What do you get free, and what does a paid plan really cost?
Free gets you seen. Paid gets you the phone number. On all three national sites a free profile can be found, browsed and sent interest by paying members, so the other family can still reach you; what you cannot do free is start the conversation. Entry plans run from Rs 1,699 (Jeevansathi's app tier) to about Rs 5,900 for three months with a contact limit, and the same plan costs more inside the app than on the website. Vivaah.com is the one site that is free at every stage.
The price ladder in September 2026
- Entry plans (about Rs 1,700 to Rs 5,900 for three months): Jeevansathi's lowest app tier is Rs 1,699. Shaadi.com Gold is about Rs 4,650 on the web and Rs 5,200 in the app. BharatMatrimony Gold is about Rs 4,900 on the web and Rs 5,900 in the app. CommunityMatrimony Gold is Rs 3,999 in the app. These come with a contact limit, typically 50 numbers for three months.
- Longer plans (Rs 7,000 to Rs 21,000): six and twelve month plans, and BharatMatrimony's "Till U Marry" at Rs 19,900. Cheaper per month, but most families find a match or give up within six months, so the saving is often theoretical.
- Assisted plans (Rs 21,000 to Rs 30,000 per quarter): a relationship manager shortlists and follows up for you. BharatMatrimony's Assisted Service and Jeevansathi Exclusive sit here. Complaint sites rate these tiers worst of all, mostly for the gap between the sales promise and the weekly reality.
- Elite services (Rs 65,000 to Rs 5 lakh): VIP Shaadi at Rs 65,000 for three months, EliteMatrimony from about Rs 1 lakh, and independents such as Sirf Coffee or Vows for Eternity. You pay for a consultant and a curated pool, not for a bigger database.
- Small independents (free to Rs 5,000): Vivaah.com is completely free including contact numbers. MatrimonialsIndia sells three months for Rs 3,000. Sangam.com plans start at Rs 899. Small pools, so use them as a supplement.
Five things to check before you pay
- Buy on the website, not in the app. The same Shaadi.com Gold plan was Rs 4,650 on the web and Rs 5,200 in the iPhone app on the same day. BharatMatrimony showed a Rs 1,000 gap.
- Find the auto-renewal toggle. Reviewers of all three majors report plans renewing without them noticing. Turn it off at checkout and screenshot the setting.
- Read the refund condition. Shaadi.com's money-back offer applies only after you send 10 connects and receive zero acceptances, a condition the Madras High Court made it print in its ads in 2025. Jeevansathi's refunds are partial and shrink with time used.
- Count the contacts, not the months. A three-month plan with 50 contacts is 50 phone numbers, full stop. Families who message widely run out in weeks.
- Say no to the upsell call. Within days of registering, expect calls offering assisted plans. The offer will still be there next month if the free tier has not worked.
Where the complaints about paid plans come from, site by site, is on ratings and complaints.
Frequently asked questions
What can a free member do on a matrimony site?
On all three national sites a free member can create a profile, upload photos, search, receive daily matches and send interest. Seeing a phone number or starting a chat needs a paid plan. A free profile can still be found and contacted by paying members on the other side.
Which matrimony sites are completely free?
Vivaah.com is the only site in this comparison that is free at every stage, including contact numbers, but its pool is small. Deepika Matrimonial gives 10 expressions of interest free. On Shaadi.com, BharatMatrimony and Jeevansathi a free profile can be found and contacted by paying members but cannot see a number or start a chat; Jeevansathi opens chat once both sides accept an interest. The cheapest paid routes are a Sunday newspaper ad from Rs 200 and a samaj registry from about Rs 1,000 a year.
How much does a matrimony site plan cost?
In September 2026 an entry three-month plan cost about Rs 1,700 on Jeevansathi's cheapest app tier, about Rs 4,650 to Rs 5,200 for Shaadi.com Gold and about Rs 4,900 to Rs 5,900 for BharatMatrimony Gold, each with a contact limit. Assisted plans with a relationship manager cost Rs 21,000 to Rs 30,000 a quarter. VIP Shaadi costs Rs 65,000 for three months and EliteMatrimony from about Rs 1 lakh. The same plan usually costs more in the app than on the website.
What is the cheapest matrimony site?
Among the national sites, Jeevansathi, with an entry tier at Rs 1,699 in the app. Among independents, Sangam.com starts at Rs 899, NikahForever sells a week for Rs 249, and Vivaah.com is free. Cheaper than any of them is a Sunday matrimonial ad in a regional newspaper, from Rs 200 in Lokmat to about Rs 1,500 for multi-edition reach, or a samaj registry at Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500 a year. The same plan usually costs more inside the app than on the website.
Is a paid matrimony plan worth it?
Only if the free profile has attracted interest and you want to make the first move. Buy the shortest plan on the website rather than in the app, turn off auto-renewal at checkout, count the contacts not the months, and screenshot the plan page. Reviewers rate the assisted and VIP tiers worst of all.
Part of SendRishta's field guide to matrimony sites in India. Prices, ratings and counts were recorded on 11 Sep 2026; method, sources and corrections are on the main page.