While OKCupid had its time being the most popular dating site, today, tons of other dating apps have flooded the market, causing it to get lost in the sea of apps.
However, that doesn't mean you should sleep on OKCupid — here's why:
- Among the largest dating pools with a reported 30 million members. Dating apps are all about the numbers, and this puts OKC high on the list.
- Rich free version. Increasingly, dating apps require you to pay for every single feature, but OKCupid still gives you free access to sending and receiving likes, messages and viewing full profiles.
- Inclusive. OKCupid really is for all kinds of daters — serious and casual, LGBTQ+, straight, and more. Median age of 32, FYI.
Keep reading for all the details why we like OKCupid, or try for free now >>
Our OKCupid ratings:
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Bianca's take on OKCupid
OKCupid has come a long way since I entered the dating scene back in the early 2010s. Back then, I heard so many stories of women getting unwanted, creepy messages from other people on the app.
Now it really wants its users to feel empowered when dating, by being honest about what they want and putting compatibility at the forefront. It’s no wonder why so many of my friends met their match using OKCupid.
It's also one of the very few dating apps where I feel like people actually put some effort into their profiles. Even without the questions, I noticed the “About me” sections were very detailed (it's my biggest pet peeve when all I see is an Instagram or a Snapchat handle). I definitely think it’s worth giving it a shot — especially because most of its features are free to use.
Bianca Mendez is a dating app expert whose work has appeared in Woman’s Health, Bustle, Latina, Refinery29, and many other publications. She also served as a sex and dating editor at Elite Daily. You can check out her other dating app reviews here.
More about OKCupid:
- How OKCupid works
- Is OKCupid a good dating site?
- How much does OKCupid cost?
- Pros and cons of OKCupid
- OKCupid reviews
- FAQs about OKCupid
How does OKCupid work?
OKCupid stands out from its competitors by using a series of more than 4,000 questions to help you find the most compatible matches (OKCupid recommends answering 50 and 100 to start).
Most of those questions are user-generated, meaning anyone using the app can add their own question.
As you begin creating your profile, you answer basic questions like:
- Gender (over 13 options to choose from)
- Who you want to date
- What kind of relationship you want (casual vs. long-term)
Once you cover the basics, upload your photos and write a short bio about yourself. If you’re unsure what to say, OKCupid offers prompts to help you out.
Last comes the questions! As mentioned, OKCupid allows you to answer more than 4,000 questions ranging from social issues (like whether or not being vaccinated is important to you) to more personal ones (like whether or not you like shower sex or believe in living with a partner before marriage).
You answer yes or no to as many questions as you'd like, then choose which answers you’ll accept from your matches. Finally, rate these questions based on how important they are to you.
While some questions can feel very invasive (“How many sexual partners have you had?”), you can always skip any you don’t feel comfortable answering.
Your answers will help OKCupid generate your compatibility score with other users to pull the best matches for you. You also get to view other users' answers to measure how you compare.
As you sort through profiles, you can like using the traditional swipe method or “like” someone's answers to specific prompts.
You don’t have to wait for them to like you back to get the conversation started. You can send an intro message, but other users cannot read your message unless they like you back.
Is OKCupid a good dating site?
Short answer: Yes, OKCupid is a good dating site. There are three big reasons why I say it’s a good dating site:
First: OKCupid’s compatibility ratings are really helpful in helping to understand a potential date before you even meet them. This user design allows daters to be clear and upfront about who they are and what type of relationship they’re looking for.
Plus, these questions allow you to find some common ground with your matches, which is great if you struggle to write your profile or start conversations with someone new.
If you don’t think this matters, I do have two friends who are engaged/married to their partners, thanks to OKCupid. In fact, Wealthysinglemommy.com founder Emma Johnson met her boyfriend of five years on OKC.
Second: OKCupid is one of the most inclusive dating websites out there. They offer 22 gender identities, 12 sexual orientations, and also allow you to share your preferred pronouns. They also welcome polyamorous relationships (you can link your profiles to one another.)
