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OkCupid vs Tinder: We Tried & Compare Both To Find Out What Works in 2024
“OkCupid vs. Tinder, which one is better for me?” Readers send us questions like this one every week asking us to rate their favorite dating apps from best to worst.
The truth is, deciding which app is best for you will depend on many things, including both your location and goals. For instance, OkCupid performs pretty well in America and Canada, but it’s Badoo and Tinder who own the online dating market in Thailand and the rest of Asia.
Also, some apps are branded to be synonymous with hookups while others will promise you a relationship six months or less from signing up with them.
Either way, you have to research your favorite app before using it. As we found out after testing out and rating 100+ different hookup apps there are plenty you want to avoid. Your time is limited, and if you’re someone who takes online dating seriously, then you want the bang for your buck to be the best. For that, we decided to run a series of comparisons between the top dating apps to decide which is better in what. And today we’re starting with OkCupid vs. Tinder.
The Dating Apps Most Recommended By Dating Experts
If you haven’t had a great time using dating apps to this point it’s probably because you’re using the wrong ones. There are a couple of apps that dating experts have been recommending to regular guys that will work for you:
| Site | Our Experience | Our Rating | Free Trial Link |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Casual Encounter Site  | Experience Highlights
| 9 | Try AFF For Free |
Great If You're Handsome  | Tinder Highlights
| 8 | Try Tinder |
2nd Best For Most Guys  | Experience Highlights
| 8 | Try Passion |
The only way you can get the full picture of how a dating app works is to try it yourself. To be fair, we didn’t feel any pressure since we’ve been using these apps for years and we already knew to a degree where each of them stands, but we wanted our results to be as fresh as possible so we dedicated a whole six months to the entire experiment.
- We spent several months using both the paid and free versions of both apps
- We sent dozens and dozens of messages to all kinds of women (different ages, demographics, etc.)
- We tried to set up dates or at least a good conversation, and judged the quality of the interaction based on the available information those women used on the app (i.e., age, photos, features, goals, preferred traits…etc)
- We compared our findings to those from 100+ other dating apps we have recently reviewed to make a solid estimate on where both apps stand
Our In-Depth OkCupid vs Tinder Review
Is Tinder better than OkCupid or is OkCupid better than Tinder? It really depends on a lot of factors. But to help you decide which app is better for your needs, here’s how we rate these two options on a number of criteria:
 |
 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Our team rates each site objectively based on many hours of independent research, the features each site offers, and how it compares with other sites. The ratings are the opinion of our editors and their extensive experience. |
7 | 7 |
| Quality of Women Our opinion of how attractive the typical woman is that uses this site and how easy they are to connect with compared to other sites. |
6 | 7 |
| Popular How many people are using this site to actually meet people compared to other sites. |
9 | 8 |
| Usability How easy is this site to use and how quickly can an average person begin meeting people compared to other sites. |
7 | 10 |
| Privacy & Safety Does this site take proper precautions to safeguard its members, their identity, and their data. |
10 | 10 |
| Effective Our opinion of how easily an average person will be able to achieve their dating goals with this site compared to other sites. |
3 | 8 |
| Value Will the time and money spent using this site pay off for an average person based on the opinions and experience of our editors. |
1 | 7 |
After spending months using both of these apps we have a very good idea about who will do well using each one. Let’s find out if either of these apps is a hard pass or will end up on our list of the best hookup apps. Based on our experience and feedback from many of our readers this is what we recommend:
Who should use OkCupid?
Anyone who has about 30 minutes to answer their survey.
OkCupid may not be the best out there but because it still has some action. It was of the first mainstream dating sites, but it’s not outdated at all. It’s still incredibly popular among people of different age groups, with 9% of Americans using the site.
So how does OkCupid work? First, you need to answer A LOT of questions. Using your answers, OkCupid’s algorithm helps find potential matches for you. Then you can contact them and maybe set up a date if your conversation goes well.
While OkCupid is popular for finding relationships, it’s also possible to find hookups on the site. Just keep in mind that most OkCupid users tend to seek relationships as opposed to anything casual.
Who should use Tinder
Again, EVERYONE.
If dating apps are pools, Tinder is the ocean. It’s so popular people say “I’m on Tinder” when they want their friends to know that they’re dating online. All it takes to get swiping is a decent profile that will hopefully get you some matches and some time to swipe through all the women in your area.
Of course, Tinder can be spammy sometimes. I’ve been to places where women pose on Tinder with their wedding dresses. I’ve also been to places where Bumble and Hinge outperform Tinder, but these are still exceptions.
