Before I met my husband, I went on one date with a man I met through the Jewish dating site Jdate. While I typically preferred to meet people the old-fashioned way — at Jewish singles’ events, bars, or through friends — I joined Jdate because a friend was on it, and she encouraged me to sign up.
This guy and I connected through messaging then went out for dinner in downtown La Jolla, Calif. We had a good time but ultimately didn’t make it to date two. (I won’t pretend the fact that he showed up in a sweatshirt had nothing to do with it.)
Though I didn’t find a love connection, I have other Jewish friends who have found long-term relationships — and even spouses — through Jewish dating sites.
If you’re a Jewish single looking for love with other Jews, these are seven Jewish dating sites and apps to check out — including our top choice for anyone seeking long-term partnership, eharmony, which uses an extensive questionnaire to find your most compatible matches:
Jdate
Jdate claims to have helped start hundreds of thousands of relationships since its launch in 1997. Almost everyone on Jdate is Jewish — either religiously or culturally — or looking to date a Jewish person. Its members are mostly based in the U.S. and Israel.
In 2011 (the most recent data available), Jdate commissioned a survey of 1,000 married Jewish internet users through an independent firm called ResearchNow. They found that Jdate was responsible for 52% of Jewish marriages that started online.
As I mentioned, Jdate is the only site on this list I’ve actually dated someone from, and it’s the main site my Jewish friends have used for online dating.
How does Jdate work?
You can join Jdate with an email address or connect your Facebook account. Jdate requires you to upload at least one photo, and you can choose to use your real first name or create a display name.
Before you start using Jdate, you have to provide your:
- Height
- Religion (options include Conservative, Culturally Jewish, and Orthodox)
- Occupation
- Parental status/whether you want kids
- Education level (including which college you went to, if applicable)
You can also choose to write a short bio, select from a list of interests, indicate whether you want to date men or women (or both), and set your preferences for:
- Location
- Age
- Religious affiliation (12 options)
- Synagogue attendance
- Kosher status
- Marital status
- Type of relationship you’re seeking
- Education level
- Desire for children
- Smoking/drinking habits
Matches are displayed in a grid, which you can sort by:
- Match percentage
- Distance
- Newest profiles
- People currently online
Jdate also has a feature called Lookbook that’s similar to Tinder in that you can flip through profiles anonymously and like or pass on them. You can click each profile in both formats to read the person’s full bio and learn more about them.
These are the top matches I saw when I logged into Jdate (my highest match percentage was 51%).
How much does Jdate cost?
You can join Jdate for free, but a premium subscription costs:
- 3 months – $44.99
- 6 months – $29.99/month
- 12 months – $19.99/month
Free features:
- Look through and like/reject profiles
Paid features:
- See all photos on a user’s profile
- Send and receive messages with other paid subscribers
- Send and receive messages with free users through Messaging+ (the only way free users can message without a subscription)
- See when other users have read your messages
- See which users have viewed and liked your profile
- Hide online status and browse anonymously
Jdate pros:
- Fairly large user base with people that seem legit and serious about dating
- Puts religious preferences at the forefront
- LookBook feature allows you to view profiles anonymously and to “like” or “pass” on them
- Helpful FAQs with advice on how to respond to people
- App available for Apple and Android devices
Jdate cons:
- Most of the users I saw were older than 30 (with preferences set to 18 to 75+) so you may not have as much luck if you’re a younger dater
- Free membership limited: Have to pay to contact other daters unless you are contacted first by a paid member
Jdate reviews:
App Store: 3.5 stars
Google Play: 1.4 stars
Jdate’s parent company, Spark Networks, has an A+ Better Business Bureau rating (not accredited) as of April 2024. Spark Networks is also the parent company of popular dating sites like Zoosk, Elite Singles, and Christian Mingle.
A few reviews reference Jdate specifically:
Jdate has 2.0 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot:
This is what people on Reddit have to say about JDate:
JPeopleMeet
JPeopleMeet was created in 2000 by People Media Company, which was acquired in 2009 by Match Group, LLC — the same parent company behind popular dating sites like Match.com, Tinder, Hinge, and OKCupid.