Third: OKCupid’s free version is very rich. While some websites (like Match.com and Plenty of Fish) require you to pay to get access to compatibility ratings, OKCupid provides them for free. You can also message people you match with without paying. That’s gold, especially for singles on a budget.
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Is OKCupid a safe dating site?
There was a time when OKCupid had a reputation for being one of the more sketchy dating apps — attracting fake profiles, cheaters and the like. I’ve heard stories from friends about being catfished and getting unwanted, inappropriate messages from other users. Hearing that definitely discouraged me from giving the app a try.
Thankfully, OKCupid has since changed its messaging policies so that instead of anyone on the app being able to message you, a message is only possible between mutual matches. According to OKCupid’s website:
“We're big fans of consent here at OKCupid, and the feedback we've received from our members indicates that they are, too. This means that we want each of our members to decide who they're open to receiving messages from. Everyone can choose whether or not to match with people, and they can choose not to look at their SuperLikes Stack. Consent is for everyone, everywhere!”
In 2020, Check Point, a leading data security software and research firm, conducted a test to see how easy it would be to hijack OKCupid.
They found different vulnerabilities where hijackers can easier steal people’s information on OKCupid. Check Point sent their findings to OKCupid, who immediately took their feedback and made efforts to better the app to protect the privacy of users.
Aside from these two issues, OKCupid is as safe as any other dating app. Of course, you should always take precautions when you’re meeting someone online; ie, never share any financial information with your matches, always meet at a public place, and maybe even stalk them a little online to make sure they are who they are. Knowledge is power when it comes to online dating!
You can always run a background check or reverse phone lookup before meeting in person. More tips on online dating safety here.
Wait! Before you meet in person, you can run your date's name through a site like TruthFinder, which will pull all online public records on the person and compile them into an easy-to-read report.
Is OKCupid full of fake profiles?
Unfortunately, most dating apps are susceptible to fake profiles, and OKCupid is no different.
Reddit users report a slew of fake profiles:
Fortunately, OKCupid appears to be taking steps to combat fake profiles. When I created my profile, I was surprised by all the CAPTCHA hurdles I had to jump through to get my profile ready to go.
However, despite all the safety measures dating apps pull to ensure authentic dating, a fake profile will somehow find its way there. Luckily it’s easy to spot a fake profile — typically they only have one photo and zero information in their bio.
What is the cost of OKCupid?
The biggest selling point for OKCupid when it was first created was that the entire site was completely free to use. Well, that’s still mostly true.
Over the years, OKCupid has made changes to the app, including adding paid features and offering two subscription versions (Basic and Premium).
But while paying for these features might help up your chances at finding the right match for you, OKCupid’s free version is still one of the better options out there. Here’s how they all stack up:
OKCupid premium plan
- $22.49/month for six months
- $29.99/month for three months
- $44.99 for one month
- No outside ads
- Send unlimited Likes
- Option to set dealbreakers in your search preferences
- Unlock all of your Intros
- Option to view your Likes ahead
- Option to view everyone's public answers to their questions before you answer
OKCupid free version
An OKCupid Basic Plan is free and allows you to:
- Access to see all of your potential matches
- Send and receive Likes
- Send and receive messages from people you match with
OKCupid add-ons
In addition to the subscriptions, OKCupid also allows you to buy add-ons to your account. These include:
- Profile Boosts ($4.99 each for 10 boosts, $5.99 each for five boosts, $6.99 for one boost) – OKCupid shows your profile to more people for 30 minutes
- Superboosts (Three hours for $29.99, six hours for $44.99, 12 hours for $59.99) – Your profile will be shown to more people for the duration you choose
- Read Receipts (Five matches for $2.99 each, 10 for $1.99 each, 25 for $0.99 each) – See if someone you've been messaging has read what you sent
OKCupid FAQs
Does anyone still use OKCupid?
Yes, OKCupid reports 30 million members at the end of 2022.
Is OKCupid any good?
