Tinder vs. OkCupid: Is There a Real Difference?

Gone are the days where you had to leave your house to find love. Now, you can download an app onto your smartphone, add some profile pictures, and start swiping to find your perfect match. But not all dating apps are created equal.
We’re taking a look to find out if Tinder or OkCupid is a better match when it comes to helping their users get dates – and maybe even take things further. We’ll weigh up everything from algorithms to subscriptions to figure out whether there’s a real difference between the two.
One thing we already know? Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN can help you to access these dating platforms to meet other singles anywhere.
PIA VPN lets you deepen your dating pool by allowing you to change your IP address. You can connect to one of our high-speed servers in any country where Tinder is available to find your perfect match, wherever they may be.
Table of Contents
Tinder vs. OkCupid: Full ComparisonTinder or OkCupid: Which Is Best for You?
How to Change Your Tinder Location with a VPN
Why PIA Is the Best VPN for Online Dating Apps
FAQ
Tinder vs. OkCupid: Full Comparison
Tinder and OkCupid are both owned by MatchGroup, so there are plenty of similarities between how these platforms function. Even so, the audiences they appeal to are quite different.
While Tinder is popular with under-30s worldwide, OkCupid is the go-to mainly for people aged 25 to 34. This difference in demographics means that you’ll likely find people looking for something a little more serious on OkCupid and those who want a quick connection on Tinder.
Interface and User Experience

If you’re trying to figure out which is better, OkCupid or Tinder, the interface and user experience likely aren’t going to be the deciding factor – both platforms have pretty similar designs and, of course, swiping functionality.
When you open the Tinder or OkCupid app, you’ll see large photos overlaid with basic details (name and age) along with a short bio. You can browse a potential match’s images by tapping on the left- or right-hand side of your screen. More detailed information can be uncovered by tapping the arrow towards the bottom of the picture.
OkCupid has one additional feature that makes it a little more engaging than the Tinder app: match percentage. This number appears on each profile you see and indicates how compatible you might be with the person whose profile you’re viewing.
Matching Algorithms

The matching algorithms on these two dating platforms have a lot do to with how they’re perceived by users – and the types of users they attract.
Tinder prioritizes proximity to potential matches above all else, while OkCupid considers your answers to its questions to be the most important factor for figuring out who you might like most. This means that Tinder is better for making connections quickly and OkCupid is more suitable if you’re looking for deeper relationships.
That said, both platforms’ algorithms learn as you swipe, adapting their suggested matches based on the profiles you’ve liked or passed on during previous sessions. This means that they’ll both get better the more you use them.
User Base and Demographics

Who you’re likely to find on these platforms is a big determining factor in whether you decide to use Tinder vs. OkCupid. For guys, OkCupid might be the better option as 46% of users are female compared to just 24% on Tinder.
Age is also an important factor. Tinder’s user base tends to skew young, with 62% of profiles created by people between the ages of 18 and 30. The OkCupid crowd is a little older, with 49% of profiles belonging to 25- to 34-year-olds. However, the average age of users is pretty similar at 26 and 27 for Tinder and OkCupid, respectively.
Tinder has a huge global reach, while OkCupid’s major user base is in the US. This means that you’ll likely want to go for Tinder if you’re looking to make matches around the world.
Communication and Interaction

