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When I tell people I’m single, one of the first questions I get is: “Which apps are you on?” I’ve tried them all. I’ve answered Hinge’s quirky prompts, tested Bumble’s female-led messaging, explored Feeld’s open-minded approach, and, of course, done my stint on Tinder.
Now, I’m tired of the endless swiping, which is why EliteSingles caught my attention.
According to their website, 82% of members are graduates, and the platform promises to match you with people who share your career ambitions, intelligence, and education. That’s not usually my top priority — I’m more of a sucker for kindness, head scratches, and a weird sense of humour — but I was curious to see what they offered.
With a steep membership fee and an extensive personality test, EliteSingles clearly wants to weed out anyone not serious about dating. They minimise the usual app emphasis on appearance by blurring photos for non-premium members, and instead of swiping, they deliver curated matches designed to fit your profile.
EliteSingles
Rating: 3 stars
Price: £54.99/month, drop to £34.99/month quarterly, or £14.99/month if billed annually.
Paid subscription options: Paid members get unlimited messaging, extra matches, access to who viewed their profile, and the ability to see profile photos.
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Age range: Most members fall between 30 and 55 years old
Inclusivity: Limited. EliteSingles only offers binary options for gender and the gender of your match, with no option to indicate interest in multiple genders or identities beyond male and female. While the site does ask about preferred ethnicities and offers a range of matches across different backgrounds, its approach to gender inclusivity feels restrictive.
Reasons to use:
- Extensive questions covering both your own traits and what you’re looking for in a partner.
- Image- and association-based questions feel almost like psychological testing.
- Less emphasis on appearance, more focus on personality.
- Thorough process helps filter out people who aren’t serious about dating.
Reasons to avoid:
- Steep membership fee, with the free version extremely limited.
- Only binary gender options, with no choice to select both men and women for bisexual users.
- Matches sometimes fall outside your set age or location range.
- They send multiple emails a day.
Our Verdict
EliteSingles isn’t for the casual dater. It’s a time‑ and money‑intensive option for those serious about finding a long‑term match. The personality testing is thorough, the matches thoughtful, and the focus on intellect refreshing. But its steep fees, limited inclusivity, and small user base hold it back. It could be worth it if you’re after something serious and don’t mind investing both time and money, but it’s not the right match for everyone.
How we test
Our writers put each dating app to the test in depth. This means creating a profile, completing every category, and seeing who they match with. They explore the full experience — from testing messaging features and evaluating the quality of matches, to scrutinising what’s included in premium memberships. We approach every app with a critical eye and a sense of curiosity, so you know exactly what you’re signing up for. Find out more about how we test dating sites.
Why trust us
Fleurine is an experienced dating and relationships journalist who has written about the perils (and occasional triumphs) of modern romance for Glamour, Betches, Dazed, HuffPost and more. She’s tried long-term relationships, short-term flings, and a wide variety of dating apps, approaching each with curiosity, humour, and a healthy dose of scepticism.
What is EliteSingles?
EliteSingles is best suited for those seeking to connect with someone who shares similar aspirations. It offers a serious dating environment where most members are genuinely ready for a relationship. Daily profile quality checks help ensure safety and authenticity, while extensive questionnaires generate detailed personality insights. The platform also provides tailored question prompts to help people get to know you on a deeper level.
EliteSingles review
If you’re unsure about dating or just looking for a casual fling, EliteSingles is not the site for you. It’s designed for people who are serious about finding a long-term partner. Just setting up your profile takes at least thirty minutes, so it’s a significant time investment. Add to that the fact that you need a premium membership to see potential matches’ photos, and it quickly becomes a costly one too.
EliteSingles feels tailored to professionals or those who prioritise education and intellect in dating, as most of the questions revolved around career, values, and personality. The personality test was extensive and surprisingly thought-provoking, asking me to reflect on things like: How would friends describe me? What do I prioritise in a partner? What do dates usually notice about me? It was confronting at times, but it forced me to really consider my needs in a relationship.
One of my biggest frustrations came right at sign‑up, when I was asked to select my gender (male or female) and the gender I was interested in. As a cis woman, I could indicate my own gender, but this felt restrictive for many others. As a bisexual woman, I was forced to choose between men and women, with no option to select both. This lack of inclusivity felt limiting and heteronormative, especially when other sites like eHarmony and OKCupid offer far more flexibility for LGBTQIA+ users.
The membership fee is steep compared with other options, and I would have appreciated a free trial to test it first. I also didn’t like how the site tried to ‘force’ me into upgrading immediately after creating my profile, not letting me exit without paying, which was a frustrating experience that pushed me to open a new browser just to continue.
Initially, I liked receiving email updates about potential matches or people who had “sent a smile” (aka liked my profile), but it quickly became repetitive. Even more frustrating, some of these matches were well outside my stated age range — one was ten years above the upper limit — and others didn’t meet the requirements I set, which were already fairly flexible. This suggests a limited user base.
In the first few days after uploading my profile, I received a large number of messages, but I could only reply once I upgraded to premium. I liked that users could highlight specific aspects of my profile they enjoyed, and many sent thoughtful questions rather than the tired “Hey” so common on swipe-based apps.
Overall, EliteSingles has the potential to be a strong dating site once it grows its pool of members with high-quality options. But its expensive fees and relatively small user base currently make it harder to find matches who meet your criteria and are nearby.
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How does it compare to similar products?
If you have a large disposable income and no time to waste on swiping, then definitely consider EliteSingles over swipe-based apps like Hinge, Tinder, and Bumble. If you’re attracted to the questionnaire-based format and matchmaking, you might have more luck over at eHarmony, given their larger user base and science-backed approach. If you’re LGBTQIA+, I recommend using OKCupid instead, as it’s far more accommodating.
How does it rate online?
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EliteSingles reviews are mixed, with users reporting both high-quality matches and fake profiles. While many praise the fast, professional support, others highlight issues with account closures and password problems. Some feel the profiles — and the overall user experience — can be less exciting compared to other dating sites, and the promise of predominantly educated matches may be somewhat overstated.
FAQs
Who is Elite Singles for?
Elite Singles is primarily designed for singles over 30 who have a university education and professional careers. It appeals to people seeking a serious, long-term relationship rather than casual dating. Members tend to value intellect, ambition, and shared life goals, making it a good fit for those who prioritise compatibility in areas like career, values, and personality.
What is the average age on EliteSingles?
According to the website, most members fall between 30 and 55 years old, with a strong emphasis on education, as 85% of members hold a university degree. I mainly encountered matches within the upper part of this range, despite setting my age preferences to 28 to 38.
What is better, eHarmony or EliteSingles?
Elite Singles focuses on ambitious, educated singles seeking serious relationships, with profile verification and a professional matchmaking approach. eHarmony uses a broad personality test for compatibility, offering more matches but rejecting up to 20% of users. The choice depends on whether you value Elite Singles’ curated matches or eHarmony’s larger pool.
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