There are dozens of online dating sites out there but those looking specifically for a religious relationship have limited options. Read my ChristianMingle.com review to find out more about this site.
ChristianMingle.com is one of the earliest online dating services. Launched in 2001 by Spark Networks, Christian Mingle comes as an online dating solution for those looking for long-term commitment and eventual marriage with a like-minded partner, at least in terms of faith.
Popular in Canada, the US, and Europe, Christian Mingle caters to all Christian singles and counts over 16 million members.
Keeping up with the times, the desktop version was enriched in 2014 with an intuitive app that allows users to stay in touch with their connections even from mobile. The desktop version itself boasts a simple yet intuitive interface and is easy to use.
But what are the odds to find your soul mate on this site? Is there a decent user pool and what should you know about using Christian Mingle?
The only way to tell is by signing up, and that’s what I did. And this review aims to help you decide whether or not Christian Mingle is the right online dating site for you; before talking about features and functionalities, here’s what you should consider before creating an account.
Things To Consider Before Signing Up To ChristianMingle.com
Contents
Launched as a dating site for Christian singles, ChristianMingle.com is geared towards a clear user base. This platform aims to create a safe online dating environment for members sharing the same faith and who are interested in a more spiritual relationship.
Geared towards Christians, the site is subsequently geared towards those who are looking for a long-term relationship.
The platform aims to help religious people find their soul mate and according to a survey, about 29% of the Christian married couples who started their relationship online met on Christian Mingle.
Yet, with such a clear distinction of their target user pool, ChristianMingle.com is not the friendliest place for people sharing different beliefs. The site is also geared exclusively towards straight people. Therefore, if you have a different orientation, you’d better look elsewhere.
Although Christian Mingle promotes friendships, the site’s mission is that of generating long-term relationships. The user pool is equally divided between men and women, therefore the platform is great for both genders. Yet, this is not the place where to look for a one night stand or for occasional dating.
You should also know that the site’s interface is quite basic and lackluster. The site is intuitive and easy to use though, but you won’t get dozens of perks and extra features like on other sites, such as on Match.com.
Lastly, the site is free to join but free members have access to limited functionalities. To unlock the full functions of the site, including messaging, you’ll have to subscribe to a paid membership.
This is the norm for most dating sites but if you don’t want or can’t afford to pay, you’ll probably have to settle for a more generic online dating site, such as Plenty of Fish or OK Cupid.
What Is ChristianMingle.com?
ChristianMingle.com is a religion-based online dating site launched in 2001 by Spark Networks, the same company that owns EliteSingles.com.
This site was received by most Christian singles as a breath of fresh air even if the platform is not actually owned and operated by Christians.
What makes this online dating platform different from the major dating sites is the user pool; this site attracts Christian singles from all walks of life who are connected by their desire of sharing their lives with someone who shares their own faith.
With an intuitive and easy to use the platform, Christian Mingle boasts an easy account setup process.
You can either register with Facebook (the site promises to never post anything in your name) or create a new profile from scratch using your email address. The Facebook signup process is quicker and the platform even gives you the possibility to upload images directly from Facebook.
The registration process is quick and straightforward, lasting about 5 minutes. You’ll be required to fill in a form with personal information.
Catering to a majorly adult audience formed by people aged between 30 and 40, Christian Mingle skips quizzes and personality tests, focusing instead on straightforward questions about interests, commitment, religious beliefs, and family.
During registration, you’ll be able to upload up to 6 images, which I highly recommend. Then, you’ll be asked to verify your email address before continuing.
Once registration is over, you’ll gain access to your dashboard; at this stage, you’ll be free to browse through profiles and send smiles to the ones you like. However, the free functions are limited and you’ll have to subscribe to a paid plan to be able to send or reply to emails and instant messages.
Christian Mingle Advantages
- Christian-oriented. ChristianMingle.com is the largest Christian-oriented dating site and could be the perfect place for those looking to date or marry someone with similar beliefs.
- Quality members. Due to a targeted audience and rather strict rules, Christian Mingle tends to attract quality members who are serious about dating and/or marriage. While fake profiles do happen, they are rather an exception on this site.
- Men to women ratio. Regardless of your gender, finding a match is quite simple. The site has a 50:50 men to women ratio.
- Responsive members. Because most members are serious about finding a long-term partner, most members are very responsive. This makes Christian Mingle a lively dating site where you won’t have to wait for too long until getting an answer.
- More than dating. Christian Mingle’s main purpose is that of helping singles find their soul mate. But on this site, you can also find a very supportive community. Whether you’re looking for a friend or just someone to talk to in a dark moment, members are nice and supportive.
Christian Mingle Disadvantages
- Although signing up is free, you’ll have to pay to actually use the platform. Membership fees are average as compared to other dating sites.
