Features
EliteSingles is part of a global dating network by the German-based company Affinitas. They present a large group of popular sites that revolve around matchmaking. Although the title may differ, they are basically the same service giftwrapped for the convenience of each country. There is a large spectrum of supported nations: France, Germany, Hungary, Belgium, Australia and South Africa got their localized EliteSingles site, just to mention a few. The one we reviewed was meant for the American audience, slight changes might occur in other versions.
Getting Started
EliteSingles’ registration process is unique in the sense that they combined the profile creation with a personality test. It begins with easy questions related to your marital status, education level and gender preference, but the tides quickly turn, and you find yourself in a psychologist’s chair. Later on you are asked to rate on a 7-scale bar how satisfied you are with your looks, how you react in certain situations, and what kind of statements apply to you. The completion of this test takes quite a while; the system even warns you about its length. The tasks require about 20 minutes, but luckily for you the site lets you save your progress to complete it at a later time. Still, it’s highly recommended to take these questions seriously and not just skip them over, as your evaluation plays a vital role later on. After finishing the personality test, you can upload a photo and you’ll be redirected to the main page.
Matching System
During your first visit, you’ll be greeted by a brief tutorial that explains how the features work. This is quite helpful, as EliteSingles elevates the concept of online dating to a whole new level. The result of your personality test is implemented into the matchmaking system. Instead of browsing through a long list of possible candidates, the site provides you a couple of recommended partners, based on your mutual interest. The more traits you share, the more likely you’ll get along.
The profile menu is very extensive, and you can learn a lot about others just by reading through it. You can also check out their results on the test to see whether you share the same qualities or not. EliteSingles even delivers a proper analysis on some of your quirks, just like Chemistry and eHarmony. Your summarized stats are displayed on different diagrams, showing how stable you are emotionally, for example. This diagram is present on your potential partner’s page too, but unfortunately you cannot compare your results, and the system doesn’t tell you whether your qualities match or contradict each other.
Communication
Even though the personality test is quite inquiring, the messaging is the part where you come down crashing, as EliteSingles heavily restricts the options for those with a free account. Unless you upgrade for a premium account, you can only send smiles (which is a generic method to notify someone of your presence, just like poking on Facebook), or ask up to five pre-written questions (i.e. what clothing you prefer, what makes you laugh). Pre-made answers can be selected from a list, or your partner can write a custom reply. This may be good material for further analyzing your mutual interests, but you are still unable to converse freely, as the ability to send actual mails is kept for premium members.
Mobile
EliteSingles is well acquainted with the fact that a smartphone is now an integral part of professional people’s life. To ensure you won’t miss a message or notification while out in town or sitting in a business meeting, you can take your online dating with you. This is possible by downloading the smartphone app for your phone, which redefines the interface of EliteSingles to fit any touchscreen. The app keeps track of your current progress, while providing all the features the desktop browser can offer. Sadly, this application is only available for iOS systems. But Android users shouldn’t feel blackballed either, as they are still able to use the mobile-friendly site. This option is just as compatible with the smaller screens, with the added benefits of the touch-based menu system.
Pricing
A dating website for a premium audience should come with a premium price tag to raise the bar on who gets to mingle with the rest of the community. This makes that EliteSingles charges a prime price for its service, though it does get more affordable by committing for a longer period. There is however the forever free account that lets you to get a good sense of what the website is about and the matches you can find prior to paying for the service. The 1-month plan comes for a whopping $59.95 per month, but if you opt for longer, the initial price will be reduced. The quarterly plan charges you for $34.95 per month, while the semi-annual plan is $24.95 for a month. The most economical option is subscribing for a whole year, which may be long, but you only need to pay $14.95 per month. This last option is actually even competitively priced when compared with more general dating websites, making this the one to go for if you choose to commit to the service.
Customer Service
Although the site generally showers you with helpful advices, guides and dating advices, when it comes to troubleshooting, you are left on your own. EliteSingles heavily emphasizes the DOIY approach, as they promote their FAQ section in the helpdesk. There are some good points there, although the number of topics could be a bit broader. In case you still couldn’t find a solution, you can send the customer service an email, and even attach a screenshot or file. This is all nice, but the site still lacks a proper direct contact option, and you can’t reach them over the phone either.
Bottom Line
EliteSingles is a place that professional, well-educated American people choose as their main dating service. The site caters to these people in a number of ways. The personality test – created by psychologists and relationship experts – is a core part of their matchmaking engine. Although the registration takes some time, you’ll be rewarded with an in-depth personality analysis that works for your advantage. EliteSingles has a nicely designed site that presents its content in an easily understandable way. You also get a couple of recommended partners each day, but this comes at the expense of your ability to start a manual search. Although a free account entitles you to evaluate yourself, you are unable to establish a contact with others. All the important features are locked behind a rather expensive paywall, which is intended to discourage some people. On the quarterly or annual premium membership, EliteSingles is a top quality dating service that provides stellar value for money.
Positives
- Daily recommendations
- Extensive personality test
- Dating hints
- Great design
Negatives
- Hefty 1-month plan
- No Android App
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