Based on my experience on this site, the dating pool is small — all matches on my list except two were over 50, and most were over 65.
How does JPeopleMeet work?
Creating a profile on JPeopleMeet is quick and easy. Once you indicate your gender and the gender(s) you’re looking to date, you can upload a photo (or import one from Facebook), write a short bio, and fill out key information about yourself, including:
- Age
- Occupation
- Ethnicity
- Hair/eye color
- Height
- Income
- Smoking preferences
- Religious background
- Synagogue attendance
- Kosher status
- Education
- Relationship expectations
- Children
- Pets
- Marital status
- Body type
You can also answer questions like these to fill out your profile:
- Do you enjoy cooking?
- How patient do you consider yourself?
- Are you romantic?
- How punctual are you typically?
- Do you enjoy going to the movies?
- How much do you enjoy going to live theatre?
- How much do you like reading?
JPeopleMeet has a drop-down menu to sort matches by distance, activity on the site, and date joined. However, no matter which option I chose, the same grid of daters appeared, only in slightly different order:
How much does JPeopleMeet cost?
You can join JPeopleMeet for free, but to access most features, you have to pay for a premium subscription:
- 1 month – $16.99
- 3 months – $8.99/month
- 6 months – $6.49/month
You can pay by mail, if uncomfortable with online payments.
Free features:
- Browse and save matches
- Send flirts
Paid features:
- See who viewed and saved your profile
- Chat with other members currently online
- Send and receive emails
- See flirts from other members
JPeopleMeet pros:
- Provides a list of questions and prompts to help you fill out your profile
JPeopleMeet cons:
- Small dating pool that seems to be made of mostly senior daters
- Dated website that’s not very user friendly
- No mobile app available
JPeopleMeet reviews:
JPeopleMeet has no reviews on major sites like the Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, or Reddit. Its parent company, Match Group LLC, is not rated by the BBB and has 1.05/5 stars based on more than 350 customer reviews (none of which mention JPeopleMeet).
JSwipe
JSwipe was created in 2014 by Smooch Labs, which was acquired in 2015 by Spark Networks, the same company that owns Jdate.
The app bills itself as the No. 1 Jewish Dating app, with more than 1 million users worldwide.
I like JSwipe because it has a free version that includes messaging with people you’ve matched with — which is not common in the world of online dating.
How does JSwipe work?
JSwipe is an app like Tinder, where you swipe right or left to like or pass on potential matches:
To sign up with JSwipe, you have to connect your Facebook or Apple ID, then answer a quick series of questions:
- What religion you identify with — Orthodox, Traditional, willing to convert, etc.
- Gender
- Kosher status
You also have the option to write a short bio and link your Instagram account once you’ve created a profile. In your profile settings, you can choose your Jewish preferences in a partner and filter matches by distance, age, and gender (men and women are the only options):
You can also list your:
- Occupation
- Degree
- University
- Interests
- Height
How much does JSwipe cost?
JSwipe is free to join, but you can subscribe for premium features like boosting your profile and seeing who liked you:
- 1 month – $24.99
- 3 months – $44.99
- 6 months – $59.99
Free features:
- Update profile and add photos
- Swipe through profiles and like/reject them
- 1 free Super Swipe per day
- Chat with anyone you’ve matched with
Paid features:
- See who has liked your profile
- Read receipts on messages you’ve sent
- 5 Super Swipes per day
- 1 Swipe Note per day (you get to leave a personal message with your swipe)
- Boost your profile to be seen twice as often as other users
- Optimize your photos to see which ones are leading to matches
- Change your location to meet people around the world
JSwipe pros:
- Messaging is a free feature for matches
- Modern and attractive app design
- Easy-to-use swipe system
- View profiles based on proximity or popularity
JSwipe cons:
- Matches expire after 18 days of no communication
- Profiles don’t provide a lot of detail unless someone includes it in their bio, so you don’t know if someone is looking for something serious, has or wants kids, smokes, etc.
JSwipe reviews:
App Store: 3.7 stars
Google Play: 3.0 stars
JSwipe does not have its own BBB or Trustpilot pages, but its parent company, Spark Networks, has an A+ BBB rating (not accredited) and 2.9 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.
