and teaches you how to find the perfect date.
What does the free variant offer?
The free variant, as we said above, is given just for you to try out the site. Sending a wink in the free version is questionable. In the past, Match.com did not allow free members to send a wink but lately some changes have been introduced. You can check profiles in your neighborhood for free, but you are not allowed to send an e-mail or to make any contact whatsoever. Even if someone sends you a private e-mail, if you want to read it, you have to pay the monthly fee. So, to sum up, the free variant is there for you to feel the site and check its offerings. For other functions and features, use the paid services.
How good is the matching algorithm?
Match.com prides itself on having a super detailed searches and spectacular filtering system thanks to which you can reach many interesting profiles in just a few minutes. There are many unconventional and cool features you can use to find a perfect match. For instance, you can search for similar profile, perfect matches or you can use the in-depth matching questionnaire to get more specific searches. The Match Affinity questionnaire helps you discover who you really are and who do you want to be with. To make things easier from the start, Match.com gives you 6 great matches for you to choose from.
All these features bring about the high success rate at Match.com. The complex search engine narrows down the never-ending list of potential candidates and gives you a list of the most suitable partners. Match is considered to be in the top three online dating sites in terms of its success rate.
When it comes to fake profiles, Match.com takes instant measures whenever someone reports a false or suspicious profile. If you think that a certain profile is fake, do not hesitate to report it. At the security and moderation section of the website, you can find a detailed step by step instruction manual on how to report a fake profile. The moderation team works hard to delete all profile that work against the site`s code of conduct.
Registration procedure and profile creation
The profile creation or the registration procedure at Match.com is very smooth and easy, some users even describe it as boring. You will come across a typical set-up process where you have to create a username, write your location, write some details about your appearance and preferences etc. Once your profile is ready you can start the search. But, take into consideration the fact that by setting your profile to a free membership your search will face many limitations. To proceed with specific searches and to complete questionnaires you have to subscribe to the paid version. As to the site, it is very intuitive, but at the same time very busy, especially when you have several notifications waiting for you.
Cost overview
We tackled the issue of feeing when we described the paid service. The golden rule on all dating sites seems to be never give details about pricing to users who are not registered. So once you create your profile, you will get all options regarding the costs. However, here are some details regarding the possible costs at Match.com. No matter if you are signing up to US or UK match, you are given three different possible subscriptions: 1, 3 or 6 month membership. For instance, if you pay £29.99 a month for 1 month membership, you can save money by subscribing to a 3 month membership, each month costing £19.99, or to a 6 month membership, where you have to pay only £12.99 per month. When your subscription ends, automatic renewal is in place. You can cancel your subscription anytime you want.
Are there any bonus offers or vouchers?
To keep its current customers excited and to lure new clients, Match.com tends to introduce new promotions and coupons on weekly basis. For instance, now you can save 25% on all membership plans. If you send a 3-day free trial to a friend and they subscribe, you will receive a $25 gift card. We already mentioned the 6 months free promotion, which you receive if you have been subscribed to Match.com for 6 months and still haven’t found what you have been looking for. You can also receive exclusive deals and offers if you subscribe to email updates. With some free coupons, you can check a specific group of people in a specific area, such as for instance single women between 40-49 or 30-35.
Support
If you have any questions or queries the efficient support team will help you within a few hours. There are two possible help alternatives. You can either send an e-mail or you can check the frequently asked questions section. The FAQ section is very exhaustive and the explanations are given in simple terms. There is an answer to almost every possible question and they are carefully organized so that you can find them with ease.
Security and Privacy
Security and privacy are considered to be a top priority. Check the detailed privacy policy before joining Match.com. There you will find information about the information it collects, how it can be used, with whom can be shared and your choices about such uses and disclosures. Third parties have no access to your information. Match.com is constantly working on improving its privacy policy and new features which can be regulated by the user himself are being added. For instance, you can choose whether your profile will appear in public or not.
More background about the operator
As we previously stated, Match.com is one of the oldest online dating providers in the history of online dating. Over the years, they have learned more and more about the needs of their clients, and the tools they need to help them find the kind of relationship they are looking for. Today, the company has offices in West Hollywood, San Francisco, Tokyo, Rio De Janeiro and Beijing. Its headquarters are in Dallas, Texas. Gary Kremen is the founder and CEO. The number of employees in 2005 was 275 and in the last 10 years it has increased dramatically. The most common term used at Match.com profile is travel, with over 1 million instances. Match.com has received many honors and rewards for being the most popular and most successful online dating site in the world.
Conclusion
To sum up, Match.com has it all. If you are looking for a romantic relationship this dating site is the right place for you. If you are looking for a casual hookup, you can again visit Match.com. If you are a gay or you cherish a certain sexual preference, Match.com will help your dreams come true. With a long history and tradition, hard work and persistence Match.com is by all means the most popular online dating site in the world with new members joining its network on daily basis.