Yes, overall OKCupid is a good dating site for three main reasons:
- Large pool of users (30 million)
- Lots of free features, including messaging matches
- Inclusive of all daters/genders
What is the average age on OKCupid?
The median age of OKCupid users is 32.
Is OKCupid premium worth it?
All dating apps need to make money, so the free versions are typically pretty limited. They hook you in with pics of their most popular singles, tease you with a tiny bit of info and get you addicted to swiping. But to read full profiles and interact in an unlimited way, pay up!
OKCupid does allow you to connect with a limited number of people each month for free — specifically, those you match with — but otherwise, you have to upgrade to a paid version to message all users.
I never like to spend money on dating apps, but I also understand the appeal of paying for quality matches.
With OKCupid's premium version, you get to see your likes ahead of time, set dealbreakers, and see people’s answers to the personality assessment without having to add in your own.
This can save you a lot of time if you’re serious about having a relationship with someone.
However, I don’t think it’s necessary to pay for OKCupid’s premium version when the app has tons of free features to use. As long as you’re not overly picky and don’t care about ads, stick with the free version.
OKCupid pros and cons
OKCupid pros
OKCupid is for everyone.
As mentioned before, OKCupid prides itself on being an inclusive dating app, going beyond sexual orientation and gender.
It’s also open to different types of relationships. Polyamorous couples can link accounts with each other as opposed to just sharing a joint account.
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There are multiple ways to access OKCupid.
OKCupid has both a desktop and mobile version, letting you access the dating service anywhere at any time. And regardless of how you log on, its interface is very easy to use.
The opportunity to really get to know someone.
All the questions and prompts help consumers cut to the chase when it comes to dating. It’s definitely empowering, especially for those who know what they want.
OKCupid cons
The site can be hit or miss based on location.
One thing I’ve noticed (even after setting my location and desired distance to find singles) is that I’ll get matches from people outside my radius. And I live in NYC!
So depending on where you live, there might not be too many users using OKCupid. You can set your location preference as a dealbreaker (but that’s with a subscription). This brings me to:
You can’t set dealbreakers unless you pay.
When you fill out your ideal person page, you’ll notice at the bottom of every setting that there’s an option to make your preferences a dealbreaker (whether it’d be about the distance, height, or political issues).
Unfortunately, that is a feature you can only access if you buy OKCupid’s premium version.
There are a lot of ads on the free site.
Lots of users complain about the number of ads on OKCupid’s free site. Luckily, you can get an ad-free experience if you pay for a subscription.
OKCupid reviews
OKCupid is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau, which makes sense given that its parent company (Match Group) also doesn’t have a rating.
However, customer reviews give the Match Group a rating of 1.05 out of 5 stars. While most comments are about other Match Group dating apps, two reviewers complain about having issues with their OKCupid accounts, as well as being shown fake profiles from out of the country.
OKCupid reviews on Trustpilot
On Trustpilot, OKCupid has a 1.2 rating and plenty of reviews from users with very strong opinions.
OKCupid Reddit reviews
Reddit users on OKCupid appear to be frustrated with some of the app’s limitations. The biggest complaints (mostly from male users) are not being able to set dealbreakers and not being able to message other users without liking them.
Personally, I feel that these Redditors are failing to see the benefit behind OKCupid's messaging. It shows that OKCupid cares about their users having a safe dating experience and are listening to their feedback.
The second biggest thing that Redditors complain about is how small the dating pool is. Of course, location can either make or break your dating app experience, and that goes for any dating app.
Some also say OKCupid has gone down in quality since it was acquired by Match Group:
OKCupid alternatives
While OKCupid is a solid choice for all types of dating and relationships, our top pick for serious relationships is eharmony. Why is that? Because:
- A Better Business Bureau rating
- eharmony reports over 2 million people have found love
- Only major dating app devoted exclusively to serious commitment
- Free basic plan
- Profiles are vetted for spam and married users
- According to a study, couples who met on eharmony are more likely to get married and less likely to get divorced vs. couples who met on other online dating sites
Interested in checking out other dating sites and apps? Here are some dating app reviews:
Also, check out our roundup of best dating apps and sites for single parents.
