Forget scrolling through endless selfies hoping to find “the one” – go from single to soulmate using science.
Eharmony’s patented matching system aims higher, arranging compatible connections primed for that couple selfie. But deep compatibility insight doesn’t come cheap.
Before committing for the long haul, use these clever tricks to preview their handiwork free. If you’re wondering whether eharmony is the right choice for you, check out our detailed analysis on is eharmony worth it before diving in.
See if the intelligent matchmaking lives up to the hype before you shell out. You could meet your lifetime match risk-free or check out guilt-free if it’s not a perfect fit.
Sign Up for a Free eharmony Trial Account
The easiest way to dip your toes into eharmony’s large dating pool for free is to create a trial account.
A free eharmony membership allows you to:
- Build an in-depth dating profile
- Take the compatibility quiz to receive match suggestions
- View profiles of your matches
- Send pre-written Icebreakers to initiate conversations
So you can get a solid feel for the process without paying anything upfront.
To sign up, simply provide your:
- Name
- Gender
- Zip code
And confirm you are over 18 years old.
After creating your username and password, you’ll be walked through completing your profile.
This includes eharmony’s famous Compatibility Quiz, which asks over 80 questions to determine your core values, interests, personality traits, and other factors central to long-term relationship success.
The quiz takes most users around 30 minutes to finish. While it may seem tedious, the questions are based on eharmony’s extensive research into what makes couples click. So try to answer thoughtfully and honestly!
Once your quiz results are calculated, you’ll start receiving 3-7 personalized match suggestions per day. As a free member, you can:
- Review profiles of your matches
- Send Smiles to show interest
- Use preset Quick Questions to break the ice
However, you can’t see photos or communicate via direct messaging until you upgrade to a paid plan.
Still, a free trial gives you the chance to experience eharmony’s unique matchmaking approach and get a feel for potential partners. You can take as much time as you want reviewing matches and interacting on a basic level without entering any payment info.
When you’re ready to take the next step, you can easily upgrade from the “My Account” section. But a free trial allows you to pace things at your comfort level.
Look Out for eharmony Free Communication Weekends
In the past, eharmony would host free communication weekends a few times a year – usually around major holidays. During these promotions, all members could send unlimited messages to matches for a limited time without paying.
So free communication weekends were a great chance to fast track conversations at no cost before deciding to subscribe.
While eharmony no longer advertises set free communication events, they have been known to unlock messaging for certain users randomly.
For example, highly active members may receive a “Free Communication Week” to reward their participation. Or attractive profiles could get gifted a free month of messaging perks from eharmony directly.
There is no guarantee if or when you’ll be selected. But if you engage consistently on the app, you may just be surprised with a free communication promotion.
It’s worth regularly checking your eharmony account and inbox, as these unlocked messaging windows are not announced or advertised ahead of time.
Use eharmony Coupons and Promo Codes
Beyond free trials and surprise deals, another way to save on an eharmony subscription is to use promo codes and coupons.
You can typically find eharmony coupons for 25-50% off multi-month membership plans. Some even offer a full month free!
Check sites like:
- Groupon
- RetailMeNot
- DealCatcher
- CouponCabin
For current eharmony promo codes and deals. These coupon sites partner directly with brands to offer exclusive discounts to their users.
So you can often save big on 3, 6, and 12-month memberships with just a quick search!
Some tips for maximizing savings:
- Look for first-time subscriber promo codes when signing up
- Stack coupons on top of existing eharmony deals
- Beware of expired or invalid codes
- Compare deals across sites to find the best price
- Consider the 12-month plan for maximum savings
With the right promo code, you could enjoy eharmony’s full premium features for as little as $10-$15 per month – quite a steal!
You can also find eharmony gift cards on sale at retailers like Amazon that offer additional savings on a membership.
Just be sure to read any terms and check the expiration date when using a promo code or gift card to ensure it will apply to your purchase.
How Does eharmony Work? Key Features Explained
Before joining eharmony, you may be wondering – how does it work exactly?
As one of the pioneers of online dating, eharmony operates a bit differently than standard swiping apps.
Here is an overview of their unique approach to matchmaking and key features:
Matchmaking Based on Compatibility
eharmony is focused on pairing singles who are genuinely compatible for the long haul.
To achieve this, they developed an extensive Compatibility Matching System after researching what makes relationships succeed.
This system evaluates your preferences and personality through the sign-up questionnaire. You’ll be matched to others with similar outlooks, values, and interests that indicate high compatibility.
eharmony’s matching is centered on core compatibility, not just mutual attraction. So you can expect well-suited suggestions, but photos are not included with free matches.
(Curious about how eharmony stacks up against other major dating sites? Take a look at our comprehensive eharmony vs Match comparison to see which might be the better fit for your dating goals.)
Personality Profile Questionnaire
A defining part of the eharmony experience is their guided Communication Platform.
To complete your profile, you’ll go through an in-depth “29 Dimensions of Compatibility” questionnaire. This uses validated psychometric research to determine your compatibility quotient.
