JDate USA Review

Overview

Launched in 1997, JDate isn't a newcomer; and has built up a decent membership of around 240,000 US members, either Jewish singles or looking to date Jewish men or women.

With 20 years of matchmaking experience, there's little doubt that JDate.com has established a solid reputation for authenticity. For starters, you'll find that all the images used on the homepage are real photos from real members - you can't say more genuine than that! Big plus marks from me, on a dating site that doesn't use plugs or advertising to entice you but shows real results from real people of what you might expect from signing up to JDate.

While certainly a dating platform, JDate feels more like a community than many dating sites I've tested out; I really like that you're invited to contribute and be a part of the collective, rather than merely being a service user who is signing up as a third-party!

“Experienced, slick Jewish dating platform - it's not cheap, but certainly delivers a bang for your buck if you're looking for authentic matches!"

Ease Of Use

So, you've decided to join JDate.com and want to start the registration process. Let me put your concerns at ease; you'll need a couple of minutes, literally! You can sign up with an Apple ID or Facebook account if you don't have time to waste, or you can create a profile via a verified email address if you prefer.

One registration question you can't skip is the profile photo - a bit of a nuisance if you're just having a scroll! That said, it also means you won't come across any of those annoying blank profiles (nothing like a match suggestion without a photo to go on, right!). The site admin approves each image, so you've got very little chance of coming across a fake profile or spammer - usually easily identifiable by the blank profile or the dubious use of a celeb photo!

You can upload photos from Facebook if it's easier than from your desktop, and get up to six shots to add to your new profile page.

As you work through the profile questions, it's up to you whether to fill them in now or pop back later to populate your page. However, the prompts are a nice touch, so if you come to 'About Yourself' and are lost for words, you can click on the help link for a few pointers to make the process a little more streamlined!

When you're good to go, note that the site will automatically send you straight to the upgrade page - but you don't need to choose a paid subscription option to proceed! Simply scroll to the bottom, select 'Bring me back' - and you'll arrive at your new homepage.

The layout is straightforward to use and has a simple white background. Although there are a lot of profiles displayed to look through, this design makes it feel uncluttered and relaxed - and I love that the photos are a good size, rather than a tiny thumbnail that you need a magnifying glass to get a decent look at!

All of the site features are displayed along the top in a crisp format, and you can see a match percentage on each profile, which is an ideal way of choosing the best matches quicker (if you're not sold immediately by a profile photo, that is!).

Need help? Also, a breeze - click on Help in blue on the top toolbar, and you land on a massive FAQs database, where you can browse questions by category, enter your own question, or get in touch with JDate admin directly.

I'm a believer in faith-based dating websites since they are so much more specific than any generic platform and usually have a much better chance of finding you a match that is precisely what you're looking for! There's also the awkwardness of explaining cultural norms and dating expectations to somebody new - which you never have to worry about if you're Jewish and using JDate.com to find a match!

What JDate lacks in bells and whistles, it makes up for in a simple, efficient design, the integrity of using the site or app, and the extensive features that add value to your dating experience without taking a degree to get to grips with.

For sure, it's on the heavy side of pricing. Still, for me, it's all about the specificity of guys I was recommended and how they were far more likely to be somebody I'd happily go out for dinner with than the rather unusual matches I'd expect from a free dating app (or a mobile swipe app, but let's not go there!).

There appears to be a complete absence of spammers, which pays credit to the site security. While you don't need to do anything strenuous to verify your profile, it's good to know that the site admin checks each photo.

Profiles are excellent quality; not an overflow of information, but just the right amount of detail about whether somebody wants kids or not, where they live, when they were last online, and what sort of things they love doing in their free time.

It's relaxed, informal, welcoming, and easy to use - and the basic layout belies the extensive features you have to hand, especially if you decide the monthly subscription cost is a worthwhile investment!