JDate, the popular dating website for Jewish singles, makes meeting other single Jews in your area easy. You can search by location and find out what’s happening in your town based on upcoming JDate events. When you’re a member of JDate, you’re a member of one of the world’s most prominent Jewish communities with about 750,000 members.
JDate is free to sign up, but you have to pay if you want to communicate with anyone else who’s signed up. You can view profiles and send messages for free; however, the receive functions won’t work until you upgrade to a paid profile.
Focusing specifically on Jewish singles means that JDate makes it easier for you to meet someone with similar beliefs and values. You can find out what events are happening in your area based on your location. It’s easier to meet other young Jewish singles in your area when you can attend events in the Jewish community.
The JDate App at a Glance
Overall Rating – 4.6/5.0
| Userbase | 750,000 |
| Sign-Up Time | 5-10 minutes |
| Membership Cost | Starting at $29.99 |
| Payment Required? | No - free trial membership available |
| Avg. User Rating | 4.6/5.0 |
| Avg. User Age | From 35 to 49 |
| Gender Ratio | 57% men | 43% women |
| Free Messaging? | Yes |
| Video Chat? | No |
| iOS App? | Yes |
| Android App? | Yes |
| Web Friendly? | Yes |
| Support Options | Phone number, contact form |
| Launch Date | 1997 |
| Owned By | Spark Network |
Is JDate Right for Me?
If you are a part of the Jewish community, JDate is one of the best options for you. Dating is tough enough, but finding someone who shares your background and beliefs can make it even harder. With JDate, you can find other Jewish singles in your area that might share similar interests as you do.
One of the great features of JDate is that they provide information about different Jewish events around your area based on location. It’s easy to see what events are happening around you when you sign up for the site. You can even RSVP if there are any JDate-sponsored events you want to attend.
What’s in our JDate Review? – Jump Ahead
- What is JDate?
- How Does JDate Work?
- How Much Does JDate Cost?
- What Kind of Relationships is JDate For?
- Is JDate Worth It?
- User Reviews of JDate
- JDate vs. The Other Guys
- JDate FAQ
What is JDate?
It’s not too surprising that JDate is geared toward Jewish individuals. This online community allows people with similar values and backgrounds to meet and build relationships.
JDate History
JDate was started in 1997 and has since become one of the largest dating sites for the Jewish community. The site began to grow from word of mouth. It is owned by Spark Networks, which also runs other niche dating sites such as Zoosk and EliteSingles. Back in 2006, it won a Webby award for social networking.
The site’s mission is to provide Jewish singles to have a safe, enjoyable online experience. In addition, the site is fully secure and private for all users.
What Makes JDate Different?
JDate emphasizes the importance of Jewish traditions and values in their community. Their goal is to help Jewish singles find love with one another from within a strong and supportive network. It connects people and allows them to “find their beshert.”
Their site is full of features that make it both fun and easy for Jewish singles to use. Many members find success with the site, whether it be friendships or relationships. Since the site’s inception, the dating service has been responsible for several thousand marriages.
Their customer service is available Mon-Fri 9am-5pm EST, so you can always rest assured that your concerns will be addressed as quickly as possible.
Pros and Cons of JDate
JDate is one of the most popular Jewish dating websites on the Internet today. And it’s no wonder since there are a lot of things that make JDate a successful platform. However, there may be times when you find yourself disappointed with the website. Here’s an overview of some pros and cons:
Pros
- You can find other Jewish singles around the world
- Members are serious about finding a long-lasting relationship.
- Back and forth communication is possible with a free membership
- You can narrow your search to specific criteria that you would like in a date.
- Members are advised on how to obtain the partner of their dreams.
- They provide customer service during regular working hours.
Cons
- Memberships start at $29/month
- Free membership does not let you initiate communication
- The majority of members are in the USA
How Does JDate Work? – Features Overview
Getting started on JDate is relatively simple. Here are the specifics:
Signup process
The signup process is easy, requiring only basic information. You can sign up using your Facebook login or with your email address. Users are prompted to upload photos to their profiles when signing up.
JDate is free to sign up, but you have to pay if you want to initiate communication with anyone else who’s signed up. You can view profiles and respond to messages for free.
Matchmaking Process
After setting up your profile, you can add your match preferences for the type of person you are looking to meet on the app. You can specify how you identify and whether you keep kosher. Similar to other dating services, you can also indicate what level of education you want your partner to have and if you want to get married or have kids.
You’ll be shown a pool of singles who meet your criteria. On each profile, you can either like or pass. If a like is mutual, you and your match will be notified. If you have a premium account, you can reach out and get the conversation started.
Unique Features
For those who are unfamiliar with JDate, it is one of the most known dating services in the US and is one of the few Jewish-specific networks on the Web. It is free to join, but it is meant for those who are looking for serious relationships. One of the most popular features is the Match Percentage which shows how much you have in common with another user.