It takes most users around 30 minutes to finish all 150+ questions about your:
- Emotional temperament
- Social style
- Physicality
- Relationship skills
- Values and beliefs
- Interests and hobbies
While it is time intensive, the quiz aims to get to know the “real you” based on science. And it’s key to getting accurate matches.
If you don’t finish the questionnaire, your profile will not be viewable to potential matches. So be prepared to invest some time upfront.
Limited Profile Views on Free Version
As a free member, you can only view blurred photos and basic profile info of your suggested matches. To see full profiles with pictures, you will need to upgrade to a paid subscription.
However, you can get a sense of personality, values, and interests from the limited profile version. Enough to determine if you’d like to connect.
Guided Communication System
eharmony’s communication system is unique in that you can’t directly message matches right away.
First, you must exchange guided Communications to establish common ground. These include:
- Icebreakers: Pre-written questions to get the conversation started
- Smiles: A way to show initial interest
- Quick Questions: Multiple choice questions to share more about yourself
Once you’ve exchanged around 10 guided Communications, you’ll unlock the ability to communicate freely.
This staged approach is designed to ease initial awkwardness and build connections gradually based on compatibility.
Manual Profile Matching
In addition to serving daily matches, you can also search profiles using filters like age, location, ethnicity, height, education, and more on both desktop and mobile.
You can “Favorite” profiles you like to revisit them later. And manually matching with a user also unlocks the guided Communication stage.
So you aren’t limited only to your recommended matches if you want to be more proactive.
Date Ideas and Advice
eharmony provides tons of date idea suggestions and expert relationship advice accessible right from your dashboard.
You’ll find guides for:
- Planning creative virtual and in-person dates
- Conversation starters and date tips
- Navigating dating challenges
- Building a healthy relationship
So the date planning assistance goes beyond just the matching phase.
Compatibility Ratings
As you interact with matches, eharmony will begin assessing your compatibility. You’ll get visual ratings to gauge how well you click based on your exchanges and profile data.
Green ratings indicate good compatibility, while red signals potential areas of mismatch.
These ratings help take some guesswork out of deciding which connections show long-term relationship potential.
What are the Benefits of a Paid eharmony Subscription
While a free trial allows some limited exploring, upgrading to a paid subscription unlocks the full breadth of features.
Here are the key benefits of a paid eharmony membership:
View Photos and Full Profiles
Paid users can see all profile details, including photos of their compatible matches. This gives you a much better sense of chemistry and attraction beyond just data.
Unlimited Messaging
With a paid plan, you can talk directly with matches once you’ve graduated from guided Communication. Skipping the intro stages enables more genuine conversations.
See Who Has Viewed You
Paid members can see which users have already checked out their profile, even if you haven’t matched yet.
Profile Promotion
Subscribers get boosted profile visibility and placement in search results using the site. This makes you more likely to be seen by compatible matches.
Anonymous Online Notes
You can save private notes on profiles you’ve viewed to remember little details about a match if chatting with multiple prospects.
Enhanced Matching Options
Paid members can access advanced filters like match percentage when browsing additional profiles beyond daily matches.
Rematch With Former Matches
Didn’t work out the first time? You can undo a closed connection to restart communication with a past match if you change your mind.
eharmony Guarantee
Paid subscribers are covered by eharmony’s “You’ll Find Someone in 6 Months or Get 6 Months Free” guarantee. So you can date with confidence.
While a free trial is helpful, paying for eharmony grants access to features that can really maximize your chances of landing a compatible partner.
How Much Does eharmony Cost? Pricing Breakdown
If you decide to upgrade from the free trial, here is the pricing breakdown for eharmony’s plan levels:
eharmony Subscription Plans
| Premium Light | Premium Plus | Premium Extra | |
| Cost per month | $65 | $45 | $35 |
| Length | 6 months | 12 months | 24 months |
| Features | ✓ Secure texting✓ Profile highlights✓ Anonymous notes | ✓ Video date scheduling✓ Personality profile✓ All Premium Light features | ✓ Daily personality match✓ Facial recognition✓ All Premium Plus features |
While eharmony’s pricing may seem steep compared to other dating apps, there are reasons behind their premium pricing. Learn more about why eharmony is so expensive and what you get for your money.
And the good part is, coupons and promos can drop the monthly cost dramatically.
And longer memberships come out cheaper with the yearly or 2-year options.
eharmony also occasionally offers limited-time deals like 3 months for the price of 1 month. So shop around before committing!
Get the Most Out of Your eharmony Free Trial
Taking advantage of an eharmony free trial or limited-time deals allows you to experience the acclaimed dating site risk-free.
You have nothing to lose by testing out the process first before subscribing.
Just be prepared to invest some time upfront to complete the questionnaire and engage with matches.
But considering eharmony’s more serious relationship focus, taking it slowly can be beneficial. It demonstrates your commitment to really finding a compatible partner, not just casual dates.
So try eharmony free to determine if its extensive compatibility matching aligns with your long-term dating goals. With the right promo codes and a touch of patience, you could end up finding true love online for less.
