Best Matchmaker Sites 2024 in the U.K.
Looking for love, but don't know where to start?
Many individuals today are dedicating themselves to advancing their careers and often put their love lives on hold. Maybe you passed up a relationship for a fantastic job opportunity.
Sadly, such jobs don’t usually provide enough time to socialize and find a lifelong partner. But if you’re now prepared to settle down while continuing to thrive professionally, what should you do? It’s a common scenario...
Being independent is commendable and a point of pride. But it's perfectly fine to admit that despite being able to manage on your own, you still desire companionship. Even the most self-reliant individuals have someone special they return to after a hard day.
Finding the right partner can add so much joy to your life. So, how do you find your ideal match? Nowadays, when everything moves quickly, traditional dating approaches might not be effective. But keep your hopes up! Innovative matchmaking services are designed to accommodate your active lifestyle.
What is Matchmaking?
Matchmaking is a service provided by matchmakers who find suitable partners for their clients. They have an extensive network of singles who are looking to find their rightful partner for a serious relationship. Matchmaking is present in almost every culture, and some believed in different approaches in matching individuals together. Some matchmakers relied on astrology, some were dependent on tarot divinity, some just claimed to have the “sixth sense” of matching people together.
What do Professional Matchmakers Do?
In modern culture, professional matchmaking is a business. Professional matchmakers get to know their clients and
match them with several potential partners for the purpose of marriage or a long term relationship. Real life matchmakers also serve as a dating coach, sometimes even a therapist for their clients, as they provide pre-date guidance and post-date feedback.
The Types of Professional Matchmakers
- Matchmaking Agencies - these are companies whose mission is to connect singles to their rightful match. Agencies have a team of matchmakers who handle the clients who sign up for their services. Matchmaking agencies are often active online and offer different kinds of matchmaking service packages.
- High-end Matchmaking Services - these are celebrity matchmakers. They have TV guesting and appearances where their expertise is shared. They have their own agencies or practice and usually charge a very expensive fee because of their elite network.
- Online Matchmakers - these are dating sites that cater specifically to singles who are looking for a serious relationship that could possibly lead to marriage. These kinds of dating sites specialise in matching singles together based on their personality and ideals.
The Cost of Hiring a Matchmaker
Matchmaking agencies, private matchmakers, and high-end matchmakers charge more expensive fees than online matchmakers.
There are usually two types of costs that matchmaking agencies or private matchmakers offer to their clients.
The first one is to just be a part of the matchmaking membership base. This usually ranges between $100 - $400 a year depending on your location and your chosen agency’s reputation. Availing this package allows you to be a part of the selection pool for the agency’s or the real matchmaker’s clients who avail of their premium services. Paying for membership does not guarantee that you will meet your life partner through the matchmaking service. You will simply be considered when professional matchmakers are looking for a potential match for their premium-paying clients.
This brings us to the second type of client. Singles who want to be actively matched avail a more expensive matchmaking service. They are the “stars”, they are the ones who the matchmakers will find a partner for. This type of professional matchmaker service costs a minimum of $1,900. However, it was reported that singles who avail real-life matchmakers spend an average of $5,000 yearly, while some people even spend as much as $10,000 to $50,000 just to find the one they will marry.
How Does Real Life Matchmaking Work?
To start with professional matchmaking, it depends on your chosen matchmaker.
1. Initial Consultation
Private matchmakers like to set up an appointment first. while matchmaker agencies will ask you to sign up on their website. After signing up, they will ask you to build an online profile that only they can see, then you will get a call for a sit-down meeting with one of their matchmakers. After the appointment has been set, both private matchmakers and marketing agencies follow a standard process.
There are some high-end private matchmakers, however, who have a long waiting list just to get in. There are also some real-life matchmakers who have a highly selective screening process. Online matchmakers, do not discriminate. Everyone can sign up and meet the right match regardless of age, gender, and profession.
2. Pairing with Potential Matches
After the initial consultation, matchmakers will review what he or she has learned from your meeting. They look into different factors when deciding on your potential matches such as:
- your priorities
- spiritual alignment
- personality and interests
- short-term expectations
- lifestyle values
- similar backgrounds
- day-to-day activities
All these will be taken into account when gauging your compatibility with their selection pool of singles.
Online matchmakers follow the same principles with regard to matching their members to their ideal potential matches. This makes the service of online matchmakers at par with the services of real-life matchmakers.
3. Setting-up Dates
Once your potential matches have been lined up by your matchmaker, he or she will ask about your free time to meet them. You will be set up on dates which of course, you need to attend. Matchmakers offer pre-date advice and will help you, if you need, with the things to prepare, conversation starters, and what to wear.
