Wealthysinglemommy.com

Before I met my husband, I went on one date with a man I met through the Jewish dating site Jdate. While I typically preferred to meet people the old-fashioned way — at Jewish singles’ events, bars, or through friends — I joined Jdate because a friend was on it, and she encouraged me to sign up. 

This guy and I connected through messaging then went out for dinner in downtown La Jolla, Calif. We had a good time but ultimately didn’t make it to date two. (I won’t pretend the fact that he showed up in a sweatshirt had nothing to do with it.)

Though I didn’t find a love connection, I have other Jewish friends who have found long-term relationships — and even spouses — through Jewish dating sites.

What is the best site to find legit Jewish daters?

If you’re a Jewish single looking for love with other Jews, these are seven Jewish dating sites and apps to check out — including our top choice for anyone seeking long-term partnership, eharmony, which uses an extensive questionnaire to find your most compatible matches:

Jdate

• How does Jdate work?
• How much does Jdate cost?
• Jdate pros
• Jdate cons
• Jdate reviews

JPeopleMeet

• How does JPeopleMeet work?
• How much does JPeopleMeet cost?
• JPeopleMeet pros
• JPeopleMeet cons
• JPeopleMeet reviews

JSwipe

• How does JSwipe work?
• How much does JSwipe cost?
• JSwipe pros
• JSwipe cons
• JSwipe reviews

JWed

• How does JWed work?
• How much does JWed cost?
• JWed pros
• JWed cons
• JWed reviews

Saw You at Sinai

• How does Saw You at Sinai work?
• How much does Saw You at Sinai cost?
• Saw You at Sinai pros
• Saw You at Sinai cons
• Saw You at Sinai reviews

eharmony 

• How does eharmony work?
• How much does eharmony cost?
• eharmony pros
• eharmony cons
• eharmony reviews

Other Jewish dating apps

• Basheret
• Mazel Match
• Mazels

International dating sites

• Jewish Cafe
• Mazal Tov
• Simantov

Jewish dating FAQs

Bottom line: What is the best Jewish dating site?

Jdate

Jdate claims to have helped start hundreds of thousands of relationships since its launch in 1997. Almost everyone on Jdate is Jewish — either religiously or culturally — or looking to date a Jewish person. Its members are mostly based in the U.S. and Israel.

In 2011 (the most recent data available), Jdate commissioned a survey of 1,000 married Jewish internet users through an independent firm called ResearchNow. They found that Jdate was responsible for 52% of Jewish marriages that started online.

As I mentioned, Jdate is the only site on this list I’ve actually dated someone from, and it’s the main site my Jewish friends have used for online dating. 

How does Jdate work?

You can join Jdate with an email address or connect your Facebook account. Jdate requires you to upload at least one photo, and you can choose to use your real first name or create a display name. 

Before you start using Jdate, you have to provide your: 

• Height
• Religion (options include Conservative, Culturally Jewish, and Orthodox)
• Occupation
• Parental status/whether you want kids
• Education level (including which college you went to, if applicable)

You can also choose to write a short bio, select from a list of interests, indicate whether you want to date men or women (or both), and set your preferences for: 

• Location
• Age
• Religious affiliation (12 options)
• Synagogue attendance 
• Kosher status
• Marital status
• Type of relationship you’re seeking 
• Education level
• Desire for children
• Smoking/drinking habits

Matches are displayed in a grid, which you can sort by:

• Match percentage 
• Distance
• Newest profiles
• People currently online

Jdate also has a feature called Lookbook that’s similar to Tinder in that you can flip through profiles anonymously and like or pass on them. You can click each profile in both formats to read the person’s full bio and learn more about them. 

These are the top matches I saw when I logged into Jdate (my highest match percentage was 51%).

How much does Jdate cost?

You can join Jdate for free, but a premium subscription costs: 

• 1 month – $59.99
• 3 months – $44.99/month
• 6 months – $29.99/month

Free features: 

• Look through and like/reject profiles

Paid features: 

• See all photos on a user’s profile
• Send and receive messages with other paid subscribers
• Send and receive messages with free users through Messaging+ (the only way free users can message without a subscription)
• See when other users have read your messages
• See which users have viewed and liked your profile
• Hide online status and browse anonymously

Jdate pros: 

• Fairly large user base with people that seem legit and serious about dating
• Puts religious preferences at the forefront
• LookBook feature allows you to view profiles anonymously and to “like” or “pass” on them
• Helpful FAQs with advice on how to respond to people
• App available for Apple and Android devices

Jdate cons: 

• Most of the users I saw were older than 30 (with preferences set to 18 to 75+) so you may not have as much luck if you’re a younger dater
• Free membership limited: Have to pay to contact other daters unless you are contacted first by a paid member

Jdate reviews: 

App Store: 3.4 stars

Google Play: 1.4 stars

Jdate’s parent company, Spark Networks, has an A+ Better Business Bureau rating (not accredited) as of September 2025. Spark Networks is also the parent company of popular dating sites like Zoosk, Elite Singles, and Christian Mingle. 

A few reviews reference Jdate specifically: 

Jdate has 1.5 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot:

This is what people on Reddit have to say about JDate: 

Is no one on JDATE anymore?
byu/Cinemaas indating_advice

JPeopleMeet

JPeopleMeet was created in 2000 by People Media Company, which was acquired in 2009 by Match Group, LLC — the same parent company behind popular dating sites like Match.com, Tinder, Hinge, and OKCupid. 

Based on my experience on this site, the dating pool is small — all matches on my list except two were over 50, and most were over 65. 

How does JPeopleMeet work?

