January 24, 2025
OkCupid vs. The Dating Apps (and the People Who Use Them)

In the last decade or two, we’ve observed a notable shift in the social perception of online dating. In fact, it has virtually taken over the scene as the primary way in which singles meet one another in their search for a love connection.
Think it’s not for you? Think again. With so many apps on the market, including the classic OkCupid, there’s an app for every type of user from Tinder to Hinge. Depending on if you’re looking for love, hoping for a casual fling, or something in between, finding out which app is the one for you (and which will attract the right kind of person), doesn’t have to be a gamble. Let’s compare some of the most popular players vs. OkCupid and who they attract.
Tinder: Fast Food, Hot to Go
The Vibe: Casual, a bit chaotic, and non-committal
Who you’ll find:
- Serial Swipers. It’s a numbers game for these folks. So many swipes, so little time.
- Selfie Stars. Do you even swipe, bro? Blurry group pics might also appear and their bios will have little substance of which to speak (or might be totally MIA).
- Friends only. (With benefits?) They might claim to be on platonic terms with their matches but don’t be naïve. It’s a dating app, after all.
What to expect compared to OkCupid:
- Primarily cringe but occasionally clever pick-up lines.
- ‘Hey, WYD” texts on endless repeat (OkCupid would never).
- Weird bot-like bios to garner follows on IG or make some money on Cashapp.
Hinge: “Designed to Be Deleted”
The Vibe: Boasts being for folks who are relationship-ready but with curated casualness.
Who you’ll find:
- Prompt and practically perfect. Don’t be surprised by a healthy blend of humour and practicality.
- Settled but still single socialite. Yoga in the morning. Oat lattes in the afternoon. A stunning charcuterie board by sundown.
- Unlike OkCupid, suspect social media savvy. Their profile could be a social highlight reel with avocado toast brunches and jet-setting vacation pics.
What to expect compared to OkCupid:
- Aware of love languages but joking about cupcakes as the key to their heart.
- Well-crafted bios that might be relatable but are somehow exhaustingly overthought.
Bumble: Women Lead (Mostly)
The Vibe: Empowerment and good vibes that confusingly walk the line between flirting and networking.
Who you’ll find:
- Fierce and friendly feminist. Genuine values with great communication despite a tendency to get overly political too quickly.
- LinkedIn loving dudes. Overly business casual with a personal mantra of “work hard, play hard.”
- The goal-digger. A go-getter who is genuinely curious about your 5-year plan….but might be more interested in having you on their podcast than a love connection.
What to expect compared to OkCupid:
- Bios seeking people to match their energy.
- Group dates like pickleball clubs or beach cleanups.
OkCupid: For the Philosophers and Niche Enthusiasts
The Vibe: A quirky grabbag of sincere seekers of love and people of all sorts of interests.
Who you’ll find:
- The Essayist. With a bio the length of a novella, expect to discover their Enneagram type, Spotify favourites, and, if you’re lucky, a detailed takedown of late-stage capitalism.
- Lifelong Learners: So many hobbies it’s a wonder they even have time to date. Urban beekeepers, sourdough starters, and likely very, very into astrology.
- Non-Monogamists: If they’re not already in a polycule, they might be on the hunt to add you to their current monogamish rotation.
What to expect on OkCupid:
- No room for smalltalk. Expect heavy-hitting pickup lines like “What’s your favourite ethical dilemma?”
- Cat-centric profile pics or some throw-back hipster-esque aesthetics like fixie bikes and polaroids (smartphone polaroid filters, of course).
Every dating app has its own distinct culture and it’s about discovering what you want (or do not want) as much as finding someone else. Whether its one of the newer apps or an O.G. like OkCupid, be alert, be safe, and have fun swiping!