4. Post-date Feedback
After the date, your matchmaker will ask that you contact him or her to provide post-date feedback. In the case that you or your date is not interested to see one another again, your matchmaker will respect that and will set you up on a date with another potential match. He or she can also offer some advice if the date did not end well so that the same things won’t happen on your next date.
Do Real Life Matchmaking Services Work?
Reputable matchmakers publish their success stories on their web pages. You can also find real-life testimonials from people who found love through a matchmaking service from different discussion boards online.
Some singles, mostly career people, who availed professional matchmaking services say that it was a relief that there was someone who would take time to find compatible singles with them. They claimed that matchmaking services avoided the potential time wasted going on a bunch of random dates with people who weren’t looking for the same thing as them. However, it took some time for them to find the right person. They had to go on dates and spend so much to find the one.
A lot of other singles who thought that the money spent on a matchmaker was not worth it. It only got them into a serious relationship that lasted a few months or years. Yet, they’re still thankful but said would not avail the premium service again.
It can take plenty of time for a matchmaker to find the right match. Also, the longer you avail of the matchmaker’s services, the more you have to pay for his or her service fees. The network of a matchmaker, although is much smaller than what online matchmakers can offer, so there are definitely higher chances of finding your rightful match through an online matchmaking site.
An Alternative to Real Life Matchmaking
Real-life matchmakers offer guarantees that they will find their ideal match through their premium service. This is just right for the really expensive price they pay. Also, the time invested in going on several dates can be time-consuming too.
For some people who don’t want to invest too much time and money in finding the man or woman they will spend the rest of their lives with, there is another option—online matchmakers.
While real matchmakers seem to be very hands-on when it comes to matching you with the right person, online matchmakers can offer similar benefits too.
- If you are worried about compatibility, online matchmakers only match you with users who they think suit you best based on your answers from the personality test.
- If your concern is wasting your time meeting several users who in the end we're looking for a different kind of relationship, well it is a must that users indicate on their profiles what it is exactly they are looking for from the website.
- Online matchmakers are more affordable, and the tailored selection of eligible bachelors or bachelorettes can be contacted in just a few clicks.
Online Matchmakers
Online matchmaking sites have revolutionised the way we find our potential partners. With just a few clicks and swipes, you can get a list of possible mates that match your personality and the information you've provided.
These dating sites are not for those who are just looking for casual fun. They are specifically made for people who are looking for a long term commitment.
What are Online Matchmakers?
Matchmaker sites are the modern-day cupids who do not just randomly shoot arrows to make people fall in love with each other. Instead, they use advanced algorithm techniques that can calculate people's compatibility.
With the information you give the site upon registration, and the data they receive from your profile and personality test questionnaires, the site can easily sort out those that would really spark good chemistry.
Most matchmaking sites are very specific about your personality and preference.
These sites gather the simplest information to the complex ones just so they can give you a highly compatible match.
Matchmaking sites may have different ways to flesh out the nuances of your likes and dislikes, and your types. Usually, what they ask are questions about your family, religious beliefs, education, habits, and many more. Some of these questions are quite unpredictable so you better be prepared to answer them with full wit and honesty.
Well, aside from the normal questions like "Do you smoke?" or "How often do you exercise?" type of questions, here are some others you might need to look out for. They may seem weird but they appear on some matchmaking sites:
- How would you most likely react to someone who did you wrong?
- If you were given a chance to have a superpower, what would it be and why?
- If you had to spend $5 million in one day, what would you spend it on?
If you want the perfect match results, you better be serious in answering the questions from the site. This doesn't only help you find your match, but will also help you know someone better. These tests usually take up to 20 minutes to complete.
The personality tests you'll find from the matchmaker sites are based on the Big Five Personality Traits Model, which suggests that there are five major personality dimensions:
- Openness to Experience (curious vs. cautious))
- Conscientiousness (organised vs. careless)
- Extraversion (outgoing vs. solitary)
- Agreeableness (compassionate vs. detached)
- Neuroticism (nervous vs. confident)
The match suggestions you will receive are based on the site's assessment of the personality tests you answered during signup. Thus, we can conclude that these match suggestions are backed by science. Your personality traits are compatible, psychologically, with those of your matches.
WARNING: If you mess up your questionnaire, you might end up messing up your matches too. So better spend enough time answering it. Every question is carefully measured to give you the match of a lifetime.
Is Online Matchmaking for You?
Are you second-guessing if online matchmaking is for you? Well, we might be able to clear things up for you.
