In a maze of dating sites and apps, OkCupid.com is arguably the most popular. There are many things to like about this platform, yet not all users find it so outstanding. Read this OkCupid.com review to find out whether this platform could be the right one for you.
There are two membership types; A-List Basic and A-List Premium. 1 month: $7.95 pm. 3 months: $6.35 pm. 6 months: $3.95 pm. With A-List Basic, you can see who likes you, get access to advanced search filters, get a receipt when someone reads your message and browse the site ad-free. 1 month: $24.90 pm. 3 months: $22.90 pm. Members on this platform who are surfing on a free membership shall not see other members who happen to like their profile. The search tool on the OkCupid website may, at certain times, showcase before the user erring profiles, which might seem offensive in some cases. Oh no!OkCupid requires you enable Javascript in your browser.
Born in 2003 and undoubtedly one of the most popular dating sites, OkCupid impresses with its simplicity. The platform is sleek and easy to navigate and is dedicated to singles of all ages and sexual orientations.
OkCupid Free Trial. OkCupid is an innovative online dating site that caters to an international singles community. It has an open approach, allowing users to register for free, and furthermore freemium members can live chat without restrictions. Premium features are available either through subscription or by buying booster credits as you wish. Accounts on OkCupid are entirely free, forever, but we do have a few paid feature offerings. The paid features are great to have, but not completely necessary for using the site. We always let you see your mutual Likes for free. You can see your recent mutual Likes in the New Matches tab of your messaging page.
With a trustworthy reputation and enhanced user experience, this online dating platform stands out from the crowd because it’s free. Yes, it has paid membership plans too. But browsing profiles, viewing them, and interacting with other members is a thing all users can do.
Yet, users seem to have a love and hate relationship with this feature. On one hand, it’s awesome to message anyone you like. On the other hand, this feature encourages everyone to interact, not only those interested in romance.
In other words, this platform is ideal for romance but you could very well chat with people who only want to make virtual friends.
That said, OkCupid.com truly has the potential of matching people. With an ample base of users and an impressive number of singles looking for their better half, this online dating site promises easy interactions and a lively environment where to be.
Contents
- 2 What Is OkCupid.com?
- 3 OkCupid.com Features
Things To Consider Before Signing Up To OkCupid.com
Free and easy to use, OkCupid.com may seem like the perfect dating site to try. And up to an extent, it really is. This platform addresses all users; whether you’re looking for a pal or for the love of your life, there are high chances to find it here.
Moreover, you can sign up and start looking for romance regardless of your sexual orientation, which is awesome.
Yet, some users have reported it difficult to find long-term relationships on this site. The reason is quite simple. Due to a free messaging system, all users can interact with each other. And this means that you can receive many messages from users that are not interested in romance at all.
With a majorly young audience, OkCupid also counts a high number of users who are interested in hookups and short-term dating.
However, this doesn’t mean you can’t find your Mr. Right here. Fortunately, each member can specify the desired type of relationship and the matching algorithm sorts these answers to show you interesting potential matches.
Another negative side of the free messaging system is that it encourages scamming. Although there were only a few cases, some members complained about fake profiles.
Furthermore, OkCupid.com counts thousands of active members but the vast majority are based in large cities. If you’re from a quiet town and are looking for a potential match within a manageable distance, this platform might not be the right one for you.
All in all, this dating platform is awesome as long as you understand its benefits and limitations.
What Is OkCupid.com?
OkCupid.com is easy to define as a dating site and social platform in one. With an intuitive design, a quick signup process and a no-frills navigation, this dating site attracts thousands of new users each day.
Counting hundreds of active members at any given time, OkCupid.com is unlike the other dating sites – it’s free. An easy signup process allows you to create a profile from scratch or to use your Facebook account for a quicker progression.
Upon providing your first name and a password, the platform walks you through the creation of a personalized profile, including a bio section, open-end questions, and a series of yes or no questions. All this information is then used by the matching algorithm to suggest potential matches.
Once the free registration is over, you can dive right into browsing and search for matches. No need to wait for your profile to be approved and no need to subscribe to a paid plan. You can just “like” those profiles that seem interesting if you want to find them at a later time, or just send a message to someone you really like.
An attractive interface with updated homepages allows users to have a real social experience that goes beyond online dating.
