Humans are sensual beings. We have a component of affection that makes us seek other humans to experience romantic connections with them. In the past, people (mainly men) would try to stop other people while passing and talk to them.
Other people went to events and tried to make new acquaintances lead to romantic connections, and for others, arranged marriages were the norm. All of these methods are going extinct today as their dangers are becoming more apparent.
Online dating is a safe new way to make romantic relationships. In OurTime vs. Match is a piece that will expose you to two platforms that could be the antidote to your relationship problems.
OurTime vs. Match
Comparison of History
OurTime is a dating platform released by People Media as far back as 2011. The website is a niche website that caters to men and women who are over 50 years old. OurTime has some affiliations to Match.
Match owns the parent company of OurTime, but you can rest your mind because they are entirely different platforms. It feels more like OurTime is Match’s attempt to help older people find love.
Match is arguably the biggest dating website in the online dating space. It was founded by one of the men who is credited to have invented online dating. Gary Kremen founded the platform in 1993. 1993 is a long time, and that Match is now at the top of the online dating rankings shows just how well this platform has been managed and operated.
It was founded in the early days of the internet, so it has been around connecting humans long before Myspace and Facebook, the other early social media giants, were established. Match may have been founded in 1993, and it wasn’t until 1995 before the beta went live for people to use.
In 1996, Gary left the company, and a year later, Match was sold to a company that later sold it off to the current owners in 1999. Gary Kremen may have left the company, but his methods have helped Match become leaders in the business of Matching people.
Match is a behemoth when it comes to the highest earners in the online dating space. It has reported revenues of up to a billion dollars.
Key Features of Both Websites
The features on each of these websites are different from one another. They both have features that members can access for free and others that require you to pay a premium.
OurTime doesn’t have many features that you can use for free apart from the basics you would expect from a dating website. You can create an account, create a profile, and search for a match and that is all you can do for free.
However, for a fee, you get access to features that automate a lot of actions for you. Since the platform is for older adults, they have incentivized their lack of desire to fiddle constantly with phones.
You get access to features like MatchMe, which automates the matching process based on your preferences. ConnectMe allows you to talk to other members without paying, and PromoteMe makes you more visible to others on the platform.
On Match, you have a lot more features at your fingertips for free. You can do the basics like creating an account and a profile.
You can do more like browse members using the search feature, send likes to members you admire, participate in the matchmaking game, and receive matches using the SingledOut feature. You cannot send messages on Match while on the free-tier.
You have to pay to be able to use the chat feature. Paying also gives you access to features such as who viewed you, anonymous browsing, and something called ‘MatchPhone.’ MatchPhone lets you contact other users anonymously without revealing your identity.
Comparison of the Sign-Up Process
OurTime’s sign-up process is straightforward because its target audience is 50+ years old men and women. You are only asked for the most basic information before your account can be created.
Signing up on Match is also an easy process. You do not have to verify your account, and you only have to upload a picture and fill out a personal info form. There is a form builder that will walk you through the process of building your profile.
User Base
As a niche site, it only makes sense that OurTime does not have a large user base like Match. Globally, the website has more than 8 million visits a month and 180 thousand every week. In the US, it has 1.5 million members.
Match has more than twenty million members worldwide, and most of them reside in the United States. At over 10 million people, it has one of the largest numbers of subscribers of any user base.
Ease of Use
Match is one of the most straightforward dating websites you will ever navigate through. The features are placed in well-defined sections of the website, and the overall appeal of the user interface is well appealing.
OurTime may not be a site younger people might like because they are not the target audience. Its layout is neat and well-designed, that people over 50 will not have problems using it.
Success Rate
OurTime is successful in the niche audience it sets out to match. A direct comparison cannot be made against Match, which also has one of the highest rates of successful matches in the dating world, because of their apparent differences.
Pricing
OurTime
Standard Subscription Plans
- 1 Month: 34.96 USD
- 6 Months: 95.76 USD
OurTime Value Subscription
- 6 Months: 119.76 USD
OurTime Tokens
- 55 Credits: 2.99 USD
- 110 Credits: 5.99 USD
- 280 Credits: 9.99 USD
Match
Premium Plans
- 3-Month Plan: 44.97 USD
- 6-Month Plan: 68.94 USD
- 12-Month Plan: 107.88 USD
Standard Plans
- 3-Month Plan: 38.97 USD
- 6-Month Plan: 59.94 USD
- 12-Month Plan: 95.88 USD
Boost
- 1 Credit: 0.99 USD
- 5 credits: 4.00 USD
- 10 credits: 6.00 USD
Pros and Cons
Match Pros
- It is a general-purpose dating site
- User activity is high on the platform
Match Cons
- You can only send messages to users when you subscribe
OurTime Pros
- Perfect for older singles
- Easy-to-use interface for older singles
OurTime Cons
- Its target demographic is not wide
- It does not have a global reach
Bottom Line
These two platforms are pretty distinctive in who they aim to please. For OurTime, its audience is people over 50, and it is not in direct competition with Match.
Men and women of that age are increasing in number and in danger of neglect by regular dating sites, which seem to be more concerned about younger audiences. OurTime is a breath of fresh air for the older people in society who are still interested in finding love.
Match is fun and easy to use. You will find that a lot of people on the platform are interested in serious relationships. The platform is unique because it has that size of a user base and still hasn’t deteriorated into a superficial platform.
