Why it works: The best part for overworked young professionals is the app’s fairly aggressive reminder notification feature. You’ll get pinged with encouragement to set up a date with matches or to message users – while some find it annoying, those who don’t have much bandwidth might appreciate the reminders.
A dating guide helps you get your profile into optimal shape in the least amount of time, and a prominently featured one is about how to move your convo into an IRL date
- Free version: Yes
- One month: $
- Three months: $ ($ per month)
- Six months: $ ($11 per month)
- 12 months: $ ($8.33 per month)
The gist: Zoosk (opens in a new tab) is the app that can read between the lines to figure out what you need – and it makes it super easy to get going with signup taking just three to five minutes. Once you log in, just fill in some basic info (body type, education, religion, and a brief “about me” bio), and you’re free to start browsing profiles. However, there are other optional questions designed to let other singles know exactly what you’re looking for, so you can spend as much or as little time as you want answering them. Zoosk then �observes� who you’ve liked or clicked on on the app to curate more compatible matches going forward.
Once you’re ready to go, the dating site gives you a variety of interactive options, from sending hearts and smileys, to a swipe-like yes or no feature, to showing you which users have viewed your profile and those who are currently online. In a strike against catfishing, Zoosk allows members to verify their profiles through video, in order to show that they actually look like their pics. If you don’t verify it, you can’t use the app to find matches.
In theory, this should be a great app. But in practice, there are more than a few weird things about the app, like the interface itself: It looks very much like old Facebook, and everything from the name to the graphics just seem a little off. There’s also the ability to send digital gifts, which are featured on the recipient’s profile. You can use real money to buy online gifts and send them, like a picture of a bottle of wine (why not just ask them out for the real deal?) or a diamond ring (why would you send that to someone you’re still just flirting with?). And why would you want everyone to see them?
Maybe most confusing is that despite boasting over 40 million members, Zoosk is filled with dead profiles, all but defeating the purpose of going online to meet someone in the sugardaddy in first place.
Why it should work: Like Match, Zoosk gives you a wide variety of options in terms of finding other single people. Then, it actually analyzes your interactions and uses them to find you more matches you’ll like. It also screens out people who are just there to flirt and not take it further by restricting its messaging function to premium users only – so if someone’s paying to be able to messages, chances are they’re looking forward to a chance to connect in the real world, too.
But again, if there aren’t many active, real profiles out there, it doesn’t really matter how much time the algorithm should save you – in the end, it’s much more likely to waste it.
The Good
Why it works: Plain and simple, the efficacy of eharmony comes down to the results and a reputation for success. No one wants to waste time, money, or energy on people who aren’t right for them or offer up some serious red flags, so having the app’s algorithm and science matching you up with highly compatible people goes a long way toward finding people you have a high probability of getting on with and who are just as focused on their career as you are. If you’re still unsure about going out in a pandemic world, the app also has a video call feature so you can safely have your first date virtually.
A dating guide helps you get your profile into optimal shape in the least amount of time, and a prominently featured one is about how to move your convo into an IRL date
- 12 months of Standard: $ ($ per month)
Why it works: To ensure that Hinge is based on more than thinking someone is hot, the app is designed for thought-provoking, easy engagement to help spark a connection with a bit more substance right from the get-go. Profiles also feature questions that help you figure out the potential partner’s sense of humor, so there’s a dating expectation set from the start. (Your matches are also curated by your own answers to the same questions). If you upgrade to Preferred, you get more filters (like whether you’re cool with someone who smokes pot or votes Republican.)
If you identify as a woman and you’re looking for a heterosexual relationship, you’ll only be presented with matches who are already interested in you, so there’s less time-wasting on your end.