Best for: Meeting lots of people fast
- Huge, active user base almost everywhere
- Free version lets you match and chat
- Very fast and easy to use
- Free version
- Yes
- Paid from
- ≈ $9.99 (US App Store)
Comparison
eHarmony or Hinge? How to Choose for Something Serious
Both are built for relationships. eHarmony matches you after a compatibility quiz and suits people 30 and older; Hinge is free to start and popular in your late 20s and 30s.
Quick verdict
It depends on what you want. Choose eHarmony if you’re 35 or older, want the site to suggest compatible matches and are happy to pay for a few months. Choose Hinge if you’re in your 20s or 30s, want to start free and prefer choosing people from detailed profiles.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | eHarmony | Hinge |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best for | Serious relationships and marriage | Finding a relationship in your 20s and 30s |
| Audience | Adults 18+ looking for a long-term relationship, many of them over 30 | 18+, mostly 24–40, relationship-focused |
| Typical goal | Long-term relationships | Serious relationships |
| Free version | Limited | Yes |
| Paid from | shown after you sign up | ≈ $16.99 (US App Store) |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android |
| How matching works | Compatibility Quiz, then suggested matches | You browse and like photos or prompts |
| Getting started | The Compatibility Quiz comes first | A few minutes: photos and three prompts |
| Free messaging | A first message only; full messaging needs Premium | Yes, with matches (limited daily likes) |
| Video dates | Built-in video dates | In-app video chat |
| LGBTQ+ daters | Same-sex matching available | Popular with LGBTQ+ daters |
| Plan lengths | Premium plans run 6, 12 or 24 months | Monthly plans available |
Who uses eHarmony and Hinge?
Both sites attract people who want a relationship, but at different stages of life. eHarmony’s members are mostly 30 and older, and many are thinking about marriage. Hinge’s members are mostly between their mid-20s and around 40, and every profile shows dating intentions, from “life partner” to “figuring out my dating goals,” so you can see who wants the same thing.
In practice, if you’re under 35 you’ll usually find more people your age on Hinge. If you’re over 40, eHarmony’s pool tends to fit better, and as our Hinge review notes, Hinge is quieter for daters over 55.
How matching works on each
eHarmony does the choosing for you. You start with the Compatibility Quiz. It covers personality, communication style and what you want from a relationship. eHarmony then suggests matches with a compatibility score, so you spend less time browsing and more time reading a few profiles properly.
Hinge lets you choose. You build a profile from photos and three written prompts, then browse other profiles and like or comment on a specific photo or answer. Hinge also sends a daily Most Compatible suggestion based on your activity. It suits people who enjoy browsing and like starting conversations from something specific.
What you can do for free
This is the biggest practical difference. On eHarmony, the free Basic membership lets you take the quiz, see your matches with blurred photos, send likes and smiles and send a first message, but a real conversation and all photos need Premium. On Hinge, you can match and message for free, with a limited number of likes each day. Paying adds unlimited likes and advanced preferences, but it isn’t required to meet people.
How much each costs over six months
eHarmony doesn’t publish its prices: you see them only after you sign up, and there’s no one-month plan, so you pay for several months at once. Hinge sells monthly plans. Prices depend on your country, age and platform. The Hinge prices below are from our September 2026 check:
| Plan | Price per month | Roughly, over 6 months |
|---|---|---|
| eHarmony Premium | Shown after you sign up | Paid for the whole term |
| Hinge free | $0 | $0 |
| Hinge+ | ≈ $30–40 | ≈ $180–240 |
| HingeX | ≈ $50–70 | ≈ $300–420 |
eHarmony plans renew automatically, often for another 12 months, so turn off auto-renewal at least 24 hours before the term ends if you don’t want the plan to roll over. Full details are in our eHarmony pricing and Hinge pricing guides.
Which is better if you’re over 40 or 50?
For most people over 40, eHarmony is the stronger fit: its members skew older, and the guided matching suits people who know what they want and don’t want to spend evenings browsing. Hinge still works well in your 40s, especially in big cities, but the pool thins out after about 55. Compare more options in our rankings for over 40s and over 50s.
Which is better for LGBTQ+ daters?
Hinge is the easier choice. It’s popular with gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans daters, and same-sex matching works exactly like any other match. eHarmony was originally built around man–woman matching. It now offers same-sex matching and says it has worked with GLAAD to make the site more inclusive. See our ranking of LGBTQ+ dating sites.
In the UK, Canada and Australia
Both are available in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, and both work the same way in each country. Prices are shown in local currency and vary, so check the app before you buy.
Can you use both?
Yes, and many people do. A common approach is to keep Hinge on the free plan for volume while paying for a few months of eHarmony for guided, marriage-minded matches. Just keep your profiles consistent and track when each subscription renews.
Scores
eHarmony
- Match quality
- 4.5
- Features
- 4.1
- Value for money
- 3.9
- Safety
- 4.4
- Ease of use
- 4.0
Hinge
- Match quality
- 4.6
- Features
- 4.3
- Value for money
- 4.0
- Safety
- 4.2
- Ease of use
- 4.5
eHarmony: pros and cons
Pros
- Strong focus on long-term compatibility
- Detailed quiz and compatibility scores
- Free Basic membership with no time limit
- Website plus iPhone and Android apps
Cons
- Photos and full messaging need Premium
- No one-month plan
- Plans renew automatically, often for 12 months
- Prices only shown after you sign up
Read our full eHarmony review →
Hinge: pros and cons
Pros
- Detailed, conversation-friendly profiles
- Strong focus on real relationships
- Free version is usable, with free faith and ethnicity filters
- Good for LGBTQ+ daters
Cons
- Few daily likes, and one incoming like at a time, on the free plan
- Waitlist for new members in some regions
- Smaller user base than Tinder outside big cities
- No web version, and no calling in the app
Pricing compared
eHarmony Premium: shown after you sign up; Hinge paid plans start at ≈ $16.99 (US App Store). Prices vary by country and plan length — see eHarmony pricing and Hinge pricing.
Neither feels right? Consider these
Best for: A big, well-moderated swipe app
- Big pool, with 100M+ Google Play downloads
- Photo verification required in the US
- Free in-app voice and video calls
- Free version
- Yes
- Paid from
- ≈ $2.99 for Boost (US App Store)
Frequently asked questions
Is eHarmony or Hinge better for marriage?
eHarmony is designed around long-term compatibility and attracts many people who want marriage, especially over 35. Hinge also has many relationship-minded members and shows dating intentions on every profile. If marriage is your clear goal and you’re happy to pay, eHarmony is the more focused choice.
Can I use eHarmony and Hinge at the same time?
Yes. Many people keep Hinge on the free plan for volume and pay for a few months of eHarmony for curated, marriage-minded matches. Keep your profiles consistent, and note when each subscription renews so you don’t pay for longer than you meant to.
Is Hinge free to use?
Yes. On Hinge’s free plan you can create a profile, like a limited number of people each day and message your matches. Hinge+ and HingeX add unlimited likes, advanced preferences and more visibility. eHarmony, by contrast, lets free members send only a first message; a real conversation needs Premium.
Which is better for over 50s, eHarmony or Hinge?
eHarmony is usually the better fit after 50. More of its members are in that age group, and the guided matching saves time. Hinge works for some people in their early 50s, especially in cities, but it is quieter for older daters. SilverSingles and OurTime are other good options.