OkCupid

• Fun and Easy Sign-Up Process 
• LGBTQ+ Inclusivity
• Effective Free Version 
• Unique Matching Algorithm 

Fun and Easy Sign-Up Process

The OkCupid signup process only takes about 5–10 minutes to complete. This is relatively quick compared to other online dating sites. OkCupid will start by asking for basic information such as birthday, email address, etc. You can skip this step by registering with Facebook. 

You will then be asked a series of questions about your preferences relating to religion, drinking, smoking, and politics. The app will ask if you are currently interested in hookups, new friends, short-term, or long-term dating. These questions will help the algorithm determine which matches will be most compatible with your background. You can also indicate your gender identity and sexual orientation to be displayed in your profile. 

The signup process also includes a series of fun questions to determine your personality. Answer “Would You Rather” questions and/or open-ended questions such as “Describe Your Perfect Day.” You get to choose which questions you want to answer and feature on your profile, so every profile is a little bit different from the next. You don’t have to answer the questions all at once. After signing up, you can always go back and answer more questions. 

The OkCupid app is available for download on IOS and Android devices. The app also has a desktop version. 

LGBTQ+ Inclusivity

The site offers 13 gender identities, 22 sexual orientations, and a dedicated space on your profile for preferred pronouns. Members of the LGBTQ+ community can expect a wide range of options to accurately represent their gender identity and sexual orientation. You can also select the gender identities you want to match with. OkCupid offers many more identity options than its competitors. 

Effective Free Version

Online daters can join OkCupid for free and enjoy many standard features to connect and match their profile with other members. This dating site is aimed to be a more logical choice for online daters. Many online dating apps force you to pay the membership fee by hiding profile pictures or blocking messaging. OkCupid offers a free version that is sustainble and effective. The top free features on OkCupid are listed below. 

• Double Take — OkCupid has a swiping feature similar to the Tinder matching method. The double take feature allows you to undo a left-swipe for free. You can give that last person another thought or go back if you made a mistake. 
• Match Percentage — Each user that appears on your screen has an accompanying match percentage. Based on the questionnaire, OkCupid will determine the match percentage that indicates your compatibility.  
• Unlimited Messaging — All users get access to free messaging. You can message anyone you want, but the other person will only be able to read the message if they like you back. This is a safety feature to help reduce the number of unwanted messages.
• Tests — OkCupid members and staff create tests that are available for members to take while building their profile. These tests also show specific insights to each dater and give members better match quality overall.
• Search Filters —  OkCupid has an extensive search bar available to all members. You can search for individuals by looks, background, availability, personality, vices, questions, and more. 
• Track Your Likes — OkCupid allows you to view a list of all the profiles you have liked. This allows you to keep track of your favorite profiles. 

Unique Matching Algorithm 

OkCupid uses a question and answers based matching system to find possible dating matches for each of its members. As users answer questions they are matched to other users that share similar answers. This algorithm is unique to OkCupid and is designed to improve your quality of matches. 

OkCupid collects data for its algorithm by asking multiple-choice questions as well as open-ended questions. The algorithm assesses three different parts of the question: your answer, how you want a potential match to answer, and the relevance of the question. 

The relevance of the question is how important it is that potential matches answers in your preferred manner. The relevance scale has five options ranging from irrelevant to mandatory. The match percentage is based on the common questions you have both answered. The more questions you answer, the more accurate your match percentages will be.

• Must Pay for Best Features
• Little Verification
• Security Compromise
• Complaints

Must Pay for Best Features

Although it is free to set up a profile, browse profiles, and message individuals, OkCupid offers a number of excellent features that only come with a Premium OkCupid account. Features include:

• See everyone who views your profile
• Store up to 5,000 messages
• Change your username
• Browse while invisible
• Advance matching and search options
• No ads
• Filter through messages
• See who reads your messages
• See who likes you

Little Verification

Users can create an account on OkCupid without any real verification. While you can create an account through Facebook, you can also do so through email (which may never be verified). You can block members, but only after they message you. OkCupid encourages users to email and report problems, but there isn't a 'report' button on individual profiles. There is no information on whether or not OkCupid conducts background checks on their members. This contributes to an on-going problem within the online dating service industry of numerous fake profiles and members. 

Security Compromise

In 2020, Check Point Research discovered critical flaws in the OkCupid app. Mistakes in the coding left many accounts vulnerable to hackers. With the right knowledge, Hackers could access personal information including profiles, messages, and other details entered at the time of sign up. Hackers could also remotely control specific profiles to send messages and change profile data without the user ever noticing.
 
Once the researchers informed OkCupid about its vulnerabilities, the online dating site was able to make the necessary fixes. However, this incident illustrates that you can never be too careful with your information on an online dating site. Be selective with the online dating sites you choose. Try to limit the amount of personal information you include in your profile and messages. 

Complaints

Many of the complaints with OkCupid were not even responded to. Many people have complained and written to consumer affairs about their profile randomly being deleted from the site without reason or warning. Some reports have told that OkCupid may have been distributing or selling user information from the site, which may be the reason for the profile to be deleted without say.  OkCupid claims that these profiles are only deleted if the user breaches their terms, although many users claim to have only just started their profile and they made known efforts not to breach the terms of service. Customer service has not resolved many of these issues even when they've been contacted.

Though the site makes claims to be completely free, there are limited features with the free version, and to actually use other features you will likely need to pay for a subscription.