It's Just Lunch alternative for singles over 40 and 50 who want to see their date first
If you want an It's Just Lunch alternative without a membership costing thousands of dollars up front, MatureMeet VIP Concierge gives you a personal matchmaker for $149 a month, or $74 a month billed yearly. You still get hand picked introductions and a matchmaker who suggests the lunch spot, but you see photos, a video intro and a voice message before you say yes. You can stop any month.
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What It's Just Lunch gets right
It's Just Lunch has been setting up first dates since 1991, when it started in Chicago, and it now works through local branches in a long list of US cities and abroad. The idea is sound. A matchmaker interviews you, picks someone, books a table and you meet for an hour over lunch or a drink after work. No profile writing, no messaging, no swiping, and an easy exit if there is no spark.
What sends most people looking for something else is the way you buy it. It's Just Lunch does not publish prices. You hear a quote in a sales interview, reviews put typical packages between about $1,000 and $5,000, with many clients reporting around $2,800 to $3,200 for a package of about 12 dates, and you pay before your first lunch. You also go in blind. Clients are told a first name and a few details, not shown a photo.
It's Just Lunch vs MatureMeet VIP Concierge side by side
| Feature | It's Just Lunch | MatureMeet VIP Concierge |
|---|---|---|
| How you pay | It's Just Lunch a membership or package, paid up front | MatureMeet VIP Concierge by the month, or by the year at half the monthly rate |
| Price | It's Just Lunch quoted in an interview; reviews report about $1,000 to $5,000 | MatureMeet VIP Concierge $149 a month, or $74 a month billed yearly at $888 |
| Published price list | It's Just Lunch no | MatureMeet VIP Concierge yes, every price on the pricing page |
| Number of dates | It's Just Lunch the number in your package, often 3 to 12 | MatureMeet VIP Concierge up to 4 introductions a month, each with a written reason |
| Photos before the date | It's Just Lunch no, a verbal description from your matchmaker | MatureMeet VIP Concierge yes, photos, a video intro and voice messages |
| Who runs it | It's Just Lunch locally owned branches, so terms vary by city | MatureMeet VIP Concierge one service with the same terms in every state |
| Who you meet | It's Just Lunch members of your local branch | MatureMeet VIP Concierge verified MatureMeet members aged 40 to 80 |
| Type of first date | It's Just Lunch lunch, brunch or a drink after work | MatureMeet VIP Concierge your choice; your concierge suggests a venue and time |
| Search on your own too | It's Just Lunch no | MatureMeet VIP Concierge yes, full Premium search and messaging are included |
| Leaving | It's Just Lunch depends on the branch contract | MatureMeet VIP Concierge cancel any time in Billing, access runs to the end of the paid period |
It's Just Lunch figures are approximate and come from third party reviews and client reports published up to October 2026, because the company quotes each client individually and branches set their own terms. Ask for a written quote and the full contract before you compare.
What a dozen first dates costs on each service
Most It's Just Lunch packages people describe online are built around roughly a year of dates, so a year is the fair period to compare.
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It's Just Lunch.
Client reports cluster around $2,800 to $3,200 for about 12 dates, paid at the start. That is roughly $230 to $270 per date, before you have met anyone. Some reviewers also mention monthly fees or charges to pause or extend.
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VIP Concierge, yearly.
$888 for twelve months, with up to 48 introductions. That is under $20 per introduction if you take them all, or $74 for each of 12 months if you only want one good date a month.
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VIP Concierge, monthly.
$149 a month with no minimum term. Try it for one or two months, then decide.
The services are not identical, and we would rather say so. An It's Just Lunch matchmaker books the lunch for you and you arrive knowing very little. A MatureMeet concierge introduces members who have joined, paid and passed verification, and you see who they are first. If a surprise is part of the appeal for you, that difference matters.
How the monthly matchmaker works instead
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Intake call.
You choose VIP Concierge and book a video or phone call with your concierge. It is part of the service, not a sales pitch.
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Profile with help.
Your concierge goes through your photos, rewrites your profile with you and notes your dealbreakers.
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Introductions.
Up to 4 a month, hand picked, each with a short note on why the two of you could fit.
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You decide with your eyes open.
Read the profile, watch the video intro, hear a voice message, then say yes or pass.
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The lunch.
Once you both agree, your concierge suggests a place and a time near you and sends reminders. Lunch is still a great first date.
Why seeing your match first is the safer choice after 50
A blind date set up by a firm depends entirely on the firm's screening. On MatureMeet every member matches a live selfie to their profile photos and confirms a phone number before they can send a message, so the face you see is the person you meet. Read how verified profiles work.
This matters more after 50 than at any other age. FTC data shows that older adults lose more money per person to romance scams than younger people do. A paid, verified membership raises the cost of running a fake profile, and the scam shield in every conversation warns you if someone asks for money, gift cards or crypto. More on that on our romance scam protection page.
Choose MatureMeet VIP Concierge if
- You liked the idea of It's Just Lunch but not paying for a year of dates before the first one.
- You want to see a face and hear a voice before you give up a lunch hour.
- You are between 40 and 80 and want people at the same stage of life, not a general pool.
- You want a matchmaker and the freedom to search and message on your own as well.
Stay with It's Just Lunch if
- You enjoy a blind date and would rather not see a photo in advance.
- Your local branch has many members your age and you are happy with its contract terms.
- You want the matchmaker to handle every detail, including telling you only what you need to know.
Compare other matchmakers before you sign anything
We compared the two best known firms on cost and contracts in Tawkify vs It's Just Lunch, and if Tawkify is the other quote on your table, see our Tawkify alternative. The full description of the monthly service is on the matchmaking service for over 50 page. Still unsure whether to pay for help at all? Read is a matchmaker worth it over 50. Local pages: matchmaker Chicago, matchmaker Houston and matchmaker Dallas.
Questions about an It's Just Lunch alternative
How much is It's Just Lunch membership?
It's Just Lunch does not publish its prices, and each local branch quotes individually. Third party reviews put packages between about $1,000 and $5,000, with many clients reporting around $2,800 to $3,200 for about 12 dates paid up front. MatureMeet VIP Concierge is $149 a month, or $74 a month billed yearly at $888.
Is It's Just Lunch worth the money?
It can be worth it if your local branch has plenty of members in your age range and you enjoy blind lunch dates. It is harder to justify if you would rather see someone before meeting, or if paying for a year of dates up front strains your budget. Ask how many active members your age live nearby before you sign.
Do you see a picture on It's Just Lunch?
No, not as a rule. It's Just Lunch matchmakers describe your match in a few words and give you a first name, and you meet without having seen a photo. On MatureMeet you see verified photos, a short video intro and voice messages before you agree to any date.
Is It's Just Lunch still in business?
Yes. It's Just Lunch still operates in 2026 through locally owned branches in many US cities and several other countries. Because branches are run separately, prices, contract terms and the size of the member pool differ from city to city, so check the terms of the branch nearest you.
Is there a cheaper alternative to It's Just Lunch with a real matchmaker?
Yes. A monthly matchmaking plan costs far less than a prepaid package. MatureMeet VIP Concierge gives you a human matchmaker, up to 4 verified introductions a month and date planning for $149 a month, with no minimum term. You can cancel in your account at any time.
Is MatureMeet connected to It's Just Lunch?
No. MatureMeet is independent. It's Just Lunch is a trademark of its owner, and the figures on this page come from published third party information.
Book your first lunch with someone you have already seen
A personal matchmaker, verified members over 40 and a monthly price you can read before you join.