Whether you’re looking for hookups, occasional dating, or something more serious, this platform is the right place to be. And to help you decide whether or not it’s worth to invest time and energy in chatting with someone, OkCupid.com even shows you the matching compatibility you have with every profile you’re visiting.
For an enhanced experience, OkCupid also has a paid plan for members who want to take online dating one step further. The Premium membership gives you access to extra features, such as advanced search options and message storage, invisible browsing, and the ability to change your username.
OkCupid.com Advantages
- Free membership. Browsing through profiles and interacting with the other users is completely free; you can start chatting as soon as the signup process is over.
- Quick signup. Although OkCupid bases its matching algorithm on a quiz, the process is very quick and tireless.
- Friendly interface. Unlike many other dating sites, this platform presents a super user-friendly interface that incorporates features similar to a social platform.
- Cheap subscription. OkCupid.com has a Premium section reserved to paid members and subscribing to a Premium profile is way cheaper than all the other sites are offering.
- Authentic experience. The platform is asking users to provide their first name instead of a username during the signup phase, and this makes the whole online dating experience more authentic.
OkCupid.com Disadvantages
- Free browsing and interaction potentially attract more scammers; the platform also acts as a place for socializing, promoting interaction between members who aren’t necessarily looking for romance.
- You’ll have to pay to gain access to all the features and perks this site has to offer. This includes seeing who has liked your profile.
- Members from small towns have fewer chances to find a potential match who is close to them.
OkCupid.com Features
After knowing the pluses and minuses of this great platform, it’s time to learn more about its features. Let’s have a detailed look at them.
Easy Sign up
Creating an account and starting to browse through profiles on OkCupid.com is dead easy. This online dating platform gives members the possibility to sign up either by filling a profile from scratch or by using their Facebook account.
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How To Get Okcupid Premium For Free
In the latter case, the platform will just use your first name as it’s registered on Facebook; otherwise, you’ll only have to provide your first name and to create a password to get on to the next step.
Similar to eHarmony and EliteSingles.com, OkCupid will walk you through a quiz-like signup process. You’ll be asked to answer a few yes or no questions along with some open-answer questions. Besides, you’ll also be asked to fill in a short bio.
Uploading a profile image is also possible during this phase, after which you’ll be able to start browsing.
What impresses about the signup process is its rapidity. Although you’ll have to answer questions, the quiz is fun and not at all tiresome.
Free Interactions
Probably the best feature of OkCupid is its free interaction. All members are free to browse through profiles, put a “like” on those profiles that seem interesting, or just send a message to another member without having to pay a dime.
So, a legit question arises. If OkCupid.com lets its members chat for free, how does it make money? Before thinking that there is something fishy going on, the platform earns through advertising. It also has a paid membership section for those users who want to gain access to the site’s extra features.
Extra Features
Available for the Premium members only, the extra features include advanced search options, the possibility to navigate in invisible mode, and the possibility to see who liked your profile.
The advanced search options include searching members in a certain geographical area or from a determined age group.
By navigating in invisible mode you’ll be able to browse and check all the profiles you want without anyone realizing you’re online. This is particularly useful if you’re already chatting with a potential match but just want to see what else is out there.
Seeing who liked your profile is also awesome as you’ll be able to discover new members that you wouldn’t have considered otherwise.
Another nice perk as a Premium member is the option to save your messages, an option that allows you to find your chats easier and without losing precious time to organize your inbox.
Quickmatch
Quickmatch is OkCupid’s matching algorithm which is similar to that used by other platforms. Based on the answers provided to the questions during the signup phase, the algorithm finds potential matches and displays them for you.
This doesn’t limit the other functionalities of the site but lets you discover interesting profiles without a hassle.
The feature is particularly useful if you’re using the platform to find long-term romance, as it helps you avoid losing time.
Social Aspects
More than a dating site, OkCupid.com is also a social network. Encouraging members from all backgrounds to sign up and interact, the platform doesn’t limit interactions to dating.
During the sign up phase, you can choose whether you’re interested in long-term dating, short-term dating, or friendship. Ideal for open minded users, the site also attracts the LGBT community by promoting equality between genders and sexual orientations.
