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It's Just Lunch cost and It's Just Lunch membership price per month for singles over 40
MatureMeet editorial team
It's Just Lunch does not publish prices, but clients and reviewers usually report paying between about $1,500 and $6,000 for a membership, most often $2,500 to $3,500 for around a dozen lunch or drinks dates over a year. That works out to roughly $250 to $300 per date, paid up front. If you want a human matchmaker you can pay by the month instead, MatureMeet VIP Concierge costs $149 a month with up to 4 verified introductions.
How much does It's Just Lunch cost?
It's Just Lunch is a US matchmaking service founded in Chicago in 1991 and run today through local offices in many cities. There is no price list on its site. You fill in a short form, a dating director calls you, and you get a quote at the end of an interview. The price depends on your city, the length of the membership and the number of dates, and branches set their own offers.
The figures below are what clients and third party reviews describe. Treat them as a range, not a quote.
| What people report | Approximate price | What it usually covers |
|---|---|---|
| Short or promotional membership | Approximate price about $1,500 to $2,000 | What it usually covers a small number of dates over a few months |
| Typical membership | Approximate price about $2,500 to $3,500 | What it usually covers around 12 dates over 12 months |
| Larger or premium membership | Approximate price up to about $6,000 | What it usually covers more dates or a longer term |
| Cost per date on a typical membership | Approximate price about $250 to $300 | What it usually covers one lunch or drinks date, food and drinks not included |
| MatureMeet VIP Concierge, for comparison | Approximate price $149 a month, or $74 a month billed yearly | What it usually covers up to 4 introductions a month, plus search and messaging |
These are reports collected up to October 2026. Prices change by branch and by season, so ask for the total price, the number of dates and the term in writing before you compare.
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See plans and pricingWhat does It's Just Lunch cost per month?
Spread over a twelve month membership, a typical It's Just Lunch fee of $2,500 to $3,500 is about $210 to $290 a month. The catch is that you pay the whole amount on day one, so the monthly figure is only a way to compare. You cannot stop after two months if the dates are not right for you.
A monthly matchmaker reverses that. With VIP Concierge you pay $149 for one month, see who you are introduced to, and decide whether to keep going. Over a full year the yearly plan is $888, which is roughly a quarter to a third of a typical It's Just Lunch membership, with up to 48 introductions instead of about 12. Our matchmaker cost per month guide sets the main US firms side by side on the same monthly basis.
What the It's Just Lunch fee pays for
The fee pays for an interview, a matchmaker who picks your dates, and a team that books the time and place. Dates are short and low pressure, usually lunch or an after work drink, and that format is what many busy professionals like about the service.
A few things are not in the price, and they surprise people.
- The meal. You pay for your own lunch or drinks on each date, on top of the membership.
- Photos. It's Just Lunch has long worked without showing photos before the first date, so you meet on the matchmaker's judgment.
- Your own searching. You cannot browse members or message anyone, so between dates you are waiting.
- A guarantee of fit. You buy a number of dates, not a match who meets every item on your list.
Is It's Just Lunch cost worth it after 40?
It's Just Lunch can be worth the cost after 40 if you live in a city with an active branch, you dislike apps and you are happy to meet someone on a matchmaker's recommendation without seeing a photo. Around $250 a date buys you time back and a date that arrives already arranged.
It is harder to justify if you are over 55 and the branch near you has few members your age, or if you would rather see a face and hear a voice before you give up an evening. Public reviews are mixed. Trustpilot shows a score of around 3.2 out of 5 from about 670 reviews, and the complaints repeat the same themes: long gaps between dates after a quick start, dates that did not match the brief, and refund requests that ran into contract terms.
Questions to ask before you pay It's Just Lunch
Ask these on the interview call and get the answers in writing. They will protect you whichever service you choose.
- What is the total price, and exactly how many dates does it include?
- Over how many months do those dates have to be used, and can I pause?
- How many active members in my age range are with this branch right now?
- What happens if a date cancels, or if the branch cannot deliver every date in time?
- Is any part of the fee refundable, and under what conditions?
- Will the membership renew or roll over, and at what price?
Read the agreement as you would any other contract worth a few thousand dollars. If you put the membership on a card, a card spending alert tells you the moment a renewal or extra charge goes through, so nothing renews quietly.
Does It's Just Lunch cost the same for men and women?
It's Just Lunch does not publish separate prices for men and women, and reviews from both describe similar quotes in the same city. The difference people notice is in the pool rather than the price. Women over 50 often hear that a branch has fewer available men in their age range, so ask that question before you sign.
If you are a woman over 50 weighing several firms, our guide on matchmaker for women over 50 explains which services take you on as a paying client and which only keep a free profile.
How It's Just Lunch cost compares with other matchmakers
It's Just Lunch is one of the lower priced matchmaking firms in the US, which is why it often appears on the same shortlist as far more expensive names.
| Service | Reported price | How you pay |
|---|---|---|
| It's Just Lunch | Reported price about $2,500 to $3,500 for about 12 dates | How you pay membership paid up front |
| Tawkify | Reported price about $4,900 for 3 matches | How you pay package paid up front |
| Three Day Rule | Reported price about $5,900 for 3 months | How you pay fixed term paid up front |
| Selective Search | Reported price around $25,000 for a year | How you pay annual contract paid up front |
| MatureMeet VIP Concierge | Reported price $149 a month, or $888 a year | How you pay monthly or yearly, cancel anytime |
We compare these in more detail in Tawkify vs It's Just Lunch and on our Selective Search alternative and Three Day Rule alternative pages.
A cheaper way to get a matchmaker for one month first
If an It's Just Lunch quote feels like a lot to commit before your first date, try a human matchmaker for one month. MatureMeet VIP Concierge is built for exactly that.
- You pay $149 for a month, or $888 for a year, which is $74 a month. No package and no minimum term.
- An intake call with your concierge, help with your profile and up to 4 hand picked introductions a month, each with a short written reason.
- Every member is aged 40 to 80, matches a live selfie to their photos and confirms a phone number.
- You see verified photos, a video intro and a voice message before you agree to meet.
- Your concierge suggests a place and time, and full Premium search and messaging are included.
The honest trade off: It's Just Lunch has staff in local offices who book every date for you in person, and some people value that a lot. Our concierge works by phone and video and introduces members who have joined and passed verification. If you want serious introductions to people your own age at a price you can stop, start here. The full side by side is on our It's Just Lunch alternative page.
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Start with VIP ConciergeIs It's Just Lunch cost refundable?
Refunds depend on the contract you sign with your local office, and It's Just Lunch does not advertise a general money back guarantee. Ask what happens if dates are not delivered within the term, whether unused dates can be paused or credited, and what the cancellation window is, and get every answer in writing before you pay.
Is there a monthly It's Just Lunch membership?
It's Just Lunch is sold as a membership for a set number of dates over a term, typically paid in full at the start. Some clients report payment plans, but the commitment is still for the full membership. If you want a matchmaker you can pay and stop month by month, MatureMeet VIP Concierge is $149 a month.
What is the cheapest matchmaker like It's Just Lunch?
The cheapest way to get a real human matchmaker is a monthly service that introduces you to members who have already joined and been verified. MatureMeet VIP Concierge costs $149 a month, or $74 a month billed yearly, with up to 4 introductions a month and date planning included.
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