Personal Matchmaking vs. Online Dating: What’s the Difference?

Time

People often jump on a dating app because they’re lonely or looking for attention, a quick dopamine hit. You can then spend hours scrolling through profiles, reading the limited bios (if you’re a woman, you’ll know men rarely write much!), and making snap decisions based on a photo. But there’s no one to give you real insight.

When I introduce a client, it comes with a personal touch:"I’ve known XYZ for just over a year. I’ve met them at multiple social events. They’re fit, active, and have an open, friendly disposition. They’re warm and welcoming to new members, and they seem like a genuinely nice person."

A dating app can’t offer that, it only matches based on an algorithm, with no inside knowledge or personal recommendations.

Profiles & Verification

On dating apps, profiles aren’t verified beyond an email check, meaning they may be fake, outdated, or misleading. Some people use 10-year-old photos, some only post pictures of their pets, and then there’s catfishing (Google this term if you haven’t already!).

Scammers are a real issue too—just like those constant scam texts and emails we all receive. If you’re savvy, you’ll spot them, but sadly, they prey on the lonely and vulnerable. A good rule of thumb? If they seem too good to be true, they probably are!

With personal matchmaking, every client is met either in person or via Zoom and their ID is checked. Their photos actually look like them, and their intentions tend to be genuine.

Cost

Dating apps are cheaper and quicker to join. Most are free to sign up, but remember—you get what you pay for. These days, you often need a paid subscription to message matches, and if both of you are on the free version, nothing happens!

A typical dating app costs around £30-£50 per month, with discounts for multi-month plans. Be sure to cancel auto-renewal - deleting your profile doesn’t always stop payments, and with iPhones, you may need to cancel in your phone’s settings rather than the app itself.

Personal matchmaking costs more because it’s a human, not an algorithm, doing the work. Fees range from a few hundred to several thousand pounds, depending on the agency and location. In London, agencies specializing in professionals charge around £5K-£6K, while those in East Anglia range from £600-£2,000.

For a limited time, I’m offering a Taster Membership for just £495, as I build my database to offer more matches. Find out more.

Behavior & Etiquette

On dating apps, there’s no code of conduct. Ghosting is just the tip of the iceberg. Be prepared for people with no moral compass or those who think brutal honesty is acceptable. Luckily, you always have the block and delete option!

Disappointment

Expect disappointment with both dating apps and matchmaking—just in different ways.

With dating apps:

• You’ll match with people who never message.

• Some swipe right on everyone and only decide later if they’re interested.

• You might have a great chat, only to be randomly blocked - yep, it happens to all of us!

With matchmaking:

• I, like most professionals, only introduce people I genuinely believe will get along.

• I encourage clients to skip endless messaging and phone calls and just meet for a quick coffee! This prevents the illusion of chemistry that isn’t actually there in real life.

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The Verdict

Both dating apps and personal matchmaking can lead to finding “the one.”

• Dating apps require a LOT of time and patience and come with more disappointment but are cheaper upfront.

• Matchmaking is less time-consuming, less frustrating, but does require an investment.

As a matchmaker, I naturally favor meeting people through social events or personal introductions. That said, I actually met my partner Pete on a dating app, but trust me, I did my time!

Thinking About Using a Dating App?

If you’re giving it a go, here’s my advice:

📌 Download my free Dating App Guide for essential tips.

📌 Do your research - many apps are owned by the same company (e.g., Match owns Muddy Matches, so you’ll see the same people on both!).

📌 Match.com is a good choice, it’s paid-only, making it harder for married people to hide subscriptions on their credit cards.

📌 Hinge is my top recommendation, it actually encourages interaction, not just swiping! It requires effort (writing a bio, adding photos), but when has effort ever been a bad thing?

Whatever route you choose—happy dating!