Interactions on Tinder and OkCupid start with swiping. A swipe left is a “no,” while a right is a like. Tinder allows you to message someone only after you’ve matched with them (i.e., you’ve both swiped right), while OkCupid lets you add a message when you like someone.
Where Tinder expects you to get the conversation going on your own, OkCupid’s profile questions and icebreaker features give you the chance to see a little more about a match so you can write a more personalized message to start the exchange. However, Tinder does offer a video chat option, which can help you figure out if you have a connection more quickly.
Both platforms limit the number of times you’re allowed to swipe on the free tier. Tinder gives you between 50 and 100 chances to swipe right every 12 hours, while OkCupid allows 50 swipes per day.
Pricing and Subscription Models
You can’t put a price on finding love, but OkCupid and Tinder app makers have put a price on some of their apps’ features.
Tinder has three paid tiers: Tinder Plus (from $6/month), Tinder Gold (from $9/month) and Tinder Platinum (from $11.25/month) give you access to some or all of the following:
- 💖 Unlimited likes: Swipe right on as many profiles as you like.
- 💖 Unlimited rewinds: The chance to call back profiles you accidentally swiped left on.
- 💖 Passport: Change your location settings and chat with people anywhere in the world.
- 💖 Top Picks: A curated list of profiles that you’re likely to be interested in.
- 💖 See who likes you: See a list of all the people who’ve swiped right on your profile.
- 💖 Priority Likes: Your likes will be seen sooner than others in the queue.
- 💖 Control: Greater ability to manage who sees your profile and who you see.
OkCupid’s structure is slightly simpler. The platform has two paid tiers: Basic (from $17.49/month) and Premium (from $22.49/month). This will get you some or all of the following:
- 💕 Unlimited likes: Send as many likes as you please.
- 💕 Dealbreakers: Filter out profiles based on specific parameters.
- 💕 Unlimited Rewinds: Undo as many passes as you like.
- 💕 Unlock intros: View all of the intros you’ve received without needing to match.
- 💕 See who likes you: Get a list of who likes you.
- 💕 3 free SuperLikes: Show extra interest in three people by SuperLiking them.
- 💕 See all question answers: See people’s answers to questions you haven’t tackled yet.
Privacy and Safety Measures
Both Tinder and OkCupid have decent safety frameworks in place to protect users while on the apps. As much as they do to keep you safe online, it’s important to keep in mind that you’re responsible for your safety when meeting people in real life.
OkCupid app and website users get access to a suite of safety features, including detailed privacy controls that allow you to manage who sees your profile and personal details. There’s also a library of helpful resources that share best practices for staying safe when meeting others in person.
The platform has recently introduced a photo verification feature, which asks users to take a selfie to prove who they are. Verified profiles are marked as such on the app and website, which helps users to avoid catfishing.
Tinder has all of these features, plus it also encrypts your data to ensure that your personal information remains safe while you’re using the app.
It’s always a good idea to use extra protection while you’re hanging out on online dating apps. PIA VPN hides your real IP address and encrypts all your data. You decide when you’re ready to reveal your true identity and location to your potential date.
Success Rates
Tinder users have made 20 billion matches since the platform was created in 2012. However, users usually have to make 57 online connections before they’re able to turn one into a real-life date. That number spikes to 285 if they’re looking to start a relationship.
OkCupid says that it’s the reason behind 91 million dates annually, an achievement it chalks up to its question-based matching system. With around 2 million active monthly users, singles on OkCupid seem to have slightly more success than those on Tinder.
Tinder or OkCupid: Which Is Best for You?
Choosing between Tinder or OkCupid will ultimately depend on the types of relationships you’re looking to build during your online dating experiences.
Tinder is usually best for 18- to 30-year-old women who are looking for fast connections. This is thanks to the large pool of men in this age category who use the platform and its image-first profile setup.
OkCupid will likely appeal to you more if you’re after a deeper connection. The app’s focus on detailed, question-driven profiles will allow you to get a more detailed view of who it is that you’re matching with, which makes it better suited for more serious relationship seekers.
How to Change Your Tinder Location with a VPN
Tinder is used worldwide and changing your location on the app will give you a chance to match with users from all over the globe.
Your location will change automatically when you open the app in a new place. If you’re planning on traveling to a new place, you can get ahead and start matching with people at that destination with the help of a VPN and a GPS-spoofing app.
Here’s how to change your Tinder location with a VPN:
- Get PIA VPN.
- Download the app to your mobile device and connect to a server in the country where you want to find matches.
- Download a GPS-spoofing app and change to the same country.
- Open Tinder and start swiping in your new location.
Why PIA Is the Best VPN for Online Dating Apps
You might find that you’re not able to access Tinder and other dating apps when you’re traveling in certain countries – or even when you’re in the office or at school.
PIA VPN encrypts your internet connection so that government censors, network administrators, and anyone else who might be monitoring your activity can’t see that you’re trying to swipe. This way, you can easily unblock any app you want and use it privately.
PIA has a fleet of super fast servers across the world, so you’ll easily be able to connect to one in your preferred location. Besides helping you get around website blocks, masking your IP address also gives you a layer of added security when swiping, as it prevents anyone from pinpointing your actual location while you’re online.
FAQ
There are a few ways to change your region on Tinder. One option is to log in while you’re traveling in a different region. Another is to use a VPN in tandem with a GPS-spoofing app to virtually relocate yourself. The third is to sign up for a paid Tinder subscription (from $6/month) and change your location in the app.
PIA is the best VPN for Tinder. It reliably encrypts your data, so you can get around network restrictions and censorship that might prevent you from accessing dating apps. With VPN server locations in {countries_no} countries, you can easily change your IP address to the country of your choice, so you can open up swiping opportunities around the world without needing to move an inch.
Although it started out as a matchmaking website focused on long-term love, OkCupid now gives you the option of swiping on potential matches who are searching for both short-term and serious relationships, as well as hookups.
Whether there’s a better app than Tinder will depend on what you’re looking for. Overall, Tinder is best for flings, while Hinge is seen as the best app for finding casual and long-term relationships.
Unlike other dating apps, an OkCupid profile is built on 15 questions that reveal the type of partner and relationship you’re looking for, the types of experiences you enjoy, what qualifies as “romantic” in your eyes, and even whether you enjoy talking about politics.
As far as dating sites go, OkCupid is the best of the best. It’s more diverse and inclusive than alternatives like eHarmony. When it comes to apps, though, there are some superior options. The Tinder app is better for hookups, while Bumble is better for ladies who prefer to make the first move.
Tinder got a bad rap for being a hookup app, which has hurt its popularity a little. Downloads have fallen by about one-third since the peak of its popularity in 2014 and there are far fewer users paying for the platform’s premium services.
Nearly 50% of OkCupid users are between the ages of 24 and 34, with an average age of 27. So you’ll likely find the most success if you fall into or are interested in dating people in this age range.
OkCupid is used the most in the US, which accounts for around 40% of all traffic on the website and app. Other popular locations include Israel and Argentina (~8% of all traffic, each), Turkey (~7%), and Germany (~6%).
Tinder doesn’t own OkCupid, but both platforms are subsidiaries of the online dating giant MatchGroup. The company also has other popular dating apps like Hinge, Match.com, and Plenty of Fish in its stable.