Creating a profile on JPeopleMeet is quick and easy. Once you indicate your gender and the gender(s) you’re looking to date, you can upload a photo (or import one from Facebook), write a short bio, and fill out key information about yourself, including: 

• Age
• Occupation
• Ethnicity
• Hair/eye color
• Height
• Income
• Smoking preferences
• Religious background
• Synagogue attendance
• Kosher status
• Education
• Relationship expectations
• Children 
• Pets
• Marital status
• Body type

You can also answer questions like these to fill out your profile: 

• Do you enjoy cooking?
• How patient do you consider yourself?
• Are you romantic?
• How punctual are you typically?
• Do you enjoy going to the movies?
• How much do you enjoy going to live theatre?
• How much do you like reading?

JPeopleMeet has a drop-down menu to sort matches by distance, activity on the site, and date joined. However, no matter which option I chose, the same grid of daters appeared, only in slightly different order:

How much does JPeopleMeet cost?

You can join JPeopleMeet for free, but to access most features, you have to pay for a premium subscription: 

• 1 month – $16.99
• 3 months – $8.99/month
• 6 months – $6.49/month 

You can pay by mail, if uncomfortable with online payments. 

Free features: 

• Browse and save matches
• Send flirts

Paid features: 

• See who viewed and saved your profile
• Chat with other members currently online
• Send and receive emails
• See flirts from other members

JPeopleMeet pros: 

• Provides a list of questions and prompts to help you fill out your profile

JPeopleMeet cons: 

• Small dating pool that seems to be made of mostly senior daters
• Dated website that’s not very user friendly
• No mobile app available 

JPeopleMeet reviews: 

JPeopleMeet has no reviews on major sites like the Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, or Reddit. Its parent company, Match Group LLC, is not rated by the BBB and has 1.08/5 stars based on more than 520 customer reviews (none of which mention JPeopleMeet). 

JSwipe

JSwipe was created in 2014 by Smooch Labs, which was acquired in 2015 by Spark Networks, the same company that owns Jdate. 

The app bills itself as the No. 1 Jewish Dating app, with more than 1 million users worldwide. 

I like JSwipe because it has a free version that includes messaging with people you’ve matched with — which is not common in the world of online dating. 

How does JSwipe work?

JSwipe is an app like Tinder, where you swipe right or left to like or pass on potential matches:

To sign up with JSwipe, you have to connect your Facebook or Apple ID, then answer a quick series of questions: 

• What religion you identify with — Orthodox, Traditional, willing to convert, etc.
• Gender
• Kosher status

You also have the option to write a short bio and link your Instagram account once you’ve created a profile. In your profile settings, you can choose your Jewish preferences in a partner and filter matches by distance, age, and gender (men and women are the only options): 

You can also list your: 

• Occupation
• Degree
• University
• Interests
• Height

How much does JSwipe cost?

JSwipe is free to join, but you can subscribe for premium features like boosting your profile and seeing who liked you: 

• 1 month – $24.99
• 3 months – $44.97
• 6 months – $59.94

Free features: 

• Update profile and add photos
• Swipe through profiles and like/reject them
• 1 free Super Swipe per day
• Chat with anyone you’ve matched with

Paid features: 

• See who has liked your profile
• Read receipts on messages you’ve sent
• 5 Super Swipes per day 
• 1 Swipe Note per day (you get to leave a personal message with your swipe)
• Boost your profile to be seen twice as often as other users
• Optimize your photos to see which ones are leading to matches
• Change your location to meet people around the world

JSwipe pros: 

• Messaging is a free feature for matches
• Modern and attractive app design
• Easy-to-use swipe system
• View profiles based on proximity or popularity

JSwipe cons: 

• Matches expire after 18 days of no communication
• Profiles don’t provide a lot of detail unless someone includes it in their bio, so you don’t know if someone is looking for something serious, has or wants kids, smokes, etc. 

JSwipe reviews:

App Store: 3.7 stars

Google Play: 3.0 stars

JSwipe does not have its own BBB or Trustpilot pages, but its parent company, Spark Networks, has an A+ BBB rating (not accredited) and 2.8 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. 

These are some Reddit threads that discuss JSwipe:

Does anyone use JSwipe?
byu/DirtyProjector inJewish

JSwipe Thoughts?
byu/The-Zal-Podcast inJudaism

There is also a r/JSwipe subreddit, though it’s not very active. 

JWed

Founded in 2001, JWed claims to have led to more than 3,700 marriages. As its name implies, JWed is built for people who want to get married, not just casually date, and is inclusive of all ages and denominations.

You can access JWed online or download the JWed mobile app, available for iOS and Android devices. 

How does JWed work?

JWed has high standards — you have to provide a link to a public profile (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, etc.) before you can be approved to join the site. 

While you wait for approval, you have to upload a photo and share details about yourself: 

• Location
• Language(s)
• Smoking habits
• Height
• Body type
• Marital status
• Children
• Ethnicity
• Parental lineage
• Family background
• Jewish affiliation
• Shabbat rituals
• Kosher status
• What being Jewish means to you
• Secular education
• Jewish education
• About me (general bio)
• Interests/hobbies

How much does JWed cost?

You have to choose between a Basic and Premium subscription to join JWed: 

Basic: 

• $18.95/month

Premium: 

• 1 month for $29.95
• 6 months for $29.95/month

Basic features: 

• Search all members
• View members’ photos
• Reply to messages sent to you

Premium features: 

• All features included in Basic
• Send messages to any member
• See when members have read your messages
• Browse anonymously 
• See who’s liked you
• Video dating
• Record/receive audio messages
• Hide online status/profile
• Introductory call and matchmaking with a dating agent

JWed pros: 

• Extensive and thorough application process to join
• Subscription-only model means daters are likely serious about finding love and marriage
• Memberships suspended for inappropriate behavior
• All profiles are individually verified before approval
• Mobile app available for Apple and Android

JWed cons: 

• No free version available
• Site is not very modern or user friendly
• 3,700 marriages is not that high considering the site has been around for more than 20 years
• Strict (and somewhat intimidating) qualifications 

JWed reviews: 

App Store: 1.7 stars

Google Play: 2.7 stars

JWed’s parent company, Frumster, Inc., has a C+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (not accredited) and 4.0 stars on Trustpilot, with many complaints claiming it’s difficult to unsubscribe and customer service is hard to reach:

There are a few Reddit threads that ask for opinions on Jewish dating sites, and the same Reddit user mentioned JWed in his responses: 

Saw You at Sinai

Saw You at Sinai is different from other Jewish dating sites in that actual matchmakers help you find your “Bashert” (Yiddish for soulmate).  