These are some Reddit threads that discuss JSwipe:
There is also a r/JSwipe subreddit, though it’s not very active.
JWed
Founded in 2001, JWed claims to have led to more than 3,700 marriages. As its name implies, JWed is built for people who want to get married, not just casually date, and is inclusive of all ages and denominations.
You can access JWed online or download the JWed mobile app, available for iOS and Android devices.
How does JWed work?
JWed has high standards — you have to provide a link to a public profile (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, etc.) before you can be approved to join the site.
While you wait for approval, you have to upload a photo and share details about yourself:
- Location
- Language(s)
- Smoking habits
- Height
- Body type
- Marital status
- Children
- Ethnicity
- Parental lineage
- Family background
- Jewish affiliation
- Shabbat rituals
- Kosher status
- What being Jewish means to you
- Secular education
- Jewish education
- About me (general bio)
- Interests/hobbies
How much does JWed cost?
You have to choose between a Basic and Premium subscription to join JWed:
Basic:
- 1-week free trial
- $21.95/month
Premium:
- 1 month for $34.95
- 6 months for $29.95/month
Basic features:
- Search all members
- View members’ photos
- Reply to messages sent to you
Premium features:
- All features included in Basic
- Send messages to any member
- See when members have read your messages
- Browse anonymously
- See who’s liked you
- Video dating
- Record/receive audio messages
- Hide online status/profile
- Introductory call and matchmaking with a dating agent
JWed pros:
- Extensive and thorough application process to join
- Subscription-only model means daters are likely serious about finding love and marriage
- Memberships suspended for inappropriate behavior
- All profiles are individually verified before approval
- Mobile app available for Apple and Android
JWed cons:
- No free version available
- Site is not very modern or user friendly
- 3,700 marriages is not that high considering the site has been around for more than 20 years
- Strict (and somewhat intimidating) qualifications
JWed reviews:
App Store: 1.9 stars
Google Play: 2.8 stars
JWed’s parent company, Frumster, Inc., has a C+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (not accredited) and 2.1 stars on Trustpilot, with many complaints claiming it’s difficult to unsubscribe and customer service is hard to reach:
There are a few Reddit threads that ask for opinions on Jewish dating sites, and the same Reddit user mentioned JWed in his responses:
Saw You at Sinai
Saw You at Sinai is different from other Jewish dating sites in that actual matchmakers help you find your “Bashert” (Yiddish for soulmate).
Founded in 2003, Saw You at Sinai claims to have facilitated more than 4,596 engagements as of April 2024 — they even feature an upcoming wedding on their homepage.
Saw You at Sinai also occasionally hosts in-person singles events and retreats.
How does Saw You at Sinai work?
Saw You at Sinai works with more than 300 matchmakers around the world to match its members. Here’s how the process works:
- Create a profile with details about your religious background, lifestyle, and interests. You must also include references and a list of criteria you are looking for in another person.
- Members are paired with two matchmakers based on location, who will be dedicated to finding them matches.
- Matchmakers send you matches, which you can approve or reject.
- When both parties accept a match, matchmakers will share their contact information so they can talk and set up a date.
- Matchmakers can provide advice and feedback to help you have more successful dates.
How much does Saw You at Sinai cost?
Saw You at Sinai has two membership options:
Platinum membership:
- $29.95 per month
- Register and customize profile
- Get listed in global and local dating database
- Access to dating blog
- Admission to member events
- Max of one match per week
Gold membership:
- 1 month for $22.95, 3 months for $16.95 per month, and 6 months for $12.95 per month
- Same benefits of Premium membership
- Two dedicated matchmakers to search for you
- 15-minute initial conversation matchmakers
- Priority listing to all matchmakers
- Up to 10 matches per week
- Ability to approve/reject matches
- See your matches’ full names
- Ability to reach matchmakers for feedback/advice
Saw You at Sinai pros:
- Free for basic membership
- Real matchmakers work to find you matches
- App available for Apple and Android
Saw You at Sinai cons:
- Both people have to agree to a match to be connected
- Contact info exchanged after mutual match, which some may not like
- 3-day rule for men to reach out to women after contact info exchanged (which may be a pro for some)
- Matchmakers are volunteers and are not guaranteed compensation for setting up matches, though members are encouraged to send gifts/compensation upon successfully finding a partner
Saw You at Sinai reviews:
App Store: 2.4
Google Play: 4.0
Saw You at Sinai has an A+ rating from the BBB but doesn’t have a Trustpilot page.
