In the Year of Our Lord 2023, being ‘on the apps’ is shorthand for the necessary frustration singles in search of love (or lust) must undergo in order to connect with other singles they can only hope are looking for the same.
With ways to meet online increasing at the same rate as opportunities for IRL connection dwindle (thanks, rising cost-of-living), the question turns to which platforms offer the best chance at success.
RELATED: The best dating sites for finding love in 2023
eHarmony Australia is one such platform, so we spoke to three women about their experience looking for love. Here are their honest eHarmony reviews …
Bronnie, 40, Sydney
“I’d been on Tinder and Hinge for quite a while and I’d say I’d met all the dirtbags in the country,” laughs Sydney woman Bronnie Jones, “in fact, perhaps the world – I’d lived in London for five years and I’d met all the dirtbags there as well!”
After a particularly bad experience with someone she’d met online, a close friend suggested eHarmony. “At first I wasn’t sure,” she explains, “but I quickly came around to the idea when I realised that because it’s paid, and there’s a more significant time investment to sign up, it might weed out the time-wasters who were only looking for one thing.”
When Bronnie talks about the time-investment, she’s referring to the lengthy questionnaire eHarmony uses to match potential love interests with one another. “It’s almost like a Myers Briggs personality quiz,” she says.
Simon was only the third man Bronnie had met on eHarmony, and straight away his profile stood out to her. “I obviously thought he was handsome,” she recalls, “but I discovered he spoke four languages, which piqued my interest. I figured he must have done some travel, and I wanted to know more about his background.
Their first date – at a Lebanese restaurant in Sydney’s Alexandria – cemented Bronnie’s desire to get to know more about Simon. “My first impression was that he was way fitter than he looked in his profile picture,” she giggles, “I don’t think I’ve ever told him that!”
Five years, an engagement ring and a beautiful toddler named Ethan later, and Bronnie’s convinced subscribing to eHarmony was the best money she ever spent.
“I love Simon, and I’m so excited for our wedding,” she says, “and I think eHarmony helped so much because it really filters out the time-wasters. A lot of the other apps are so overwhelming, and I think it’s almost a little too convenient and overloads people with choice. With eHarmony, the time investment means you’re connecting with people who want something more, and whose values align with yours. That’s one thing that stood out straight away about Simon, our values are so similar, that the connection was immediate.”
Sinead, 32, Perth
“I’ve had three really amazing dates so far,” says WA woman Sinead. “And I don’t want to jinx anything but the last date went for 24 hours, so I’d call that a success,” she laughs.
Sinead’s only been signed up to eHarmony for two months, but already believes the difference from other apps – where she says “it’s just f**kbois and ghosting galore,” is stark.
“I was worried it would skew a bit ‘old’ for me but my friend and I decided to sign up after my birthday after we decided to be more intentional with our dating. I’m looking to find long-term love, and someone whose values align with mine.”
While it’s early days the hopeful romantic believes the fact that it costs to sign up for eHarmony means users need to be semi-committed to finding long term partnership, or at the very least, not time-wasters.
“If all I end up getting out of it is respectful connections who don’t ghost me, then it’s money well-spent,” she says.
Naomi, 43, Edmonton
Jason was Naomi Langner’s very first eHarmony date, even though the pair didn’t meet IRL for three months after first connecting on the platform.
“There was so much build up that I was really nervous,” she explains, “I almost turned around on the way there and went home. Thankfully, I kept going!”
As dog-lovers, Naomi and Jason’s first date was a 5km dog walk with Naomi’s toller retriever. “Jay was so easy to get along with,” she gushes, “our conversation was natural. He loved my dog, and even gave her water from his bottle in his hand. We ended up going out for lunch after – it was a four-hour date! He texted me before he even got home to tell me he wanted to meet up again.”
Like Bronnie, Naomi believes it’s the time and effort investment required in eHarmony that yields such good results. She also believes the algorithm the platform uses to match potential partners has merit. “I think their formula works! Jason and I are very compatible. We are opposites in some ways because he is over the top extroverted, and I am introverted until you get to know me. He is an innovator. I am very factual and logical. However, we get along so well. We barely ever fight, 10 years later. We communicate very well, and we have the same family values.”
“Jason has two boys from a previous marriage that I connected with right away. I saw what an amazing dad he is, and we tried very hard to have kids of our own for years, but it just didn’t work for us,” she says.
“We got engaged over Christmas in 2019, and then, the pandemic happened. We finally eloped in the mountains with our immediate families in October of 2022.”
IS EHARMONY WORTH IT?
According to all three women, the answer is a resounding: YES!
WHAT DOES EHARMONY COST?
While signing up to eHarmony is free, allowing you to complete the platform’s compatibility quiz and use its communication tools (with limited messaging), eHarmony recommends switching to paid premium membership if you feel like it’s the right fit for you once you’ve had a look around. Find out more here.
WHAT OTHER DATING SITES ARE OUT THERE?
Tinder, Grindr, Hinge and Bumble can be found on a lot of singles’ phones these days, while OKCupid, Coffee Meets Bagel and Match are great options as well. Raya is marketed as an “exclusive, membership-based” platform, while Feeld is a good option for more open-minded singles.
More Coverage
Check out our full rundown on the best dating platforms for finding love.
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Originally published as Australian Women Review eHarmony Australia, Reveal Honest Truths
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