Review of Friend Finder by DP |
April 7, 2007 |
|
 ( 7.2 )
|
DP |
Last Updated: 11/20/2006
| General Information |
Name:
|
Friend Finder
|
Established:
|
1996
|
| |
Monthly Cost:
|
$21.00
|
| Contacts |
Phone:
|
1 650 847-3100
|
Website:
|
www.friendfinder.com
|
| Program |
Members:
|
3.5 million
|
Gay Dating:
|
yes
|
Categories:
|
Dating & Romance, Friend Network
|
| Recommended |
Age Group:
|
25 - 30
|
Seeking:
|
Friends
|
|
Friend Finder represents the expansion of Passion.com, the worlds largest adult dating website, into "normal" online dating. That means you will find few - if anyone - seeking adult dating, as there is a much larger alternative for them to go to. For most of us that is a good thing.
Friend Finder is an online community as much as it is an online dating website - it's kind of like mySpace. You can have your pictures made available to be rated, and of course rate other people. Your pictures are also allowed to be BIG, 4MB in fact, and you can upload 5 of them. Blogs, video and voice introductions are also allowed.
The chat here is active in some areas, such as Australia, and you can find some "regulars" frequenting the rooms. Another cool feature is the 'Friend Network', which allows you to create a social network through your friends, their friends, and so on - also other members who you've just met through the site. These 'communities within a community' give most people more comfort in who they are meeting.
Unfortunately you have to jump in and pay the monthly upgrade fee if you really want to get a good feel for Friend Finder. Free members are very limited here, and those limitations are increased as time passes. This 'take the plunge' atmosphere means most people that do are looking for something a bit more serious, or are seriously into casual dating!
If you are looking for an online community to find your date, and you don't mind paying a bit more than the industry average, check out Friend Finder.
|
| |
How it Works:
You can create a profile and upload photos for free. Your profile goes into the database and you can be found on search, and contacted, whether you've upgraded or not. After you have read about 10 profiles, your ability to do so is cut off.
Upgrading allows you to have full access to the Friend Finder. You pay monthly and there are several levels of upgrades.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
#1: Match
Looking to meet your match? Welcome to Match, your number one site for love.
Match definitely caters to those looking for something real. Why else would they offer a promotion giving you your second six months for free if you don't find someone special after your first six? The website even claims,... | Ratings
Expert (User)
Software: 9 (5.5) People: 7 (6.5) Value: 9 (4.5) Support: 10 (5.0) |
Information
Payments
Monthly: $12.99 Recommended
Age Group: 31 - 40 Seeking: Serious |
|
 | Overall: 8.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
#2: Mingles
Mingles is an absolutely free friendship and matchmaking community! There are no upgrading options here either. It is totally free to everyone.
Instead of making you pay to become a member, Mingles makes money by advertising. Advertisements are scattered all over the Website. This can cause some confusion when you are first... | Ratings
Expert (User)
Software: 9 (9.0) People: 9 (9.0) Value: 10 (9.0) Support: 6 (9.0) |
Information
Payments
Recommended
Age Group: 25 - 30 Seeking: Casual |
|
 | Overall: 8.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
#3: "True"
True is the safest dating service on the web - not just because they offer a great package, but they will screen for felons and married people looking to become members. They will even go as far as prosecuting violators who manage to slip through and become members!
If you aren't married... | Ratings
Expert (User)
Software: 10 (8.0) People: 9 (9.0) Value: 8 (9.0) Support: 7 (8.0) |
Information
Payments
Monthly: $21.66 Recommended
Age Group: 25 - 30 Seeking: Serious |
|
| | Overall: 8.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
#4: LavaLife
Replying is always free at Lavalife. That is great news for all you beautiful people out there, who likely won't need to spend a cent here to get a date every Friday night.
For the rest of us Lavalife is still a great value. You pay for each person you want to... | Ratings
Expert (User)
Software: 7 (7.0) People: 7 (7.0) Value: 9 (10.0) Support: 8 (8.0) |
Information
Payments
Action: $1.50 Recommended
Age Group: 18 - 24 Seeking: Casual |
|
| | Overall: 7.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
#5: "Date"
Massive.
That is probably the best single word I could use to describe the online dating website with the best domain in the business. Date is big in both the number of members it has (8 million), and the number of countries it reaches. I signed up, and the next day there... | Ratings
Expert (User)
Software: 9 (5.0) People: 8 (8.0) Value: 7 (5.0) Support: 7 (8.0) |
Information
Payments
Monthly: $7.99 Recommended
Age Group: 31 - 40 Seeking: Serious |
|
| | Overall: 7.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
#6: DatingDirect
Dating Direct is the UK's largest online dating service. Unlike most dating websites, there is a UK focus here - such as offering free SMS text alerts for most features on the site.