There are multiple Reddit threads that discuss Saw You at Sinai, though all of them are several years old:
eharmony
While it isn’t exclusively a Jewish dating site, eharmony has long established itself as the leader in connecting singles looking for serious, long-term partnership. Plus, you can filter matches based on their religious preferences.
Researchers at the University of Chicago and Harvard conducted a study of more than 19,000 marriages1, breakups, and divorces by online dating site where the couple met, and found:
- 25% of the marriages started at eharmony (highest of any other dating site)
- 3.86% divorce rate (lowest of any other site)
How does eharmony work?
eharmony uses an algorithm to match compatible partners, which is based on a five-part questionnaire with about 150 questions, including:
- What is your immediate reaction if a person you’re very close to does something that upsets you?
- Other than appearance, what is the first thing that people notice about you?
- What are your main reasons for wanting a relationship?
- What's the most important thing you're looking for in another person?
- Let’s say you and your partner get invited to a friend’s wedding. As you get ready for the party, which thoughts are you most likely thinking?
You can also fill out your profile by answering prompts, similar to the ones on Bumble and Hinge.
How much does eharmony cost?
- Free basic plan and 25% off with promo code WSM25 >>
- Free basic account: $0
- 6 months: $27.54/mo
- 12 months: $17.94/mo
- 24 months: $11.94/mo
Free features:
- Create profile and take compatibility questionnaire
- View matches’ profiles
Paid features:
- Unlimited messaging
- Ability to view unlimited photos
- See who has visited your profile
- Enhanced search features
- Individual personality report and relationship tips
eharmony pros:
- Caters to serious daters seeking a compatible partner
- Strict verification process that weeds out fake profiles and married people
- Extensive questionnaire to improve compatible matches
eharmony cons:
- Must commit to a membership for at least 6 months
- Not exclusive to Jewish daters (though you can filter your results)
- Not for casual dating
eharmony reviews:
App Store: 4.0 stars
Google Play: 3.1 stars
eharmony has an A rating from the Better Business Bureau (accredited since 2001) and 3.3 stars on Trustpilot.
There aren’t many reviews specifically from Jewish daters, though I did find this one on Reddit:
It’s worth noting that your success on any dating site will largely be based on where you live. The more populated the area where you live — and the larger the Jewish population — the more likely you’ll be to find a compatible match.
Read our full eharmony review and get 25% off an eharmony membership with code WSM25 >>
Other Jewish dating apps:
These dating apps have less online reviews but may still be worth checking out:
Basheret
This app is a combination dating app and matchmaking platform. You get three matches a day based on your preferences, which you can either accept, reject, or refer to a friend with whom you think that person would be more compatible. You can also switch into “Matchmaker mode” to set up friends from your phone’s contact list.
App Store: 4.3 stars
Google Play: 3.2 stars
Pricing: Basheret is free to use and message matches, but you can upgrade to a premium account to get 10 matches a day and return to previous candidates:
- 1 month – $24.99
- 3 months – $60
- 6 months – $99
- 12 months – $160
- Personal service – $250
Mazel Match
Mazel Match is a free Jewish dating app that relies on swipe matching. Mazel Match requires you to upload three photos and fully fill out your profile to start matching with other daters. You can also leave video responses to questions on your profile rather than typing out answers.
App Store: 3.1 stars
Google Play: 2.6 stars
Pricing: Mazel Match is 100% free.
Mazels
This app allows you to flip through local daters and send them a message or like their profile
App Store: 3.8 stars
Google Play: Not available
Pricing: Most features on Mazels are free, though you can pay for a premium membership to see who has liked you, see verified users, and chat with international daters.