OKCupid vs. eharmony
The main difference between eharmony and OKCupid is that OKCupid is a site for all types of relationships — serious, casual, hookups, etc. If you're just looking to have fun, OKCupid is probably the better choice.
But if you're looking for a serious commitment with a highly compatible match, eharmony is our top choice. eharmony users must fill out an extensive questionnaire upon joining the site, inputting important information about themselves as well as their expectations of a potential partner. These questions guide eharmony's suggested matches, and each match will have a compatibility score and overview to show you how your profiles align. OKCupid on the other hand relies on user-generated questions to show which profiles line up with your answers.
OKCupid is not rated by the Better Business Bureau, while eharmony boasts an A- rating. While OKCupid is less expensive than eharmony, eharmony's targeted approach and matching algorithm make it worth the investment, in addition to its proven track record in leading to long-term commitment and successful marriages.
OKCupid vs. Plenty of Fish
Plenty of Fish (POF) is one of the oldest dating sites (launched in 2003). It was one of the most popular dating sites back in the day before apps like Tinder and Bumble stole the scene. The site markets itself as a place for people who are seriously looking for love.
POF and OKCupid are similar in the sense that their end goal is the same: to help consumers find connections. They even both have their version of a personality assessment to help you find compatible matches.
One thing that POF has over OKCupid is that it has more free features. For example, on POF you can message anyone online (on OKCupid, free messaging is limited to introductions that other uses can't see until they like our profile). However, with messaging being so laissez-faire, there's lots of opportunities for unwanted messages to crawl into your inbox.
POF also has a way bigger dating pool, with 78 million users from the USA (OKCupid only has 10 million), making it a better option especially if you live in low populated areas. However, OKCupid wins for inclusivity.
Like OKCupid, POF is owned by Match Group (Match.com), so it does not have its own BBB page. When you read the reviews on Match Group’s BBB page, there’s not much said about POF. However, POF outscores OKCupid on Trustpilot with 3.5 stars. Reviewers say it’s a great app and easy to use.
If you’re on a budget and live in a more remote location, Plenty of Fish might be worth trying, but honestly, there isn’t too big of a difference between these two websites.
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Bottom line: Is it worth subscribing to OKCupid?
OKCupid is worth a shot, specifically for their awesome personality assessment and efforts for inclusivity. Experience will definitely differ based on where you live, but if you live in a big metropolitan city, that shouldn’t be a problem. However, I can’t speak for the quality of individuals (because taste is subjective).
OKCupid stands out from its competitors by using a series of more than 4,000 questions to help you find the most compatible matches.
Yes, OKCupid is a good dating site. There are three big reasons why I say it’s a good dating site: 1) OKCupid’s compatibility ratings are really helpful in helping to understand a potential date before you even meet them. 2) OKCupid is one of the most inclusive dating websites out there. 3) OKCupid’s free version is very rich.
Unfortunately, most dating apps are susceptible to fake profiles, and OKCupid is no different. Fortunately, OKCupid appears to be taking steps to combat fake profiles, in part, with CAPTCHA hurdles.
The biggest selling point for OKCupid was that the entire site is completely free to use, which is still mostly true. OKCupid has made changes to the app, including adding paid features and offering subscriptions, which start as low as $22.49 per month for six months.
Yes, OKCupid reports 30 million members at the end of 2022.
Yes, overall OKCupid is a good dating site for three main reasons: 1) Large pool of users (30 million). 2) Lots of free features, including messaging matches. 3) Inclusive of all daters/genders.
The median age of OKCupid users is 32.
All dating apps need to make money, so the free versions are typically pretty limited. OKCupid does allow you to connect with a limited number of people each month for free, specifically, those you match with, but otherwise, you have to upgrade to a paid version to message all users.
OKCupid is worth a shot, specifically for their awesome personality assessment and efforts for inclusivity.
OKCupid is 100% scam!
