A Free eharmony Alternative for Compatibility-Minded Singles
TL;DR
Souldaters suits people who want compatibility-focused dating at no cost, with a transparent match score based on shared tribes, diet, goals and lifestyle, and the freedom to browse rather than only receive curated matches. eharmony remains a solid option if you want an in-depth personality questionnaire, a guided matching process and are happy to pay for a membership.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Souldaters | eharmony |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 100% free, no paid tier | Free basic account; paid subscription for full features such as unlimited messaging |
| Sign-up | Short profile: photos, bio, prompts, tribes, lifestyle fields | In-depth compatibility questionnaire |
| Compatibility approach | Soul-match % from tribes, interests, diet, goals, lifestyle, distance, with readable reasons | Compatibility score based on its questionnaire and model |
| How you find people | Browse Discover yourself, with filters | Primarily curated match suggestions |
| Messaging | Only after a mutual match, free | Full messaging generally requires a subscription |
| Hard dealbreaker filters | Free (only vegans, sober, non-smokers, want kids…) | Preference settings; details vary by plan |
| Friends mode | Built in: dating, friends or both | Dating focused |
| Community size | New (launched 2026), growing | Large, long-established |
Competitor features and pricing change often; check eharmony's own site for current details.
Why look for an eharmony alternative?
eharmony is known for taking compatibility seriously. New members complete a detailed questionnaire, and the service uses it to suggest people it believes you will get along with. That structured approach appeals to people who want a long-term relationship and prefer guidance over endless browsing. People look for alternatives for a few common reasons: the cost of a subscription, wanting to see and search for people themselves rather than rely on curated suggestions, or wanting to put specific values, like diet, sobriety or spirituality, at the center of matching.
If that sounds like you, a free, values-based app can be a good complement or replacement.
What does eharmony do well?
- Depth. The questionnaire encourages reflection about what you want and how you relate to others.
- Relationship focus. Members typically join with long-term intentions.
- Guided matching. Curated suggestions can reduce decision fatigue for people who find open browsing overwhelming.
- Experience. eharmony has operated for many years and has a large member base in several countries.
These are real strengths. If you want a structured, guided experience and are comfortable paying for it, eharmony is worth considering.
How does Souldaters approach compatibility?
Transparent, not a black box
Souldaters calculates a soul-match compatibility percentage from things you can see on profiles: shared tribes, shared interests, diet, relationship goals, lifestyle choices around kids, smoking, drinking and exercise, and distance. Next to the number, you see short reasons such as "3 shared tribes" or "both want kids". You decide how much weight to give each one.
You choose who to see
Rather than waiting for a curated list, you browse the Discover feed yourself and narrow it with filters. If you prefer to be guided, sorting by compatibility gives you a similar effect while leaving the final decision to you.
Dealbreakers that stay firm
Some differences are fine; others are not negotiable. Souldaters offers free hard filters: only vegans; only vegans and vegetarians; non-smokers; sober or non-drinkers; no-makeup or minimal-makeup; people who exercise often; only with photos; only verified; only people sharing a tribe; want kids; don't want kids.
Completely free
There is no premium tier on Souldaters. Messaging matches, seeing who liked you, and every filter are free. Nobody pays for visibility.
Mutual match before messaging
Nobody can message you until both of you have liked each other. It keeps conversations wanted and reduces spam and harassment. Unmatch or block closes a chat permanently, and reports are reviewed by a human moderator.
Can tribes capture the values a questionnaire does?
Not all of them, and it would be misleading to claim otherwise. A long questionnaire can explore temperament and communication style in ways that a set of tags cannot. What tribes do well is capture the everyday realities that shape a shared life: whether you eat meat, whether you drink, whether faith or a spiritual practice is central to you, whether you have children, how active you are, and which communities you belong to. For many people, those are the things that most often decide whether a relationship works day to day.
Tribes also bring a social layer. Each one has a public page and discussion board, so you can get to know people through conversation before or alongside dating. Our guide on how to know if it's a good match offers questions to explore once you start talking.
What are the trade-offs?
eharmony has a much larger, established community and a guided process that some people strongly prefer. Souldaters launched in 2026 and is still growing, so in some areas there will be fewer people to see, especially with several dealbreakers turned on. Souldaters is an installable web app today, with native iOS and Android apps coming.
Features and pricing of other apps change often; check their site for current details.
Who is each best for?
| Souldaters | eharmony |
|---|---|
| You want compatibility-based dating for free | You are happy to pay for a guided service |
| You prefer to browse and filter yourself | You prefer curated suggestions |
| Diet, sobriety, faith and lifestyle alignment matter most | You want an in-depth personality questionnaire |
| You also want to make friends | You only want dating |
How to move from eharmony to Souldaters
- Sign up free and set your intent and relationship goal.
- Look back at what your questionnaire taught you about yourself and put the most important parts into your bio and three prompts.
- Join the tribes that reflect your values, life stage and hobbies.
- Fill in lifestyle fields fully; they power both the compatibility score and the filters.
- Set two or three dealbreakers, sort by compatibility, and like people you would genuinely enjoy meeting.
You do not have to give up a guided approach entirely, either. Sorting Discover by compatibility and keeping your dealbreakers firm gives you a short, focused list each time you open the app, which many people find is the best of both worlds: structure without a subscription, and choice without overwhelm.
Take it slowly. Matches do not expire, and nobody can message you uninvited, so there is room to be thoughtful.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to eharmony?
Yes. Souldaters is completely free and offers a compatibility percentage based on shared tribes, diet, goals and lifestyle, with free dealbreaker filters. OkCupid also has a free version with question-based matching.
Does Souldaters have a personality test like eharmony?
No. Souldaters does not use a long questionnaire. Compatibility comes from shared tribes, interests, diet, relationship goals, lifestyle and distance, and the reasons are shown alongside each score.
Is Souldaters good for long-term relationships?
You can set your relationship goal, filter on family plans and lifestyle, and match with people who share your values. Many members are looking for long-term connection.
Do I have to pay to message matches on Souldaters?
No. Once you and another member like each other, you can message for free. There is no paid tier.