- $24.99/month
- $119.99/year
International dating sites
If you’re outside of the U.S., check out these international dating sites:
Jewish Cafe
Jewish Cafe is a Canadian dating site created in 2002, with users from all over the world. The site’s design is very dated — one of the subscription payment options is check or money order.
Jewish Cafe allows you to connect with other users in several ways:
- Live chat rooms
- Quick match (matches based on your preferences)
- Browse users currently online
- Search for specific members
Pricing: Every Jewish Cafe member gets two weeks free, plus two weeks for each site referral and two weeks for posting photos. You don’t need to provide credit card information to start a free trial — you’ll just lose access once your free period expires.
- 2 weeks – $24.95
- 1 month – $32.95
- 3 months – $44.95 ($14.98/month)
- 6 months – $69.95 ($11.66/month)
- 12 months – $99.95 ($8.33/month)
Mazal Tov
Mazal Tov is a Jewish dating site with a matchmaking component. User reviews say the site only works for people who are OK with being matched with non-local singles — including international matches in some cases.
Members share their Jewish background and commitment to Judaism and must include contact info for a reference (rabbi, mentor, or colleague). Devora Alouf of Israel is Mazal Tov’s self-proclaimed “love-coach,” who helps to vet and match up members.
Pricing:
You can join Mazal Tov for free, but a premium membership allows you to open and reply to emails from other members and to use advanced search features:
- 1 month – $39.99
- 3 months – $60
- 6 months – $99
- 1 year – $160
- $250 for “Personal Service” (customized matchmaking service)
Simantov
Simantov provides Jewish matchmaking services, with the goal of helping people get married.
Established in the United Kingdom in 1975, Simantov touts their highly educated matchmakers and love coaches, who speak several languages, including English, French, Spanish, Russian and Hebrew. Pricing is not readily available, but you can get a free matchmaking consultation.
Simantov paid packages include Match Mentoring by Jo Hemmings, a renowned U.K. dating coach.
Jewish dating FAQs
Is dating allowed in Judaism?
Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin, a licensed clinical professional counselor and Certified Relationship Therapist based in Baltimore, says dating is allowed in Judaism, since it supports the strong Jewish belief in marriage and building families.
Level of observance generally dictates how matches are found, and what the actual dates can look like.
How do I find Jewish singles?
Slatkin says Jewish singles often meet their partners through dating apps, matchmakers, and singles events, which are often hosted by Jewish organizations. Observance levels typically define how matches are found.
Are there any free Jewish dating sites?
Several Jewish dating sites have robust free versions, which allow you to message with other daters without upgrading to a paid subscription:
- JSwipe
- JWed
- Saw You at Sinai
- Basheret
- Mazel Match
- Mazels
Bottom line: What is the best Jewish dating site?
The best Jewish dating site for you will depend on your age, location, observance level, and the type of relationship you’re looking for.
Reddit users point to Jdate and JSwipe as two of the top sites for Jewish dating, though many also say mainstream apps like Hinge (which allows you to list religious preferences) are worth checking out.
You may want to consider asking your like-minded Jewish friends which apps they prefer to use for Jewish dating.
Check out our reviews of other dating apps:
| Christian Mingle | Zoosk | Coffee Meets Bagel |
| Elite Singles | Adult Friend Finder | Dating.com |
| Plenty of Fish | Catholic dating sites | SingleParentMeet |
| The League | Millionaire Match |
Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin, a licensed clinical professional counselor and Certified Relationship Therapist based in Baltimore, says dating is allowed in Judaism, since it supports the strong Jewish belief in marriage and building families.
Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin, a licensed clinical professional counselor and Certified Relationship Therapist based in Baltimore, says Jewish singles often meet their partners through dating apps, matchmakers, and singles events, which are often hosted by Jewish organizations. Observance levels typically define how matches are found.
Several Jewish dating sites have robust free versions, which allow you to message with other daters without upgrading to a paid subscription: JSwipe, JWed, Saw You at Sinai, Basheret, Mazel Match, and Mazels.
The best Jewish dating site for you will depend on your age, location, observance level, and the type of relationship you’re looking for. Reddit users point to Jdate and JSwipe as two of the top sites for Jewish dating, though many also say mainstream apps like Hinge (which allows you to list religious preferences) are worth checking out.
