Best Jewish Dating Apps, Sites: Honest Reviews [2024]
If you’re a Jewish single navigating the dating scene without much luck, maybe you just haven’t found the right dating platform yet. After all, finding the person who makes your heart sing—and fits your religious or cultural preferences—can be challenging. But with the best app or site at your fingertips, you can find the person you’ve been looking for.
We’ve compiled a list of the top Jewish dating apps and sites that may help in your search for a partner.
What Makes a Great Jewish Dating App?
There are some key aspects of a great Jewish dating app.
Cultural Compatibility and Understanding
For many people of Jewish heritage, finding partners who share similar beliefs, customs, and traditions is key. A Jewish dating app will take this into account and provide ways for individuals to match with like-minded singles.
Community and Support Features
Feeling supported in the dating journey can be the difference in a good versus great experience. For example, with Jewish dating apps and websites, the ability to set specific religious or lifestyle preferences may help some singles feel seen, like their preferences matter. This can lead to empowerment in the community and provide a more enjoyable dating experience.
Safety and Privacy
Safety and privacy are two crucial features of any dating app—Jewish dating apps and sites included. This could look like profile verification, the ability to block or report profiles, human moderators, and more.
Top Jewish Dating Apps and Sites Reviewed
Jdate
Jdate’s website launched in 1997, followed later by its dating app. It’s a reputable online dating platform for Jewish singles.
Overview and Key Features
According to its website, Jdate “has become known as the modern shidduch, a convenient way for Jewish singles to meet, interact, and find love.” The site and app aim to help Jewish singles find like-minded, faith-based individuals to share their lives with and continue the Jewish tradition.
One key feature includes an activity tab, where users can view who has liked them, profiles they have viewed, members that have viewed them, and mutual likes. Additionally, Jdate prompts users to fill in their Jewish denomination during setup and has advanced filters to narrow down profiles based on if someone does or doesn’t keep kosher, if they attend synagogue, their smoking and drinking habits, and more.
Pros and Cons
Advanced filters can help singles find someone who fits their specific lifestyle, but these detailed searches are only available with a paid subscription. Similarly, many features are only available with a paid membership, like the Lookbook feature (anonymous browsing), reading and replying to messages, and enhanced privacy controls.
Reviews of Jdate on Reddit are a mixed bag, with some people saying they’ve met their partner through the app/site and others saying that it’s outdated and the user base is small. Reviews on Google Play Store are mostly negative, with a 1.3-star average rating.
However, with both an app and a site, Jdate is accessible to those who like a mobile experience and singles who prefer to use a desktop.
JSwipe
JSwipe was launched in 2014 as a millennial alternative to Jdate.
Overview and Key Features
JSwipe is a Jewish dating app that encourages singles in this community to find long-term relationships. It uses a Tinder-like approach to liking profiles and is known for drawing in users looking for serious partnerships.
Notable features include profiles that clearly emphasize a user’s Jewish sect and kosher preference, the ability to send super swipes, and messaging expiration dates (matches or conversations that haven’t had activity for 18 days will be deleted).
Pros and Cons
Some people might like the expiration dates on matches and messages because this feature encourages maintaining communication, but others might prefer to be able to return to prior matches as a way to respark the connection.
A huge benefit of JSwipe is the robust free version, which allows all users to chat with mutual matches. On the flip side, a negative aspect of JSwipe is that Android users must have a Facebook profile to sign up.
SawYouAtSinai
SawYouAtSinai is a matchmaking site that aims to find Jewish singles love around the world.
Overview and Key Features
Unlike Jewish dating apps and sites, SawYouAtSinai is a matchmaking service, where members are assigned one to two matchmakers (gold-level members can choose up to two) who will search their network of more than 30,000 Jewish singles, connect potential matches based on members’ preferences and profiles, and provide advice and support throughout the process.
There is a SawYouAtSinai app, but it is reserved for messaging between members and matchmakers.
Pros and Cons
A clear benefit of SawYouAtSinai is the ability for members to relax while their matchmakers do the hard work of searching for a potential partner. Once they approve a match, then the connection is in their hands (for example, initiating communication and setting up a first date). Additionally, Jewish individuals can join for free with a basic membership and get matched with other members, but to approve matches, receive more matches per week, and have direct consultation with a matchmaker, they need to pay for a membership (which is less than $30 a month).
One thing to note is that although SawYouAtSinai says its matchmaking has helped Jewish singles “who consider themselves ‘Just Jewish,’ Conservative, Modern Orthodox or Yeshivish/Black Hat,” several Reddit reviews claim that the majority of members are orthodox. This could mean that there is a smaller pool of members who are not orthodox.
JewishCafe
JewishCafe is an online community where Jewish individuals can connect.
Overview and Key Features
JewishCafe has been around since 2002, offering a place for those in the Jewish community to meet each other, either for companionship or to date. Although it’s technically a dating site, there are several places on its website that refer to making friendships. This could make the site less appealing to Jewish singles specifically looking for a romantic relationship.
Users create profiles (as simple or detailed as they’d like), then can search for, like, and send messages to other profiles.
