--- title: "How We Review Dating Sites — Our Methodology | WhichDating" description: "How WhichDating reviews and scores dating sites. Our 6-category rating system, testing process, editorial independence, and commitment to honest, unbiased reviews." lang: en json-ld: | { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "name": "How We Review Dating Sites — Our Methodology", "description": "How WhichDating reviews and scores dating sites. Our 6-category rating system, testing process, editorial independence, and commitment to honest, unbiased reviews.", "url": "https://www.whichdating.com/how-we-review/" }, { "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do you get paid by dating sites you review?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "We earn affiliate commissions from some platforms — when you click our links and sign up, we may receive a commission. This never influences our scores or rankings. Our editorial team operates independently from commercial relationships." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How often are reviews updated?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Every review is updated at least quarterly. Significant platform changes (pricing, features, ownership) trigger updates within 2 weeks." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do you review your own dating sites?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes — WhichDating is part of a small portfolio of dating brands that includes Smooch and DatingPartners. We review these with the same methodology and standards as any third-party platform." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can a dating site pay for a better score?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. Platforms cannot pay for better scores, higher rankings, or more favourable reviews. Sponsored placements are always clearly labelled and separate from editorial content." } } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.whichdating.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "How We Review", "item": "https://www.whichdating.com/how-we-review/" } ] } ] } --- [Skip to content](#main-content) [Which Dating .com ](/) [Reviews](/reviews/)[Compare](/compare/)[Directory](/directory/)[Guides](/guides/)[Blog](/blog/)[Find Your Match](/) # How We Review Dating Sites — Our Methodology Every WhichDating review follows the same rigorous methodology: we test each platform ourselves, evaluate it across 6 weighted categories, verify claims against real user data, and publish honest scores regardless of commercial relationships. We earn affiliate commissions from some platforms we review, but this never influences our ratings — our editorial team operates independently from our commercial partnerships. This page explains exactly how we evaluate, score, and maintain the integrity of every review we publish. ## Our 6-Category Rating System Every dating site and app we review is scored across six categories, each weighted to reflect what matters most to real users: Category Weight What We Assess **Match Quality** 25% Algorithm effectiveness, user intent alignment, conversation quality, relationship outcomes **Safety & Trust** 20% Identity verification, moderation quality, scam prevention, data protection, industry accreditation **User Base** 20% Size, activity level, gender balance, age distribution, geographic coverage **Features** 15% Profile tools, communication options, discovery methods, unique functionality **Value for Money** 10% Pricing transparency, free tier functionality, premium feature value, cancellation fairness **Ease of Use** 10% Interface quality, onboarding speed, mobile experience, accessibility The overall score (out of 10) is calculated from these weighted category scores. We do not round generously — a platform must earn its score. ## How We Test **Account creation:** We create real profiles on every platform we review, experiencing the full onboarding process, verification steps, and initial matching. **Feature testing:** We use every feature available on both free and premium tiers. We test messaging, search, matching algorithms, video calling, safety tools, and any unique functionality. **Multi-device testing:** We test on iOS, Android, and web (where available) to assess the cross-platform experience. **Time investment:** We spend a minimum of 2 weeks actively using each platform before publishing a review. For major platforms, our testing period is longer. **User research:** We supplement our testing with aggregated user review data, app store ratings, independent surveys, and community feedback. ## What We Check **Claims verification:** When a platform claims "millions of users" or "highest success rate," we verify these claims against third-party data sources including app store download data, Sensor Tower analytics, and published financial reports. **Pricing transparency:** We document exactly what each tier costs, what features are included, and what upsell tactics exist. We note when pricing is not transparent upfront. **Safety audit:** We assess identity verification requirements, moderation response times, fake profile prevalence, and compliance with industry standards (including ODA membership in the UK). **Corporate stability:** We monitor the financial health of parent companies and note any risks (such as the Spark Networks insolvency) that could affect users. ## Editorial Independence WhichDating earns revenue through affiliate commissions — when you click a "Visit Site" link and sign up for a platform, we may receive a commission. This is how we fund the site without charging readers. **Our commitment:** Affiliate relationships never influence our scores, rankings, or verdicts. Our editorial team scores platforms before our commercial team sets up tracking links. Platforms cannot pay for better scores, higher rankings, or more favourable reviews. **Sponsored content is always labelled.** Any content that involves a commercial relationship — sponsored directory listings, featured placements, or partner content — is clearly marked as such. Our editorial reviews are never sponsored. **Portfolio transparency:** WhichDating is part of a small portfolio of dating brands that also includes Smooch and DatingPartners. We review these platforms with the same methodology and standards as any third-party platform. Their scores reflect genuine editorial assessment. ## Freshness & Updates We update every review at least quarterly. The "Last Updated" date on each page reflects the most recent editorial review. If a platform makes significant changes (pricing, features, ownership), we update the relevant review within 2 weeks. ## How to Use Our Reviews Our reviews are designed to help you make an informed decision, not to tell you what to do. We present scores, pros, cons, and "Choose if" verdicts so you can match your priorities to the right platform. Different people have different needs — there is no single "best" dating app for everyone. If you disagree with a score or have information we should consider, contact us at [editorial@whichdating.com](mailto:editorial@whichdating.com). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Do you get paid by dating sites you review? We earn affiliate commissions from some platforms — when you click our links and sign up, we may receive a commission. This never influences our scores or rankings. Our editorial team operates independently from commercial relationships. ### How often are reviews updated? ### Do you review your own dating sites? ### Can a dating site pay for a better score? [Which Dating .com ](/) Independent reviews & comparisons to help you find the right dating site. Expert-tested, data-driven, updated monthly. #### Top Reviews - [Hinge](/reviews/hinge/) - [Bumble](/reviews/bumble/) - [Tinder](/reviews/tinder/) - [Match](/reviews/match/) - [eHarmony](/reviews/eharmony/) - [Plenty of Fish](/reviews/plenty-of-fish/) - [OkCupid](/reviews/okcupid/) #### Top Reviews #### Directory - [Hinge](/directory/hinge/) - [Bumble](/directory/bumble/) - [Tinder](/directory/tinder/) - [eHarmony](/directory/eharmony/) - [Match](/directory/match/) - [OkCupid](/directory/okcupid/) - [All Sites](/directory/) #### Directory #### Compare - [Tinder vs Bumble](/compare/tinder-vs-bumble/) - [Hinge vs Match](/compare/hinge-vs-match/) - [eHarmony vs Match](/compare/eharmony-vs-match/) - [Bumble vs Hinge](/compare/bumble-vs-hinge/) - [Smooch vs OurTime](/compare/smooch-vs-ourtime/) - [All Comparisons](/compare/) #### Compare #### Guides - [Dating Safety](/guides/online-dating-safety/) - [Profile Tips](/guides/dating-profile-tips/) - [Dating Over 50](/guides/dating-over-50/) - [Singles Tax](/guides/singles-tax/) - [Dating After Divorce](/guides/dating-after-divorce/) - [All Guides](/guides/) #### Guides #### About - [About WhichDating](/about/) - [How We Review](/how-we-review/) - [Advertise](/advertise/) - [Affiliate Disclosure](/affiliate-disclosure/) - [Contact Us](/contact/) - [Privacy Policy](/privacy/) - [Terms of Use](/terms/) - [Sitemap](/sitemap/) #### About Published by Ambervine Inc, 56 Broad St STE 14074, Boston, MA 02109, USA. 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