Beyond the actual functionality, the social aspects are reflected in the design. The platform has an attractive interface and is very easy to use. It promotes the use of photos and albums, while the bio pages are ideal for members to speak about themselves.
Besides the online platform, an app available for Android and Apple devices allows users to take online dating with them everywhere.
Security
Despite the initial fears the platform may be unsafe because it’s free, OkCupid proved itself a very secure site.
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Yes, you may bump into fake profiles on this site. But after all, fake profiles manage to make it even onto the securest dating sites. Apart from this, OkCupid protects the users by giving them the chance to interact anonymously.
You can choose what to share and what not to share with the other members; by applying to a paid plan you can also change your username at a later date to enhance your anonymity. But whether you’re a Premium member or not, you’ll still be able to use the site’s communication tools for as long as you like.
To keep users safe, the platform also offers an array of Online Dating Safety Tips and other useful online dating information on their personal blog.
Final Thoughts
OkCupid.com is certainly one of the most interactive online dating sites. Allowing all members to browse and interact with each other, this platform takes online dating one step further. After all, a Premium subscription shouldn’t stand between you and your perfect match.
Despite this, the Premium membership unlocks a world of new features which include anonymous navigation, advanced search options, and more.
Moreover, one of the newest updates only sends to members those messages coming from profiles they liked. In this way, the platform limits the number of spam messages majorly towards heterosexual single women looking for romance.
Although one might thing OkCupid is not secure enough, I honestly didn’t feel unsafe on the platform. On the contrary, OkCupid was fun to use, engaging and entertaining.
Another thing I thoroughly enjoyed is the platform’s design. This online dating site follows the design pattern characteristic to most social networks, a feature that makes OkCupid.com way more enjoyable than many other platforms.
As a bottom line, OkCupid.com is a site that impresses. Easy to use, intuitive, and interactive, it is a dating site for all. No wonder why this platform is as popular as it is.
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Cheyenne M. Davis reviews the most popular dating apps for singles and asks the question, are they fat-friendly?
As I continue on my virtual quest to find love, I took some time to evaluate the effectiveness of Tinder and opted to delete it altogether. Interacting with the app gave me zero joy. After my unsavory experience, I decided to diversify my dating apps, being more intentional about what kind of relationship(s) I am looking for and what apps would warrant the best results.
This inspired me to download OkCupid, an app created for folx to find deeper connections and, hopefully, “The One.” Created by Sam Yagan, Chris Coyne, Max Krohn and Christian Rudder, the platform is owned by Match Group, the dating app conglomerate that I discovered to be the owner of Tinder, Hinge and several other services. Knowing this, I was already leery about OkCupid and what it would have to offer. However, I tried to go into the process with an open mind and created a profile.
Creating a Profile
Making a profile on OkCupid was a straightforward yet very lengthy process. It starts off with basic questions such as your age, gender, sexuality, partner preferences, and what type of connection(s) you’re seeking (i.e. friendship, hookups, long and/or short-term relationships). Once that part is completed, you move on to the sections where you add pictures and pick from an endless list of question prompts to answer. Being that I am a Virgo, I knew it was my duty to go above and beyond when filling out my profile, making sure to write myself in a way that comes off as ambitious yet quirky.
As an aside, I love how OkCupid allows you to pick and change your pronouns in your profile. I also appreciate the variety of sexual identities that the app has for you to choose from as well. At this stage, it appeared that the development team was working hard to make the space as inclusive as possible, something I definitely wanted to see with Tinder.
Okcupid App Download
As nice as that is, I still spent what felt like an eternity crafting my profile. Afterward, I took a quick break and went on to the next portion: IQupid.
Now, this was the part of exploring OkCupid that really made me question whether or not I was on a dating app or taking the SAT. The purpose of IQupid is to use responses to a number of questions as data for matching you with potential partners based on likes and “Dealbreakers.” The questions range from basic to thought-provoking, and some examples include queries on love languages, politics, and even COVID precautions and comfortability. However, the question that really struck a chord with me was “If one of your potential matches were overweight, would that be a dealbreaker?”
Referring to larger-bodied people as “overweight” is very problematic and comes from a place of medically oppressive body politics. Additionally, I noticed that there weren’t any questions asking if dating a thin or smaller person is a dealbreaker, so seeing any inquiry conflating fatness with undesirability was an automatic red flag for me.
