What Is Match?

Match.com is an online dating site for singles looking for serious, romantic relationships. Match was launched in April 1995 under the ownership of Match Group. To date, it is active in 24 countries and available in 15 different languages. Match is also an inclusive community that embraces multiple orientations; however, it is not hook-up friendly. People join Match because they are single and looking for lasting relationships.

Nearly three million singles have met their partners on Match.com, but does that mean that the site is a match for you? We’re here to help you answer that question.

This review will examine every aspect of Match.com. We will cover the login process, the best features, costs, advantages, and so on. We will also highlight the drawbacks because we believe that it is important for you to get the unfiltered truth. By the end of this Match review, you will know if Match.com is the right place to look for a loving relationship.

Pros

• Many exciting features.

• New Match members typically receive free trial and discount offers.

• There is a Match.com app for Android and iOS devices.

• You can socialize in person at Match events.

• Match is an inclusive online dating site.

• The website is simple and easy to use.

Cons

• There are quite a few paid add-on features that are not included in the subscription plans.

• There is no unlimited messaging for free members.

• The Match login process is tedious.

• There is no Match.com customer service phone number.

Login Process

The Match login process is comprehensive and will take at least 15 minutes to complete. First, you will have to state the gender you’re looking for. Match is an inclusive online dating site, so there are options for finding a single man, single woman, or even both. Second, you will have to state your gender. You can either be a man or a woman. You will also have to provide your date of birth. Match is open to anyone 18 years old and older.

You will then be asked for your city, first name, and email address. Please provide an email address that you currently have access to, because that will be used to validate your account later on. Your Match login details require a password, so you will be asked to create one. Once the above information is submitted, Match will present a set of four rules that you must agree to. You are asked to be respectful, genuine, mindful of your safety, and willing to report suspicious behavior.

This is followed by a series of questions. These questions will pertain to:

• What you’re looking for

• Children

• Educational level

• Habits, appearance

• Ethnicity

• Beliefs

• Languages

• Relationship status

You are then given the option to upload a photo to start off. Your photo must be a selfie that contains only you. Offensive content is not allowed, e.g., middle fingers. You can add up to nine photos later as well.

A series of open-ended questions will be presented to you, and you will need to answer at least one to move forward with the login process. You will be asked:

• What your favorite quality in a person is

• To describe your perfect match

• To state the preferred age range of your match

• About your match’s children, including if they have any and if they want any

• To state your preferences regarding their educational level, height, and habits

• To describe yourself in a few words

Please keep in mind that before you can browse Match freely, you will need to verify your email address through an email sent to your inbox.

Profile Completion

Completing your Match.com profile will be a thorough, time-consuming process. You are allowed to upload up to nine pictures, including a profile picture. You can also upload a voice clip describing your personality. Your voice may be used in Match’s “Hello Love” game. We will provide more details about this game in the “Features” section of this review.

You can write a description of yourself that can be up to 2,000 characters long. You will also be given a series of open-ended questions to answer. The goal of the questions is to encourage deep thinking. Match wants you to be as expressive as possible when answering these questions because they are intended to give users insight into who you are and what you’re like. Your description and answers will be rated using a three-star system. The less you write, the fewer stars you will get, but other singles will not be able to see this.

Your voice clips, descriptions, and answers will be deleted if they contain:

• Personal contact information

• Personally identifiable information

• Business promotions

• Vulgarity

• Mention of any other inappropriate topic

Additionally, there are sections on your profile that pertain to your:

• Hobbies

• Home life

• Personal beliefs

• Appearance

• Occupation

…and so on.

You can also state the preferred age range of your perfect match. The last section of your Match.com profile simply asks if you’d be open to video and voice calls.

The process of completing a Match.com profile is mostly identical to the process on other online dating sites. However, voice clips are not common, and we find this to be innovative. It adds an exciting touch to profiles.

User Account Quality

Different sources give different figures regarding the number of people using Match. However, it is one of the largest online dating sites in the world, if not the largest, so it’s safe to assume that the number is well into the millions. As per our observations, this seems to be accurate. Many large and mid-sized cities have thousands of singles. Membership may be sparse in small cities, but the Match.com search feature allows you to search for members within a radius of 500 miles.

We did not encounter any profiles without pictures; however, there are a few partially completed profiles. We did not find any empty profiles. Most, if not all, profiles have profile photos with at least a few details added. There are even a few profiles that have blue check marks. Blue check marks signify that these profiles have had their photos verified by Match. To verify your photos, you will have to send a video selfie to the site. We will talk more about the photo verification process later in the review.

The algorithm of Match works like this: they combine the information you provide at sign-up, such as your gender and age, with the information they record about your activity on the site. This process is called “automated decision-making and profiling”, and they implement it to recommend suitable users to you. This process works the same way when it comes to recommending your profile to other singles.

Dating Features

Live Rooms

On Match, live rooms are like video conference calls. You can join a live room and have voice discussions with other singles. You can turn on your camera as well, but based on our observations, most people do not. You can also communicate through chat in live rooms. The live rooms are moderated for your safety and well-being.

