{"id":2577,"date":"2022-01-23T14:17:31","date_gmt":"2022-01-23T22:17:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/socialcatfish.com\/blog\/?p=2577"},"modified":"2022-01-24T14:22:24","modified_gmt":"2022-01-24T22:22:24","slug":"zoosk-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/socialcatfish.com\/scamfish\/zoosk-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Zoosk Review: The Essential Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Founded by Iranian immigrants (Shayan Zadeh and Alex Mehr) during their undergraduate studies in the United States, Zoosk is an 18 and up dating website (and later, an app) which launched in December of 2007. By 2013, a fairly long time in the world of online dating, the company reached #1 in dating apps (in terms of gross profits) and climbed to the top 25 of Apple\u2019s iOS store\u2019s highest-grossing apps. 2014 brought a public offering for the company and some overspending rooted in company expansion.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite grossing 200 million in revenue for prior years, Zoosk subsequently decided to limit messaging to paid members only. By 2015, 15 percent of its staff was subsequently laid off. Perhaps not coincidentally, 2014 marked the year that Tinder finally reached a whopping 100 billion swipes per day!<\/span><\/p>\n

Currently, Zoosk has over 35 million members spanning 80 countries and 25 languages. Zoosk\u2019s claim to fame is that it uses Behavioral Matchmaking technology, which is their trademarked algorithm-based matching.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pros<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Zoosk is one of the first sites to photo verify, which means they ask for a video selfie from multiple angles, to show users are the person, age, (potentially even weight) in the real world, that they are in their photos.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once a user has been successfully photo-verified by Zoosk moderators, you will find a green checked badge stating they\u2019ve been verified!<\/span><\/p>\n

You get live customer support through email and phone.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are a plethora of users to choose from.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Cons<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Perhaps due to the costs of being a member and the algorithm, messages and matches don\u2019t instantly add up as much as they do on free sites.<\/span><\/p>\n

Carousel or verifying your profile can help. You have to fill in profile information to even use Carousel, or the site will stop you from proceeding.<\/span><\/p>\n

Super pricey for all of the features and for coins to purchase things.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Pricing<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Subscription Pricing<\/b><\/p>\n

12 months<\/b>: $12.49 a month (One-time payment of $149.88)<\/span><\/p>\n

6 months<\/b>: $12.49 a month (One-time payment of $74.95)<\/span><\/p>\n

3 months<\/b>: $19.98 a month (One-time payment of $59.95)<\/span><\/p>\n

1 month<\/b>: $29.95<\/span><\/p>\n

Coin Pricing<\/b><\/p>\n

1800 Coins<\/b>: $99.99<\/span><\/p>\n

480 Coins<\/b>: $39.99<\/span><\/p>\n

180 Coins<\/b>: $0.10<\/span><\/p>\n\n

\u00a0Ease of Use<\/strong><\/h2>\n


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\n<\/span>To be fair, Zoosk isn\u2019t alone in its methods. The reality is that most dating sites now use algorithm-based matching. According to Zoosk\u2019s stated goals<\/span> https:\/\/about.zoosk.com\/static\/2013\/09\/Zoosk_Fact_Sheet.pdf<\/span><\/a>, the site hopes their algorithm will avoid \u201clengthy questionnaires\u201d as they focus more on how users BEHAVE on the site. In theory, this limits the need to sort through hundreds of users before one finds a match one likes or to<\/span> search a Zoosk profile<\/span><\/a>, but does it work?<\/span><\/p>\n

Zoosk claims this gets rid of a \u201cone-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter approach\u201d and places focus on member clicks, as well as which users are responded to or messaged. The algorithm lets the site showcase individual users they think one might be attracted to. As one continues to select search criteria, Zoosk will filter those personalized results along with the information found through their algorithm matchmaking.<\/span><\/p>\n

For comparison, Match uses an algorithm codenamed \u201cSynapse\u201d which looks into preferences, age range, body type, and color of hair. It also uses \u201cTriangulation\u201d, or an algorithm-based way of comparing similar users. For instance, should a user say they want a match who is 25 years old, but they frequently look at profiles of users who are 35, the site will take that into account?<\/span><\/p>\n

eHarmony has actually been banned, by the ASA (Advertising Standards Authority), from claiming they are \u201cscientifically proven\u201d, since their odds of finding a real lasting match are as good (or bad) as anywhere else. eHarmony has claimed their algorithm is based on scientific theories about mating and relationship psychology, while their questionnaires look for personality traits and types, values, interests, and other factors.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Support<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Perhaps more exciting than the algorithm itself is that the site now gives users some of the information directly. The way that Zoosk shares some of their algorithm\u2019s collected data is through \u201cDating Insights\u201d- Your Dating Style, Who You Like, and Who Likes You. Potentially interesting and helpful, one can see the demographics of the users you\u2019re attracting and selecting.<\/span><\/p>\n

For instance, are you more or less interested in income or college degrees than other users (Your Dating Style)? What are the books or criteria that users who like you seem to have in common (Who Likes You)? Or, the qualities you keep picking over and over (Who You Like)?<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2017 alone, Zoosk used their algorithm to report that lunch dates are on the rise over drinks or dinner, users with filtered photos now fare more poorly, while vegetarians get more attention than meat-eaters and users who mention foods like chocolate or avocado in their profile get over 2x the replies! While this information may not change the world, it might give you ideas for a successful profile!<\/span><\/p>\n\n

How Does Zoosk Work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Download the app, or consider going to the desktop version of their site zoosk.com. Unlike other competitor dating websites, Zoosk is one of the easiest desktop sites to navigate. The interface has easy, clear options and a user-friendly appearance. Where Zoosk falls down on high costs, they make up for having a simple and streamlined site.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once on the Zoosk website, enter your zip code. From there, you\u2019ll enter your basic information and link to social media for an easy log-in with Facebook, or you can sign up with a separate email address. After signup, you will verify your email address or confirm with Facebook, that your information is correct and valid.<\/span><\/p>\n

Upload one photo, or more to get more views and connections. Zoosk will offer the option of purchasing \u201cCoins\u201d through Boost so that one gets more likes. Fill in your profile and answer questions for dating and match success.<\/span><\/p>\n

From there, options will mostly appear in the upper left text box under the name Zoosk. Options include, \u2019search, carousel, message, view who is online now, see connections or views, use SmartPick or view insights\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

While most options are self-explanatory by their name, Carousel is essentially swiping from your keyboard. You can say yes, no, maybe or \u2018gold star\u2019 users to find matches. While SmartPick has simple questions to improve your match algorithm.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Paid Features<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Zoosk Subscription Features<\/b><\/p>\n