Founded in 2003, Saw You at Sinai claims to have facilitated more than 4,600 engagements as of September 2025 — they even feature an upcoming wedding on their homepage. 

Saw You at Sinai also occasionally hosts in-person singles events and retreats. 

How does Saw You at Sinai work?

Saw You at Sinai works with more than 300 matchmakers around the world to match its members. Here’s how the process works: 

1. Create a profile with details about your religious background, lifestyle, and interests. You must also include references and a list of criteria you are looking for in another person.
2. Members are paired with two matchmakers based on location, who will be dedicated to finding them matches. 
3. Matchmakers send you matches, which you can approve or reject.
4. When both parties accept a match, matchmakers will share their contact information so they can talk and set up a date. 
5. Matchmakers can provide advice and feedback to help you have more successful dates. 

How much does Saw You at Sinai cost?

Saw You at Sinai has two membership options: 

Platinum membership: 

• $22.95 per month
• Register and customize profile
• Get listed in global and local dating database
• Access to dating blog
• Admission to member events
• Max of one match per week

Saw You at Sinai pros: 

• Free for basic membership
• Real matchmakers work to find you matches
• App available for Apple and Android

Saw You at Sinai cons: 

• Both people have to agree to a match to be connected
• Contact info exchanged after mutual match, which some may not like
• 3-day rule for men to reach out to women after contact info exchanged (which may be a pro for some)
• Matchmakers are volunteers and are not guaranteed compensation for setting up matches, though members are encouraged to send gifts/compensation upon successfully finding a partner

Saw You at Sinai reviews: 

App Store: 2.4

Google Play: 4.0

Saw You at Sinai has an A+ rating from the BBB but doesn’t have a Trustpilot page. 

There are multiple Reddit threads that discuss Saw You at Sinai, though all of them are several years old:

Saw you at sinai?
byu/optometry_j3w1993 inJudaism

Is Saw You at Sinai worth it?
byu/Right0ntime inJudaism

eharmony

While it isn’t exclusively a Jewish dating site, eharmony has long established itself as the leader in connecting singles looking for serious, long-term partnership. Plus, you can filter matches based on their religious preferences. 

Researchers at the University of Chicago and Harvard conducted a study of more than 19,000 marriages¹, breakups, and divorces by online dating site where the couple met, and found:

• 25% of the marriages started at eharmony (highest of any other dating site)
• 3.86% divorce rate (lowest of any other site)

How does eharmony work?

eharmony uses an algorithm to match compatible partners, which is based on a five-part questionnaire with about 150 questions, including: 

• What is your immediate reaction if a person you’re very close to does something that upsets you?
• Other than appearance, what is the first thing that people notice about you?
• What are your main reasons for wanting a relationship?
• What’s the most important thing you’re looking for in another person?
• Let’s say you and your partner get invited to a friend’s wedding. As you get ready for the party, which thoughts are you most likely thinking?

You can also fill out your profile by answering prompts, similar to the ones on Bumble and Hinge. 

How much does eharmony cost?

• 6 months: $39.54/mo
• 12 months: $27.54/mo
• 24 months: $21.54/mo

Free features: 

• Create profile and take compatibility questionnaire
• View matches’ profiles

Paid features: 

• Unlimited messaging
• Ability to view unlimited photos
• See who has visited your profile
• Enhanced search features
• Individual personality report and relationship tips

eharmony pros:

• Caters to serious daters seeking a compatible partner
• Strict verification process that weeds out fake profiles and married people
• Extensive questionnaire to improve compatible matches

eharmony cons: 

• Must commit to a membership for at least 6 months
• Not exclusive to Jewish daters (though you can filter your results)
• Not for casual dating

eharmony reviews: 

App Store: 4.0 stars

Google Play: 3.0 stars

eharmony has an A rating from the Better Business Bureau (accredited since 2001) and 2.8 stars on Trustpilot. 

There aren’t many reviews specifically from Jewish daters, though I did find this one on Reddit: 

It’s worth noting that your success on any dating site will largely be based on where you live. The more populated the area where you live — and the larger the Jewish population — the more likely you’ll be to find a compatible match. 

Read our full eharmony review.

Other Jewish dating apps: 

These dating apps have less online reviews but may still be worth checking out: 

Basheret

This app is a combination dating app and matchmaking platform. You get three matches a day based on your preferences, which you can either accept, reject, or refer to a friend with whom you think that person would be more compatible. You can also switch into “Matchmaker mode” to set up friends from your phone’s contact list.

App Store: 4.3 stars

Google Play: Not available

Pricing: Basheret is free to use and message matches, but you can upgrade to a premium account to get 10 matches a day and return to previous candidates: 

• 1 month – $39.99
• 3 months – $60
• 6 months – $99
• 12 months – $160
• Personal service – $250

Mazel Match

Mazel Match is a free Jewish dating app that relies on swipe matching. Mazel Match requires you to upload three photos and fully fill out your profile to start matching with other daters. You can also leave video responses to questions on your profile rather than typing out answers. 

App Store: 3.0 stars

Google Play: 2.6 stars

Pricing: Mazel Match is 100% free.

Mazels

This app allows you to flip through local daters and send them a message or like their profile

App Store: 3.8 stars

Google Play: Not available

Pricing: Most features on Mazels are free, though you can pay for a premium membership to see who has liked you, see verified users, and chat with international daters.

• $24.99/month
• $119.99/year

International dating sites

If you’re outside of the U.S., check out these international dating sites: 

Jewish Cafe

Jewish Cafe is a Canadian dating site created in 2002, with users from all over the world. The site’s design is very dated — one of the subscription payment options is check or money order.

