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eharmony suits people who want a long-term relationship and don't mind fewer, quiz-based matches. It is a legitimate dating service, run by eHarmony, Inc. since 1999 and now part of ParshipMeet Group, which is controlled by German broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1. Billing complaints are the biggest theme: 1,705 BBB complaints in 3 years and a 2.9 Trustpilot score. Some states give you 3 business days to cancel for a full refund; after that, cancelling only stops the renewal.
Your options
- Company
- eHarmony, Inc., a Delaware corporation; founded 1999; part of ParshipMeet Group1
- Free version
- Basic: Compatibility Quiz, view matches and profiles, send likes and first messages, see who visited your profile; no time limit3
- Premium
- Premium light, Premium plus and Premium UNLIMITED; App Store lists Premium light at $179.99 to $349.99 and other plans from $59.99, lengths not shown4
- Plan lengths
- Only multi-month terms; the cost page lists 3, 6 and 12 months and the terms list 6, 12 and 24 months1
- Auto-renewal
- Plans renew automatically, by default for 12-month terms, unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the term ends1
- 3-day cancellation
- Full refund if you cancel by midnight of the third business day after purchase (in writing, by email or by chat); App Store purchases go through Apple1
- Past settlement
- 2018 deal with four California counties and Santa Monica over auto-renewals: about $2.2 million including up to $1 million in restitution7
- BBB
- A, accredited since 2001; 1,705 complaints in the last 3 years5
Pros
- Free tier now includes likes and first messages
- Detailed Compatibility Quiz and Personality Profile
- Members focused on long-term relationships
- 3-day cancellation with full refund
- Can pause Premium for up to a year
Cons
- Most expensive of the major dating apps
- Only multi-month plans, paid upfront
- Automatic renewal, often for 12 months
- No refund after the 3-day window
- 1,705 BBB complaints in 3 years
Best for: Singles, often 40 and older, who want a committed relationship and like quiz-based matching.
Skip it if: You want to try a dating app month to month or on a tight budget.
eharmony vs. competitors
| Company | Free version | Lowest paid plan (App Store) | Matching style | Owner | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eharmony | Quiz, matches, likes and first messages | $59.99, multi-month plans up to $349.99 | Compatibility Quiz | ParshipMeet Group | Visit site |
| Match | Chat with mutual matches | $19.99; 1 month Standard $44.99 | Search and preference filters | Match Group | Read review |
| Hinge | Limited daily likes and messaging | $14.99, up to $34.99 | Prompts and dating intentions | Match Group | Read review |
| Bumble | Swipe and message matches | $17.99 Premium | Swiping | Bumble Inc. | Read review |
Dating apps we reviewed
-
eharmony This review BestGuide rating: 4.0 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Singles, often 40 and older, who want a committed relationship and like quiz-based matching. -
Tawkify BestGuide rating: 4.4 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Busy singles who want a long-term relationship, are open to blind dates, and can spend thousands of dollars to have a matchmaker do the searching. -
Hinge BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Singles who want a relationship, are willing to write a real profile, and live in or near a city with an active Hinge community. -
Christian Mingle BestGuide rating: 4.2 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Christian singles who want a faith-specific dating pool and will commit to a longer plan to keep the monthly cost down. -
OkCupid BestGuide rating: 3.9 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Daters who want to match on values and answers to questions, including LGBTQ daters who want many identity options, and who are happy to stay on a free plan. -
Tinder BestGuide rating: 3.9 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Adults in cities or suburbs who want the widest pool of people nearby and are comfortable screening matches themselves. -
Bumble BestGuide rating: 3.7 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who want a second swipe app beside Tinder or Hinge, cheap Boost add-ons, or a way to meet friends through BFF. -
Match.com BestGuide rating: 3.7 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Daters over 30 who want detailed profiles, search filters and the option of in-person events, and who will manage a paid subscription carefully.
eharmony pricing at a glance
eharmony prices in the US App Store, as listed October 20264
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Free | Compatibility Quiz, view matches, send likes and first messages |
| In-app plans labeled eHarmony Basic | $59.99 to $179.99 | Plan length and features not shown in the listing |
| Premium light | $179.99 to $349.99 | See all photos, message matches, more search settings; length not shown |
| Premium plus and Premium UNLIMITED | Not listed publicly | More features; prices shown only after you log in |
eharmony doesn't publish prices on its website; you see them after clicking Upgrade to Premium. Prices are charged upfront for the whole term and renew automatically. App Store purchases are billed and refunded by Apple.
eharmony, step by step
Join free
Create a Basic account and take the Compatibility Quiz, which builds your Personality Profile.
Review matches
See compatible members, send likes and a first message, and check who visited your profile.
Upgrade if it's working
Premium adds all photos, full messaging and more search settings, for a multi-month term paid upfront.
Turn off auto-renewal
Go to Data & Settings, Manage profile, Amend Subscription, or cancel in Apple or Google if you paid there. Do it at least 24 hours before the term ends.
Use the 3-day window if you change your mind
Email [email protected] within 3 business days of buying for a refund.
eharmony legitimacy and licensing
Yes. eHarmony, Inc. has run the service since 1999 and has been BBB accredited since 2001, with an A rating. It’s part of ParshipMeet Group, which bought eharmony in 2018 and is controlled by German broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1; in March 2025 ProSiebenSat.1 agreed to buy out General Atlantic’s minority stake. eharmony isn’t part of Match Group, so a ban on Tinder or Match doesn’t carry over.
