Zoosk

• Easy Profile Set Up
• Match and Search Features
• Dating Insights and Advice
• Zoosk Couples

Easy Profile Set Up   

Signing up for Zoosk doesn't take quite as long as some other online dating sites with in-depth personality questionnaires, like eHarmony, EliteSingles, and Match.com. Either an email address or a Facebook account is required to register online. If you sign up with Facebook, you can easily upload a profile picture from your account. You can create a Zoosk profile in about 10 minutes (depending on how much information you give). 

The site asks for basic information such as height, gender, body type, children, education, religion, a few pictures, and other information to help members get better matches. There’s an option to add a 1,500 character story to your profile. You can also describe your perfect match or ideal date in 1,500 characters each.

Each Zoosk member can input their interests and go into detail on what their ideal date would be. Each user has the option to verify their Zoosk profile with their social media, either a Twitter or Facebook account. You can also use photo verification or verify your account with a cell phone number. This helps to improve  your reputation on Zoosk. 

The Zoosk mobile app also makes it easy to update any information and find potential matches. The dating app is available to download Zoosk in the app store for iOS devices Android devices.

Match and Search Features

Zoosk gives you plenty of options for interacting and matching with other users. Unlike many dating websites that it competes with, Zoosk's dating platform lets a person experience both major types of online dating in one service: scientific matchmaking based on an algorithm and location pairing for nearby matches. Zoosk members can also connect by searching for profiles using advanced filters, chatting with users online, and sorting profiles on carousel. 

Scientific Matching 

Zoosk has a premium feature called SmartPick, which evaluates your compatibility with other Zooskers. It uses Behavioral Matchmaking technology to learn from which profiles you like or pass on to streamline your match suggestions in the future. It also offers a survey to help you get more compatible matches. You will find your match suggestions in the SmartPick feature. 

Location Pairing 

This section lets users search through local singles, with lots of search filter options, including a geo radius of 3 to 100 miles. You can even save search parameters for easy access later. 

Filtered Searches

Users can search for matches with Zoosk’s advanced filters. Narrow down your search by height, gender, body type, children, smoking habits, education, religion. If you find a potential match, let them know you are interested by sending them a like, smile, or message.

Real-Time Interactions 

The “Online Now” feature allows you to chat with other users who are currently on the app. You don’t have to wait and wonder if someone will log back on and view your message. With the “Online Now” feature, you know you are connecting with an active user. 

Carousel Sorting 

The carousel feature is similar to the Tinder matching system. Users quickly determine their interest in another Zoosk member based on condensed profiles. You can select yes, no, or maybe on each profile. If you both get a mutual yes, you can start messaging one another. This is also one of the features that helps determine the SmartPick matches. 

Dating Insights and Advice

Zoosk's blog is filled with hundreds of articles about online dating. Members can read through the articles to get dating advice, learn how to stay safe while online dating, learn how to send and respond to messages, and find the latest dating studies. There are even articles about marriage and ways to make a long-term relationship last.

Zoosk Couples

Zoosk has an entire success story page showing off the men and women who have used Zoosk and found love. The site shares the stories of couples who are currently in a long-term, serious relationship, married, or happily in love because of Zoosk.

While this isn't a dealbreaker for whether people should sign up for the site, it is nice to see couples who have braved the online dating world and found love.

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• Consumer Complaints
• Limited Virtual Dating Options
• Pay to Message, Chat, and Use Other Features
• Coin Costs and Limitations
• Automatic Renewal
• No Refunds
• Does Not Attempt to Verify Information
• No Customer Support Hotline

Consumer Complaints

Out of more than 80 BestCompany reviews collected, the average Zoosk review rating is less than 1.5 stars out of five.

What are the biggest complaints that people have about this online dating service and app?

• Fake profile issues — Many people feel that Zoosk is littered with fake profiles and online scammers.
• User experience — The dating site is mentioned several times as overly difficult to navigate.
• Customer service — Several reviews report that Zoosk customer support is subpar at best.
• Bait and switch messages — Many report that the platform is regularly sending bogus messages to get non-paying Zoosk free members to sign up for a paid membership.

Additional common complaints include how difficult it is to delete your Zoosk account or cancel a premium membership and the excessive push for basic account members to make in-app purchases.

Limited Virtual Dating Options

Zoosk does not partner with a video chat service. Competing online dating sites have a feature that allows you to set up a virtual date. This is a disadvantage for long-distance relationships or socially distanced dates.

Pay to Message, Chat, and Use Other Features

Customers looking to sign up for a Zoosk subscription can pay per month or choose between three-month or six-month subscription options. You will also need to pay an additional one-time activation fee when you upgrade to a paid Zoosk membership. 

Online daters will have to sign up for one of Zoosk's monthly subscriptions to message, chat, see who's viewed them, and see Connections from SmartPick and Carousel.

While free members can see full profiles of other members in Online Now and Search, there isn't much more that you can do on Zoosk for free. The Zoosk free trial is merely for those looking to see how the site works and if it's right for them.

If you want to message anyone on the Zoosk app, you will need to become a premium member.

Coin Costs and Limitations

Like most online dating platforms, Zoosk offers subscription plans and online currency purchases. Zoosk cost is comparable to other online paid dating platforms. 

Coins can be purchased by both free members and paid subscribers. Zoosk coins can be used for a variety of features on the platform, including the following:

• Boost — Zoosk highlights your dating profile in search results, inbox messages, and other users' Carousel.
• Unlock Carousel Matches — Unlock another member's profile, suggested to connect with users that have expressed interest in you. 
• Buy Virtual Gifts — To show interest in another person and differentiate yourself from the crowd, you can use 10 to 100 coins to buy them a virtual gift. Gifts are basically cute little graphics of things like hearts, a gem, lips, a cupcake, a bouquet of flowers, and more.
• Delivery Confirmations (for paid subscribers only) — Also known in the dating app world as “read receipts,” this option will let you know when another person has opened your chat message
• Go Invisible — Pay to browse and view member profiles for 30 minutes without being shown in their Views list

Coins can't be used to chat, send, or read messages. You still have to be a paid subscriber to access messaging and chat features. While the coin feature provides users with unique upgrade options, this style of payment can end up adding a lot of frustration on the user side. Even after you upgrade, you will receive notifications to buy coins which could end up costing you a lot more than you originally budgeted. 

Automatic Renewal

Zoosk members should know that subscriptions will automatically renew unless the account is canceled before the end of the premium subscription term. This is typical of an online dating subscription but can catch users off guard if they are not anticipating the charge. 

No Refunds

In its Terms of Service, this dating website mentions that all charges are nonrefundable and there are no refunds or credits for any partially used Paid Services (including partially used subscription periods) and Zoosk coin balances.

Does Not Attempt to Verify Information

While users have a slew of Verification options to list their profile as verified, they should also be aware that Zoosk currently does not routinely screen registered users, inquire into the background of its users, attempt to verify information provided by its users or conduct criminal screenings of its users.

This isn't unique. It's pretty common in the online dating industry.

No Customer Support Hotline

If you need help with something, there are only a few options outside of help articles and video tutorials. You can contact customer support through an on-site email form. A customer service hotline is not offered on-site. Additionally, live chat is not a contact option on this platform.