Jewish Cafe allows you to connect with other users in several ways: 

• Live chat rooms
• Quick match (matches based on your preferences)
• Browse users currently online
• Search for specific members

Pricing: Every Jewish Cafe member gets two weeks free, plus two weeks for each site referral and two weeks for posting photos. You don’t need to provide credit card information to start a free trial — you’ll just lose access once your free period expires.

• 2 weeks – $24.95
• 1 month – $32.95 
• 3 months – $44.95 ($14.98/month)
• 6 months – $69.95 ($11.66/month)
• 12 months – $99.95 ($8.33/month)

Mazal Tov

Mazal Tov is a Jewish dating site with a matchmaking component. User reviews say the site only works for people who are OK with being matched with non-local singles — including international matches in some cases.

Members share their Jewish background and commitment to Judaism and must include contact info for a reference (rabbi, mentor, or colleague). Devora Alouf of Israel is Mazal Tov’s self-proclaimed “love-coach,” who helps to vet and match up members. 

Pricing:

You can join Mazal Tov for free, but a premium membership allows you to open and reply to emails from other members and to use advanced search features: 

• 1 month – $39.99
• 3 months – $60
• 6 months – $99
• 1 year – $160
• $250 for “Personal Service” (customized matchmaking service)

Simantov

Simantov provides Jewish matchmaking services, with the goal of helping people get married.

Established in the United Kingdom in 1975, Simantov touts their highly educated matchmakers and love coaches, who speak several languages, including English, French, Spanish, Russian and Hebrew. Pricing is not readily available, but you can get a free matchmaking consultation. 

Simantov paid packages include Match Mentoring by Jo Hemmings, a renowned U.K. dating coach. 

Jewish dating FAQs

Is dating allowed in Judaism?

Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin, a licensed clinical professional counselor and Certified Relationship Therapist based in Baltimore, says dating is allowed in Judaism, since it supports the strong Jewish belief in marriage and building families.

Level of observance generally dictates how matches are found, and what the actual dates can look like.

How do I find Jewish singles?

Slatkin says Jewish singles often meet their partners through dating apps, matchmakers, and singles events, which are often hosted by Jewish organizations. Observance levels typically define how matches are found. 

Are there any free Jewish dating sites?

Several Jewish dating sites have robust free versions, which allow you to message with other daters without upgrading to a paid subscription: 

• JSwipe
• JWed
• Saw You at Sinai
• Basheret
• Mazel Match
• Mazels

Bottom line: What is the best Jewish dating site?

The best Jewish dating site for you will depend on your age, location, observance level, and the type of relationship you’re looking for.

Reddit users point to Jdate and JSwipe as two of the top sites for Jewish dating, though many also say mainstream apps like Hinge (which allows you to list religious preferences) are worth checking out. 

You may want to consider asking your like-minded Jewish friends which apps they prefer to use for Jewish dating.

Check out our reviews of other dating apps:

Christian Mingle	Zoosk	Coffee Meets Bagel
Elite Singles	Adult Friend Finder	Dating.com
Plenty of Fish	Catholic dating sites	SingleParentMeet
The League	Millionaire Match

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, though it’s also popular among daters over 40.

[wp-review id=”21629″]

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?

Is OKCupid a safe dating site?

Is OKCupid full of fake profiles?

How much does OKCupid cost?

• OKCupid basic plan
• OKCupid premium plan
• OKCupid incognito mode
• OKCupid free version
• OKCupid add-ons

FAQs about OKCupid

Pros and cons of OKCupid

OKCupid reviews

• OKCupid reviews on Trustpilot
• OKCupid Reddit reviews

OKCupid alternatives

• OKCupid vs. eharmony
• OKCupid vs. Plenty of Fish

Bottom line: Is it worth subscribing to 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.

How to choose the right pics for your dating profile

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:

Comment
byu/Extension_Mastodon_2 from discussion
inOkCupid

Beware TONS of fake profiles!
byu/finallyfree99 inOkCupid

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 basic plan

• $14.99/month for six months
• $19.99/month for three months
• $29.99 for one month
• No outside ads
• Send unlimited likes
• Option to set dealbreakers in your search preferences
• Unlimited rewinds to reconsider people you passed on
• Unlock all of your Intros

OKCupid premium plan

• $22.49/month for six months
• $26.66/month for three months
• $39.99 for one month
• Everything included in Basic
• See who likes you
• 3 free SuperLikes per week
• See all question answers even if you haven’t answered them yourself

OKCupid incognito mode

• $9.99/month for six months
• $14.99/month for three months
• $19.99 for one month
• No ads
• Keep your profile active while hiding your profile from anyone you don’t like or message
• Can turn it on or off at any time

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:

1. Large pool of users (30 million)
2. Lots of free features, including messaging matches
3. 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.

9 dating and relationship red flags

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. Match Group, also doesn’t have a rating.

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.

Do people actually use OkCupid? seems like the least used dating app IMO
byu/Kingu_badingu inOkCupid

Some also say OKCupid has gone down in quality since it was acquired by Match Group:

Is OKC just bad now? (circa 2022)
byu/Berabouman inOkCupid

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:

eharmony	Zoosk	Tinder
Christian Mingle	Adult Friend Finder	Match.com
Bumble	Elite Singles	Plenty of Fish
Christian dating apps	SingleParentMeet	Catholic dating sites
13 international dating apps	Seeking Arrangement	Dating.com
Hinge	Jewish dating sites	Millionaire Match
The League

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 3.1 stars.

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.

15 tips for guys interested in dating a single mom

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).

Plenty of Fish (POF) was launched in 2003 when most online dating sites required a subscription to join, so POF stood out by being 100% free.