Pros and Cons
The website’s design seems very outdated and has inconsistent information. For example, it says that there is a JewishCafe iPhone app, but none appears on the Apple App Store (additionally, its webpage shows a very outdated version of an iPhone screen). Furthermore, it’s unclear how members communicate with one another, as one page on the website says “email” and other instances note the use of chat rooms or “mailboxes.”
It’s also important to note that photos are not required, which could present safety concerns.
One nice feature of JewishCafe is its three-week free trial, which gives users full site capabilities, including messaging.
EliteSingles
EliteSingles is an online matchmaking service that offers a website and an app.
Overview and Key Features
Although EliteSingles is not specifically a Jewish dating site or app, it does allow users to set their preferences, including religion. The matchmaking service is known for its detailed personality quiz during setup, which consists of 84 questions and informs its matching algorithm. Once users complete their profiles, EliteSingles sends up to seven matches per day.
Pros and Cons
The focus on personality types is a big draw for EliteSingles users, as that information can boost the compatibility with potential matches. However, according to many reviews of EliteSingles, its algorithm is inaccurate and location filters are unreliable.
Additionally, while EliteSingles does offer a free version, users should sign up for a paid membership to be able to interact with matches.
Zoosk
The dating site and app Zoosk aims to help singles find meaningful connections.
Overview and Key Features
Zoosk is not a Jewish-focused dating app or site, but users can filter their searches by religion to produce more specific results. In terms of special features, Zoosk is known for its algorithm called SmartPick, which learns users’ behaviors to deliver better matches. Individuals are provided with profile recommendations, they can search on their own, or they can use the Carousel feature, which displays profiles geographically close to you.
Pros and Cons
The behavioral technology behind Zoosk and the variety of ways to find potential matches are notable benefits of the online dating platform. Additionally, some App Store reviews note that the layout and design of the app are nice.
However, some Reddit reviews claim that there are lots of fake profiles, and Google Play Store reviews mention that having to pay for full app capabilities is a letdown.
Features to Look for in a Jewish Dating App
Here are some top features to look for in a Jewish dating app.
Compatibility Algorithms
Not all dating apps and sites have compatibility algorithms, but this is a special feature to look for, as it can help to produce better matches.
Cultural Understanding
Feeling seen and supported in your dating journey is crucial for a great experience. Make sure that the dating platform you choose is either focused on the Jewish culture and religion or provides ways for individuals in this community to connect (via filters).
Profile Verification and Safety Measures
Finally, ensure that the app or site you choose has safety measures in place, such as profile verification, keeping sensitive information private, the ability to hide your profile from searches, and more.
Challenges of Online Dating for Jews
Jewish singles may encounter some unique challenges during their dating journeys.
Balancing Traditional Values with Modern Dating
The Jewish heritage and religion is rich with tradition—and the traditional values that come along with it. Some Jewish singles may feel pulled between seemingly two worlds: one that prioritizes certain values and one that embraces modern trends. Blending the two can be difficult, which is why staying true to yourself and your beliefs and choosing the right approach to dating are key.
Navigating Cultural Expectations
Jewish singles might also find it difficult to navigate the various cultural expectations when it comes to dating or finding a life partner. For some, seeking a partner who shares the same values and practices the same customs is paramount. For others, they may hold special regard for certain expectations and customs but not require the same from their significant other. There are many nuances of a religion and heritage, so it’s important for Jewish singles to keep their deal-breakers in mind.
Niche vs. Mainstream
Singles in the Jewish community who are searching for a partner will come across niche dating and matchmaking sites and those that are more mainstream—that may accept singles from all religions, cultures, and backgrounds. Knowing which platform is right for you can be challenging (but that’s why we’ve put together this helpful list!).
How Tawkify Can Help in Your Dating Journey
Find your best relationship with Tawkify, where matchmakers guide you through the matchmaking process, with support and advice along the way. No matter your religious, lifestyle, or personality preferences, Tawkify matchmakers can help you locate your mate through specialized searches of our extensive network of singles. Plus, we do all the hard work for you—even setting up first dates! We can help you find your person.
Related Posts
Get Started Toward Your Last First Date
Try Tawkify today. We only accept candidates we believe we can match.
Finding a bashert (soulmate) is a decisive part of a Jewish single’s life. While
dating is taken lightly in so many cultures, Jewish dating is a matter of
respecting oneself, one’s future partner, one’s family, and Jewish tradition as
a whole. Especially in Orthodox Jewish communities, dating isn’t supposed to be
a mere pastime. From […]
Jdate Dating App Reviews: How to Join, Features, Pros, Cons, & Cost If you’re a
Jewish single trying your hand at dating, you may have heard of Jdate. It’s been
around a long time–over 20 years, according to its website. In this article,
we’ll tell you everything you need to know about JDate and help […]
There are so many types of romantic partnerships out there, from
introvert/extrovert to outdoors/indoorsy. Judging from the seemingly vast
differences between some partners, it’s no wonder that opposites can attract.
But can people from two different religions or belief systems have a successful
relationship? Interfaith relationships might be some of the trickier ones to
navigate, […]