Soulmates
Soulmates Sign Up
Soulmates Contacting Search
The Guardian Soulmates Profile

Our Review

Launched in 2004, Soulmates is an online dating website operated by The Guardian. The site is dedicated to helping like-minded people find long-lasting and serious relationships.

Since its creation, Soulmates has successfully matched thousands of couples, according to its website. If you want to test the waters at first, you are allowed to browse through the profiles before even creating an account.

Users can meet matches in person or through the various singles events always being hosted. These events range from speed dating to flirting classes. Soulmates isn't owned by a sole proprietor or shareholders. Instead, profits from the dating site are reinvested into the Guardian Media Group to "sustain journalism that is free from commercial or political interference."

Soulmates won Daters' Favourite Website in the 2014 UK Dating Awards. It is currently a member of the Online Dating Association.

With amazing credentials and a famous brand attached to its name, will Soulmates be the dating site that leads you to find your true love? We took our time, inspecting every cost and feature of this award-winning dating site. Read on to see if it's worth your time and feelings.

Soulmates Award

New members at Soulmates in March 2024 in comparison

Here you can see how membership figures at Soulmates are developing compared to others

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Soulmates Members

Members
17,800,000 from United Kingdom
Members activity
594,000 daily logins
Gender Proportion
43 %
57 %
  • Top visitors of this dating site come from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia
  • 80% of the members read The Guardian
  • The average age of users is between 25 to 34 years old
  • Males outnumber the females by a slight margin

Soulmates has plenty of active members, mostly gathered through extensive advertising from The Guardian itself. As a result, about 80% of Soulmates members started as loyal The Guardian readers.

This leads us to believe that the demographics are the same: Soulmates members, much like The Guardian readers, are intellectuals, well-travelled, with more or less stable financial status. User age varies from 18 up to 85 years old, but the bulk of the members are between 25 to 34 years old.

Even though the website is based in the United Kingdom, members from the United States and Australia make up a considerable number of the population. It's also being used by members from Spain, Canada, France, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates—this following demonstrates that Soulmates can now match members globally.

Soulmates also find ways to interact with their users, usually in the form of a survey. One prominent study that the dating site conducted was for 3000 members who were asked about their dating habits and preferences. Out of these members, 36% said that the best way to meet your soulmate is through a dating website, while 35% said that friends are introducing it. Funnily enough, on the hypothetical situation where the date turns out to be a bust, 69% would break the news over coffee while 4% would go to extremes and fake their death. As a summary, both male and female respondents were ranked true romantics, but women were slightly more romantic.

Females
Males

Soulmates Age Range and Age Distribution

  • 18-24
  • 25-34
  • 35-44
  • 45-54
  • 55+

How to Sign Up for Soulmates

Soulmates Sign Up
  • You can browse profiles before creating an account
  • Quick registration—takes less than a minute
  • Only eight details are needed to complete your registration
  • Your profile needs to be more than 50% complete before you can continue using the site
  • Photos and details on your profile can be added on for later

Soulmates offers the unique option of browsing through the profiles even without your account. This serves as a preview and an invitation if you like the accounts that you're seeing.

Registration is speedy and direct to the point—only account details are needed. When you sign up, only eight personal information are requested: if you're a woman looking for a man (and all its other variations), your preferred age group, your date of birth, preferred email address, username, nominated password, country, and postcode.

At this point, your account will only be 20% complete, but you can start using the site as a standard user. You can add and modify your profile details later. However, a reminder will keep popping up on top of the page to remind you to complete your profile. This isn't mandatory, but you'd have better chances of meeting someone if you work on your profile.

The site is also LGBT-inclusive as it allows options for men looking for men and women looking for women.

Making Contact on Soulmates

Soulmates Contacting Search
  • Your profile will only appear in search results once it is more than 50% complete
  • You are given a well-curated, albeit limited, list of matches
  • Messaging is only for premium members
  • Standard members can "like" someone to show interest
  • There's a suggestion tab titled "Soulmates you might also like"

Unfortunately, only paying members can send, receive, and read their messages. Standard members can only send a "like" to someone to show their interest, and take the risk of paying the monthly fee to talk to that person.

Liking is the only affirmative action that's free on Soulmates. The other two options are blocking and reporting, so unless you're reporting someone for suspicious/inappropriate behaviour, there's not much to be done here.

What Soulmates lacks in messaging, they make up for in the search feature. You can modify and save your search criteria as much as you want. Apart from this, you have your matches, which is a carefully chosen list of potential partners. There are less than 20 matches presented to you at any given time.

Additionally, you can view, "Recently joined Soulmates." There's a tab that lets you see people based on categories: you like, like you, are online, viewed your profile, you've hidden, and you've blocked. When you go to someone's profile, there's a line that states whether you've contacted the other person before or if you've never crossed paths.

