💡 Key Takeaways: * Costs vary by commitment - Standard ($19.99-44.99/month) vs Premium ($21.99-37.99/month), with longer subscriptions offering better value * Best for specific demographics - most users are 30-49, with 50+ being fastest growing group; less effective for under-28 * Limited free functionality - can browse and like profiles but messaging requires paid subscription * Premium features add value - includes monthly profile boost, read receipts, and priority placement in search results * Additional features available - Private Mode ($9.99/month), message read alerts ($4.99/month), and profile boosts ($3-5.99 each) can be purchased separately You're checking out Match.com reviews, so you're probably wondering, "Is it worth paying for Match.com?" For many singles, the answer is yes. Since you can check out local singles for free on dating apps like Bumble [/bumble-guide/], Hinge [/hinge-guide/] and Tinder [/tinder-guide/], it makes sense to do a little research first. You've come to the right place, because VIDA Select's team of dating experts have been using Match.com daily on behalf of the clients we represent. That's hundreds of thousands of hours spent setting up Match profiles, searching for compatible matches, and sending countless of messages. And, of course, arranging all the dates! We've been helping clients find their ideal partners since2 2009, and in that time we've watched Match.com grow and evolve over time. We're intimately familiar with all of Match's features, and all the ins and outs, plus the pros and cons, of this popular dating site. This Match review has everything you need to decide if it’s worth it to sign up! Start at the top, or jump straight to what you’re curious about. PROS AND CONS OF MATCH Like any dating site, Match.com has its advantages and disadvantages. MATCH ADVANTAGES: * Match launched way back in 1995. It’s one of the oldest and most popular paid online dating sites out there, with millions of active users all over the world. * The subscription fee helps weed out singles who aren't serious about meeting someone. Because it's a paid site, users are generally looking for long-term relationships. * Match is owned and operated by Match Group [https://www.mtch.com/], which means you can expect a quality user experience as far as the site and mobile app are concerned. * You can access safety features like “Date Check-In” on Match’s mobile app [/match-mobile/]. MATCH DISADVANTAGES: * Many singles in their early 20s aren’t willing or able to pay money for online dating. If you’re looking to date someone in their 20s, a free site like OkCupid [/okcupid-review/] or app like Bumble [/bumble-guide/], Tinder [/tinder-reviews/], Hinge [/hinge-app-review/], or Coffee Meets Bagel [/coffee-meets-bagel-review-what-you-need-to-know/] might be a better bet. The majority of people using Match [http://match.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=30442]are 30-49 years old. Singles dating over 50 is its fastest-growing demographic. * Only paid members can read and respond to messages. Non-subscribers have very limited communication options. MATCH REVIEWS VERDICT: So is Match worth it? Yes - if you’re 28+ and looking for a serious relationship. It's one of the best dating sites for single professionals, so you'll find plenty of high-quality matches. And if you’re dating over 50 [/best-dating-sites-for-over-50/], it is hands down the best site for you. Because users have to pay in order to respond to messages, Match doesn't have as many fake profiles as you'd find on free dating platforms. That means you'll spend more time talking to Match subscribers who are serious about actually meeting someone. MATCH PREMIUM VS MATCH STANDARD Match is not a dating site that can be used effectively for free. Free members can browse profiles, send unlimited likes, and message their "Top Picks [/match-top-picks/]" - and that's about it. If you're serious about meeting someone, you'll want to purchase a paid membership. Match.com offers two: Standard and Premium. A Standard subscription includes roughly half of the features as a Premium subscription. However, members can add some Premium features to their Standard subscription for an additional cost. Premium is Match’s most expensive monthly subscription, and it includes the features for both memberships. Match Premium account settings allow you to hide your dating profile from specific users or only permit users with high compatibility scores to connect with you. Premium users are also more visible on the site, as Premium profiles display first in users' search results. These are all the features bundled with a Premium Match.com subscription: * View read receipts * Monthly Boost [/match-boost/] * Unlimited rewinds * Weekly Super Like [/match-super-like/] * See who is an upgraded member * Match Standard features And these are the features that come with a Standard Match membership: * Unlimited messaging * Unlock conversations with matches * See who checked out your profile Match also offers ala carte paid features that any user can purchase: * Private Mode (allows you to reveal your profile to only selected