Now, each day more than 3 million people in 20 countries and in 11 languages use the POF site and app (according to POF). While the app remained very dated for a long time, it debuted a new design in October, 2022, the new look has brought the app into the 21st century, along with some edgy new features including its comapign to promote “consexting” — discussing boundaries and receiving consent before sexting — and its No Dick Pic badge to reward guys who keep it in their pants (unless explicitly asked not to, and the share happens off the app).

But after signing up for the app and comparing it to other dating sites, I can say that in a sea (pun intended) of dating apps, Plenty of Fish is still worthwhile for the following reasons:

• Large number of people using it (large dating pool increases chances of success, depending on what you are seeking)
• Low prices
• Robust free version
• Emphasis on conversations, as opposed to swiping on photos
• Easy-to-use tech. See the app:

 Continue reading our review to learn more:

How PoF works

Is PoF a good dating site?

Is PoF full of fake profiles?

How is the match quality on POF? What are the success rates?

Pros and cons of PoF

Plenty of Fish reviews

• POF reviews on BBB
• POF reviews on Trustpilot
• POF reviews on Reddit

How much PoF costs

• How many free messages can you have on POF?

Which is better: Tinder or Plenty of Fish?

Plenty of Fish vs. Hinge

Is PoF worth it?

How does Plenty of Fish work?

On Plenty of Fish, you can browse user profiles in three ways:

1. View everyone who is currently online on one page
2. Swipe through suggested matches (like Tinder)
3. Search for members using filters like gender, age range, location, income, religion, body type/appearance, desire for children, etc.

Creating a profile on Plenty of Fish is easy:

1. Go to Plentyoffish.com, or download the app from the App Store or Google Play. 
2. Create a username and password, fill out where you live, your date of birth, gender, and ethnicity. 
3. Fill out a brief questionnaire about your dating preferences, including the type of relationship you’re looking for, as well as more obscure questions, like how ambitious are you, whether or not you own a car, and your longest relationship.
4. Choose one personality type that describes yourself — the possibilities are endless with choices including rockstar, yuppie, and yogi.
5. Create a bio, offering just enough information about yourself without disclosing personal information (POF warns against this).

Plenty of Fish uses 2-factor authentication to verify your account. So, you’ll need to use a mobile device that accepts text messages.

Once your profile is done, it’s time to start mingling with the other catches on the site. If you’re using POF on a computer, the layout is a bit different than a dating app.

On the homepage (which resembles a social networking app circa 2005), there’s an online tab that shows users who are actively using POF. You’ll also find a “Meet Me” page that’s very similar to Tinder, and a search page that allows you to look up profiles.

With a paid membership, you can also see who has liked your profile, as well as who’s new on POF.

While the desktop version puts messages front and center, POF’s app is designed to look more like a typical dating app, prioritizing the Meet Me feature.

Need help writing your profile? 14 examples of good dating profiles and how to pick profile pics.

Is Plenty of Fish a good dating site?

In general, Plenty of Fish is a good dating site because you can message other members for free, though this feature is limited. However, POF has its share of problems, including an abundance of spam profiles, and a smaller dating pool in less populated areas, according to users.

However, these complaints are largely true for all dating apps.

Is Plenty of Fish full of fake profiles?

Plenty of Fish has some complaints about scammers on sites like Trustpilot and Reddit, with some men claiming fake female profiles contacted them asking for money: 

POF is a cesspool of scammers and spammers – PSA
byu/4non3mouse inPlentyofFish

Are there any dating sites that aren’t this bad?
byu/notenoughedge inPlentyofFish

These are some tips to make sure you’re talking to someone real on Plenty of Fish:

1. Check for a selfie verification badge on their profile, which means Plenty of Fish has verified through a live photo that the person you’re seeing is actually who they say they are (or at least, they aren’t using a fake picture).

Unfortunately, I didn’t come across any of these verified profiles when I was browsing Plenty of Fish.

2. Save their profile image and run it through Google’s reverse image search to make sure the person didn’t steal someone else’s photo from the internet.

How is the match quality on POF? What are the success rates?

When I looked at my matches on Plenty of Fish, unfortunately only a handful were actually located within a 30-minute radius of where I live, and many were outside of the age range of people I’d actually date. 

Unless you indicate otherwise, POF will match you with any user 14 years younger or older than you, or 9 years older if you’re under 22. 

Plenty of Fish pros and cons

Pros of using Plenty of Fish

• Messaging available on free version
• Multiple ways to connect, through swipe-style dating and searching through profiles with filters
• Ability to add “no dick pics” badge to your profile
• POF’s search functionality makes it really easy to filter profiles by age, location, what you’re looking for, lifestyle, etc.
• POF has lots of users who are at various stages of life and seeking different relationships, so there is something for everyone

Cons of using Plenty of Fish

• Free version only allows one first contact message per day
• People can message you from anywhere — I got a message from someone in Chicago, which is nowhere near where I live
• Lots of reviews online talk about an abundance of spam profiles
• Lacking some modern features, such as connecting your Spotify or social media accounts

Plenty of Fish reviews

Reviews on Plenty of Fish are average compared to other dating sites. Common complaints call out the site’s abundance of spam profiles and incompatible/seemingly random matches.

Some users felt they were misled into a paid membership under the guise that they had a lot of hidden likes/views on their profile, only to discover that wasn’t the case once they actually paid.

POF reviews on BBB

Plenty of Fish has a B rating from the Better Business Bureau, though customers only give the company 1/5 stars. Its parent site, Match Group, LLC, is not rated by the Better Business Bureau.

POF reviews on Trustpilot

TrustPilot gives Plenty of Fish a favorable 2.5 out of 5 stars, but has quite a few 1- and 2-star reviews worth paying attention to.