Some live rooms are only available to singles with certain interests on their profile. For example, there are rooms for music lovers, animal lovers, and so on. Every Sunday, Match hosts a live speed dating event in one of the rooms.

Events

Match hosts local activities where you can interact with other singles face-to-face. These Match events could be anything ranging from after-work socializers to hobby classes. Some events are free, whereas others require a ticket. Typically, you can learn about upcoming ones on the site, but some events are only accessible with a personal invitation from Match. Factors such as your age, location, and gender are considered when selecting invitees.

You can bring a friend or two to most of them, but you will have to purchase a ticket for them as well. If you would like to host your own Match event, you will have to complete a form and wait for the company’s approval.

Attending Match events is a fun way to meet and interact with other singles. It can increase your chances of meeting your perfect match, especially if you’re a social person who prefers face-to-face interactions. In some cases, it’s easier to determine compatibility in person. As a popular online dating site with many members, you might meet people whose profiles you’ve missed. Participating in Match events can also help you discover new interests and learn new concepts, as Match sometimes offers free, virtual coaching sessions. These sessions give you advice on how to find your perfect match.

Video Calling

It’s standard for online dating sites to have a built-in messaging feature; however, Match takes it one step further with built-in video calling. To initiate a video call, you must have exchanged at least two messages with the other party and received at least two messages from them too.

Video calling is a personal and vulnerable means of communication. It can strengthen your connection with your match before you agree to a face-to-face meeting. It’s fun and interactive, and it allows you to get a feel for your match’s emotions, tones, and facial cues in real time. Furthermore, people can pretend to be anyone on online dating sites, but video calling your match would be an effective way to confirm their identity.

Love Notes

Love notes are pre-set icebreaker messages formulated by Match. They can be personal, humorous, or romantic in nature. These notes are placed at the top of your match’s inbox to increase your chances of getting a reply. There are three love notes packages. You can purchase five, fifteen, or thirty love notes at a time.

If you struggle with initiating conversations and creating interesting icebreakers, love notes will be beneficial to your search. Additionally, your response rate among singles will be higher since Match strategically places love notes at the top of the receiver’s inbox.

Boost

Boost is a special feature that increases the visibility of your Match.com profile. Boosting your Match.com profile will place it at the top of the search results. Once you activate Boost, you’ll get a count of the views, likes, and messages you’ve received since then. The success of your Boost depends on the number of people using Match.com at that time.

The higher the number of online singles, the more attention your Match.com profile can get. If there is little activity on the site, your profile won’t get as much attention, but Match will run the Boost for a longer time to compensate. You can purchase one Boost at a time or a set of five or ten.

Boost can be an advantageous feature, especially during high-traffic hours. Match.com is one of the largest online dating sites, so increased visibility will be helpful to your search. This will increase your chances of meeting a single man or single woman who may be a perfect fit for you.

Incognito Mode

Incognito mode will allow you to use Match.com anonymously and appear offline. Your Match.com profile will be invisible to other singles and members will not get a notification when you view their profiles. It is easy to turn incognito mode on and off. And you can activate it for a day or a month; the choice is yours.

For some people, online dating sites are a private matter. People like this do not want anyone to know that they use online dating platforms, nor do they want to inadvertently cross paths with a familiar person on these sites. If you feel the same and would like to view singles anonymously, incognito mode will be perfect for you.

Read Receipts

Match will alert you when someone reads your message. These alerts are called read receipts. Read receipts can help you establish how engaged a person is in the conversation, if at all. Using this information, you will be able to determine if this person is worth pursuing or not.

Contact Filter

The contact filter is a mechanism that gives you control over who messages you. Only singles who fit your criteria will be able to contact you. You can filter members based on their ages, locations, and so on. You can also set filters that prevent members without photos from messaging you. Likewise, if your Match.com profile does not fit another member’s criteria, you will not be able to contact him or her.

On large online dating sites like Match.com, you might get a lot of messages, but everyone won’t be a quality match. The contact filter is useful when it comes to narrowing the pool of singles. It can put you in contact with the right people and minimize the chances of being contacted by the wrong ones.

Connect Upgrade

Match’s connect upgrade allows anyone, no matter if they’re a paying member or not, to respond to you. Once you’ve purchased the connect upgrade, Match will place a crown icon on your profile, signifying your connect status. This feature will help you connect with more singles, thus increasing your chances of meeting someone special.

Hello Love Game

Only singles who upload a voice clip to their profiles can participate in the Hello Love game. A voice clip will be presented to you, and you will have to guess the Match.com profile it belongs to. This game adds an exciting flair to profiles, making those with voice clips distinguishable from the rest.

Prices & Costs

Match uses the freemium model to bill their customers. This means that while you can use the site as a free member, you will have limited access to certain features. Often, these features are needed to enjoy the full benefits of the site. As a free Match member, you can perform the following functions:

• Create a Match.com profile.