Just like any other thing, online matchmaking has its pros and cons. The following list aims to make you fully understand whether or not you're looking for the right dating platform:
Online Matchmakers is right for you if:
✓ You are looking for a serious relationship
✓ You want to meet singles from different cities and countries
✓ You want the convenience to search for a match anytime
✓ You prefer to get to know someone before actually meeting them
✓ You are okay with sharing specific information about yourself online
It is not for you if:
✘ You just wanna go out on casual dates
✘ You don't want to invest some cash to get the best match
✘ You don't trust people you meet online
Now that you have seen a short list of how to assess if an online matchmaker is what you're looking for, you can easily identify if signing up to one is the right step to take.
If you are looking for a simple and easy way to look for your "types" that you can fit in your busy schedule, then online match dating has it all for you.
There are quite a lot of big players in the matchmaking category that cater to people who have specific tastes in what they want in a relationship. They have decades of expertise on the field, so if you are quite picky, you might want to watch out for those sites.
Free and Premium Online Matchmakers
When it comes to using online matchmaking sites, you cannot simply assume that just because it's free, it's going to be worth it. If you want to fully enjoy the experience, you have to know how these different service providers can help you.
As you may already know, these modern matchmakers can either be free or paid. Yes, both offers give you a promising match, but there are some things that you can do better when signing up for premium sites.
Free sites are budget-friendly and often have a large base of members from all social classes, yet people with academic background and higher career levels are more likely to be found on premium sites. Also, free sites will only have a basic algorithm for matching. This means that you won't have a recommendations list that is specific and properly sorted out for you.
Free sites often have an easier registration method, making it really attractive to a lot of singles. But because of this, the security of the site is compromised and there is a higher chance of encountering fake profiles and bots.
Think about it. Do you think that the majority of the people who would sign up for a free account on online matchmakers have the serious intentions of finding a long-term partner? Probably not, since people could be there only out of boredom, and are probably just looking for a free way to pass time.
If you want to look for someone who is as serious as you in finding a lasting relationship, you should consider looking for sites that offer basic and premium subscriptions.
When using these types of sites, you can start with a free account, test the waters, and only upgrade if you enjoyed your free experience. Upgrading your account to premium on these sites will get you a higher success rate and you will have better experiences.
Advantages of Premium Online Matchmakers
Better Site Experience
When you are a premium user, navigating through a site could be so much easier compared to when you're just a standard user.
Your upgrade will remove annoying ads that could pop up anywhere. You also have the privilege to be a priority whenever you reach customer support.
In some sites, you have the benefit to have your personal guide that can walk you through the site, and help you when you are having troubles with your account.
Accurate and Classy Matches
The level of accuracy of your suggested matches increases when you're using a paid online matchmaking site. This is because these sites have a scientific personality test that each member is required to take.
The information from this test is then used to find singles who are good fit for you. With this, you will most likely be matched to people who are almost 100% similar to what you have specified or those that are compatible with your personality.
On these sites, you're not only meeting people who share your values and fit your preferences but also meeting people who are actually determined to find someone. They are mostly the ones who are financially capable and mature enough to handle a proper relationship.
Security
Who would want to match with a bot or a scammer? No one.
For most sites, when you avail a subscription, you are automatically verified and you will have the option to only be matched with those who are verified as well.
There are those sites that block and suspend unverified users, too, and these sites are mostly the ones that have a thorough verification process. Some sites even have "bouncers" who personally check every new member to verify their authenticity.
Keeping in Touch
If you want to really establish a connection with your matches, a premium subscription is advised. Online matchmakers are often stingy when it comes to giving standard members a chance to communicate and interact with their matches.
Premium subscriptions open unlimited ways for you to keep in touch with people you find interesting. You will be able to access their full profiles (in some sites, access to photos) and you can message them anytime you want.
History of Online Matchmaking
People used to find love locally with their high school sweethearts, office mates, or people they meet through common friends. But now, technology has made it possible for singles to meet people from across the city, country, and even the world.
Online matchmaking first started in 1993 with the launch of the first online dating site in the world, Match.com. Who would have thought that the online matchmaking system we know today only started as a form of classified ads for people who are looking for a partner?
Through time, different companies emerged and created ways to improve and make the best matchmaking sites in the market. Now, most matchmaking sites are using algorithms and scientific tests to make sure that you find the perfect one for you.
These new ways of finding a match have drastically changed how "dating" has become in the modern age.
Around 40% of couples meet through online platforms and this number is believed to increase in the years to come. Statistics show that there is a sudden, obvious change in how couples meet.
In the late '90s to early 2000s, singles had a higher chance of meeting their future partners in school (college, high school), church, bar, work, or even through friends and family. But, in the mid-2000s up to the present, meeting through online platforms became more prevalent compared to what used to be the norm.
It is no longer uncommon for singles to use online platforms to find a serious relationship. Thirty-six percent of adults use online matchmaking sites that promote serious and long-term relationships.
