💡 Key Insights: * All three platforms (POF, OkCupid, and Tinder) are owned by Match Group and offer free versions with premium upgrade options * POF rates 3/10 for relationship seriousness, attracts the broadest age range (particularly 40+), and offers advanced search filters even in the free version * OkCupid rates 5/10 for relationship seriousness, appeals primarily to 20-30s users, and features the most robust matching system based on detailed questions * Tinder rates 1/10 for relationship seriousness, dominates with under-35 urban users, and offers the largest active user base in the US * On POF, men need to send an average of 114 messages to guarantee one response due to the high competition * Premium features are most valuable in densely populated areas; rural users may find less benefit from paid subscriptions * Tinder limits free users to 100 swipes every 12 hours, making premium versions more necessary for consistent results * Each platform offers unique paid features: POF highlights priority placement, OkCupid offers "Dealbreakers" filters, and Tinder provides location changes via Passport * Men significantly outnumber women on Tinder by a 3:1 ratio, creating more competition * Free users on all platforms should expect to encounter more fake profiles and less serious users compared to paid services Looking to maximize your online dating success without wasting time on the wrong platforms? When comparing POF [/pof-ultimate-guide/], OkCupid [/okcupid-guide/], and Tinder [/tinder-guide/]—three of Match Group's most popular free dating services—focusing your efforts strategically makes all the difference. Our dating experts have spent thousands of hours managing profiles across all three platforms, giving us unique insight into which one might best serve your specific needs. Before you invest time creating multiple profiles, this side-by-side comparison breaks down the critical differences in user demographics, relationship expectations, and standout features that will determine where you'll find your best matches.  Casual (1) to Serious (10) Rating351Types of WomenYou would be hard pressed to find more variety on a dating site. Women range from coyote ugly to aspiring Instagram models.Especially popular with younger women (early 20s to mid 30s). You’ll find everything from “edgy” hipsters to commute-in-a-suit types.  The majority of users are under 34 and living in an urban area.  CostFree, with option to upgrade to a premium membership [/pof-premium-vs-pof-plus/].Free, with option to upgrade to Basic or Premium [/okcupid-a-list-premium/].Free, with option to upgrade to Tinder Plus, Gold or Platinum [/tinder-plus-vs-tinder-gold/].Biggest PlusOne of the most popular free dating sites, so it has a huge user pool.Robust search features make screening matches easy.The most popular dating app in the US, so if she’s young & single, she’s probably on it.Biggest MinusSince it’s free, you’ll find a higher percentage of fake profiles. As with any free site, you’ll run into women who aren’t serious about meeting you in person. Men outnumber women 3:1 [https://mic.com/articles/110774/two-thirds-of-tinder-users-are-men-here-s-why#.YIVb66h9s]. THE 3X FORMULA: 9 simple tweaks that make women stop and swipe right. We tested them across thousands of profiles and matches jumped 3X overnight. [Claim Your Free Copy] GIVE POF A SHOT IF YOU’RE… In your 40s+. The sheer number of users on Plenty Of Fish makes it a great place to start, so if you’re debating OkCupid vs POF vs Tinder and you’re in this age bracket, start with POF. By far one of the most popular free online dating sites around, you’ll find tons of women looking for everything from a no-strings-attached Friday night to casual dating to a potential husband. You can access POF’s advanced search filters [/pof-advanced-search-url/] without having to upgrade, which is great if you’re looking for a long-term relationship. This allows you to filter your matches based on important criteria (i.e. smoking habits, children, religion, etc.). When you can know more about your matches and screen them based on what’s most important to you in a relationship, each date you go on will have a higher probability of leading to a second date. POF offers a paid membership, which includes priority placement on Meet Me!, unlocked extended profiles, message read receipts, and more. A subscription costs as little as $10/month when you commit to a year, but when you can access all the features you really need for free, upgrading on this site may not be worth it for you. The attractive women on POF get a ton of messages. Getting her attention is no easy feat, and it’s why guys like you have to send out a whopping 114 messages [http://www.businessinsider.com/online-dating-message-statistics-2013-7] just to be guaranteed of getting 1 response. That’s a pretty dismal stat to be sure, and it’s a one of the reasons online dating can be absolutely exhausting [/why-online-dating-doesnt-work/]. For 5 examples of POF openers that work, click here. [/pof-openers-that-get-responses/] GIVE OKCUPID A SHOT IF YOU’RE… In your 20s to 30s and looking for a casual to longer term relationship. While there’s plenty of one night stand opportunities to be found, OkCupid is the most “relationship-minded” of the three options. If it’s in your budget, OkCupid’s two levels of premium features [/okcupid-a-list-premium/] could be worth the investment if you live in a more populated city. Here are the highlights: Basic * Unlimited daily likes * Use "Dealbreakers" in your match filters * See all your "Intros" at once * No ads Premium * All Basic features * Reveal everyone who likes you * 3 weekly SuperLikes [/okcupid-superlike/] * See how other users answered their public questions (before you answer) Don’t bother upgrading if you live in a more rural area - you probably won’t need the premium features to find matches. For plenty of tips and tricks for using all those premium features to your advantage, go here. [/okcupid-a-list-premium/] GIVE TINDER A SHOT IF YOU’RE… Looking for a casual relationship. While Tinder’s most popular with singles under the age of 35, it’s still the go-to dating app [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-2e3f0042-75f6-4bd1-b4fe-9056540c65f8] in the US. The vast majority of users live in larger cities, but it’s worth a shot even in more remote areas, especially if you’re looking for younger women. If you’re in a population dense area, upgrading to Tinder Plus [/tinder-plus/], Gold [/tinder-gold-review/] or Platinum [/tinder-platinum/] can give you an edge. Free users only get 100 swipes every 12 hours and for most guys, that’s not enough to keep your pipeline full of new matches. Tinder Plus gives you unlimited right swipes, plus: * Reveal your profile only to people you right swipe * Ability to rewind your last swipe * Change your location to anywhere in the world via Passport [/tinder-passport/] * Hide your age and distance * Ad-free swiping Tinder Gold comes with all the Tinder Plus perks, plus a feature that allows you to see only people who have already swiped right on your profile. Gold users also unlock all their Top Picks [/tinder-picks/]. Platinum unlocks the features at those levels, plus priority likes [/tinder-priority-likes/] & the ability to send a message when you Super Like [/tinder-super-like/] someone. For the best results, check out these irresistible Tinder bios that attract women for you [/tinder-profile-examples-that-really-work/]. Further Reading: * OkCupid Site Reviews [/okcupid-review/] * Plenty of Fish Site Reviews [/pof-review/] * Ultimate Guide To Tinder [/tinder-guide/]