Dating Direct offers most of the standard dating website features. Along with the SMS alerts, 'Cupid Mail' will send... | Ratings
Expert (User)
Software: 7 (8.0) People: 6 (6.0) Value: 8 (9.0) Support: 9 (9.0) |
Information
Payments
Monthly: $9.99 Recommended
Age Group: 31 - 40 Seeking: Casual |
|
| | Overall: 7.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
#7: eHarmony
Welcome to the first online dating service to take a scientific approach. Founded by renouned relationship expert Dr. Neil Clark Warren, eHarmony is both a matchmaking service for singles, and a 'marriage wellness' program for those who have tied the knot.
For singles, eHarmony uses the Compatibility Matching System™ to determine who... | Ratings
Expert (User)
Software: 8 (8.0) People: 9 (3.0) Value: 6 (8.0) Support: 7 (9.0) |
Information
Payments
Monthly: $20.95 Recommended
Age Group: 31 - 40 Seeking: Serious |
|
| | Overall: 7.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
| #8: ePersonals
EPersonals is one of the more flexable dating websites out there. You can either pay for each member you want to contact, or buy a subscription and contact as many members as you want!
Unfortunately there aren't many members here to contact. EPersonals is one of the smaller and less active dating... | Ratings
Expert (User)
Software: 9 (7.0) People: 5 (5.0) Value: 9 (7.0) Support: 7 (8.0) |
Information
Payments
Monthly: $9.95 Action: $0.50 Recommended
Age Group: 18 - 24 Seeking: Casual |
|
| | Overall: 7.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
#9: Metro Date
Metro Date is a great way to connect with your city. Not only do they provide a solid service for meeting other singles, they offer event listings, a restaurant guide, and other information about your local area.
Creating your Metro Date account is quick and to the point. You describe yourself, you... | Ratings
Expert (User)
Software: 7 (8.0) People: 7 (7.0) Value: 8 (9.0) Support: 7 (9.0) |
Information
Payments
Monthly: $14.95 Recommended
Age Group: 25 - 30 Seeking: Casual |
|
| | Overall: 7.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
| #10: Friend Finder
Friend Finder represents the expansion of Passion.com, the worlds largest adult dating website, into "normal" online dating. That means you will find few - if anyone - seeking adult dating, as there is a much larger alternative for them to go to. For most of us that is a good thing.
Friend... | Ratings
Expert (User)
Software: 9 (8.0) People: 6 (4.0) Value: 6 (5.0) Support: 8 (4.0) |
Information
Payments
Monthly: $21.00 Recommended
Age Group: 25 - 30 Seeking: Friends |
|
| | Overall: 7.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
#11: Perfectmatch
A scientific approach to online dating, Perfect Match aims to find you a partner you are compatible with.
Just don't expect to find him or her right away. Not only is the process of creating your profile excruciating, but after you finish you still need to wait a few days for their... | Ratings
Expert (User)
Software: 7 (8.5) People: 5 (8.5) Value: 8 (7.0) Support: 8 (8.5) |
Information
Payments
Monthly: $24.99 Recommended
Age Group: 31 - 40 Seeking: Serious |
|
| | Overall: 7.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
#12: AmericanSingles
American Singles is part of the Spark Network - a group of dating websites with different labels but the same backend (software/membership). In other words, this website isn't only for Americans. There is a good selection of people from Canada, Europe and Latin America here as well. Their first website was... | Ratings
Expert (User)
Software: 7 (7.0) People: 7 (9.0) Value: 7 (7.0) Support: 7 (7.0) |
Information
Payments
Monthly: $14.99 Recommended
Age Group: 31 - 40 Seeking: Casual |
|
| | Overall: 7.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
#13: Yahoo! Personals
Yahoo was the first online dating-type Website I ever tried. That was way back in the 90's! They have stayed with it, and remain one of the major players in the industry.
The biggest advantages that Yahoo has over other dating Websites is that experience and the wide audience they can reach... | Ratings
Expert (User)
Software: 7 (8.0) People: 8 (7.0) Value: 7 (8.0) Support: 6 (9.0) |
Information
Payments
Monthly: $14.99 Recommended
Age Group: 31 - 40 Seeking: Serious |
|
| | Overall: 7.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| #14: MegaFriends
When creating Mega Friends, the founders wanted "not only offer a service where folks could meet for dating and romance but also the opportunity to meet others for non-romantic notions like finding a travel buddy, a sports buddy, someone just to chat with, a pen pal, a key pal or a... | Ratings
Expert (User)
Software: 6 (7.0) People: 5 (7.0) Value: 8 (8.0) Support: 7 (10.0) |
Information
Payments
Monthly: $9.99 Recommended
Age Group: 41 - 55 Seeking: Friends |
|
 | Overall: 6.5 |
|
|
|
|
Chart Definitions
|
| Payments |
Ratings |
Monthly
This service charges monthly if you want to be a member with full privileges.
Action
Pay-per-action - you must pay for each person you wish to contact on this service.
Free
This service, or a reasonable portion of it, can be used for free. There also cannot be an applied time limit.
|
Software
How fast is the service and how easy to find what you want.
People
The quality of people using the service: Are they real? Friendly? Good looking?
Value
How much do you get compared to how much you spend.
Support
The quality and friendliness of tech support.
|
|
|