Soulmates Profile Quality

The Guardian Soulmates Profile
  • The profiles are quite detailed
  • The profile information can be changed for later
  • Profile pictures are visible to everyone for free
  • A subscription is needed to see someone's additional photos
  • "At a glance..are you a good match?" shows you a summary of your common interests with someone
  • You can keep track of the users you've viewed and liked
  • When the person was last online is visible
  • You can see when the user's profile was last updated

    Registration is quite strict for some countries, but email verification is not required. If there are any fake profiles on the site, the dating site makes sure to catch and suspend them even before it can do as much as send a "like" to another user. Soulmates is very honest about the number of members registering, even if it's as low as a hundred per month.

    At Soulmates, photo, name, age, and location are the essential details of a profile. If you are regular use, you'd probably be delighted to know that the profile photos are available to be viewed for free. The profile will also show when the user was last online, and if you've ever contacted each other before.

    The user profile contains the basics: physical appearance, relationship status, with or without children, looking for, etc. Two text boxes let you describe yourself "in your own words," and define "who you're looking for."

    On the user profile itself, you can like, hide, block, see additional photos, or send someone messages (the last two requiring a subscription). There will be a number that states how many other pictures that person has. You don't need their permission to see these photos per se; as a paying member, you can view everyone's other images.

    There's also a tab titled "At a glance," and it is a summary of your compatibility with that user. It states whether you match their preferred height, education, opinion on vices, location, parental status and plans, age, and more.

    Soulmates App

    Soulmates Mobile
    • Free-to-download
    • Available for Android and iOS users
    • Easy to navigate
    • Features minimal ads
    • All functions found in the desktop version is available in mobile

    Given the ease afforded to us by our smartphones, it is not surprising that Soulmates offers a free-to-download mobile application for Android and iOS users. The app is available in most territories and is slowly gaining more users, although browsing the dating website using a desktop is still more popular.

    Regardless of preference, the mobile app is a reliable alternative for on-the-go members. It features the same colour palette as the web version for a smoother transition. It also included all of the functions that users were accustomed to in its desktop counterpart. Lastly, it offers basically an ad-free experience as most of the ads, if any, were seamlessly integrated as pop-ups or sidebars.

    Overall, the mobile app is a reliable option for users who don't have much access to their desktop computers.

    Soulmates Real Life Review

    "I met someone after only two weeks on the site. I didn't expect to meet someone this fast. We're still in the early stages of the relationship, but it seems to be going well. And I couldn't be any luckier—she lived only a few miles away from me! I was wary of using this since the price is pretty steep, but I was willing to take the risk for this beautiful woman, and it paid off handsomely. Not sure what the statistic is for other users, but I'm pretty sure I'm one of the lucky ones. I never expected to meet a lovely woman just because I was reading The Guardian based on a headline I first saw on Facebook. Funny how life works out, eh?" 

    - Jon, 40, Business Owner

    Design and Usability

    The Soulmates website has the same fonts and structure as The Guardian. It looks sleek and professional, which caters perfectly to its affluent target demographic.

    The pastel colours are perfectly matched and aren't glaring to the eyes. Oddly enough, the main landing page is filled with recently joined Soulmates. You can see separate tabs for those who joined just this week or this month. The same page has sections where you can see your matches, likes, and views.

    Besides that, there's the search option and messages. These are the only functions on Soulmates. It's pretty simple since there are no special features offered. Although there are only a few functions to be used on Soulmates, navigating through them is pretty straightforward. The menu is laid out neatly and can be used by anyone—from the 18 to 85-year-olds that reportedly use Soulmates. 

    Soulmates Costs and Prices

    Free Features
    • Profile creation
    • Browse profiles
    • View profile photos
    • Search through criteria
    • Add users to Likes list
    Premium Features
    • View full profile and gallery of all members
    • Get Top 10 Matches based on your profile and preferences every week
    • Utilise the Advanced Search
    • Unlimited messaging
    • Filter and sort search results

    Is Soulmates expensive or cheap?

    In comparison to other providers Soulmates is in the upper midfield.

    Duration / Credits / CoinsCostsTotal
    VIP Membership
    1 Month32.00 GBP / Month32.00 GBP
    3 Months21.33 GBP / Month64.00 GBP
    6 Months16.00 GBP / Month96.00 GBP
    The Guardian Soulmates Premium
    Payment Options
    • Credit Card
    • Via Mobile Phone

    Browsing through the profiles is allowed even if you don't create an account just yet. You can create a profile on the website for free, add photos and information, and search for other profiles.

