OkCupid vs Match [A Dating Expert Compares Cost, Features & More!]
![OkCupid vs Match [A Dating Expert Compares Cost, Features & More!] 1 Man texting from his home office chair](https://www.vidaselect.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/man-texting-on-cell.jpg)
đĄ Key Insights:
- Both OkCupid and Match are owned by Match Group, but they operate with different business modelsâOkCupid allows free messaging while Match requires a subscription
- Match tends to attract users seeking serious relationships (primarily 30-49 age range), while OkCupid appeals to a younger demographic (20s-early 30s) interested in various relationship types
- OkCupid is more LGBTQIA+ inclusive with numerous gender identity and sexual orientation options
- Match subscriptions range from $19.99-35.99/month depending on commitment length, while OkCupid's premium tiers cost between $17.49-44.99/month
- Match's profile boost feature is more cost-effective at all purchase levels compared to OkCupid's
- Match offers free dating coaching through "AskMatch" for premium subscribersâa feature OkCupid doesn't provide
- Match allows messaging anyone (with a subscription), while OkCupid requires mutual interest unless sending a one-time "intro"
- OkCupid profiles are structured around 9 main sections with multiple prompt options, while Match has a main "About Me" section plus 3 "Topics"
- Both platforms use compatibility percentage scores based on question answers to suggest matches
Deciding between OkCupid and Match? While both platforms fall under the Match Group umbrella, they offer distinctly different approaches to online dating.
From messaging systems and user demographics to premium features and cost structures, understanding these differences is crucial for maximizing your dating success.
This comprehensive 2025 comparison breaks down exactly what each platform offers, helping you determine which one aligns with your relationship goals, budget, and preferred dating style.
OKCupid VS Match Table of Contents:
Whether you're seeking casual connections or marriage-minded matches, our detailed analysis will guide you toward the platform where you'll find your ideal matches.
Letâs start with the biggest difference...
OkCupid vs Match: Cost & Premium Features
While you can download the app, create a full profile and browse through profiles for free on both dating sites, thatâs where the freebies end on Match.
Match requires a premium subscription to exchange messages, something you can do for free on OkCupid.
But before you leap to a decision based solely on the free/not free angle, consider this:
- Free dating sites tend to attract a higher number of people who simply arenât as invested in the online dating process, meaning a higher percentage of message exchanges may not lead to âreal lifeâ dates.
- Because thereâs no fee associated with messaging, youâre also more likely to encounter fake profiles, escorts, scammers and the like.
Here is a handy comparison of what you can do on each site without paying for a subscription:
![OkCupid vs Match [A Dating Expert Compares Cost, Features & More!] 2 OkCupid vs Match free features](https://www.vidaselect.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/okcupid-vs-match-free-features-comparison.png)
Of course, if you want to actually meet anyone from Match youâll need to upgrade in order to send messages.
A âStandardâ subscription to Match.com costs around $21.99/month when you sign up for 3 months. The price may vary depending on your area.
Match Standard Cost 2024 |
---|
3 months - $35.99/month |
6 months - $21.99/month |
12 months - $19.99/month |
*Price may vary by location |
Features include:
- Send & receive messages
- See who has checked out your profile
- See who has âlikedâ your profile
For a few dollars more each month you can upgrade to the âPremiumâ Match subscription:
Match Premium Cost 2024 |
---|
3 months - $37.99/month |
6 months - $23.99/month |
12 months - $21.99/month |
*Price may vary by location |
Youâll get these 2 additional features:
- Message read receipts
- Monthly profile boost
OkCupid is a fully functioning free dating site, meaning you donât need a paid subscription to move things off the site.
But that being said, OkCupid does offer two levels of premium membership that includes features that can make finding someone special a lot easier.
Basic costs between $34.99 and $17.49 per month, and includes these features:
![OkCupid vs Match [A Dating Expert Compares Cost, Features & More!] 3 OkCupid Basic cost & features](https://www.vidaselect.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OkCupid-Basic-23.jpg)
Premium costs between $44.99 and $22.49 per month, and includes all the Basic features plus:
![OkCupid vs Match [A Dating Expert Compares Cost, Features & More!] 4 OkCupid Premium cost and features](https://www.vidaselect.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OkCupid-Premium-23.jpg)
Pricing can be market dependent, so you may pay a little more or a little less. Just interested in the numbers?
Comparing cost is a bit of an apples/oranges situation, since one is a free dating site and the other isnât.
