Match.com is one of the most popular dating sites in the world, with a large user base and a finely tuned algorithm to help match singles. Creating a profile only takes a few minutes and - importantly - it's a simple process, which means even those who feel a little overwhelmed by modern dating can navigate the platform.

Overall, this is one of the best online dating sites and apps available. You can set yourself up with a profile in less than five minutes, there are plenty of singles to browse and on Match.com we found that we made an average of 10 matches and received 14 messages in the first 24 hours. happened

There are a couple of drawbacks. You cannot message other members unless you have a paid subscription and are not restricted in profile building. But given that Match.com has a pretty good success rate (thousands of success stories are available to browse on the site), we think it's worth a splash if you're still looking for it. .

Match.com: Best features

Match.com is one of the few dating platforms that offers compatibility ratings, which feels like a helpful way to narrow down the field. When we tested it, we found that most of our matches were rated at 80% compatibility or above, so the quality of pairings is quite high.

This classification is influenced by the information you provide when you sign up for the Service, which relates to your own physical appearance and personality traits, as well as some additional details about who you are. Looking for a partner. You can also say if something is a deal breaker for you, so if you want kids one day you'll be paired with a member who feels the same way.

In theory, this should mean you can find ideal matches with good compatibility ratings. However, if you really want to browse some profiles before diving into the action, you can choose to withhold this information and start a session in 'incognito' mode. It's a smart way to gauge whether or not there's a good dating scene near you before committing to the process. When we tested three different profiles, we found between 10 and 11 matches over a 24-hour period, but these numbers can vary by location and dating preferences.

Before the outbreak of Covid-19, Match.com hosted many in-person events for its members, including cocktail evenings and bowling sessions. These are on hold for now, but you have the option to keep a virtual video history on the platform.

Match.com is also available as an easy-to-use app, Match.com, which works like Tinder (lots of profile swiping.) It also has a 'stories' mode, so you can share a short video for it. can make Show users what you've been up to throughout the day.

Match.com: Errors

The biggest drawback to the site is the messaging system. In short, you must have a paid subscription to send messages to other users. If a paying member sends you a message, you can see that they sent a message but you can't read what they wrote. It's a little disappointing, which is why we recommend you try the free version to start with, then upgrade if you're sure there are some good matches in your area.

It's also worth noting that the age range of users on Match.com tends to lean towards the 30 - 49 bracket. In 2015, Match.com reported that there were 2.39 million users in North America, 52% of whom were between the ages of 30 and 49. A recent report from Statista shows that is still broadly the case, with the majority of consumers in the 30 - 44 bracket.

Another small flaw is the profile building system. Although you are given free rein to write your profile, you only have the default. The number of 'interests' you can choose for your account, such as "coffee and chat" or "playing cards". We prefer options like those used on eHarmony and Plenty of Fish. which allows you to answer questions about your personality and interests on a sliding scale.

It is also not an ideal platform for bisexual singles. As it gives users the option to specify only one gender in your preferences. Match.com says it can accommodate this if you contact the customer care team, but it's a minor hassle to do so instead of just entering the details off the bat.

Is Match.com safe?

The last thing to mention here is that in 2019. The FTC accused Match.com of allowing fake user profiles to proliferate. which tricked genuine users into subscribing. In response, Match.com said the FTC had "cherry-picked" data and that. It had a robust system to deal with fake profiles. Which correctly identified and blocked 96% of fake profiles within 24 hours of their creation.

In general, most people report positive experiences. With Match.com, the site has certainly made it easier to block users and report inappropriate behavior.

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