When you sign up (free) you get about 50 likes within an hour..then, when you sign in and pay you see that 100% of the so \called “Likes” are from Asian, African or South American “women”…none of my Preferences was considered.
This site is only there to rip people off….I lost my $44 within an hour after realizing the scam.
STAY AWAY!!
Err, did the person who wrote this article even bother to use the site, because I guarantee it’s nearly impossible to get replies on there. You’d have more chance of networking on Myspace in 2023!!!!! Back in 2015 when I was on it last, I had loads and loads of dates. I met wonderful girls and had a n 8 year relationship, which sadly ended recently. Having come back and signed up six months ago, I expected it to be like that. Sadly this review was either written years ago, or it’s a blatant lie that has been paid for by OKC. The site is awash with fake profiles, unlike back in the day when there was barely a single one, just lots of people looking for relationships. They used to also have a search button where you could put in keywords and find people who had similar interests. Not now, all gone. Not even the weekly emails anymore. It’s dead as a doornail. Time to delete my account. The negatives on Trustpilot speak the truth.
Waste of time & money. Continually tell you “stack is empty”, really?, There are no local members online, but there are members from 300 kms away? Hmmm. Don’t waste your money.
Corrected and updated: I don’t like OKCupid’s search function. They make us go through every single profile one at a time, instead of showing a gallery with pictures. The original interface was better. And a lot of the women showing are hundreds of miles away, when my search criteria was only for 100 miles. Further, I don’t like that they have a “Pro-Choice” button on profiles, even though this is a political issue and irrelevant, but they don’t have a “Pro-Life’ button. That’s not fair. I don’t like their website. They also ask endless questions about our personality. There are so many questions, it’s just plain insane. And a lot of the questions are really stupid. No matter how many questions I answered, I never reached the end. It’s totally crazy. They also constantly remind us to finish our profile. What if we don’t want to at this time? Very annoying. Whoever designed this website, he did a very poor job. Another thing is that I got over twenty likes soon after joining, but not one single message. In order to see the likes, you have to pay. I lost faith in dating websites several years ago, but I just think they are all about money, and I think many profiles are fake. OKCupid in particular promotes the liberal agenda. This site is filthy.
OK cupid is asking for too much money for you taking a chance to see if you can get the right woman
I don’t like OKCupid’s function. They make us go through every single profile one at a time, instead of showing a gallery with pictures. The original interface was better. And a lot of the women showing are hundreds of miles away, when my search criteria was only for 100 miles. Further, I don’t like that they have a “Pro-Choice” button on profiles, even though this is a political issue and irrelevant, but they don’t have a “Pro-Life’ button. That’s not fair. I don’t like their website. They also ask endless questions about our personality. There are so many questions, it’s just plain insane. And a lot of the questions are really stupid. No matter how many questions I answered, I never reached the end. It’s totally crazy. They also constantly remind us to finish our profile. What if we don’t want to at this time? Very annoying. Whoever designed this website, he did a very poor job.
OK Cupid keeps showing me NON MATCHES. People out of the country, out of state and way far away from me even though I say only 50 miles from where I live. Men in their 20,30’s and 40’s contacting me even though I posted only 58-65. Same 6-8 matches come up over and over every day.
I thought was a free app? I can’t even see who is interested in me.it keeps wanting me to pay money? That’s not free
What’s the best website for platonic friends? I think there is a lot of need, especially for elderlies.
Okcupid “match group” is a garbage app that exploits lonely people for money. Don’t waist your time with it. They should be shut down for crimes against society.
I’m a paying member. OKC has a major issue with it’s search engine not able to use the users preference. The distance preference is essentially ignored and I end up with potential matches from around the world. Many of the potential match percentage are not accurate because they only seem to match based on the common questions answered. So, if one person only answers 10 questions and the other answers 1,000, only the 10 are used. While there are a lot of questions about ones sexuality, a major factor in a relationship, they don’t seem to factor that in their preference choices or search algorithms. Forgoing fake profiles, OKC shoots themselves in their own foot by serving up disappointment, quantity of bad matches, versus successful, quality, matches. Sad.