- Christian Mingle boasts a large user pool but most users are concentrated in the big cities. It could be difficult to find a match if you live in a small town or remote area.
- The design of the interface isn’t the most exceptional. Overall, this site feels a bit outdated; however, the app is more intuitive and easier to use than the actual site.
ChristianMingle.com Features
Christian Mingle might have some disadvantages like most things do. Yet, this site really impressed me with the quality of its members. Here are some of the most important features of this online dating platform.
Matchmaking System
Christian Mingle doesn’t use a matchmaking algorithm in the way intended by eHarmony or Coffee Meets Bagel. But in an attempt to help users find someone with a matching personality, the site uses a Color Code matchmaking system.
Basically, this is a sort of Myers-Briggs personality test that assigns a color to your profile. The colors are blue, white, red, and yellow, and each color code designates a different personality type. Then, you’ll be able to decide whether or not it’s worth engaging in a conversation with a user based on the color code assigned.
However, the site doesn’t use a traditional matchmaking system and you won’t get suggestions from people to meet.
On the contrary, you’ll be free to browse through profiles and pick the users who most appeal to you.
Advanced search options will allow you to filter profiles based on ethnicity, age, location, and more. As a free member, you’ll also be able to view the profiles including the images, to decide whether or not it’s worth upgrading your membership.
Secret Admirer
Secret Admirer is a fun function that notifies you if a user you liked likes you back. This is a great icebreaker and it will also give you a guarantee that you’re engaging in conversation with someone who is interested in meeting you.
Interactions
Communication on ChristianMingle.com is quite limited for the free members, but upgrading to a paid membership opens a world of new options.
As a free member, your user experience will be limited to browsing and viewing profiles in search for matches. Once you’ve found someone you like, you can send a smile to show interest or simply like the profile to save it in your list.
You will also be able to see who has visited and who has liked your profile. By liking a profile back, the other user will be notified of your interest.
But that’s about it. You won’t be able to start a conversation or reply to messages unless you upgrade your membership.
With a premium subscription, you’ll gain access to all functions of the site, including sending and receiving emails or instant messages. A chat room is also available or you can use the site’s forum to engage in conversations that are not strictly dating-related.
Another nice thing is that Christian Mingle organizes live events on a recurrent basis, which means you’ll be able to meet other users in person; this exponentially increases the chances to connect with someone you like but also attend the first date in a safe environment.
Relationship Readiness
Users have mixed feelings about the Relationship Readiness test. Some consider it too extensive and exhaustive. Others, including me, find it fun and engaging. Personally, I loved it. This quiz asks you questions about relationship and parenting behaviors and uses your answers to determine your relationship IQ.
Security
Like on most online dating sites, Christian Mingle’s users are also concerned about safety and security. Fortunately, the site’s owner puts user safety before anything and protects their privacy and identity as much as it can.
Overall, the site boasts genuine profiles but fake profiles are also a reality. These profiles include either scammers or those interested in occasional hookups.
To protect the users, ChristianMingle.com warns members to avoid sharing personal information too soon and to never share financial information with anyone they don’t know in person. It is even advisable to avoid sharing financial information until you completely trust the other person.
As a form of identification on site, Christian Mingle uses the first name rather than a username, but it keeps the last name hidden to protect the identity of the members.
Although all members can visit the other profiles, the site gives the opportunity to each user to block other users should they have negative feelings.
Moreover, the support actually blocks or deletes all profiles that have been reported as fake.
To protect your identity even more, as a premium member you’ll be able to hide your profile or your online status and also browse through profiles anonymously.
Final Thoughts
Christian Mingle is a great dating site that promises a great experience to faithful people around the world. Certainly, this platform isn’t for everyone but if you are looking for long-term commitment or even marriage, this is the place to be.
Geared towards faithful Christians, the platform boasts a generous user pool; most members are in their 30s, which means most members are serious about dating and relationships.
The interface is not the most attractive but it’s still intuitive and easy to use. At the same time, the app version of the site makes it easy to take online dating with you anywhere.
While ChristianMingle.com doesn’t boast all functionalities and fun features encountered on other dating sites, this platform still offers an engaging online dating experience. Upgrade your membership to join chat rooms and forums where you can share thoughts and ideas with like-minded people.
Another awesome thing is the live events that give members the possibility to meet in a secure environment.
Regarding security, the site is overall safe to use. Yes, there are fake profiles but it is easy to report a fake user to have it banned.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience on ChristianMingle.com. The users are responsive, engaging in communication is easy, and you can even find support if you’re not actively looking for a relationship. What to say? An online dating site that truly deserves a chance if you identify as a Christian, are straight and have clear objectives regarding a future relationship.
Source link: hernorm.com