Tinder works everywhere, and if you’re anywhere in the U.S., Canada, Western Europe, or any major city then Tinder will be fun to use.
According to recent reports, the majority of Tinder users are between 30 and 44 and more than half the users are between 18 and 44. This means it’s suitable for every man, even old dudes.
Just keep in mind that Tinder’s userbase tends to favor more casual relationships. Using Tinder to find a relationship is getting more common, but it’s still not necessarily the norm.
Is Tinder or OkCupid better for serious relationships?
We love using dating apps to find partners for long-term relationships. There are a handful of great dating apps you should consider and out of these two I’d go for Tinder for many reasons:
- Performance and popularity: According to recent reports, 13.6% of Tinder matches can lead to marriage, which is a huge number. If dating apps are pools, Tinder is the ocean. And since dating is a numbers game, then it makes sense to fish in Tinder if you’re only allowed to focus on just one app.
2. Looks – In terms of looks, the quality on Tinder is better than that on OkCupid, especially for women between 30 and 44 y/o which is the age most women decide to settle down.
Sounds like I’m exaggerating?
Take a quick look at the success section at OkCupid.com then visit the Tinderweddings hashtag on Instagram and compare for yourself. This can still mean nothing, however, from our humble experience, you’re better off finding a relationship on Tinder – or even Bumble or eHarmony – than on OkCupid.
But there are still cons to using Tinder to get a relationship:
- Compatibility – It’s easy to go on a Tinder date only to realize that she’s a Karen, or she wants to stay free as a bird for as long as possible and only want casuals.
Up until recently, Tinder didn’t match people based on their interests but rather on their location, which is fine for hookups but not good if you want a partner with specific traits
And that’s where OkCupid steps in. You may find luck meeting your ideal partner on Tinder but on OKC, it’s not left to chance.
The sheer volume of questions they make you answer on OkCupid is a pain in the ass at first. But they’re here to connect you with partners with similar views who are more likely to couple up in the future.
Think demographic, ethnicity, political and sexual opinions, and relationship status…these are the things that make or break a relationship in the long run, and luckily, the algorithm at OKC takes care of them.
2. Selection – A hot girl’s Tinder DMs is like the N train in NYC on a Tuesday morning: Crowded AF.
…and you barely get a chance to make an impression or even show up on her swipe list unless you have a cool profile or if she has enough patience to flick through a hundred guys just to see your picture.
We also highly recommend eHarmony if you want a serious relationship. Like OkCupid, eHarmony has a solid matching system thanks to the signup survey you need to answer. However, we’ve found that eHarmony’s matching algorithm works much better. Plus, like Tinder, eHarmony is incredibly popular. But unlike Tinder, eHarmony’s entire userbase is focused on finding serious relationships: no need to worry that your 100% match is only in it for one night.
Is Tinder or OkCupid better for casual fun?
OkCupid is fun because the users are fun and mostly liberal so expect some wildness in their personality especially from young girls who have years ahead before they settle down. But like I said, fish where other fishermen go, especially in foreign countries and you’re not going to find OKC near the top of our favorite hookup apps that work for guys.
Don’t expect all dating apps to be loaded with women, especially in Asia, Africa, and parts of Eastern Europe. Some of these places have their local dating apps, which are far more popular.
Tinder, according to this survey, is the most downloaded dating app outside America with 6.5 million monthly downloads with Badoo and Bumble ranking second and third respectively.
So what does this mean?
It means that if you’re allowed just one dating app on a trip, it should be Tinder. It’s the dating app that women know of, and use. The quality of your matches will differ from one city to another, but Tinder still got more buzz than OkCupid.
Tinder and OkCupid, as popular as they may be, still have lots of users who prefer relationships over hookups. If you want a site where every single person you meet wants a hookup, AFF is the site for you. With everyone looking for casual fun, you won’t even need to ask if the woman you’re talking to is looking to hook up. On top of that, AFF’s search filters can help you find the exact type of hookup you need: from ONSs to friends with benefits to sexy encounters involving some seriously niche kinks.
The Dating Apps Most Recommended By Dating Experts
If you haven’t had a great time using dating apps to this point it’s probably because you’re using the wrong ones. There are a couple of apps that dating experts have been recommending to regular guys that will work for you:
| Site | Our Experience | Our Rating | Free Trial Link |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Casual Encounter Site | Experience Highlights
| 9 | Try AFF For Free |
Great If You're Handsome | Tinder Highlights
| 8 | Try Tinder |
2nd Best For Most Guys | Experience Highlights
| 8 | Try Passion |
Tinder vs OkCupid: Which is more popular?