Both dating sites are worth the price of a subscription, but Match edges out OkCupid if youâre seeking a serious, long-term relationship since the associated costs help weed out online daters who aren't.
OkCupid vs Match: Ala Carte Features
Ala carte features are ones that you can purchase without signing up for a membership.
Boosts
Both dating sites offer a profile boost, which means you can make your profile one of the most viewed in your area for an hour. Theoretically, that increased visibility will lead to more messaging opportunities.
OkCupid lets you purchase Boosts Ă la carte:
![OkCupid vs Match [A Dating Expert Compares Cost, Features & More!] 5 OkCupid Boost prices](https://www.vidaselect.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/OkCupid-boost-price.jpg)
Matchâs top-tier premium membership includes a free monthly boost, or you can purchase them Ă la carte as well:
![OkCupid vs Match [A Dating Expert Compares Cost, Features & More!] 6 Match Boost Cost](https://www.vidaselect.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Match-Boost-Cost.jpg)
Match wins this battle - itâs cheaper to boost your profile on Match no matter what quantity you purchase them in.
Super Likes
Both Match & OkCupid have a "Super Like" feature. As the theory goes, a Super Like is more powerful than a regular Like, because they are more limited in quantity.
A Match Super Like costs $3.00 when you buy 5, and you'll also get 1 free one each week as a Match Premium subscriber.
OkCupid gives Premium members 3 free weekly SuperLikes, and anyone can buy them starting at $3.49 each when you buy 2.
Private Browsing
If you want to be more discreet while online dating, both sites have an option for that.
On OkCupid, itâs called Incognito Mode. On Match, itâs called Private Mode. Both of them work essentially the same way - your profile is only visible to people youâve expressed interest in.
On OkCupid, you subscribe to Incognito Mode, with the cost depending on the subscription length:
- $9.99/month for 1 month
- $7.99/month for 3 months
- $4.99/month for 6 months
On Match, Private Mode has a flat rate of $9.99 per month. You can also go âUndercoverâ for 24 hours at a time, meaning you can browse profiles without anyone knowing you checked them out. That costs $1.99 per use.
This one is a draw - it costs the same for a month's worth of privacy. You can read more about private profiles and using dating sites discreetly here!
Coaching
This is one useful feature Match offers that OkCupid doesnât - free advice and coaching for premium subscribers, courtesy of âAskMatch.â
The Match app will connect you via phone with a certified Match dating coach, and according to CEO Hesam Hosseini you can ask just about anything:
A lot of people ask about their dating profile. Everyoneâs curious how theyâre doing. So we give you feedback, we give tips on your profile and photos. But a lot of the conversations are about IRL dating.
People might say, âHey, Iâm on date three, and I donât know how to approach the conversation of where this is going.â Or, âWe had a first date and heâs sending me this cryptic text, what do I do?â So whatever question you have, our dating coaches are available.
OkCupid vs Match: Messaging
On Match, you can send anyone who intrigues you a message (assuming youâre a premium member).
But on OkCupid, you can only freely exchange messages if you and the other person have already âlikedâ each other.
But you can send whatâs called an âintroâ on OkCupid, which will be visible before theyâve liked you.
To send an intro on OkCupid follow these steps:
- âLikeâ the personâs profile from either Double Take or Match Search/Discover
- The âLikeâ button will change to a âMessageâ button
- Tap the âMessageâ button
- Add your introductory message
![OkCupid vs Match [A Dating Expert Compares Cost, Features & More!] 7 OkCupid Intro Message](https://www.vidaselect.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/OkCupid-Intro-Message.png)
When that person views your profile, theyâll see your first message at the same time.
OkCupid will promote you to anyone youâve sent an introductory message to by moving your profile up in their Double Take section or elsewhere on the site as theyâre browsing.
If that person expresses interest in you by âlikingâ you back, the messaging platform is then accessible on the âConversationsâ page and you can converse just like you would on Match.
But if they donât âlikeâ your profile, youâre out of luck. You can only send one intro to each person, so make sure itâs a good one!
Revealed: The Opening Line No Woman Can Resist! [Access Now]
Match wins the messaging battle, since mutual interest isnât a factor - you can message anyone who intrigues you.
OkCupid vs Match: Users
OkCupid is particularly popular with daters in their 20s to early 30s, although youâll find singles 35+ as well. It draws people looking for an entire spectrum of relationships from casual sex and hookups to marriage and everything in between.
And when it comes to sexual orientation and gender identity, itâs one of the most LGBTQIA inclusive dating sites out there.
