Zoosk is not unlike any other online dating site. But for new users, some of the profiles may be entertaining. The first one seen was from a guy who said his “Perfect Match” is “non-crazy” and an Ideal Date is “non-controlling.”
Whether you agree or disagree with the rest of this Zoosk Review, chances are pretty high you’ll agree with this guy about those two specifications. Is Zoosk a good dating site? It’s not particularly different from any other.
But as with all online dating sites, it will always come down to who is on the other side of the screen, and whether you’re mentally and/or physically interested in this person. If you’re curious what it would be like to hang out with each user, pay attention to what their interests are, as well as what’s not listed.
If you’re a bookworm who sees no books listed in the other user’s profile, you pretty much know they’ll never hang out in your book club. But maybe you two will want to go to the same concert if you enjoy the same music.
There are some things you can do on the website free of charge, but communicating with other users will cost a few dollars. If you pay, make sure you make the most of your money.
Zoosk Review
With 35 million members, the site’s algorithms are intended to deliver better matches in real-time. Available in more than 80 countries and translated into 25 languages, Zoosk is intended to reach out to a worldwide group of singles.
Key Features
The site may seem no different than any other online dating site. But a pop-up soon after encourages users to “Get cozy and treat yourself” for $0.10 and 180 coins. So what can you do besides peruse a few dating profiles? Unlock Carousel matches, boost your profile, and/or receive delivery confirmation messages.
Paid or unpaid, you can also check out each user’s self-described “Story,” “Perfect Match” and “Ideal Date.” You’ll also be able to see if this user has received “Gifts.” If you’re curious what it would be like to hang out with each person, check out their interests in music, movies, TV, books, sports, and/or games.
You can also search and filter profiles by age, distance, height, religion, relationship, children, education, ethnicity, body type, and/or smoking habits. Save your searches so you can see who else fits these specifications the next time you log in, too.
Narrow down who likes you and who you like with the “Play” option to choose or pass on some users. As you play, you can also see who is a mutual match. But in order to keep choosing between users, you must add your own profile photo.
Otherwise, the site will block you. Make sure to choose a clear photo in a well-lit place, and make sure you’re alone. (Or, at least do a good job of cropping other users out of your photographs.)
Sign-Up Process
The sign-up process is pretty simple. Just add a name and email address, along with answering a few easy questions: height, ethnicity, body type, relationship history, how many children you have, education, religion, and smoking habits.
Communication Options
If you like someone’s profile, you can “Like” or “Smile” at it, in addition to sending messages via the inbox system. In addition, to live chat and messaging, you can also keep track of what’s going on with the announcement option.
See everything you missed while you were logged out. (Of course, you won’t be able to see users who go “Invisible,” but that’s their problem, not yours.) See who wants to be contacted, who has liked and smiled at you, and who has sent messages for you to respond to.
Pricing & Membership Options
A subscription includes unlimited messaging, full access to SmartPicks, full profiles of who has viewed your own profile, and/or chat with your connections. A one-year membership is $12.49 per month or a flat rate of $149.88. A six-month membership is $12.49 per month or a flat rate of $74.95.
A three-month membership is $19.98 per month or a flat rate of $59.95. A one-month membership is $29.95. Unless you manually cancel your subscription, it will auto-renew. All major credit cards, including PayPal account options, are accepted.
Safety & Security
First-timers may not have these options secured yet. But if you want to make sure you’re talking to serious online dating candidates, make sure to check out the bottom of the profile to see if users have verified photos, verified phone numbers, and/or Facebook verification.
If you’re not quite sure you want people to see you on this website while you’re deciding to stick around, go “Invisible” for 30 coins. Keep in mind that making yourself Invisible also means the date of your dreams won’t be able to see you visiting his profile. Therefore, you could be missing out, too.
Pros & Cons
The web manager for the site should give this dating site a once-over. While it encourages users to buy coins, first-timers are not quite sure why they need them in the first place. After a bit of clicking around, users will figure it out. However, the Frequently Asked Questions link goes to an error page. Oddly, the subscription page doesn’t have wording about the difference is between coins and general membership is.
The site also doesn’t seem to be in favor of its one-year and one-month membership, considering those options are hidden unless you choose “More Options.” Depending on what kind of user you are, Zoosk may either be straight-to-the-point and help you to find users you’re interested in.
Or, it may be a bit dull if you’re more partial to websites that ask personality questions. Online dating algorithms can figure out who you’re most attracted to, but more in-depth questions can help users figure out if they can get past just complimenting each other’s looks.
It’s up to you whether you want to divulge deeper information in your profile like social justice issues, political issues, opinions on newsworthy topics, and/or more controversial topics. For some online dating sites, bringing up topics online that you wouldn’t normally discuss in person is a terrible idea.
For other users, the lack of more serious questions makes it harder to sift through the user profiles faster and more effectively. If there are topics that you find specifically important, you may as well ask in private conversations ahead of time to avoid worrying about it later.
Bottom Line
If you’re unsure about whether you want to stay on the site or not, check the site out and see who is online in real-time, and read a few profiles. But as with any other platform, if you’re invisible and don’t fill out your own profile, you’re doing yourself a disservice.
People won’t know how to find you or to figure out whether you two gel or not. This is one of many reasons to flesh out your own profile first, with photos included. Some people love going through sites to pass and compliment other people’s accounts, but after a while, this can present burnout.
You either get tired of not being mutual matches or you end up being mutual matches and have nothing in common. It’s a 50-50 partnership. You do half the work by letting users know you’re single and ready to mingle, and you must allow users to do the same thing for you by letting them find reasons to contact you.
As you would in person, if you two are not a match, you can always ignore and block as needed. But give users a shot at reaching you. You’ve already signed up. No need to be too shy now.