POF reviews on Reddit

There are a lot of people on Reddit asking for real experiences on Plenty of Fish:

plenty of fish
byu/Inevitable_Escape948 indatingoverforty

POF full of fake profiles?
byu/Interesting_Ad_6961 inPlentyofFish

Most Plenty of Fish reviews on Reddit are negative:

More reasons why POF is now a joke ….
byu/TurbulentPiccolo9656 inPlentyofFish

Several people seem to believe the site has gone down in quality since it was acquired by Match in 2015:

My reason for leaving POF
byu/Independent-Dare-399 inPlentyofFish

Not getting any dates?
byu/Sisko2021 inPlentyofFish

Cost of Plenty of Fish

POF’s free version has many great features that make it stand out from other dating apps. Here is what you get with POF’s Free version:

• Free messaging (though you’re only allowed one first contact message per day)
• Add members to favorites list
• Get matches and view profiles
• Send voice messages
• Join forums

Should you want to upgrade, here is Plenty of Fish’s premium pricing:

• $20/mo for 3 months
• $15/mo for 6 months 
• $10/mo for 12 months

In addition to a premium subscription, Plenty of Fish offers Boosts so your profile will be shown to more people for 30 minutes:

• 1 Boost: $5.34
• 5 Boosts: $19.25
• 10 Boosts: $26.74

How many free messages can you have on POF?

If you have a free account, you can only send one first message per day, though you can send an unlimited number of messages to people you’re already in contact with. Paid members can send up to 50 first messages per day.

Which is better: Tinder or Plenty of Fish?

While Tinder came on to the scene almost a decade later than Plenty of Fish, both dating services cater to anyone looking for a connection (whether it’s a casual hookup or something serious). It’s just how they approach it that’s different:

Tinder is strictly swipe left/right dating, while POF offers that option plus the ability to search for other daters using filters.

POF allows you to message any member for free, up to one new person per day on the free version, while Tinder only allows you to chat with people you match with.

You may need to do some digging to find quality matches. Tinder is not rated on the BBB, while Plenty of Fish has a B rating. Both are owned by Match Group, LLC.

Now the differences: POF has a better Trustpilot rating at 2.5 out of 5 stars, while Tinder’s rating is 1.1. POF promotes compatibility, urging its users to discuss hobbies and interests upon messaging.

Tinder allows its users to have free reign when creating a profile, letting them add as much or no information. Also, Tinder lets you add your first and last name on your profile, while POF makes you create a username. 

As for which dating service is better? In my experience, people on Tinder are more active, and it’s easier to find matches in your area.

However, Plenty of Fish puts compatibility at the forefront of their users’ dating experiences. If you have the flexibility to match with people outside of your town, then POF might be a good option.

If you’re looking for convenience (and have some patience) then Tinder might be a good go-to.

Plenty of Fish vs. Hinge

Perhaps the biggest difference between POF and Hinge is that Hinge is geared mostly toward serious long-term relationships, while Plenty of Fish is for all kinds of relationships (even hookups).

Like Tinder, Hinge only lets you message with people you match with, though there’s no limit to the number of messages you can send. Unlike Tinder, Hinge has a BBB rating (B), and it does minimally better on Trustpilot with 1.2/5 stars (still below POF’s 2.7).

Hinge is only available as a mobile app for iOS and Android devices (while POF also has a desktop site) and shares the same parent company as POF and Tinder, Match Group, LLC.

Hinge uses prompts to help daters fill out their profiles, which you can flip through and either “like” or reject. Paid members also have the ability to search for daters with filters on Hinge, which is a free feature on Plenty of Fish.

The bottom line: Is Plenty of Fish worth it?

Plenty of Fish is a legit dating app that puts compatibility and conversation at the forefront. Though recent reviews say the app has gone downhill, it’s worth trying at least the free version, which has a lot of features and access when compared with other dating apps.

Read: Our dating app reviews

Here are our top three dating app recommendations:

eharmony	Tinder	Hinge
– A BBB rating – Focused on serious relationships – 150-point personality report – Apps for iOS and Android – 100% member verification (no catfishing)	– Billions of potential matches worldwide – For love, casual dating, and hookups – No long sign-up process – Easy, swipe-based matching – Photo verification	– Focused on serious relationships – Lots of free features, including messaging – Algorithm designed to match compatible people – Prompts encourage conversation – Hybrid between eharmony and Tinder

With its core mission to put women in control of their online dating experience, Bumble has become one of the most popular dating apps — boasting 100 million users across six continents.

Until recently, only women were allowed to message first on Bumble. However, in an effort to be more inclusive, the app now allows anyone in a same-gender match to message first, as well as non-binary people who match with other non-binary people and men.

Bumble is one of my favorite dating apps out there — it’s user-friendly and has great prompts to help you show off your personality. However, I’ll be the first to admit the app could use some improvements.

These are some things I don’t love about Bumble:

1. It’s not mandatory to fill out the prompts (I’ve seen plenty of profiles with just photos).
2. 24-hour window to message others is sometimes not enough. There have been many times I’ve matched with someone and completely forgot to message in time.

Still, I’ve had many positive experiences with men on Bumble. They’ve for the most part have been open and transparent on what they’re looking for.

Bumble has a free version, 1week membership trial, and a quick and easy sign up process.

Here’s what you need to know about Bumble:

Is Bumble legit?

How does Bumble work?

• How Bumble for dating works
• How Bumble BFF works
• How Bumble Bizz works 

How much does Bumble cost?

Pros and cons of Bumble

• Pros of Bumble
• Cons of Bumble
• Are there any Bumble dangers?

Bumble reviews

• Bumble rating with the BBB
• Bumble’s Trustpilot rating
• Bumble reviews on Reddit from men
• Bumble reviews on Reddit from women

Bumble alternatives

• Bumble vs. Tinder
• Bumble vs. eharmony

Bumble vs Hinge

Bumble FAQs

Bottom line: Is Bumble worth it?

Is Bumble legit? 

Yes — Bumble is a legit publicly traded company founded in 2014 in Austin, Texas, by Tinder co-founder Whitney Wolfe Herd.

In 2019, the holding company for Bumble and its sister site Badoo was acquired by investment firm Blackstone for $3 billion.