    Once you pay for a subscription, you are given full access to the photo galleries of Soulmates users, and you have additional options when you conduct searches.

    Only paying members can use Soulmates' messaging service in full. They also have access to the Advanced Search function and are entitled to receive a weekly list of the Top 10 matches based on their profiles and preference. 

    Payment is made through either a credit or debit card, which will be processed by Soulmates' secure payment provider. So paying members continue to enjoy the dating site's services, subscriptions are automatically renewed.

    You can cancel your subscription anytime, unlike other dating websites that require a certain number of days as notice. This can be done automatically on your Account page.

    Special Features

    Below are some noteworthy functions one can enjoy at Soulmates:

    Advanced Search

    Sometimes, information on a member's location, gender, and when they last logged in don't generate compatible matches as much as we'd like. This is why premium members we'll get the most bang for their buck with Soulmates' Advanced Search function; matches are decided on a more in-depth basis.

    With the Advanced Search, Soulmates will offer suggestions based on how well your lifestyle, beliefs, educational attainment, hobbies, qualities, and much more match. This way, your bond is not superficial as it is based on values and perceptions that shape you as individuals.

    Blog

    Given that Soulmates is a dating site created by The Guardian, it's not surprising that it offers a well-curated and very informative blog.

    Aptly named The Soulmates Blog, it offers topics on events, dating tips and advice, recommended dating locations, competitions around the nearby areas, videos discussing various dating advice, and success stories by former Soulmates members.

    Our rating

    Signing Up: 3.0 / 5
    Making Contact: 2.5 / 5
    Profile Quality: 4.0 / 5
    App: 3.5 / 5
    Real Life Review: 3.0 / 5

    Editor's Conclusion

    Chris Pleines, Author at Datingscout.co.uk
    Chris Pleines
    Founder of Datingscout and Author of the book "Online Dating for Dummies"
    Despite the name, Soulmates operates on a more dating website structure. It's not as intensive as other websites on matchmaking, with their personality tests and scientific algorithms. It's just your run-of-the-mill online dating service. However, the quality of members here is above average. With most of them being integrated from The Guardian, you can expect them to be well-read, well-travelled, and well-versed in the more beautiful things in life. You'll find anyone throughout the UK with all sorts of sexual orientation, educational background, and financial status. Soulmates works on the same principles as The Guardian, hoping to continue operations without any commercial or political interference. One of the downsides is that there are only very few daily active users. A quick search on the website itself shows that there is only an average of a hundred new users per month. For dating websites with more users (even if they don't read The Guardian), mosey on over to our Matchmaker category.

    Soulmates FAQ

    Facts

    What is Guardian Soulmates?

    Soulmates is the dating website operated by The Guardian.

    Who runs Guardian Soulmates?

    Soulmates is run by The Guardian Media Group.

    Does Guardian Soulmates have an app?

    Yes, it is available for download on the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

    Who can see my personal information at Soulmates?

    All of your private information, such as your email address and date of birth, will never be included in your profile. Visitors of Soulmates, non-members who are only browsing profiles, will only see some details like your picture and username. Only Soulmates subscribers will see your complete profile.

    Is Guardian Soulmates worth it?

    If you're in doubt, you can always browse through the profiles even without creating an account first.

    Usability

    How does Soulmates work?

    Soulmates has various members all throughout the United Kingdom. You create a profile, provide the criteria of those you want to meet, and let Soulmates do the work for you. You can message the matches that you like, but not before paying for a subscription.

    How do I delete my account?

    You can hide your profile if you still want to recover it sometime in the future. Permanent deleting can be done on your Account page, but this is irreversible.

    What if I forgot my password?

    Just click on the "Forgot your password?" button and provide your email. Soulmates will send you a instructions on how to reset your password.

    How do I block someone on Guardian Soulmates?

    Go to their profile and click on the "Block" button.

    How can I like someone?

    Go to their profile and click on the diamond icon next to their profile photo.

    Where can I see my likes?

    On the top menu, click on Activity. You'll then see a tab which will lead you to your Likes page.

    Where can I opt-out from some notifications by Soulmates?

    Go to ‘your account’ page to select which notifications you want to opt-out from.

    Costs

    Is Guardian Soulmates free?

    Yes, there are a lot of free features, but to truly use the website for its matchmaking purpose, you have to pay for a premium subscription.

    How much is Guardian Soulmates per month?

    Subscriptions start at £32 per month.

    How do I cancel my subscription?

    Go to your subscription status page and click on "Stop ongoing payments". You can still use the remaining days of your subscription period.

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    Contact details

    Company:Guardian News & Media Limited
    Address:PO Box 68164, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1P 2AP
    E-Mail:support@guardiansoulmates.co.uk
    Phone-Hotline:020 3353 2000