Why OkCupid Is Worth It For Meeting Women
Is OKCupid worth it for meeting women, or is it a waste of time? Is the app worth your money? Can you find a relationship on the app?
Questions like the ones above are typical. Today, there are plenty of apps for meeting women, so you have plenty of options.
This post dives into the pros and cons of OkCupid, alternatives, and some tips for the app if you choose to use it. We will help answer the question: is OkCupid worth it for meeting women?
What are the pros of OkCupid?
The first way to address the "Is OkCupid worth it?" question is by looking at the positives of the app. Below are a few of the good things about the app.
Large User Base
There is a large number of users on OkCupid who are very active. A larger user base means you have a wider selection of potential matches, increasing the likelihood of finding a woman who aligns with your preferences and interests.
According to Dating Scout, OkCupid has over 10 million members - 33% of which are females. Basically, for every female member on the app, there are two male members.
Don't let the ratio of men to women scare you - every dating app has more male members than females. The key to success on OkCupid is a great profile and icebreakers; more on that below.
Detailed Profiles
OkCupid stands out for its detailed profiles. You'll need to add photos, but the app offers several profile prompts that allow you to showcase your personality.
Women can learn a lot about your interests, values, and personality from your profile, making it easier to find compatible matches. This isn't Tinder, where you're limited to a bio with a few hundred characters to describe yourself.
The prompts on OkCupid allow you to share your unique qualities, sense of humor, and lifestyle. Things you can do to grab a woman's attention include listing your favorite hobbies, books, movies, and music choices.
A lengthy, detailed profile gives women common ground to connect with. The structure of your profile on OkCupid allows you to present a more balanced picture of yourself over apps such as Tinder or Bumble.
Advanced Matching Algorithms
OkCupid's algorithm analyzes a wide range of user data, including responses to compatibility questions and profile information. This analysis results in more accurate match suggestions based on shared interests, values, and lifestyles.
When you sign up on the app, you'll answer several personality questions. These questions allow OkCupid to measure the percentage of compatibility with women using the app.
Match percentages are displayed on profiles.
The app allows you to answer more questions once your profile is up and running. Answering more questions gives the algorithm guidance on aspects of compatibility, helping find you better matches.
Another recent feature OkCupid offers is Cupid's Picks. This feature matches you with women who are not highly compatible with you but are also more likely to match with you.
Inclusivity and Diversity
OkCupid allows users to identify as a wide range of genders and orientations, ensuring that people of all backgrounds and orientations. This inclusive approach ensures that people of all genders and sexual identities can express themselves authentically on the platform.
OkCupid also offers diverse match options, allowing you to specify the genders you're interested in and providing a variety of relationship preferences, including non-monogamous and open relationship choices.
OkCupid offers several gender options.
Free Features and Accessibility
OkCupid offers a free version of its service, which allows you to create a profile, browse matches, and send messages. The free version can be an attractive option if you want to date on a budget.
You can do well on OkCupid with its free features. Here is a list of the things you can do on the app without spending a dime:
- Creating a profile - You can sign up for OkCupid and create a detailed profile for free. With the free version, you can add photos, write a bio, and specify your preferences.
- Browsing profiles - You can use OkCupid's match algorithm to receive match suggestions and browse user profiles.
- Sending likes - You can send "likes" to women to express your interest and potentially make a connection.
- Messaging women - You can send and receive messages from your matches without a paid subscription.
- Use basic search filters - You can use OkCupid's basic search filters to narrow down potential matches based on criteria like age, location, and relationship goals.
Messaging without matching
Unlike other dating apps, OkCupid allows you to send messages to women without matching. This ability to send an icebreaker opens up more opportunities for starting conversations with women.
Messaging women is free on OkCupid
What are the cons of OkCupid?
Now, let's look at the cons of OkCupid. The five below may help answer if OkCupid is worth it for meeting women today.
Increased Competition
As mentioned above, over 60% of users on OkCupid are men, so the competition to meet women can be intense. Standing out and getting noticed can be challenging because women often receive many messages.
With so many men vying for attention, it can become harder to get noticed or receive responses to your messages. You may find it frustrating if you're not getting the desired results.
The Presence of Paywalls and Premium Features
While OkCupid offers a free version, many features are locked behind paywalls. To access premium features like advanced matching algorithms, A-list, sending unlimited likes, and seeing who likes you, you'll need to subscribe to a paid plan.
The cost of OkCupid is in line with most dating apps. OkCupid also offers additional premium features such as boosts and read receipts (checking if a woman reads your message)
The premium cost of OkCupid is in line with other apps.
Time-consuming Nature of Using OkCupid
Online dating can be exhausting. Scrolling through profiles, sending messages or likes, and multiple conversations can take a significant amount of time and energy.
You may feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of profiles to browse and messages to manage. It's constant and never-ending.
Then there's meeting women for dates. You'll have to coordinate where you're meeting and free up time for dating.
Odds are you'll be meeting multiple women on your journey as well. All of this time adds up, and you may eventually get burnout.
Continuous False Starts
There's nothing worse than matching with someone, investing time in a conversation, getting to know them, maybe even meeting them, and nothing materializes into a real-life connection. The result is a total waste of your time.
