Nowadays, it is not unusual to hear stories about couples whose relationship blossomed through the internet. As one of the oldest online dating site across the web, JDate boasts a large user base and an excellent reputation for finding marriage candidates for those of the same faith.
JDate has been servicing Jewish singles since 1997. It operates under Spark Networks SE with headquarters in Los Angeles, CA, and an international office in Israel.
With more than 20 years of service, the site has a lot of reputation among users. JDate had more than a million members from all over the world since the start of its service. The largest demographics come from the US, which has more than 750,000 registered members. It also records a high average of 2 million visits every month and over 10,000 online members at any given time.
JDate members are a diversified group. It includes denomination such as Culturally Jewish or Orthodox. It also accepts non-Jewish singles that are willing to convert for their prospective partners.
The gender ratio of members is slightly tilted towards females, which currently make up for 54% of the members while the male members make up 46%.
The site offers free membership which includes basic features such as profile creation, browsing and finding members who are near your location. However, to unlock other functions, members are required to upgrade to a premium account.
Below are the prices for premium account options:
Duration
Monthly Price
Total Price
Savings
1 Month
39.99 $
39.99 $
3 Months
29.33 $
87.99 $
25%
6 Months
19.99 $
119.94 $
50%
JDate has forums, chat rooms, and a standard search function to narrow down profile search regarding gender, age range, location, religion or relationship type. There are additional functions for premium members to see who viewed your profile and when they last visited you, as well as who is currently online.
A quick way to let a member know your interest to another is to send a “Flirt.” The member will then receive the “Flirt” notification in the onsite inbox and can send you back a “Flirt” if he/she is also interested.
Other fun features of JDate include the “Secret Admirer” function and “Color Code” test. The “Secret Admirer” suggests a variety of potential date matches which you can rate discretely. If both members mutually answered “Yes,” the members will both be notified. Meanwhile, the “Color Code” test is a unique personality test which assigns colors as a result. With the test, members can easily find like-minded matches.
JDate hosts regular offline events and meetups, which are usually held in a relaxed group setting to ensure safety. The site has its own online magazine, JLife, which features successful Jewish marriages through the service as well as various online dating tips. Meanwhile, it also has a mobile app which is available for download for both Android and iOS.
Both website and mobile app for JDate are user-friendly. The site has a simplistic design, which is straightforward and easy to navigate.
Its layout is easy to the eyes. Users can enjoy its graphics without feeling that it is too crowded out. It is also very intuitive, users can quickly learn the functions without using much effort.
The site does a rigorous review of all the profiles submitted to its system. It also keeps an eye on user reports or comments on any malicious or fraudulent activities in the site as a safety measure. However, it is still not advisable to casually reveal private information to other members including personal email addresses or passwords.
For privacy concerns, the site does not allow dating profiles to include email addresses, phone numbers, or outside links. JDate warns its users not to reveal any financial information to another member and report anyone who asks for money. Users can also choose to use a different Display Name to hide their identity while browsing the site or posting on forums.
For those looking for a long-term relationship, the site recommends to use a safe and steady approach and do personal meet-ups in public settings.
Customer Service and Contact Information
JDate members can send their queries anytime to the ‘Contact Us’ tab on the website. The JDate team promises to respond to every incoming inquiry as soon as possible.
Positives
• Biggest user base among other Jewish dating sites
• Easy sign-in and profile creation
• Offers regular offline events which have a number of active participants
• User-friendly website and mobile app
• Near equal male-to-female ratio
Negatives
• Rising number of non-Jewish members
• No messaging feature for free membership
• Price of premium membership higher than most online dating sites.
Among its competitors in the Jewish dating niche, JPeopleMeet has the lowest pricing; however, its functionality and security also rank among the lowest. Meanwhile, although it has a smaller userbase, Jewish FriendFinder has more functions and better security with its 24/7 phone support and ID confirmation for every user.
Jewcier is relatively new in the business with moderate pricing and good functionality; however, its service quality isn’t enough to compete among top dating sites.
JDate has been a leader in its category for years. For those who are seeking Jewish marriage matches, this is one of the best among other options. The sheer amount of its users is enough to overwhelm its competitors. JDate also won the top prize at the Webby Awards for Outstanding Social Network in 2016
The site caters more to those who are looking for serious or long-term relationships. In a survey commissioned by JDate in 2011 which targeted up to 1,000 married Jewish internet users, it was revealed that 52% of the successful matches interacted initially through JDate. Still, the site is also open for those who want to connect to new friends or are just looking for casual dates.
