OkCupid (Free / Premium) review 2027
Thousands of match questions, the most inclusive gender and orientation options, and a genuinely free experience
Is the OkCupid Worth It?
Best free dating app. OkCupid remains the most thoughtful free app and the most inclusive one, and its match questions still work. The pool has shrunk, which is what limits it.
OkCupid Pros & Cons
- Match percentage from questions predicted good conversations
- 22 gender and 13 orientation options
- Free tier allows full messaging on matches
- Profile depth suits people who write
- Smaller pool; quiet outside cities
- Dated app design
- No in-app video
What problem does OkCupid solve, and who is it for?
OkCupid is built for people who want depth without paying for it. Its match questions produce a match percentage that, in our testing, predicted good conversations, and the free tier allows full messaging on matches. That combination matters if you write a real profile and want replies rather than swipes. It is also the most inclusive app we tested, with 22 gender and 13 orientation options, which is why it remains the right fit for LGBTQ+ daters and anyone who wants depth for free. The trade-off is reach: the pool has shrunk, and it is quiet outside cities.
How did we score OkCupid, criterion by criterion?
OkCupid finished with 7.9 out of 10, third of seven apps tested. Match quality earned 22 of 30 points, measured by conversations per match, first dates per 30 days, and how well the algorithm reflected stated preferences. Safety and moderation earned 14 of 20, covering photo verification, in-app reporting speed, scam and bot profiles encountered per 100, and background-check and video-call features. Features scored a full 15 of 15 for profile depth, prompts, filters, voice and video, and what the free tier allows. User base earned 11 of 15, based on active profiles matching our testers' filters within 25 miles and demographic fit. Value earned 17 of 20, weighing whether the free tier is usable and the monthly price of the tier that removes the main limit.
Where did OkCupid stand out in testing?
The match percentage from questions predicted good conversations, which is the clearest signal that the questionnaire still does its job. The free tier allows full messaging on matches, so you are not paying to talk. Profile depth suits people who write, and the 22 gender and 13 orientation options are the widest set in the test. In measured results, testers logged 2.3 first dates per 30 days and encountered 4 suspect profiles per 100.
What do you actually get, and how is it built?
The app is free, with Basic at $19.99 and Premium at $34.99. The free tier is usable, and it is best for relationships and dating. Photo verification is included. Either person can message first after a mutual like. The core age range is 25–45, and it is owned by Match Group. There is no in-app video.
How does OkCupid compare with the other apps we tested?
Hinge scored 8.7 and costs $32.99/mo for Hinge+, with selfie video verification, either person messaging first, a 25–40 core age range, and in-app video. Bumble scored 8.5, with Premium at $39.99/mo, photo verification plus Private Detector for lewd images, women first or Opening Moves, a 25–40 core age range, and in-app video. Tinder scored 7.3, with Gold at $24.99/mo, photo verification and ID verification rolling out, either person messaging first, an 18–30 core age range, and in-app video. Coffee Meets Bagel scored 7.3, with Premium at $34.99/mo, photo verification, either person messaging first after a mutual like, a 25–40 core age range, and no in-app video. OkCupid sits above Tinder and Coffee Meets Bagel on score, below Hinge and Bumble, and it is the only one of these with no in-app video.
| OkCupid | Hinge | Bumble | Tinder | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our score | 7.9 | 8.7 | 8.5 | 7.3 |
| Price | Free; Basic $19.99, Premium $34.99 | Free; Hinge+ from about $32.99/mo; HingeX $49.99 | Free; Premium about $39.99/mo; Boost $19.99 | Free; Plus from $9.99, Gold from $24.99, Platinum from $29.99 (age-based pricing) |
| Usable free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Relationships and dating | Relationships | Relationships and dating | Casual and dating |
| Photo verification | Photo verification | Selfie video verification | Photo verification, Private Detector for lewd images | Photo verification; ID verification rolling out |
| Who messages first | Either after mutual like | Either | Women first (or Opening Moves); either in same-sex matches | Either |
| Core age range | 25–45 | 25–40 | 25–40 | 18–30 |
| Owned by | Match Group | Match Group | Bumble Inc. | Match Group |
| In-app video | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Where does OkCupid fall short?
Reach is where it lost. The pool is smaller and quiet outside cities, so the questionnaire advantage only pays off where there are enough people to answer it. The app design is dated, and there is no in-app video, which the other apps in this comparison offer.
Is OkCupid worth the price?
The app is free, and the free tier is usable, which is why value scored 17 of 20. The paid tier that removes the main limit is Premium at $34.99/mo, with Basic at $19.99. If you message matches on the free tier, the paid upgrade is not required to have conversations.
Who should buy OkCupid?
It is still right for LGBTQ+ daters and anyone who wants depth for free. If you write a full profile and want the match percentage to do the filtering, the free tier covers messaging on matches. If you need a large pool or in-app video, look at the higher-scoring apps above.
OkCupid at a Glance
Rubric v1: Match quality 30 · Safety & moderation 20 · Features 15 · User base 15 · Value 20. Score = Σ ÷ 10, locked Sep 11, 2026. How we rank.
Where to buy — prices checked Sep 11, 2026
OkCupid specifications
Where it loses
Reach.
Still the right pick for
LGBTQ+ daters and anyone who wants depth for free.
What owners say
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Changelog: Sep 11 — rank 1 → 2; Sep 11 — rank 2 → 3 · all changes