Tinder has the world record for the number of daily swipes with 3 billion swipes made by users some day in March 2020. It’s undoubtedly the more popular choice.
OkCupid site traffic:
Tinder site traffic:
Guess this says it all. Tinder is more popular than OkCupid in terms of:
- Traffic: with almost 14 million monthly views compared to only 1.5 million for OKC
- Popularity in the US: Tinder again controls the market share with 51 percent. Next to it are Bumble, Match, eHarmony, and then OkCupid (fifth) with almost half the size at 24 percent.
- Popularity worldwide: As I said earlier, Tinder is the most used dating app across the globe. Unfortunately, OkCupid is nowhere on the top-10 list which makes it not ideal for travelers.
How easy is it to find a match?
Again, it’s Tinder.
As I said earlier, the right profile with the right attitude will get you a match anywhere – and we have many guides to teach you how to set those up.
This means that a sharp profile will get you a ton of matches on both apps. But still, the entry barrier on OkCupid can be a bit of a problem since you need to answer so many questions and quizzes that can be a turn-off to many people. And if you don’t answer honestly, you might end up with matches that aren’t your type.
Yes, those questions come for a reason but only to those who have time to answer them.
Which app has the best quality women?
You won’t meet quality women if you have crappy profile pictures. Neither the women nor the app will let it happen. So regardless of where you put your photos, they should be attractive.
But regardless, women on Tinder tend to look good both on paper and in real-time. We’ve been catfished several times on OKC to the degree that many of us decided not to go on an OKC date before face-timing the girl. We also noticed that the quality of women lower dramatically on OKC as they moved up the age ladder (i.e., chicks in their mid-30s to mid/late 40s).
So again, we’re voting for Tinder.
Which app is better for men to use?
We don’t see a problem using both. Apps are the modern way of dating and you want to get your profile on as many high-quality apps as possible to guarantee you never run out of dates.
Texting takes time, which is why some people read app comparisons like this one so they don’t waste their time – or money – on the wrong app. However, the problem isn’t deciding which app to use, but rather it’s freeing up some time each day (or every other day) to text women.
It doesn’t matter where the next notification will come from, as long as it comes from a hot woman. Focus first on fixing your dating profile and learning how to text women and take them out. Once you sort this one out, install both Tinder and OkCupid (and any similar app) and start rolling.
How much does Tinder vs OkCupid cost?
The difference between how much Tinder charges vs OkCupid isn’t that big. Both apps cap at $39.90/month for their most lucrative features Platinum and Premium (more about this later). The biggest difference, however, is how much Tinder charges Gen Z and young millennials.
Tinder offers a 50% discount to anyone under 30 in an attempt to own a bigger market share among young daters. This discount includes all Tinder’s subscription plans (Plus, Gold and Platinum).
Tinder Platinum, which allows you to text people before matching with them, comes at $39.90 or $149.90 if you pay for a full year. We don’t recommend using this feature for beginners because even if it gets you into women’s DMs, you won’t get her attention unless you’re really good at texting. So only use Platinum if you’re a guy who’s good at texting living in a big city with lots of hot women – that you don’t normally match.
Tinder Gold – comes at $29.90 for one month ($119.90/year). Only use it if you want to see who matches with you without having to swipe through a hundred chicks, or if you want to surf the app anonymously.
Tinder Plus – $9.90/month ($39.90/year). You’re better off keeping that money for coffee.
OkCupid has only two subscription plans OkCupid Basic and Premium. Both plans give you unlimited likes and an ad-free experience. The only big difference is that for $39.90/month, OkCupid Premium lets you see who likes you before deciding whether or not to like them back. This is almost 4x the Basic’s price which comes at $11.99/month.
Is OkCupid better than Tinder?
Partially, but neither is going to be the best option for most guys for relationships or at the top of the list of the top hookup sites. OkCupid is a solid dating app and the comparison makes it seem like I’m berating it (for legitimate reasons of course), but that’s because, on the other side, there’s Tinder.
What I love the most about OkCupid is that it lets you message the people you like before they match with you. That’s already a plus.
Why is this important?
Because you can still message hot women even if they don’t match with you. Sure the chance to wow her is slim, however, if you’re slick enough – which we teach here – you can still find a way to your heart.
However, Tinder is also catching up with a similar feature. And just to get how important this feature is, Tinder recently packaged this feature on a silver plate, called it Tinder Platinum, and put a top dollar tag on it…just to give you more access to hot women.
