Visit Matchmaker
 
Online Dating Ratings
Features
16/20
hr
Credibility
16/20
hr
Safety
7/10
hr
Ease of Use
7.5/10
hr
Pricing
7.5/10
hr
Overall Grade:
76%
Matchmaker Review

Powered by Date.com, Matchmaker is a site devoted to helping people “Find Someone Special Today”. Launched in 1996, Match Maker has the distinction of being one of the earliest pioneers of online dating, but the search functionality is very limited when compared to other up-and-coming dating sites, as is the profile creation process, with no personality tests and far less room for expressing individuality. However, this may mean that you get more matches on Match Maker (as it rules out far fewer prospects) and therefore have more chances to get to know a fellow member one-on-one (be it via email, instant messaging (IM), chat, or otherwise).

Matchmaker can be frustrating to newcomers as there is absolutely no browsing of the site, the profiles, the photos, or the features without at least signing up for a Free Membership. Matchmaker includes subsidiary sites Gay.Matchmaker.com and Lesbian.Matchmaker.com (making membership a bit difficult for bisexuals). Match Maker is also affiliated with what is likely the most in-depth dating e-zine on the web, “Date Info: The Webzine of Date.com”.
Features
Features

Matchmaker caters to the following relationship types:

  • Heterosexual
  • Homosexual
  • Bisexual match
  • Marriage
  • Serious
  • Casual
  • Friends

Matchmaker services countries around the world with particular emphasis in the U.S. and Canada.


Matchmaker free membership allows you to:

  • Post a profile
  • Browse and search other users’ profiles and photos
  • Show interest in other users
  • Receive emails from paid members

You must upgrade to a paid “Gold” membership in order to use:

  • Email
  • Chat
  • Instant Messaging
  • Top ranking in search results
  • All the other great advanced features of the site

Search Functionality/Options:

  • Browse by state (U.S.) or province (Canada)
  • Browse by popular world cities
  • Quick Search—age range, proximity
  • Advanced Search—can include factors like interests and physical attributes
  • One-Click Matches—automated results based on your profile
  • Keyword Search
  • Narrow search results
  • Browse who is “Online Now” and sort the results for even easier browsing
  • Custom Search with Match Maker—set up custom searches and from then on any
    profile you view will have an icon beside it indicating which (if any) of your saved searches the profile matches
  • Browse Featured Members
  • Browse New Members
  • Browse who has a birthday this week

Member Interactivity:

  • Private, anonymous, web-based email
  • “Show Interest” —sends your profile to another user
  • Chat in the chat rooms
  • Instant Messaging
  • Audio/Video Messaging
  • HotList—for saving and easily referring back to favorite member profiles
  • Voice Greetings
  • Notes to Self—unique feature that’s rather like leaving yourself a post-it note on top of a person’s profile
  • Make your profile invisible—so people can’t tell that you’re currently online
  • Block members—a useful feature made less attractive by notifying the members you’re blocking that you’re blocking them (kind of defeating the purpose)
  • Date Mobile—use features of the site via your cell phone, smartphone, or wireless-enabled PDA

Credibility
Credibility

Match Maker has over two million members, 50% male and 50% female.

Safety
Safety

Although there is no screening of members at Matchmaker, all personal information is encrypted by Thawte before travelling across the Internet.

Ease of Use
Ease of Use

Matchmaker is one of the models by which other dating sites have been designed, so usability on the site should be familiar to anyone who has ever browsed another dating site.

Every (relevant) link on Matchmaker is accessible from your Home Page and your Profile page.

A feature unique to Matchmaker is the “Notes to Self” element whereby you can leave yourself comments, reminders, etc. alongside specific member profiles, helping you keep track of your thoughts and interactions on all the various people you browse and meet on Matchmaker.

Pricing
Pricing

  • $29.95 for 1 month
  • $59.95 for 3 months
  • $89.95 for 6 months
  • $119.95 for 1 year

Matchmaker does offer a Free Trial Membership. And Match Maker will issue a refund within 72 hours of your initial signup as long as none of the services have been used. After the 72 hours period, all refund requests will be left up to the discretion of the site and reviewed on a case-by-case basis.