Because itâs not a free dating site, Match tends to attract a slightly older crowd, with people actively seeking a long-term relationship. Almost half of Match users are between 30 and 49 years old, and itâs growing increasingly popular with singles over 50 as well.
That means if youâre younger and interested in dating around, OkCupid is probably a better bet. If youâre looking for a committed relationship, youâll likely be happier with the quality of singles youâll meet on Match.
OkCupid vs Match: Dating App
Both OkCupid and Match have a dating app thatâs free to download and easy to use.
The same restrictions apply here as on the desktop versions - for Match, youâll need a paid subscription to message but you can create a profile and browse profiles without one.
You can download Match mobile for Android and iOS. Itâs got a 3.5 rating on the App Store, and solid 3 stars on Google Play.
OkCupid is also available for both iOS and Android, and it has a slightly better rating on both platforms. The App Store rates it a 4.3, and Google Play a 3.9.
In terms of gender ratios, OkCupid has a slightly higher percentage of women using the app:
![OkCupid vs Match [A Dating Expert Compares Cost, Features & More!] 8 Dating apps with most women](https://www.vidaselect.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Percentage-women-on-apps.gif)
User engagement on both apps is just about equal, with roughly half of users checking in daily:
![OkCupid vs Match [A Dating Expert Compares Cost, Features & More!] 9 user engagement on dating apps](https://www.vidaselect.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/user-engagement.gif)
But the Match app has a slightly higher churn rate, meaning the percentage of users who download the app but donât return the following week:
![OkCupid vs Match [A Dating Expert Compares Cost, Features & More!] 10 dating app churn rate](https://www.vidaselect.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/dating-app-churn-rate.gif)
All things considered, OkCupidâs dating app has a slight edge over Match mobile.
OkCupid vs Match: Profiles
These two dating sites take a slightly different approach to profiles.
On OkCupid, your profile consists of 9 different main sections, with the ability to add more if youâd like. For each section, you can choose which prompt youâd like to answer from a list of 5 or 6.
For example, here are the prompts you can choose for the âAbout Meâ section:
![OkCupid vs Match [A Dating Expert Compares Cost, Features & More!] 11 About Me OkCupid](https://www.vidaselect.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/About-Me-OkCupid.png)
Other sections include Aspirations, Traits, Talent, Needs, Hobbies, Moments, Secrets and Dating. You can add additional prompts for topics such as Books, Cooking, Travel, Movies, Music, TV Shows, etc.
There are also a series of âMatch Questionsâ you can answer to help determine how compatible you are with other singles:
![OkCupid vs Match [A Dating Expert Compares Cost, Features & More!] 12 OkCupid Match Questions](https://www.vidaselect.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/OkCupid-Match-Questions.png)
The Match Percentage score is meant to help you decide how well a matchâs personality and dating goals align with yours, and it also partially determines who your profile is suggested to as a daily match.
How you answer questions is important, since it has the potential to affect your match quality.
Need profile help? Check out these 19 great OkCupid profile examples for guys!
Match.com also displays a Match Percentage, and it helps determine whose daily matches your profile pops up in. Answering questions and fully completing your profile is the best way to keep that score as accurate as possible.
![OkCupid vs Match [A Dating Expert Compares Cost, Features & More!] 13 Match percentage](https://www.vidaselect.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Match-percentage.gif)
On Match, profiles have a main âAbout Meâ section. Youâll also need to choose 3 âTopicsâ from a list of 50+. Each Topic answer has a 150-character limit.
Here are some examples of Match Topics:
![OkCupid vs Match [A Dating Expert Compares Cost, Features & More!] 14 Match topic examples](https://www.vidaselect.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Match-topic-examples.png)
Not sure what to write in your Match profile? Follow these 4 easy steps, plus find out which Match Topics are the best ones to answer!
Want To Save Time And Get More Matches?
If youâre still not sure which dating site to try, check out these detailed Match.com and OkCupid reviews.
You'll also find plenty of expert help with everything from your photos and messages to your profiles in our Ultimate Guide To OkCupid and Ultimate Guide To Match.
But whichever route you go, keep in mind the average user spends 77 minutes a day on dating apps - just on profile browsing alone.
Youâll also need to come up with response-worthy conversation starters and keep up the momentum on all your message exchanges⌠and thatâs after youâve created a profile that generates some action!
You thought you were signing up for a dating site⌠but youâre basically signing on for a part-time job!
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