How Bumble works

Bumble has three different modes:

• Bumble (for dating)
• Bumble BFF (for friendships)
• Bumble Bizz (for professional connections)

Each of these modes is accessible within the same app, and you can easily switch back and forth between them.

Here’s how each of these modes of Bumble work:

How Bumble for dating works

Bumble is, first and foremost, a dating app, initially built with women in mind — though, as I’ve said, it’s taken steps to be more inclusive.

The Bumble app can be downloaded from both the Apple Store and on Google Play, or you can visit Bumble.com from a web browser.

Once you download the app, you’ll sync your profile in one of these ways:

1. With your Facebook account
2. Phone number
3. Apple ID

This verification helps to solidify that you are actually you — and that the people you swipe across are legit humans, instead of a bot.

Here’s how the process for setting up a profile works: 

1. Provide your name and an initial photo. You can add up to five more photos to your profile, but Bumble allows you to complete this step later if you prefer. 
2. Add your birthday. It’s important to note that, if you didn’t sync your profile to your Facebook account, you can, theoretically, choose any age you prefer.
3. Confirm your identity. Bumble now features 75 different gender options — including male, female, and nonbinary — and you also have the option to submit a new gender if you can’t find one that fits. 
4. Pick matching preferences. You’ll be asked to select which genders you’re open to dating. If you identify as a woman, you’ll always be allowed to message first. Nonbinary individuals can message first in all cases except when they match with a woman.
5. Provide your email address for account recovery. 

If you hold the power to message first, you only have 24 hours to do so, or the match will expire entirely. 

Once you’re in the app, matches appear immediately. You can filter matches by these specifications, but you can only choose two criteria at a time in the free version, in addition to age and distance:

• Height
• Excercise
• Star sign
• Education level
• Drinking
• Smoking
• Looking for
• Kids
• Religion
• Politics

You can also limit your matches to “verified” profiles only. This means, according to the app, that someone who works at Bumble has verified that the person is who they say they are via a photo taken in real time. You can do this, too. 

The last step before you start swiping? Setting up your profile.

Bumble allows users to add up to six photos of themselves (with the option of verifying their profile via a photo) as well as a short bio, interests, work and education, and various convo-starting prompts (i.e. what a perfect first date might look like, or what you might do in a zombie apocalypse). 

Note that Bumble works for guys the same way it works for women, except that only women can initiate a chat.

This means that both a man and a woman can “swipe right” on each other, but if the woman doesn’t message within 24 hours after the mutual connection is made, the match won’t go anywhere.

How Bumble BFF works

Bumble BFF uses the same framework as its dating counterpart, except that matches are looking strictly for friendship.

You do not have to download a separate app to use Bumble BFF, just switch modes in the app settings. (You’ll know you’re in Bumble BFF when the app switches over to a green color scheme). 

Until recently, only same-sex matches could be made on Bumble BFF. However, users now have the option to choose whether they’re open to female, male, and/or non-binary friends. Still, men and non-binary individuals cannot message women first on Bumble BFF.

How Bumble Bizz works 

As its name suggests, Bumble Bizz is designed for making professional business connections.

You can write a headline to describe yourself/what you’re hoping to accomplish on the app, include a short education and work history, and choose industries of interest to make connections.

How much does Bumble cost? 

Although Bumble is free to download and use, you can pay extra for a premium membership, which allows you to add an unlimited number of filters to your match search. You can also:

• See everyone who swiped right on you with Beeline
• Rematch with expired matches
• Extend your matches by 24 hours
• Undo accidental left swipes
• Get unlimited swipes
• Put yourself in the Spotlight so more people see your profile
• Use five SuperSwipes per week (which shows someone you’re extra interested)

Boost and Premium membership costs as of September 2025, which includes all versions of Bumble (dating, BFF, and Bizz):

Premium:

• 1 week – $29.99
• 1 month – $59.99
• 3 months – $119.99
• Lifetime – $119.99

Premium+:

• 1 week – $39.99
• 1 month – $79.99
• 3 months – $159.99

You can also highlight your profile to make it stand out with Bumble Spotlights and Superswipes:

Spotlights:

• 1 for $11.99
• 5 for $5 each
• 15 for $3.34 each
• 30 for $2.50 each

Superswipes:

• 2 for $5 each
• 5 for $4 each
• 15 for $2.67 each
• 30 for $2 each

Pros and cons of Bumble

Should you download Bumble? Here’s a rundown of some of the major pros and cons associated with the app, including feedback from experts we interviewed: 

Pros of Bumble

1. For heterosexual matches, the control is in a woman’s hand, eliminating an inundation of (potentially) unwanted messages.
2. You have the option of matching with only verified profiles (and verifying your own profile), leading to more authentic matches.
3. You can customize your profile with fun, unique prompts and sync your Spotify and/or Instagram for a more personal touch (and potentially stronger matches). 

How to choose the right pics for your dating profile

Cons of Bumble

1. You don’t technically have to verify your profile, opening up your swiping journey to potentially fake matches. 
2. Although this can be framed as a positive, the onus is on women to make the first move on the app, which can feel overwhelming or one-sided if you’re not prepared to put in the work. “The biggest con with Bumble is that many men who understand how Bumble works just swipe right on every woman and don’t bother reading their profiles until you send them a message,” says Eric Resnick, a dating coach and founder of ProfileHelper.com. “As a result, there’s no dating app with a higher rejection rate for women daters than Bumble.”
3. Matches expire within 24 hours if you don’t message the person. 
4. Nonbinary individuals cannot make the first move in a match with women, which has disgruntled members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Are there any Bumble dangers?

There are always dangers when it comes to online dating, but Bumble takes steps to ensure the safety of its users. 

When you join Bumble, you can opt to submit a selfie photo following a specific direction so Bumble can verify that you’re a real person (and that you are who you say you are). You can filter out matches to only see other verified profiles.

Bumble also has a block and report feature for members to use as needed. 

While one of the most common Bumble complaints is that men cannot message first in matches with females, this is another step Bumble takes to protect its female users. 

