UDate

UDate.com

Our Rating:

Launched in 1998, UDate (www.uDate.com) has become one of the UK’s largest online dating services, averaging 5,000 new member sign-ups every day. The online dating service currently provides services to more than 1.3 million customers. UDate’s online dating service is user-friendly and easy to navigate, providing a fun, safe place to meet new people on the Internet. A free 3-day trial membership gives potential members a chance to check out UDate’s features before investing in a full membership.

UDate - Positives

Very user-friendly
Good search and sorting abilities
Profiles around the world, not just UK
Great communication features

UDate - Negatives

Large number of “attached” members (not single)
Numerous reports of poor customer support
Compatibility Match feature needs updating
Automatic credit/debit card charges

UDate - Main Features

With a free 3-Day Trial membership (no credit card details required), users can do the following:

Create a fully detailed profile.
Upload photos.
See who is online.
Run compatibility ‘Match’ to see what members are bested suited for you.
See who is writing emails and/or whispering you (cannot read emails or whispers, or respond).

UDate - Full Membership Features

All of the features included in the 3-Day Free Trial membership (see above), plus:

Read emails and whispers (instant messages) from other members.
Send emails and whispers to other members.
Complete photo gallery use.

About UDate (Full Review)

When you sign up an account with UDate (www.uDate.com), the process is pretty easy. You can choose which type of relationship you are searching for - friendship, romantic or intimate encounter. Most fields can be skipped over and filled in at a later time. You’ll be browsing through profiles and pictures of members in your area within a few minutes. While the majority of members are based in the UK, the online dating site services members all over the world.

During the 3-day free trial period, users can create their profile, complete with uploaded photos and the like. Search through other profiles to see what is lurking in your area and see who is online. Use the Match feature to find compatible members who fit your chosen criteria, and those who’s preferences your own profile falls into. You’ll be able to see when another member emails or whispers you, but you won’t be able to read the message or reply without a paid membership.

With a full membership, you’ll have full access to communicate with other members of the online dating service. The instant messaging system (whispers) works very well except for a repeated complaint of users appearing to be online after previously logging off. As much as a 40 minute delay has been reported.

There have been a few other complaints that seem to pop up often about the UDate online dating service. One resounding complaint refers to the customer support, claiming the response time is terrible and sometimes no response is ever given - most of these are in regards to payment issues. Another refers to an over-abundance of scam artists, especially those who claim to be women stuck in Nigeria and need money to return to their UK homeland. The last significant complaint worth mentioning here is about the excess of “attached” members, especially married men, who are simply looking for an ‘alternative relationship’.

Overall, UDate (www.uDate.com) is a safe, fun place to meet new people and perhaps even find a good, lasting relationship, but comparatively speaking, it’s not the best online dating service out there.

UDate - Who Should Join?

Individuals simply looking for a new friend or a good time will have no trouble doing so at UDate. While the online dating service does cater to numerous singles looking for a romantic relationship, they are the minority. The average age ranges from 20 to 40 years old with most members residing in the UK.

UDate - Membership Rates

1 Month - £16.95 ($24.95 US)
3 Months - £34.95 ($49.95 US)
6 Months - £49.95 ($74.95 US)