• View singles and use the Match.com search feature to look for other profiles.

• Chat with singles who purchased the Connect upgrade.

You will need to upgrade your Match.com membership if you want access to more features, including those we discussed earlier in the review. Match.com prices their customers using subscription plans. You may find the costs below:

• 1 month: £29.99.

• 3 months: £19.99 per month.

• 6 months: £6.99 per month.

As a paying Match member, you will be able to enjoy the following features:

• Unlimited messaging and video calling.

• Ad-free browsing.

• See who’s liked your profile.

• Access to live rooms and webinars.

• Receive special Match.com prices for events.

You can pay for a subscription plan with a credit card, debit card, or PayPal. For first-time purchases, you have a maximum of 14 days to cancel your plan and receive a refund. Please keep in mind that:

• Love notes

• Boost

• Incognito mode

• Read receipts

• The contact filter, and

• Connect upgrade

Are independent, add-on features not included in subscription prices. While they all have various prices, they are relatively inexpensive. Plan renewals and add-on features are not eligible for a refund though.

You may be offered a Match.com free trial as a new member. Free trial offers and special Match.com prices are commonly offered in marketing emails to new members. We’ve seen free trial offers that last as long as seven days.

Should you choose to redeem a free trial, you will still have to provide your payment information. You will not be charged while your free trial is active. However, you will be billed if you don’t cancel it before it ends.

How Safe Is Match?

Collection and Use of Personal Information

Should you sign up, Match will collect quite a bit of information from you. They will collect basic things such as your gender, date of birth, email address, and so on. Any additional information on your profile, payment information, and all other supplementary information given to the site are also recorded.

Match might also receive information about you from other users, your social media accounts, and their group of affiliates and partners. Match also records information while you actively use the site, such as your IP address, device type, chats, and so on.

As far as we can tell, Match will not use your data in a malicious manner and will mainly use your data to implement and consistently improve their services. For example, any additional information on your Match.com profile will be used to recommend suitable members to you. Your data will also be used to ensure your safety and for advertising purposes, e.g., sweepstakes, contests, and social media campaigns.

You can contact the Match.com customer service team to opt out of the processing of your data. However, keep in mind that this may interfere with your services on the site.

Third Parties

There are third party functions on Match.com which are used for data hosting, site maintenance, customer support, analytics, marketing, payment processing, and security. Your information is shared with these third parties and with Match’s group of affiliates.

Match’s parent company, Match Group, owns and operates several brands, including large online dating services like Tinder, Hinge, OKCupid, and Meetic. Match may share your information with these services if they feel like you could benefit from them. It also has niche dating services for singles over 50 and single parents so if your profile data reflects those characteristics, your profile will be visible on those sites as well.

Match thoroughly vets all their third-party advertisers and partners before agreeing to work with them. These advertisers and partners must agree to keep all information shared with them confidential.

Photo Verification

To combat cases of deception, Match has optional photo verification. The only thing you have to do is submit a video selfie. Match uses special software to confirm that your video matches the photos on your profile. The special software is called Liveness Check and 3D Face Authentication.

The Liveness Check analyzes your video to confirm that it was taken by a real person and not digitally modified or created with artificial intelligence. 3D Face Authentication creates a digital template based on your face’s geometry. This is used to confirm that the person in your video is the same person in your photos. Your Match.com profile will be labeled as “Photo Verified” once the process is complete.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a single man or woman looking for a loving relationship, we think that Match would be a good place to start. You would not enjoy Match if you’re attached and looking for something casual. Singles join the site because they’re looking for happy endings, and based on the testimonials, many people have since 1995. Match is an inclusive environment with several features to keep you engaged and entertained.

Some dating sites place emphasis on long-term messaging, but this is not the case with Match. At Match, you can make video calls and even attend special events because they are serious about helping you find your special person.

There are issues of concern regarding the lack of a customer support number and the number of paid add-on features. We also believe that the registration process could be briefer, but these are not dealbreakers. Match is worth a try; Your love story awaits!

FAQ

How Much Is Match.com?

Match uses subscription plans to bill their customers. The prices are £29.99 for a one-month plan, £19.99 per month for a three-month plan, and £9.99 per month for a six-month plan. Add-on features vary in price, but they are generally inexpensive.

How To Cancel Match.com?

To delete your Match.com profile, you will have to visit your settings and then select “Suspend My Account”. After that, click “To delete your account, click here”. Your profile will be deleted in 24 hours.

Who Owns Match.com?

Match.com is owned by Match Group.

When Did Match.com Start?

Match.com was launched in April 1995.

How To Contact Match.com?

There is no Match.com customer service phone number, but you can reach them through email. Click “Contact us” at the bottom of the homepage. Scroll down, and you’ll see another “Contact us” button. Click that, and you will see a link that will redirect you to the contact form.

How To Use Match.com Without Paying?

You can use Match.com for free, but you will have access to very few features. Check your email often for free trial offers.