Not everyone wants to pay big bucks to meet someone. That’s why we’ve selected OkCupid, a tried-and-tested option for open-minded daters who want a good experience — with plenty of features — but without opening their wallet. Most the best features are available through the free version.
You begin by filling out an in-depth questionnaire, which builds a profile based on everything from political views to your everyday habits (if you’re a messy person, for instance, this is your chance to fess up and flag it). The app then gives you a compatibility score for other users. This allows you to filter out the hard deal-breakers before saying that all-important “hello.”
It’s good to be honest, too. In fact, 93 percent of singles report being “completely honest” on their profiles and 75 percent say they “always discuss boundaries” with a partner. One thing’s increasingly clear with online dating — there are huge benefits to being honest and direct about what you’re looking for. And this is a platform where users really abide by that rule.
If you are a money-conscious user, the app recently launched “Love & Money,” a new series exploring how finances shape modern-day relation hips. Their data found that 63 percent of daters now consider being open about money a major “green flag.” And 68 percent say financial responsibility is actually sexier than generosity (though being generous on IRL dates is never a bad thing).
It’s about the practicality of long-term relationships. There’s a reason that money is the root of many arguments. Being able to manage finances is an important personality trait and something that ensures a certain level of harmony between partners.
OkCupid’s safety policy is built on one simple rule: “Don’t be a jerk.” Which sounds totally fair enough. It uses automated “Safe Message Filters” and has stricter rules than its competitors, with zero-tolerance policy for nudity or “sexually explicit imagery.” It also bans profiles that are only for kink/fetish or ones that describe specific sex acts, which is classifies as sexual harassment without consent. (If you’re looking for a kink/fetish site, try Pure.)
It is, however, one of the most inclusive apps out there, with more than 22 gender and 12 sexual orientation options, so it’s great for the LGBTQ community. That means a super diverse dating pool — but do watch out for bots and “passport” profiles from thousands of miles away.
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