Ok, so OkCupid isn’t great, but it’s effective and one that many use who believe in algorithmic love. That’s how they run this app. It’s 100% based on meeting people that you match with from their matching system. It’s definitely a unique app. If you’re interested in learning about it, then give this a thorough read and learn more about it.
OkCupid.com Review Tells ALL!
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Ever wished finding a date was as easy as solving a math problem? Well, that’s the idea behind a super popular dating app that boasts over 50 million users and a crazy accurate matching system.
This app uses a bunch of questions to figure out your personality and what you’re looking for in a partner. You’ll need to answer at least seven to get started, but don’t worry. You can always add more later. The more you answer, the better your matches will be!
The best part? It’s totally free to join, whether you prefer using their website or the handy mobile app. If you’re feeling fancy, you can upgrade to a premium membership for extra features to boost your dating game.
This app is perfect for young adults (think 18-44) who are serious about finding love but aren’t quite ready to settle down just yet.
Want to know more? Do some digging online – there are tons of reviews and articles about this app. Or, better yet, why not give it a try yourself? You might just find your perfect match!
The Positives
Quick and Fun Sign-Up
Creating an account on OkCupid takes just 5–10 minutes, making it one of the faster sign-up processes compared to other dating sites. You’ll start by providing some basic details like your birthday and email, or you can skip this step entirely by using your Facebook account.
Next, you’ll be asked a series of questions about your preferences on topics like religion, drinking, smoking, and politics.
You’ll also specify whether you’re interested in hookups, making new friends, or dating short or long-term. These questions help tailor the matching process to your specific background. You can also share your gender identity and sexual orientation, which will be displayed on your profile.
To add some fun to the process, OkCupid includes questions like “Would You Rather?” and open-ended prompts such as “Describe Your Perfect Day.”
You can pick which questions you want to answer and display them on your profile, making each profile unique. You don’t need to complete all the questions at once—you can always go back and answer more later.
OkCupid is available for both iOS and Android, and there’s also a desktop version.
LGBTQ+ Friendly
OkCupid offers an inclusive experience with 13 gender identities, 22 sexual orientations, and space to specify your preferred pronouns.
The platform supports the LGBTQ+ community by offering a wide array of options to accurately express gender identity and sexual orientation.
You can also choose the gender identities you’d like to match with, giving OkCupid a broader range of options compared to other dating apps.
Solid Free Version
OkCupid offers a free version (like Tinder’s free version) with numerous features that make it a strong choice for online daters. Unlike many dating apps that require payment to see profile pictures or send messages, OkCupid’s free version includes many useful features. Here are some highlights:
- Double Take: Similar to Tinder’s swipe feature, OkCupid’s Double Take allows you to undo a left swipe for free, giving you a chance to reconsider a profile.
- Match Percentage: Each user profile shows a match percentage, indicating how compatible you are based on the questions you’ve answered.
- Unlimited Messaging: You can message anyone, but they’ll only see your message if they’ve liked your profile back, which helps reduce unwanted messages.
- Tests: OkCupid members can take various tests to better refine their profiles and improve match quality.
- Search Filters: The search bar offers extensive filters, allowing you to search based on looks, background, availability, personality traits, and more.
- Track Your Likes: You can keep track of all the profiles you’ve liked, making it easier to follow up with your favorites.
Distinct Matching System
OkCupid’s matching system is based on how you answer questions, creating unique matches for each user.
As you answer questions, you’re matched with others who share similar responses. This matching algorithm is a key feature of OkCupid and helps enhance the quality of your matches.
The algorithm works by analyzing your answers, how you’d like potential matches to respond, and the importance of each question to you.
You can set the relevance of each question from irrelevant to mandatory, and the match percentage is based on how closely your answers align with those of potential matches.
The more questions you answer, the more precise your match percentages will become.
The Drawbacks
Paid Features Required for Full Experience
While setting up a profile, browsing through other members, and messaging is free, OkCupid reserves its most valuable features for Premium subscribers. These premium perks include:
- Viewing everyone who checks out your profile
- Storing up to 5,000 messages
- Changing your username
- Browsing profiles while staying invisible
- Advanced matching and search capabilities
- An ad-free experience
- Filtering your messages
- Knowing who reads your messages
- Seeing who likes you
Limited Verification
Creating an OkCupid account doesn’t require much verification. While you can sign up through Facebook, there’s also the option to join with just an email address—which might not even be verified.
You can block someone, but only after they’ve messaged you. Although OkCupid encourages users to report issues via email, there’s no ‘report’ button on individual profiles.
The site doesn’t make it clear if background checks are performed, which is concerning given the prevalence of fake profiles in the online dating world.
Security Vulnerabilities
In 2020, Check Point Research uncovered significant security flaws in the OkCupid app. These coding issues left user accounts vulnerable to hackers who could access personal information, including profiles, messages, and other details entered during sign-up.
Hackers could even take control of profiles, sending messages and altering profile information without the user’s knowledge.
Once alerted to these problems, OkCupid quickly made the necessary fixes. However, this incident highlights the importance of being cautious with your personal information on dating sites. Always be mindful of the details you share, and choose your online dating platforms wisely.
Unaddressed Complaints
Numerous complaints about OkCupid have gone unresolved. Some users have reported that their profiles were suddenly deleted without any warning or explanation. There have even been allegations that OkCupid might be distributing or selling user data, leading to accounts being removed.
OkCupid claims profiles are only deleted for violating terms of service, but some users assert that they were careful to follow the rules and were still inexplicably removed. Despite reaching out to customer service, many users have found their issues unresolved.
Although OkCupid advertises itself as a free platform, the reality is that many useful features are only accessible through a paid subscription.
FAQs
Q: Is OkCupid free to use?
Yes, OkCupid offers a free version that allows you to set up a profile, browse other profiles, and send messages. However, to access premium features such as viewing who has liked your profile, storing up to 5,000 messages, and browsing profiles invisibly, a paid subscription is required.
Q: What are the premium features of OkCupid?
OkCupid’s premium features include the ability to see who views your profile, change your username, store up to 5,000 messages, browse profiles anonymously, access advanced search options, filter through messages, see who reads your messages, and remove ads. These features are only available with a paid subscription.
Q: How does OkCupid verify user profiles?
OkCupid has minimal verification requirements. You can sign up using your Facebook account or an email address. However, email verification may not always be required.
The platform doesn’t provide clear information on whether it conducts background checks, so it’s important to stay cautious and report any suspicious activity.
Q: What security concerns have been reported with OkCupid?
In 2020, Check Point Research found significant security vulnerabilities in the OkCupid app, which made user accounts susceptible to hacking. Hackers could potentially access personal information, messages, and even control profiles.
OkCupid has since addressed these issues, but it’s always wise to limit the amount of personal information you share on any dating platform.
Q: Can I block or report other users on OkCupid?
Yes, you can block other users on OkCupid, but only after they’ve messaged you. While you can report issues via email, there isn’t a dedicated ‘report’ button on individual profiles, which might make reporting suspicious accounts less straightforward.
The Final Verdict
OkCupid’s got your back when it comes to free features. They offer a bunch of stuff that other dating sites might charge you for. This means you can actually connect with people without having to pay a dime. Plus, their app is just as good as the website, so you can date on the go.
It’s super easy to use and has all the basics you need to find someone special. Just be mindful of what you put on your profile, and make sure you follow the rules. If you’re new to online dating or just don’t want to pay for a membership, OkCupid is a great option to try out.