Source: OkCupid
(Note: I saw this question and another one similar to this a while back when I initially made my profile a few months ago. However, it has since then been removed.)
This question aside, I do feel that IQupid can be a fun way to get to know other people, but it doesn’t really show the full scope of their personality. I also observed that it is a waste of time because most people don’t even answer more than 10 questions in total.
Paid Membership Vs Free Membership
Like Tinder, OkCupid also offers both paid memberships and a free plan. However, this app’s membership model is split into three tiers: free, basic, and premium. OkCupid basic removes in-app ads and allows for users to eliminate options based on their IQupid-generated Dealbreakers. OkCupid premium not only includes all the features of OKCupid basic but also allows you to see who likes your IQupid responses as well as prospective matches regardless of whether you’ve answered those questions or not. As for the free option, that only allows you to chat with matches. All tiers of membership enable you to search for people based on their race, height, sexual orientation, and other filters. It also features the same swipe system as their “hot or not” cousin, Tinder.
I have used both the OkCupid Premium and free memberships, and comparable to my experience with Tinder, I really don’t see a difference between the two. In terms of my interactions on the app, I don’t have many matches, nor have I received a large number of messages. When it comes to the limited experiences I’ve had on OkCupid however, it has been a bit of a mixed bag. For instance, a small number of messages that I’ve received have been thoughtful and really showed that people have taken the time to read my profile.
Okcupid Free Dating
On the flip side, I have found that most of the people that do like me and send me messages are either your quintessential denizens of the Fat Fetishist faction who only have “Message me to learn more” on their profile, or they are Incels whose IQupid answers align with alt-right ideals. For example, A large chunk of the commentary I have received has come from white men who “love my size” and are looking for me to “force them into submission” or perform free labor to teach them how to be better lovers to Black women. Unsurprisingly, I also get a lot of unsolicited invitations to “sit on their faces” and engage in a slew of other sexual acts. Honestly, it’s giving “same ish different platform.” Y’all know the vibes!
Oddly enough, OkCupid has triggered a resurgence of past partners reaching out to reconnect with me. I’ve awkwardly ran into a few former lovers, had some small talk here and there, and even exchanged numbers to yet again have more small talk that leads to nowhere. It’s a cute kiki in the moment, but definitely a long shot from what I’m looking for.
Lastly, a lot of men on OkCupid have horrible offline behavior. My absolute worst experience on the app was with a man who actually messaged me on Instagram. Initially, everything seemed fine. He briefly complimented my looks, and then the conversation went left after he mentioned how I looked as if “I lost weight” in my pictures and that “I’m lucky to be the only person during COVID that hasn’t gained weight.” Naturally, I was taken aback by his comment and told him that it was inappropriate, only to be met with being called “fragile, triggered and b*tcy [sic].” I gladly corrected his spelling to include the missing h prior to blocking and reporting him on both Instagram and OkCupid.
Source: Cheyenne Davis / MadameNoire
The Verdict
To be 100 percent transparent, I’m giving OkCupid a fat friendliness rating of -10/5. The app is not only blatantly fatphobic, but is also the antithesis of what I think an app designed to “find love” should be. I appreciate the attempts to make the app more sex positive and gender inclusive. However, when it comes to making the space including of fat folx, having questions that relate fatness to being unattractive is highly discouraging and doesn’t leave room for larger-bodied individuals to feel seen or desired when using the platform. I most definitely don’t approve of being sexualized or being met with violent behavior for setting boundaries on how I’d like to be treated.
Now, I know you’ve said and are still thinking, “Cheyenne, if these online platforms are causing you such strife, then why do you continue to use them?” Although this is a valid question, I think it’s also a good time to reiterate that dating as a fat, Black femme is difficult AF in general, and finding a space where we can do so freely is equally challenging. Divesting from negativity is always a good choice, but not acknowledging the harm and lack of diversity that these apps refuse to address doesn’t help to make the experience more equitable or even enjoyable, either.
OkCupid looks good on paper, and some may even say that it looks good on screen due to having an “aesthetically pleasing” color scheme and app interface, but the proof is most definitely in the pixelated pudding. This app has denied and will continue to find ways to deny fat people access to having fruitful experiences on the platform, and it shows.