Lavalife Review — Online Dating Comparison (2012)

Lavalife is an online dating service serving over 15 million registered members in the US and Canada.  Over 1.3 million messages are sent daily due to the ability of free members to reply to any message sent to them.  Although only a paying member can send a message.

Other features include chatting, group chatting or one on one, calling members; three separate profiles can be created per person and based on the type of relationships people are looking for.  There are three communities which include casual dating, relationships and intimate encounters.

• Up to three profiles allowed
• Different communitities to access
• Sexual preference sites available
• More free access than other site offer
• One of the largest dating sites online
• Free dating and relationship online magazine
• Your profile can be hidden from the general public

Match.com has the same rates as Lavalife but the free membership options are much more limited.

Free members can only do the following:

• Search for matches
• Create a profile
• Appear in search results
• Post a photo
• Send 'winks'
• receive text alerts for winks 

You must Subscribe to the site to receive:

• Contact other members
• Send Instant Messages
• Reply to emails
• See who has viewed your profile
• One click searches
• Receive the online magazine

Overall for the same monthly fee Match.com offers less free services than Lavalife.com.

Lavalife's three communities have content, forums, polls and search/browsing functions.  There is a LafalifePrime for those over 45 years of age, an online magazine called Click that features articles about relationships and dating advice.

Three profiles are allowed per person and each profile can be set up in the same or a different community.  Lavalife also offer an online speed dating service and the ability for new members to apply to messages and Flirt for free.

Lavalife.com has over 10 million members. 

The basic membership is free and includes the following:

• Choice of main site or manline / womanline (gay sites)
• Option to list yourself as dating for fun, looking for a relationship or just an intimate encounter
• Choose a nickname
• Create an opening line
• Personal info such as gender, birth date, region, physical form, ethnicity, smoking habits, religion and drinking habits
• The dating sections lets you note what type of dates you think are fun, what you like to talk about and how your friends would describe you
• The Relationship section allows you to note your idea of romance, what you do in your spare time and the things you value most.  As well as if you have children, want children, your education and income levels.
• The Intimate encounters section allows you to note what turns you on, what type of encounters you are open to and what specific things you are looking for in a partner.  As well as your sexual preferences.
• You can choose not to display your profile to others if you like.
• Add up to ten photos
• View profiles
• View videos
• Search
• Save searches
• Relationship advice
• Send and receive 'smiles'
• Access to the Backstate gallery
• BUT you cannot initiate communications with other members

There are two membership plans:

• 1 month for $34.99
• 3 months for $19.99

These plans add:

• Ability to send unlimited instant messages
• Ability to send unlimited emails

You can choose from:

Relationship type:

• Straight
• Gay
• Lesbian
• Bi-Sexual

Status

• Single
• In a Relationship
• Separated
• Divorced
• Widowed

Looking for

• Casual
• Dating
• Friends
• Long-term

Regions

• USA
• Canada

Language

• English
• French

Tools

• Photos- public and private
• Profiles
• Email messages
• Instant messages
• Phone messages
• Online party chat
• Ask an online member to call you via the site
• Video greetings
• message forums
• Backstate private area to view pictures or videos

Searches:

• Who is online currently
• New members
• Local members
• Profiles with pictures or videos
• Backstage Profiles
• Specific items listed on profiles

Member comments:

• Alarmed in Canada  says-  Joined to see who had sent mail...turned out to be a prisoner doing a life term in a prison in Bangladash. I cancelled but LL refuse to refund monies, even though There was no other communication or "match".  Turns out they do not check anyone and your profile obviously is viewed by all and sundry.  I was also alarmed by the category "intimate" and only saw this after I joined. If I wanted s -e-x only...I sure would not put my profile up on a "dating" site.  In all, a complete rip-off and conpletely unsafe, so beware.  http://www.edatereview.com/011002displayreviews.aspx
• Shelby from NY says -  I met the love of my life matt on lavalife chat.The only problem at first was the distance.I lived in utica he lived in hudson area.We met and hit it off.After a year and a half of long distance i pick up my life and moved in his area.Its going to be 4 years in september Weve been together. Im so glad i called the number!!!!!!!! :O) http://www.edatereview.com/011002displayreviews.aspx
• Mike in Toronto says -  have been with lavalife for at least 10 years... and it has more then paid off.. THATS LAVALIFE OVER THE PHONE... no fuss no muss...  actually, lavalife is at its best over the phone... as far as the site, it is hurendas ripoff..  ive only been on the website a few times and quickly learned the scams performed by larva...  funny how long it takes for the females to respond to a friendly hello, or im interested are you?  funny how when you do get a response you usaully have 5 to 6 minutes left of the credit you bought...  funny how it is that you only get responses only after larva has determined that you have spent enough time and money to get a response... im not talking about credit time, but actually day and month time...  i have met 3 women from the larva and only due to the out of the ordinary time slots i spent that day on lava...  http://www.edatereview.com/011002displayreviews.aspx

Sources 

Online dating Magazine    http://www.onlinedatingmagazine.com/datingservicereviews/lavalifereview.html

E Date Review  http://www.edatereview.com/011002displayreviews.aspx