Its main problem is billing. The BBB lists 1,705 complaints in the last 3 years, and in 2018 eharmony settled a lawsuit by four California counties and Santa Monica over automatic renewals and refused refunds for about $2.2 million.
eharmony cost
Basic is free with no time limit. Premium comes in three tiers, Premium light, Premium plus and Premium UNLIMITED, sold only as multi-month plans. eharmony doesn’t post prices on its website. In the US App Store in October 2026, Premium light ran $179.99 to $349.99 and other plans from $59.99, without plan lengths. You pay the whole term upfront.
Plans renew automatically, by default for another 12 months, unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the term ends. Set a reminder the day you buy.
What customers say about eharmony
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Detailed compatibility questionnaire
- Members who want serious relationships
- Clear, detailed profiles
- Success stories from couples who met there
Common complaints
- Unexpected charges and automatic renewals
- Hard to cancel or get a refund
- Many profiles without photos or inactive
- Few suitable matches nearby for the price
- Unhelpful customer service
How to cancel eharmony and get a refund
Within 3 business days: you can cancel for a full refund by emailing [email protected], writing to eHarmony, Inc., Attn: Cancellations, P.O. Box 28, New Hope, PA 18938, or using live chat. Refunds are made within 10 days. eharmony’s terms repeat this right for residents of states including Arizona, California, Illinois and New York.
After that: cancel in Data & Settings, Manage profile, Amend Subscription. Premium stays active to the end of the paid term, and there’s no refund. If you bought through Apple or Google, cancel and request refunds there. You can also pause Premium for up to a year by writing to support.
eharmony complaints
On Trustpilot, 53% of 4,427 reviews are one star, and eharmony doesn’t reply to them. Common complaints are surprise renewal charges, trouble cancelling, profiles with no photos or inactive members, and too few suitable matches nearby. Fans praise the detailed quiz and serious members.
Romance scammers use every dating app. The FTC warns never to send money or gift cards to someone you’ve only met online, and to be wary of anyone who quickly moves the chat off the app.
Who should skip eharmony
If you want to try online dating for a month, eharmony’s multi-month plans make it an expensive experiment; Hinge or Match sell shorter plans. If you live in a small town, check how many matches Basic shows before you pay. And if you’d rather choose by photos and chat, the quiz-first approach may feel slow.
Alternatives to eharmony
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Hinge
Relationship-focused, with a useful free tier and monthly plans that cost far less.
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Match.com
Aimed at adults dating with intention, with monthly plans and free chat with mutual matches.
-
Human matchmakers set up dates if you'd rather not browse profiles, at a much higher price.
-
In-person events and clubs
Free or low-cost, with no subscriptions or fake profiles.
Next steps
eharmony reviews
Written by readers, read by our moderators, never edited by the company.
No reader reviews yet. If you have used eharmony, yours will be the first.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you trust eharmony?
Yes. eHarmony, Inc. has operated since 1999 and is BBB accredited with an A rating. Most complaints are about billing and auto-renewal, not fraud by the company.
What does eharmony charge?
Basic is free. In the US App Store, Premium light is listed at $179.99 to $349.99 upfront and other plans from $59.99, as of October 2026. eharmony shows its own web prices only after you log in.
Is eharmony free?
Basic is free with no time limit: take the quiz, see matches, send likes and first messages. Seeing all photos and full messaging need Premium.
Does eharmony auto-renew?
Yes. Plans renew automatically, by default for 12 months, unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the term ends.
Can I get a refund from eharmony?
Yes, if you cancel by midnight of the third business day after buying. After that, cancelling stops renewal but there's no refund. Apple and Google purchases are refunded by those stores.
How do I cancel my eharmony subscription?
Go to Data & Settings, Manage profile, Amend Subscription. If you subscribed through Apple or Google, cancel in that account's subscription settings.
Who owns eharmony?
eHarmony, Inc. is part of ParshipMeet Group, controlled by Germany's ProSiebenSat.1. It isn't part of Match Group.
Can I pause my eharmony membership?
Yes. Its terms let you pause Premium for up to one year by writing to eHarmony or emailing [email protected].
Is eharmony better than Match?
eharmony suits people who want quiz-based matches and don't mind multi-month plans. Match is cheaper to try, with monthly plans and free chat with mutual matches.
Are there scammers on eharmony?
Scammers target every dating app. Never send money to someone you haven't met, and report profiles that ask for it.
Sources (10)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- eharmony: Terms and conditions of service (accessed October 12, 2026)
- eharmony: Home (accessed October 12, 2026)
- eharmony: eharmony cost (accessed October 12, 2026)
- App Store: eharmony (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: eHarmony, Inc. (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Trustpilot: eharmony (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Kelley Drye Ad Law Access: eHarmony agrees to pay up to $2.2 million to end auto-renewal suit (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Milbank: Milbank advises ProSiebenSat.1 on strategic agreement with General Atlantic (March 2025) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- ProSiebenSat.1: NuCom Group and PARSHIP ELITE Group acquire eharmony (accessed October 12, 2026)
- FTC: What to know about romance scams (accessed October 12, 2026)
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