Zoosk is a worldwide success and has been for a long time. The dating site, which has recently been purchased by dating-behemoth Spark Networks, debuted in 2007 and has been going from strength to strength ever since.
Or it was until free dating apps became the norm. In the last couple of years, a lot of people looking for love (or, you know, dates at least) have been asking themselves if traditional dating sites are worth it.
What does Zoosk offer that other, free dating apps don’t? First, let’s look at what you get when you pay for Zoosk.
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What Do You Get With A Premium Zoosk Membership?
The long and short of it is you can’t really use Zoosk effectively without paying a premium. Free members can see profiles, use the search, get their own Perfect Matches and browse user photos. But they can’t send messages.
And if you’re looking at your dream date’s profile but can’t break the ice then you’re unlikely to get very far! Sign up here and upgrade to premium to get the full experience.
Why Zoosk?
Zoosk has a whole bunch of features, from full profile verification to its Carousel matching option (essentially their answer to Tinder, which is a must-have for all dating sites these days).
An Algorithm That Knows What You Want
The real draw of Zoosk, however, and the main aspect worth paying for, is the matching algorithm that underlies the whole site. This algorithm (which, as you will see in my main Zoosk review, I maintain should have a friendly name) uses your activity on the site to determine who you should be matched with.
This means that your answers to questions will be taken into account, but also the profiles you linger on, who you message, who you message repeatedly, and who you reject outright. Zoosk learns as you use it, which means its value actually accrues over time.
The more you use the site (up to a point at least) the more you will get from it, and therefore the more you use it, the better value it is.
Zoosk is designed to avoid the annoyance of the initial personality test, which is an initial sunk investment in terms of time. In exchange, though, you have to use Zoosk regularly for it to learn who you are and who you’ll like.
In the end, that should be more accurate in terms of determining who is a good match for you than the answers to a personality test taken while you’re just trying to get a dang dating profile finished!
The Right Dating Pool
In addition to this, people using Zoosk are likely to be taking dating pretty seriously when compared to their contemporaries on free apps.
They’re coughing up for it after all! Plus, the verification features of the site mean that you’re not going to find many fake profiles or chancers using pictures of their more attractive brother… from ten years ago.
We all know the use of some apps can be intensely casual, whereas most Zoosk users are looking for longer-term dating. And if you’re worried that the pool won’t be as big as omnipresent apps, well, Zoosk boasts 40 million users from 25 countries.
That’s a pretty big pool. And most of them are actually interested in making a connection!
User-Friendly Design
Finally, I have to mention how good Zoosk’s design and usability are. A lot of desktop dating sites are dated, but not Zoosk. It’s attractive, intuitive, and at times even cheeky.
Plus, the Zoosk app works great and is available on both iOS and Android. You will get ads on the Zoosk app before you sign up for premium, but they’ll disappear immediately once you become a premium member.
Zoosk is kind of the gateway drug between dating sites and dating apps. It’s got the speed, style, and ease of apps, but the commitment level and attention to detail of online sites.
If you really want to get serious about dating, but don’t want to sign up for anything too embarrassing (newspaper personals, anyone?), then invest in Zoosk. You can always deactivate your profile if you find out later that it’s not your cup of tea, anyway.
What Does Zoosk Cost?
Zoosk prices are as follows. It’s one of the cheaper dating sites out there, especially as it’s also one of the most effective. Do remember, though, that all prices/memberships listed as monthly will be charged in one payment when you initially sign up.
| Pricing | Upfront Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 1 Month | $29.99 | $29.99 |
| 3 Months | $59.99 | $19.99 |
| 6 Months | $74.99 | $12.49 |
Does Zoosk Actually Work?
Zoosk works. As with all dating sites, you have to put in some work if you want results. The profiles allow for quite a lot of information about you, and chatting gives you a chance to sell yourself. Plus, you need to click around to let the algorithm learn more about you.
But if you’re genuinely looking for a connection Zoosk offers a great platform for one and the tech behind it really backs things up. In fact, Zoosk is so confident that it’s a great dating site that they have a whole blog full of success stories the public just has to see!
What Isn’t Worth It On Zoosk?
Zoosk Coins are an add-on rather than essential, and if we’re being honest they’re probably where the company is making extra money.
That being said, they can be useful for non-members who just want to carry out the odd premium-only action, and they add some fun for members who have the money to spend.
Zoosk coins serve a purpose but don’t worry about needing to pay for them if you’re not in a position to.
Final Thoughts – Should You Shell Out For Zoosk?
I would never tell everyone to pay for a dating site. I don’t know exactly what you’re looking for or what your financial situation is. I can tell you, though, that Zoosk is a great all-rounder of a site that uses unique technology to outperform many of its competitors, and on top of that, it’s cheaper than most of them.
In short, if you’re going to pay for a dating site then Zoosk is one of the best options. Zoosk is worth paying for! Try it today by signing up here.