Check out our tips for dating safely online.

Bumble reviews

Bumble rating with the BBB

Despite having a trove of users, Bumble has closed more than 605 complaints on the Better Business Bureau’s website, with the vast majority of grievances related to billing issues. The BBB gives Bumble an F rating.

Bumble’s Trustpilot rating

Bumble only has 1.3 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. Most complaints accuse Bumble of having too many fake profiles and say the app is too quick to block paying members when another member reports them.

While most reviews are negative, there are a few random five-star reviews of people who say they met their current partner through Bumble.

Bumble reviews on Reddit from men

Here are some top Bumble reviews on Reddit: 

Has anyone else seen this profile dozens of times already?
byu/TalkToMyPunches inBumble

Bumble reviews on Reddit from women

This is what the ladies of Bumble have to say on Reddit:

It works!
by inBumble

Bumble alternatives

These are some other popular dating apps and how they stack up against Bumble:

Bumble vs. Tinder

Bumble and Tinder were actually founded by the same millennial female entrepreneur, Whitney Wolfe. They are both among the most popular dating apps, have great tech, are mobile-friendly and are great for meeting new people.

Is it better to be on Bumble or Tinder? Which is better? And what’s the difference?

From my experience, Bumble is a lot better than Tinder. Not only do I have several friends who’ve met their SOs on this app, but I also find the quality of men on this app to be better.

When I used Tinder, it sometimes felt like I was playing “How many likes can I get in a day.” I was left with lots of likes but no conversations.

On Bumble, (as much as I wish the window to make the first move is longer), I like that it weeds like all the guys who were just liking to like. I will admit, the 24-hour window is helpful when you do go on a liking spree and realize later that you’re not interested in a profile.

Another reason why I think Bumble is better than Tinder is its straightforwardness both with the actual app and the people. The app’s interface is clean and user-friendly — using it feels very second nature. I also like that there are prompts to help users fill out their profiles.

Tinder’s interface over the years has gotten clunky. There’s just too much going on and there have been many instances where I’ve Super Liked someone too many times.

Tinder doesn’t have prompts; you can just list a bunch of interests and your Spotify profile, but that doesn’t do much for me.

Check out our Tinder review.

Bumble vs. eharmony

Bumble, similar to Tinder and Hinge, is exclusively a swiping app. Its dating algorithm is largely based on your Facebook profile, which you are asked to connect upon signup (though you can also use your Apple ID or phone number). Bumble is for all types of relationships — serious, casual, and hookups.

eharmony, on the other hand, is a site devoted exclusively to serious, committed partnerships. When you join eharmony, you’ll answer an extensive questionnaire — about 150 questions — about yourself and your desired match, which takes about 20 minutes to complete. eharmony then shows you matches based on an extensive algorithm. 

One piece of advice: Each dating site attracts different types of people in different geographic areas, so ask your single friends which sites they like best in your city.

Also, eharmony’s free version is a good way to check it out without commitment — even if romantic commitment is your ultimate goal.

Check out our eharmony review.

Bumble vs Hinge

Hinge is one of my favorite dating apps, and for good reason — it’s actually where I met my current partner. 

Like eharmony, Hinge is more geared toward serious relationships than Bumble, which is for all kinds of daters, including those just looking for a hookup. 

Both apps have extensive free versions that allow you to message other users without paying for a subscription. They both also use creative prompts to help daters form a connection.

Check out our Hinge review.

Bumble FAQs

How many free swipes do you get on Bumble?

Although Bumble doesn’t publicly say how many free swipes you get, on my profile, I moved through 105 swipes before the app informed me I needed to upgrade to a premium membership before I could acquire more.

What age is Bumble good for?

Although women of any age can use Bumble, certified dating coach Melissa M. Snow believes that the app is positioned perfectly for women who are looking for something serious, including daters over 40. (Also, check out our post on meeting singles over 40 in person.)

Going against popular user opinion, Snow loves the 24-hour limit on returned messaging because it weeds out the guys who only check their dating apps on Friday nights when they want to hook up. 

“I find that many of my clients who are women, especially successful, emotionally intelligent, mature women, like Bumble better than the other dating apps,” Snow explains. “It was created with the intention of leveling the playing field and empowering women.”

“I want a boyfriend but a good man is hard to find.”

Is Bumble full of fake profiles?

As noted earlier, although the option exists to verify your profile, you don’t technically have to provide your true identity while using the app. When I created a fake profile for this article to better understand the swiping process, I was able to build a profile without my real photo or age.

Fake profiles are one of the top complaints for Bumble across popular review sites like Trustpilot and the BBB.

Should I use my real name on Bumble? 

If you want to foster legitimate connections, both the experts we interviewed say that using your real first name (minus your last name, of course) is key. 

How successful is Bumble for dating?

While there is no published data to show Bumble’s success rate, it continues to be one of the most popular dating apps, with 100 million users. 

However, numerous reviews in recent years show users are increasingly frustrated with the app’s overabundance of fake profiles and restrictive messaging policies. Bumble has low ratings from the Better Business Bureau (F) and Trustpilot (1.3/5 stars). 

Many users also complain about being banned from the site for seemingly no reason, (Oddly enough, Hinge reviews often have the same complaint). 

Bottom line: Is Bumble worth it?

If you’re looking to date or meet friends in your area, Bumble is worth trying out.

Even though women hold the power on Bumble, Bumble is worth it for guys who are tired of making the first move and being ignored or rejected.

Although you may not be able to message with as many women as you would on an app like Tinder, the women who actually connect with you may be more likely to want to engage and eventually meet in person.

Other dating app reviews from Bianca:

Christian Mingle	Zoosk	Match.com
Elite Singles	Adult Friend Finder	Dating.com
Plenty of Fish	OKCupid	SingleParentMeet
Catholic dating sites	Seeking Arrangement	Coffee Meets Bagel
Millionaire Match	Jewish dating sites	The League