Is EliteSingles NZ really the best site for smart and educated singles in New Zealand?

EliteSingles is very user-friendly. The way the site suggests compatibility between users looking for love is by using an extensive profile builder and a personality test. Based on the results of the test, as well as other information about themselves that the user has inputted, such as age, place they live and job, EliteSingles will then match this user with between 3-10 potential dates on a daily basis.

EliteSingles claim that the site matches up to 2000 couples every month. Their detailed and lengthy personality test and profile builder ensures that the perfect match is made between EliteSingles users, so the chances of finding somebody you click with is improved greatly. They have also generally good reviews from current and former users. The test carried out by our editorial team also showed that EliteSingles is a very well functioning dating site with an excellent matching system.

EliteSingles is free to use, but users must pay a 3 months’, 6 months’ or 12 months’ fee to use special features such as communicating with other users. The fees are reasonable enough for each category and will be explored further below, but they would be affordable for most young and middle aged professionals, who are EliteSingles target market.

On signing up for EliteSingles, users will be met by a series of what seem like generic questions, such as what they’re looking for in a partner in terms of first date etiquette, or how important a potential partner’s sense of spirituality is to them. Users will also be presented with a group of four pictures.

For example: you may be shown a very messy workstation, a cluttered workstation, a neat workstation and an extremely tidy and minimalist workstation. You will then be asked to select which workstation best resembles your own.

These questions and picture tests may appear random, but they are designed to help EliteSingles establish what sort of personality type the user is, and then match that user to a potential partner whose own personality type best suits them.  

The way EliteSingles do this is by using the Five Factor Model theory.  The Five Factor Model theory is a test carried out that measures a person’s five personality factors, which are called OCEAN. OCEAN stands for Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism.

So while the entire profile-build for a new user can take from half an hour up to 45 minutes, the user is guaranteed that with such a detailed personality test and general assessment, they will have much greater success in landing a match that they will click with. Every user will receive compatible matches on a daily basis. These matches are based on each user’s personality test answers, where they live and their general partner preferences.

The first thing that may catch your eye when you click into your first ‘partner suggestion,’ is the cute little ‘Matching Score’ feature that is placed in the upper right hand corner of your match’s profile picture.

Upon clicking the Matching Score feature, you’ll be brought through to your match’s profile, where their OCEAN, or Openness, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism, will be displayed in the form of sliding scales – for example, the scale going from ‘easy-going’ to ‘disciplined’ for Conscientiousness.

It is easy to click back and forth, from your own profile to your match’s, to see how well you and your match’s sliding scales sync up.

The second thing you might notice is that your match’s profile picture is blurred. When you click on it, you’ll be brought through to the EliteSingles Membership Packages, which are listed as either a 3 months, 6 months or 12 months membership duration.

So, to establish any sort of meaningful back and forth with a user on EliteSingles, you have to sign up to one of the Membership Packages, ranging from $ 29.95 to $59.95.

Elsewhere, your match’s profile will appear set out and very easy to navigate. Their height, religion, whether they want to have children or not and education among other things are featured at the top. Below that lie your match’s favourite activities, likes and dislikes, what they look for in a relationship, and what they are passionate about.

Compared to other dating apps, such as Tinder and Plenty of Fish, EliteSingles’ in-depth and probing profile tests, combined with their multitude of questions both about yourself and what you’re looking for in a partner, make for a more involved and engaging online dating experience.

While Tinder is very image led, and Plenty of Fish just covers the most basic of questions and interests, EliteSingles combination of tried and tested personality tests and detailed profile building ensures that your experience on this dating site will lead to more compatible matches and a potentially meaningful partnership.

The users of EliteSingles would appear to be in the more professional demographic, such as doctors; lawyers; engineers etc. For example, the website claims that 80% of its users are college graduates, while over 90% are over the age of 30.

As mentioned above, EliteSingles ranges from a free membership option to 29.95 NZD per month for 12 months, all the way up to 59.95 NZD per month for 3 months membership, with membership for 6 months priced at 34.95 NZD per month.

The major differences between the free versus paying options are that you are greatly limited when it comes to accessibility going the free option route. You can’t view your match’s pictures with the free option, nor can you send them any messages, being limited to only sending a smile instead. However, after signing up to the Membership Packages, you can do both these things and more!

When you break it down, it appears the 6 months Membership Package would cost you the equivalent of $1.16 per day, while the 3 months Membership Package comes in at $2 per day, and the 12 month membership costs $1 per day.

Going for the 12 months membership may be the best value for money.  Judging by the depth and detail of EliteSingles profiles and personality tests, it’s best that the new user takes the time exploring all the features and benefits the site has to offer.

Cancelling your subscription is easy, and the EliteSingles website walks you through the process. It’s as simple as accessing your account details, going to your Membership settings, and selecting ‘Cancel’. If you are experiencing any problems cancelling your membership, or you want to query a refund, EliteSingles are open to being contacted at any time through the usual channels.

One of the major success markers is standing out. By standing out, both in your profile pictures and the content of your profile, such as your likes and dislikes and what your passions are, you will ensure other users take notice of you.

It is also helpful (though by no means essential) that you have some form of higher education or vocational training. 85% of EliteSingles users are highly educated, with most either having achieved some level of degree or are currently studying to attain a degree.

Another good piece of advice is for users to be honest on their personality tests so that they are given partner suggestions with users who they will have a genuine connection with. By filling out the personality test honestly, EliteSingles will be better able to build a more authentic character profile for yourself, enabling other users to see you as you really are.