users) * MatchPhone * Reply For Free (allows free members to respond to your messages) * In-person events HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO JOIN MATCH? Match costs around $44.99 for a single month when you join as a Standard member. A Premium membership starts around $37.99 per month, but you have to purchase 3 months at once. The longer subscription you purchase, the lower the monthly price gets. You may find prices vary slightly in your area, but you can plan to pay somewhere in that ballpark. Here are how the prices break down for both membership levels: Match Premium Cost 2025 Match Standard Cost 2025 12 months - $21.99/month 12 months - $19.99/month 6 months - $23.99/month 6 months - $21.99/month 3 months - $37.99/month 3 months - $35.99/month This popular dating site often runs specials, so if you're planning to sign up you may want to wait for a sale. You can save 25% on your subscription using this 2025 Match promo code [https://www.vidaselect.com/match-25]! ALA CARTE MATCH FEATURES You can pay separately for additional features to "enhance" your subscription. Except where noted, prices depend on your subscription length and other factors. PROFILE BOOSTS A monthly profile Boost [/match-boost/] comes with a Premium subscription, but any Match user can purchase them on a per-use basis. Each Boost pushes your profile to the top of the search results for users in your area for a full hour. Match claims you'll receive 4x more views and messages. Each Boost costs $4.99, or $5.99 when you buy them on Match Mobile. Purchasing in bulk brings the price down to $4.00 each when you buy 5, or $3.00 each when you buy 10. Pricing may vary by location. MATCH EXPERT PICKS Not to be confused with your “Top Picks [/match-top-picks/]”, the Expert Picks feature sends you two matches hand-selected by one of Match’s team of 50 dating experts. Extra Picks costs $4.99 a week. Your curated matches are chosen based on the answers you provide to questions like how you would change your dating life and what sort of person you’re seeking in a relationship. Your Expert Picks are pulled from the same match pool generated by Match’s algorithm - you’re paying for the “human touch [https://www.globaldatinginsights.com/news/match-launches-expert-picks-onto-platform/]”. MATCHPHONE For an additional $3.99 per month, you can use the MatchPhone feature to generate a new phone number to forward to your phone. You can talk, text, and message Match users without revealing your real one. PRIVATE MODE For an extra $9.99 each month, you can activate Private Mode. This feature gives you control over who sees your Match profile. It will only be revealed to users you select, and you can browse profiles anonymously [/hidden-private-dating-profiles/]. REPLY FOR FREE For an extra $9.99 per month, activating Match's Reply For Free feature means *any* user can respond to your messages. That means you can exchange messages with free users as well. MESSAGE READ ALERTS Getting notified when someone reads your message costs an extra $4.99 per month. MATCH SEARCH FEATURES This popular dating site makes searching for and filtering your matches easy. You can also save your search criteria to run the same search again. You can sort your matches by categories like age, distance, number of photos, newest first, last activity, etc. Sorting them by last activity ensures you’re messaging users who actively engage with the dating platform. Match’s search filters are also simple to use. You can choose criteria like education, kids, body type, how often they exercise, and even astrological sign, if you’re into that. PRO MESSAGING TIP: Use the “Interests” filter to find singles who share an interest in sports, hobbies, and even pets. Then, send a keyword-specific copy and paste icebreaker [/do-cut-paste-dating-messages-really-work/] to all the matches in your search results who intrigue you. Because you're mentioning a shared interest, your message will have a personalized feel. And not only will each woman think you took the time to read her profile, you’ll also save a ton of time! Here is an example of a copy and paste message you could send to any women who list “Skiing” as an interest: HOW MATCH WORKS Unlike paid dating sites such as eharmony [/eharmony-cost/] and EliteSingles [/elite-singles-reviews-cost/], Match allows you to seek out your own matches using easy-to-navigate search features. You'll also be presented with "Top Picks" in the Discover section. Top Picks are your recommended matches. These users are identified by the matching algorithm as highly compatible with your stated criteria and your search patterns over time. Scrolling through your Top Picks every day and mindfully "liking" or "passing" allows the algorithm to learn from your choices. Active users also tend to get more profile exposure, so it's worth your time to do that. Upgraded users can also see who has liked and visited their profiles. On the Match app, you can also scroll through users who are nearby. SETTING UP YOUR PROFILE Creating a Match account via the online dating site is easy. Enter your email, create a password, select your