One of the biggest frustrations on dating apps is the cycle of meeting someone, and it doesn't pan out - a total false start. It takes energy to regroup and start over, and only some men have the ability to refocus.
Limited Location Options
If you're in an area with limited female users, your potential match pool will be significantly smaller. With fewer women, it becomes more challenging to find compatible partners because you don't have many options to choose from.
If few women are in your area, you'll get a lower match quality. OkCupid may need to provide matches that aren't closely aligned with your preferences due to the lack of available matches in your area
Lastly, with fewer women in your area, you're likely to encounter the same profiles multiple times. Seeing the same profiles becomes monotonous and reduces the effectiveness of OkCupid.
Tips for using OkCupid effectively
If you want to use OkCupid, there are a few tips to follow. The tips below will help you get more matches, conversations, and dates.
Creating an Engaging and Authentic Profile
Put effort into your profile with high-quality photos and a well-written bio. You must make a positive first impression on women viewing your profile.
Most guys put zero effort into their profile and fail miserably. The key to success on OkCupid is a balanced profile that shows you're a guy living an interesting life.
Don't pretend to be someone you're not in your profile. Women will see right through the façade.
A good start is choosing a variety of prompts that allow you to showcase your interests, hobbies, and passions. Use photos that are clear and current and show you doing a variety of fun activities (hiking, concerts, wine-tasting, etc.).
Women will initiate conversations seeing a great profile.
Take the Initiative and Send Messages
Don't hesitate to send the first message to a woman because it shows confidence. Personalized, thoughtful messages are more likely to receive a positive response from women.
Many guys take the lazy approach - sending likes instead of messages. Although they are free on OkCupid, likes are low-effort and a terrible first impression.
Initiating conversations demonstrates your interest and enthusiasm for getting to know a woman. It's a proactive way to engage with potential matches and start meaningful conversations.
Making the Most of Premium Features
If you opt for a paid subscription, make the most of premium features like advanced search, message receipts, and knowing who likes you. The premium features can give you added benefits on OkCupid beyond the free version.
Use the App Daily
Staying active on OkCupid ensures you're engaged with women using the app. Nothing will kill your results faster than vanishing during a conversation with a woman.
Daily use also shows the algorithm you're an engaged user. This can increase the likelihood of your profile being shown to more women, as the app often prioritizes active users in search results.
Using OkCupid daily also enables you to discover new profiles, providing a broader range of potential matches and increasing the chances of finding someone who aligns with your preferences. You're more likely to find success using the app daily.
Give Your Profile a Tune-Up
Updating your profile at least once a month can pay huge dividends on OkCupid. Changes can catch the eye of new users or women who may have seen your profile before.
Over time, your interests, preferences, and lifestyle may change. Updating your profile presents a more accurate reflection of your current self, which can lead to more compatible matches.
Add new photos of yourself doing fun activities or interesting things. Playing an instrument, traveling somewhere, or doing karaoke are photos you can add to your portfolio.
Don't ignore your prompts as well. If women don't comment on prompts, it's a good idea to update them or replace them completely with a new one.
OkCupid often prioritizes active users and recently updated profiles in search results and match suggestions. A tuned-up profile can lead to increased visibility and profile views from women.
The best alternatives to OkCupid
While OkCupid is a solid option for meeting women, it's not the only app available. You have many options today for meeting women these days.
Different apps cater to different preferences and relationship goals, so it's crucial to find the one that aligns with your needs. Below is a list of the best alternatives for OkCupid:
- Match.com - One of the most well-established apps, known for its large user base and focus on long-term relationships. It provides a variety of features for finding compatible matches.
- Tinder - Often associated with casual dating, it's also used by many women looking for serious relationships. Its vast userbase allows you to explore various potential matches.
- Hinge - Designed for individuals seeking meaningful connections. It promotes detailed profiles and prompts to encourage authentic conversations and long-term relationships with women.
- Coffee Meets Bagel - Offers curated matches daily, focusing on quality over quantity. It's designed for those seeking genuine relationships rather than casual encounters.
- Zoosk - Offers a diverse user base and smart matching technology, making it a good option for those looking for various types of relationships, from casual to serious.
- OurTime - Designed for individuals over 50 who are interested in dating and seeking meaningful relationships.
- Bumble - Designed to facilitate meaningful connections, whether for dating, friendship, or professional networking, and offers a diverse user base and a range of features for various types of relationships.
- Facebook Dating - a feature within Facebook that connects with potential matches based on shared interests, groups, and events.
Pro tip: For a list of the pros and cons of the apps above (plus countless others), grab my free Dating App Cheat Sheet.
Final Thoughts
Is OkCupid worth it today? Yes, it's a solid choice for meeting women and worth checking out especially the free version.
OkCupid may not be the best app, but it's worth considering if you want a serious relationship. Match.com and Hinge are better apps for seeking relationships, but that's my preference.
Want something casual? Bumble and Facebook Dating are solid options.
If you want more tips for OkCupid, visit my one-stop resource for your photos, prompts, openers, and much more: The Best OkCupid Tips for Meeting Women.