Software · head to head
Match.com vs Plenty of Fish
The short version
- Only Plenty of Fish has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Match.com without a subscription you can only chat with recommended matches rather than anyone you find; Plenty of Fish high prevalence of fake profiles and bot accounts despite phone verification
- They diverge on capability: Match.com covers Advanced Search, Plenty of Fish covers Free Messaging.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Match.com and Plenty of Fish actually diverge.
| Attribute | Match.com | Plenty of Fish |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $35.99/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | Unknown |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Ios, Android, Web | Web, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 1993 | 2003 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Match.com
- Advanced Search
- Daily Matches
- Messaging
- Profile Verification
- Events
- Dating Advice
Only in Plenty of Fish
- Free Messaging
- Chemistry Test
- Meet Me
- Ultra Match
- Live Streaming
- Video Chat
Both cover
- Ios support
- Android support
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Match.com
- Finding long-term relationship matches with detailed search criterianot Plenty of Fish
- Attending online and in-person singles eventsnot Plenty of Fish
- Getting profile and first-date coaching from Match dating expertsnot Plenty of Fish
Plenty of Fish
No use cases recorded yet. See the Plenty of Fish review.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Match.com
- Without a subscription you can only chat with recommended matches rather than anyone you find
- Seeing unlimited profiles requires the Premium subscription
- Advanced search filters are Premium only
- Reconnecting with profiles you already passed on requires Premium
- Profile boosts to be seen faster are Premium only
- The iOS app requires iOS 16.0 or later
Plenty of Fish
- High prevalence of fake profiles and bot accounts despite phone verification
- Inconsistent moderation allows scammers to evade detection
- Desktop website features advanced search not available in mobile app
- No social media integrations for profile enrichment
Pricing, plan by plan
Match.com
$35.99/month- Standard$35.99/month
- Messaging
- See Who Viewed You
- Search Filters
- Premium$44.99/month
- All Standard Features
- Read Receipts
- Profile Boost
Plenty of Fish
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Plenty of Fish review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Match.com if
- You need advanced search.
- You work on Ios, Android, Web.
- You also want daily matches.
Choose Plenty of Fish if
- You need free messaging.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want chemistry test.
Questions people ask
- Is Match.com or Plenty of Fish better?
- Neither clearly leads. Match.com starts at $35.99/month and Plenty of Fish at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Match.com or Plenty of Fish?
- Plenty of Fish has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $35.99/month for Match.com and Free for Plenty of Fish.
- Does Match.com or Plenty of Fish run on more platforms?
- Match.com runs on Ios, Android, Web. Plenty of Fish runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Plenty of Fish for free?
- Yes. Plenty of Fish has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Match.com starts at $35.99/month.
- What is Match.com best used for?
- Match.com is most often used for finding long-term relationship matches with detailed search criteria, attending online and in-person singles events, getting profile and first-date coaching from match dating experts. Of those, finding long-term relationship matches with detailed search criteria and attending online and in-person singles events are not what Plenty of Fish is typically brought in for.
- What can Match.com do that Plenty of Fish cannot?
- Match.com covers Advanced Search, Daily Matches, Messaging, Profile Verification. Plenty of Fish covers Free Messaging, Chemistry Test, Meet Me, Ultra Match. Both handle Ios support, Android support, Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Plenty of Fish: Is Plenty of Fish completely free to use?
Yes, Plenty of Fish offers free account creation, profile search, and messaging. Premium subscriptions are optional and add features like ad removal and advanced filters.
SourcePlenty of Fish: What platforms does Plenty of Fish support?
Plenty of Fish is available on Web, iOS (17.0 or later), and Android. There is no native Windows desktop application.
SourcePlenty of Fish: Does Plenty of Fish require phone verification?
Yes, Plenty of Fish requires phone number verification during signup to reduce fake profiles and improve security.
SourcePlenty of Fish: What does the free tier include?
The free tier allows users to create a profile, upload photos, search and browse profiles, send and receive messages, and view who likes them.
SourceRelated pages
More on Plenty of Fish
Keep looking
Other head to heads
- Match.com vs Bumble
- Match.com vs Hinge
- Match.com vs OkCupid
- Match.com vs Tinder
- Match.com vs eHarmony
- Match.com vs Badoo
- Match.com vs EliteSingles
- Match.com vs Taimi
- Match.com vs BeReal
- Match.com vs Coffee Meets Bagel
- Match.com vs Feeld
- Match.com vs Grindr
- Match.com vs Happn
- Match.com vs HER
- Match.com vs OurTime
- Match.com vs Quora
- Match.com vs Reddit
- Plenty of Fish vs Bumble
- Plenty of Fish vs Hinge
- Plenty of Fish vs OkCupid
- Plenty of Fish vs Tinder
- Plenty of Fish vs eHarmony
- Plenty of Fish vs Badoo
- Plenty of Fish vs EliteSingles
- Plenty of Fish vs Taimi
- Plenty of Fish vs BeReal
- Plenty of Fish vs Coffee Meets Bagel
- Plenty of Fish vs Feeld
- Plenty of Fish vs Grindr
- Plenty of Fish vs Happn
- Plenty of Fish vs HER
- Plenty of Fish vs OurTime
- Plenty of Fish vs Quora
- Plenty of Fish vs Reddit