birth date, enter your first name, and you’re in. (Thinking about trying the Match dating app? This Match Mobile review [/match-mobile/] walks you through the user experience!) The first step in the setup process is selecting what type of relationship you’re looking for. Options run along a spectrum of “just browsing singles” to “long-term relationship.” Then you’ll provide all your particulars, like height, body type, relationship status, political views, kids, etc. While in most of life honesty is the best policy, fudging your stats a little can help you appear in more search results. Many people tend to think along the lines of "my ideal match is under 40". So if you're 40, you may want to consider putting your age as 39 to make that cut-off. Stick with slight exaggerations [/should-i-lie-in-my-online-dating-profile/], though. The last thing you want to do is get caught in an obvious lie on your video chat or first date. When specifying religion, if you even remotely identify as Christian, (i.e. you’re more agnostic now but come from a Christian background) it’s not a bad idea to select that as your religion. Surveys have shown Christian men get 20% more messages [http://blog.pof.com/2014/01/most-desirable-singles-of-2014/]. If politics are important to you, make sure to specify your views. According to Match's 2020 Singles In America survey, 76% of singles think sharing the same political beliefs with a partner is important. CHOOSING INTERESTS You’ll have the opportunity to choose up to 5 interests and sports you enjoy, and it’s important to select a few. The pandemic has been credited with ushering in the "era of slow dating", with Match reporting over half of the singles surveyed are now more intentional about dating. 63% want to spend more time getting to know a potential date, and many are less focused on physical attraction. Having a specific hobby in common can help forge a connection with potential matches, so you don’t want to miss an opportunity by skipping it. Next, you’ll have the opportunity to describe your ideal partner. To set your matching criteria, simply click on each category and adjust the settings accordingly: HOW TO SHINE IN YOUR MATCH PROFILE The star of your Match profile is the “Essay” section, which has a minimum of 100 characters. This is where you’ll really want to focus your time. Women who are looking for a serious relationship will definitely be reading it. Competition is fierce, so keep your summary positive by focusing on your most attractive traits. Check out these essential tips on how to nail a Match.com profile [/how-to-write-a-match-profile/]. Then use this easy formula when writing yours: Match also has "Topics." These are 150-character-or-less snippets that you write in response to a prompt. There are 70+ to choose from, and you can answer up to 3 of them. Answering them is important because little tidbits of interesting information help build attraction. She wants to imagine spending time with you, so let her know you’re a fun, socially active guy. With your profile out of the way, it’s time to upload your pictures. She checks out yours as closely as you scrutinize her photo lineup, so choosing strong photos is essential. This expert photo advice shows [/profile-pic/] you how to look more attractive online, so give that a skim before selecting your final photo lineup. For now, keep these 3 photo tips in mind: * Go with a range of 3-7 photos. Less than 3 and she won’t get a well-rounded picture of your personality, but at the same time, very few people have 8+ photos they look equally attractive in. Don’t skip the photo completely - Match allows women to filter their search results for only guys with photos, and she wants to know what you look like. * Ask your female friends for feedback. For the most part, guys can’t give you the type of feedback you need on your photos, since they’re not looking at them from a “want to date you” perspective. * Keep your photos consistent with your profile text. You want your photos to reinforce what you say in your profile, and vice versa. For instance, if you paint yourself as a rock-climbing, kitesurfing, daredevil type but your photos are all of you chilling out with a book and a beer, she’s going to doubt your honesty. Upload your photos - and boom, you’re done! Now you’re ready to start messaging women [/do-cut-paste-dating-messages-really-work/]... MEET THE BEST SINGLES ON MATCH - THE EASY WAY! Finding your ideal partner on Match requires an investment - and not just in terms of paying for the subscription. You also need to invest some serious time into your profile, photos, and messages to have a chance of attracting the type of incredible women you want to date. If you’re not sure how to shine online, or you simply don’t have the time to keep up with all that online demands, why not bring in a team of professional to do it all for you? VIDA’s dating experts [https://www.vidaselect.com] can write your profile, screen your matches, and send expertly written messages to the attractive women you select! All you do is show up for the dates. Click here to learn more! [https://www.vidaselect.com]