JDate offers a Spotlight feature to make your profile more visible to other users. This feature makes your profile stay at the top when users are browsing profiles. Your image will appear with a blue Spotlight banner. This feature is available to free members who want to pay to use it.
In the paid version of the app, you can specify your Discovery Preferences only to show you members that meet your specific criteria. You can filter out members by age, height, educational background, and more. With JDate’s LookBook feature, you can anonymously view member profiles one-by-one and see their location, age, photos, bio, and match percentage.
How Much Does JDate Cost?
| Membership Type | Length | Monthly Price | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium | 1 month | $59.99 | $29.95 |
| Premium | 3 months | $44.99 | $134.97 |
| Premium | 6 months | $29.99 | $179.94 |
| Premium | 1 year | $12.49 | $149.88 |
Free vs Paid JDate Membership
There are features included in the paid version that is not available to free JDate members. Free members can set up a profile and add up to six photos. Free members can browse profiles and find matches with similar interests while paying members have access to advanced matching tools such as sending messages to unlimited profiles.
Free members can also send messages back to Premium users, but they cannot start conversations with users. A paid membership lets you reach out to any user regardless of their membership type. Paid members can also look at other profiles without them knowing, hide their online status and view the list of people who have already liked their profile.
What Kind of Relationships is JDate For?
We recommend JDate to those looking for a serious and meaningful relationship. The app has an older demographic, with most users looking for something long-term. However, you can specify what you are looking for when you sign up, and JDate will match you with those members who are looking for the same thing as yourself.
JDate markets itself as an international dating service. The app is available in English, Hebrew, Spanish, French, and German. The largest dating pool is in the US, but there are users worldwide.
The Bottom Line – Is JDate Worth It?
Finding a date is hard enough when you have all the time in the world. Online dating makes searching for a date easier, but it can also be harder because you don’t really know the person’s values before meeting them. JDate is one of the most well-known dating sites for Jewish people, but the premium version is also on the costly side. So, is the cost worth it?
JDate is the best site for finding a meaningful relationship when it comes to Jewish dating. For younger members in the Jewish community, JSwipe is recommended as it has a large pool of singles looking for different types of connections.
JDate is a great site, especially for the older and single Jewish community in the US. The website has made huge improvements in its matchmaking service over the last few years and now offers users even more ways to meet new Jewish singles.
User Reviews of JDate
Users mostly have positive things to say about JDate. The general consensus is that it is a great way for connecting Jewish singles. The app can be glitchy at times, but it is improving with regular updates for the most part.
We know there are countless dating services out there, each with its own nique features and benefits. In the end, it all comes down to what you are looking for in a site and how much effort you put into it.
JDate vs. The Other Guys
JDate vs. Match.com
Match.com has a much larger user base than JDate, making it easy to find matches. However, this means there is a larger pool of profiles to sift through that might not match your beliefs and values. Overall, the process is not as personalized, and if you have particular interests in what you are looking for in a partner, you will probably be better off with JDate.
JDate vs. OkCupid
OkCupid is another free dating site that offers a ton of features to its members. However, over the last few years, OkCupid has become more focused on casual daters and instant messaging, making it almost impossible to find people who are looking for something serious. The other downside about using OKC is that they offer very little in specifying what you are looking for in a partner in terms of their religious beliefs.
JDate vs. Tinder
Tinder is much more focused on finding someone for casual dating, making it harder to find people who are specifically looking for a meaningful relationship. Tinder is perfect for those looking to find a significant other who wants something casual as well.
JDate FAQ
While reviewing JDate we ran into some common user questions we wanted to address. Hopefully these help to wrap up any unanswered questions you might have about what JDate offers users:
How old do you have to be to join JDate?
JDate is open to people above the age of 18. That being said, most of the users fall between the age range of 35-49. Younger members in the Jewish community tend to use JSwipe, the app for more casual dating.
What are the benefits of being a member on JDate?
By registering with JDate, Jewish singles can make contact with other like-minded individuals easily and meet them in real life. Members can specify exactly what they are looking for, so they waste less time on people who don’t end up wanting the same things with you or sharing your beliefs.
Can I search for members by location?
Yes, when signing up you can specify your city and country of residence thus creating a match between available people in your area. You will only be shown members within the maximum distance that you set in the app.
Does JDate offer dating advice?
Yes, JDate has partnered with professional matchmakers who are there to help you through the process of meeting other Jewish singles. You can also receive tips via email or join their online community. They offer an extensive Relationship Advice section with tips on dating and relationships.
Do Jewish singles actually get married through JDate?
JDate is the be-all and end-all for Jewish singles looking to meet someone and get married. It started as a site for for Jewish singles to connect, and then evolved into an app where they could do the same. But, do Jewish singles actually get married through JDate? Yes!