If you’re a Jewish single trying your hand at dating, you may have heard of Jdate. It’s been around a long time–over 20 years, according to its website. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about JDate and help you decide whether it’s right for you.
The Jdate dating app is an app for Jewish singles. Its site boasts that JDate has the highest percentage of Jewish members of any dating site around the world. There may be new Jewish dating apps out there, but Jdate is among the largest and most storied.
Even with newer Jewish dating apps coming on the market, JDate is still widely used, with nearly 15,000 new signups per month.
Jdate isn’t the same thing as JSwipe. JSwipe is a newer dating app that is popular with the younger crowd, since it’s a mobile app.
Jdate’s app reviews are predictably mixed! As you might expect, though, people with negative feelings about the app seem more likely to write an online review.
Jdate reviews on Reddit are mixed! Some users suggest that Jdate is outdated and decry their lack of success using it. Others, though, couldn’t be happier with Jdate, having found their spouses while using it. Some report that their parents met on Jdate, while one said his aunt and uncle met on there. All in all, the generally favorable feeling of these reviews is striking, since people with negative sentiment tend to be more vocal online. Jdate appears to be the real deal.
Compared to the Reddit reviews, the reviews on Trustpilot tell a very different story. But keep in mind, the sample size is small, with only fifteen Trustpilot reviews. Also remember that people are more likely to go write a review online after a negative experience. Nevertheless, the Trustpilot reviews average out at 1.8 stars out of 5 – a failing grade. Reviewers claim that Jdate lacks any real customer service and that they received messages from fake users instead of real people. Some also call it a “waste of time” because they almost never receive messages from other users.
Jdate reviews on the App Store are fair, averaging out at 3.5 stars out of 5. User complaints tend to pertain to the app’s technical glitches – pictures not loading, long delays in getting content verified, getting matched with people who haven’t been online for months, and so on. Others express overall satisfaction with their experience, even despite the occasional glitch.
Jdate has received over 1,000 reviews on Google Play, resulting in an average rating of 1.3 stars out of 5. Users complain of a “pretty thin crowd” in terms of partners to pick from, while others voice their displeasure with the cost of a premium account. Others describe more technical problems, such as difficulty canceling their subscription.
Some publications devote full essay-style reviews to Jdate. We examine some examples below.
Mind Body Green has declared Jdate the best site for Jewish daters, claiming that it has “facilitated thousands of romantic relationships, friendships, and marriages since its inception in 1997.” Mind Body Green suggests that niche dating services like Jdate tend to be more successful than more general sites, since niche services bring together people with shared interests and a shared worldview.
The Healthy Framework reviewer positively loved Jdate, giving it a 9.4 out of 10 and declaring it “undeniably the industry leader in 100% Jewish dating.” The reviewer gives Jdate the highest scores for its ease of use, the quality of matches, and the affordable price.
Generally speaking, Yelp reviewers are not fans of Jdate. Out of 84 reviews, Jdate has an average rating of 1 star out of 5, and not a single review is more than 3 stars. Reviewers complain that the site is hard to navigate and overpriced.
You probably don’t look on a site called “Pissed Consumer” and expect to find favorable reviews. Well, you’d be right. Based on 179 customer reviews, Jdate has a 1.5 star rating. Reviewers bemoan the lack of customer service help, issues logging in, problems signing up, and unexplained credit card charges.
Reviewers on Sitejabber aren’t pleased with Jdate, affording it just 1.2 stars out of 5 from 13 reviews. Reviewers complain that the site is hard to navigate and results in very few matches. One user mentions that the site doesn’t verify the information the users provide, which could present a safety risk.
There have been no lawsuits filed against Jdate, nor any major complaints or scandals. However, Jdate did try to sue JSwipe, claiming intellectual property over the letter “J” in the world of Jewish dating. Today Jdate and Jswipe are both part of the Spark Networks family, which includes other niche dating services.
Yes, Jdate is legit! While many online reviewers express dissatisfaction with it, it is a real dating site that adds 15,000 new users per month. Folks have found long-term partners by using it.
Jdate is tailored to Jewish singles, but you don’t have to be Jewish to use it.
As with any dating site, Jdate comes with pros and cons.
Let’s start with the pros:
Now for the cons:
There’s not a specific setting for seniors, but Jdate allows you to filter your matches to your preferred age range.
While Jdate doesn’t publish the average age of its users, it is generally considered to be the preferred site for people who are a little older and looking to settle down. This is in contrast to JSwipe, which is more geared toward the younger generation.
If you’re signing up for any dating app, it’s important to consider the cost. So, can you use Jdate for free? And what features are unlocked with a paid membership?
Jdate does include a free option. Free users can set up a profile, browse singles, add up to six photos, get suggested matches sent to your email, and read and respond to the messages you get from Premium members.
When it comes to a premium membership, it all depends on how long you’re signing up for. A single month membership costs $59.99. If you sign up for three months, though, you can get it for $44.99 per month. And you can get a six-month membership for $29.99 per month.
Jdate and JSwipe are both owned by the same parent company, Spark Networks. Jdate is generally considered to be the preferred option for an older demographic, looking to find a partner and settle down. JSwipe, on the other hand, is more like Tinder for Jewish singles, consisting of swiping and leading to casual dating.
One study by Jdate found that the site is responsible for 52% of Jewish marriages that started online. That’s not a bad success rate at all! Then again, the success rate is published by Jdate and not independently verified, so take this finding with a grain of salt.