Though the intentions of why people join dating sites may differ, there is a significant number of people who are expecting to find a serious commitment through these online dating platforms.
Moreover, since it is now possible for singles to choose the type of people they want to end up with, and they are not limited to the choices they have within their community, there have been noticeable changes in the types of couples formed throughout the years.
The rising of online matchmaker platforms has increased the number of interracial couples and those that are of the same religion, educational attainment, and age.
These modern matchmakers have helped people look for romance for over two decades already. They have helped destroy the bridge gaps for people who are highly compatible with each other but are thousand miles apart. Online matchmakers have reached heights that traditional matchmaking could never reach.
Matchmaking For All Ages
We all have heard about that saying: "Age doesn't matter." Well, it does not only apply to love but also to joining matchmaking sites.
People sign up to matchmaking sites for different reasons and in general, those reasons differ depending on the age group. Those who belong in a certain age range tend to have a common purpose in why they choose to join these sites. For example:
18 to Early 20s
Many people in their early years are still trying to figure things out and that's why it might be rare to see singles in their late teens or early 20s to be joining a matchmaker site.
Though they are less likely to be engaged in a serious relationship, that doesn't mean that they are closing the doors for true love to come.
Mid 20s to Early and Mid 30s
If you belong in this age group, then congratulations to you! People who are in their mid-20s to mid-30s often make up the biggest age group on matchmaking sites.
These are the young professionals who are at the peak of their careers and are eager to find someone to share their lives with.
Late 30s to Late 40s
These are the ones who have already figured out their lives. They know what they want in a relationship and could already be both financially and emotionally stable.
Most of these people are also looking for serious relationships; thus, you'll see a lot of singles within this age range on matchmaking sites.
50 Plus
You can never be too old to still be dating. Majority of this population will still be looking for a serious relationship. For some, maybe their second wife/husband.
A lot of senior matchmaking sites emerged to make it easy for the young at hearts to find their partners and be happy.
Of course, these descriptions don't always apply to every one. People can be unique in their own ways. If you are worried that you might not belong, don't worry as there are different matchmaking sites that are fit for certain age groups, and certain types of individuals. You just have to know which one you think is best for you.
Is it your First time?
Trying new things can be exciting and nerve-racking at the same time. But, you can get your first-time jitters off of you when you come to the site prepared.
Here are some guidelines to help you get a head-start on your online matchmaking journey:
Are you looking for someone with class and brains? Not to mention, stable, too. Well, you can definitely find them on matchmaking sites. Since these online matchmakers are quite expensive to use if you want the full features, most of the ones who get to stay here are the ones who can afford it.
The complexity of the profile setup and account registration also filters out those who don't really have the time to read questions and fill out proper answers. So, expect to meet many academics, people with an established career, intellectuals, and probably students who are quite smart and witty.
Creating your profile...
If you've tried using dating apps, you might be a bit shocked with how different setting up profiles in matchmaking sites is compared to your basic dating apps. More often than not, matchmaking sites have more detailed profiles compared to apps.
You might need to fill out personality questions and write essays about yourself just to complete your profile. Some sites have multiple personality tests that you are required to answer. This will help the site's algorithm to find people who are compatible with you.
The endless possibilities...
People have certain types especially when it comes to who they want to spend the rest of their lives with. If you are quite specific with your matches, online dating services can help you find the perfect person that will qualify.
What might be quite impossible to find in person, can actually be as easy as clicking the right buttons and answering questions in the online matchmaking world. Here, you meet people your age, educational status, social class, values, and many more.
Special Matchmakers
If you are a type of person who has specific needs, you don't have to worry about having a hard time looking for your match. There are a lot of online matchmaking sites that cater to certain target groups that you can try and check out.
Age Difference
These sites cater to people who are into age gap dating. This means you are attracted to people who have a significant age difference with you. Here belongs your sugar daddy dating sites and cougar dating sites that aim to match people with clear age gaps.
Religious
Jew? Christian? Muslim? Basically, almost every religion already has a virtual space to go and meet their possible partners. There are a variety of matchmaking sites that specialise in making accurate matches for religious individuals.
LGBT
There are countless dating sites that provide a platform for the LGBT community to find their rightful match. These sites recognise your gender preferences in who you want to date.
Final Words
Finding the one doesn't have to be so hard and it doesn't have to take too much time. Matchmaking sites give the means for you to find your ideal match quicker and much easier.
With their special matchmaking algorithms, you can be sure that you will find whatever it is you are looking for whether it's a serious relationship or the right partner you can go down the aisle with. Browse our Matchmaker reviews and start your journey on finding love.