Post Date: December 9, 2021

In one of his novels, author Haruki Murakami once said that “when people fall in love, they are looking for missing pieces of themselves.” The quote seems more relevant when finding love with a dating app. This OkCupid dating app guide is here to help you find what’s missing in your life. 

OkCupid is a dating app that matches you with like-minded people. However, each of these steps requires care and mindfulness to find the perfect match for you.

If you are hesitant about dating through an app, take a look at this guide. You will probably change your mind when you see a maths-based scientific system connecting the perfect people.

Set Up An Account On OkCupid 

okcupid complete guide

To get started on OkCupid, you have to set up an account first. You can do this from their website. Or you can download the OkCupid app on your mobile for absolutely free. You might also choose to set up your account through Facebook. 

Your sign-up is followed by a series of questions. OkCupid will want to know what gender you identify as. Here, the option is not limited to only males or females.

The site would also like to know what gender you prefer to date. Plus, your date of birth, how long you think a relationship should last, and other basics.

OkCupid is essentially free to use. However, there are paid membership options available. These are the fundamental and premium levels. Basic costs are around $9.99 per month. Premium, on the other hand, costs $19.99 per month.

You can enjoy some extra features when you use the paid versions. Although, if you want to find out who is available in your area to date, the non-paid version will do fine. 

Create A Winning OkCupid Profile 

This is one of the most critical OkCupid dating app guide steps. Because the profile creates the first and most important impression of you in the minds of other people using the app, most people will choose you or ignore you based solely on your profile. 

You can sort your photos according to albums in your OkCupid profile. The ‘Photos of you’ album is supposed to contain your images.

Since this is a dating profile, you will want to use photos that focus on your attractive side. This means both physically and personality-wise. 

How To Add A Photo On OkCupid 

To add a photo to your profile, click on “Photo” at the top of your profile page. After clicking, you will see the options for albums. You can choose “Photos of you” by clicking on the cover.

When you click upload, you will see the options to choose your photos, such as Facebook, My Computer, and Instagram. 

Besides photos, you can also enrich your OkCupid profile with the help of “Profile Prompts.” OkCupid has created over fifty prompts for their profiles.

Essentially, these are topics on which you can express yourself. This can be things like what you do on a Friday evening or the saddest song you’ve ever heard. 


❤️ Pro Tip: If you’re sick of finding people who are just looking for one-night stands, we recommend trying eHarmony.

It’s one of the highest-rated online dating apps in the world. eHarmony users are actually actively looking for relationships. Give it a try here for free and see if you can tell the difference.

Answering Match Questions On OkCupid 

To find the most compatible date on OkCupid, you will want to answer the “Match Questions” on your profile. You don’t have to type anything when answering these.

OkCupid will provide a range of possible answers for each question. However, if you feel the need, you can add a wordy explanation to your answers. 

The Importance Of Match Questions 

When another person visits your dating profile, OkCupid shows them a compatibility rate. This rating is displayed based on your answers to the match questions. This is something you should keep in mind when you answer these questions. 

You will fill out the basic questionnaire when setting up your account. This includes fifteen questions. They ask you all kinds of things.

Your thoughts on politics, how tidy you keep your room, how long a relationship should last, and everything in between.  

After the primary setup is complete, you can answer more questions later in your profile. You will want to answer as many questions as possible to increase your chances of finding the perfect match. 

Matching With Others On OkCupid 

After uploading a photo and answering the questions, you are ready to date. For that, you need to match with someone on OkCupid. This happens when you both like each other’s profiles.

If two people like each other’s profiles, OkCupid notifies them for free. This is known as “matching” on OkCupid. 

Liking a Profile On OkCupid  

To like someone’s profile, you first have to go to “Discover.” From here, you can scroll through your compatible profiles (based on your match questions and profile info). 

When seeing someone who makes you lose a heartbeat, you can click on the heart icon or drag this person’s photo to the right.

Then go to ‘Questions.’ From here, visit their profile and tap the ‘Like’ button. After you like the profile, you see the option of sending this person a message. 

Sending Out An Introductory Message On OkCupid

Sending an introductory message is a great way to get the attention of the person you fancy. When you send this message, it will appear as a notification in the intro section under “Likes” in the other person’s profile.

This message might stronger impact on that person’s mind than a hot profile picture. 

When the person likes you back, this intro is moved to the messaging section. So, this message becomes a conversation starter between you too. You can only send out one initial message. So, be thoughtful when you write this intro. 

Start chatting after you match on OkCupid with someone. Depending on the vibes you are getting, you can ask this person out on a date. Or, you can try virtual dating for a while.

OkCupid uses an efficient algorithm to match people. So if someone matches with you, there’s quite a good chance they will go out with you.

How Does The OkCupid Algorithm Help You Find Love? 

The matches on OkCupid depend on mathematics. The OkCupid algorithm finds you a possible date based on your preferences and your answers to the match questions.

Therefore, in ‘Discover,’ the user only sees people they are trying to find and those trying to find them.

The algorithm matches people based on three main criteria. Firstly, your area, gender, and sexual orientation. Secondly, the kind of person you are trying to find. And thirdly, the answers you provided to the match questions. 

The match questions play an important role in finding you the perfect date. It is what sets OkCupid apart from other typical “hooking-up” apps.

By calculating the answers to match questions, OkCupid sets you up with someone you can have an actual, meaningful, mature relationship.  

How To Find Your Perfect Match On OkCupid

OkCupid Dating

You can follow some simple tips to find the most compatible match on the OkCupid app. Invest some time and thought when you create your profile. Be honest in your profile, take a nice picture, and answer as many questions as you can. 

Profile picture: This is a dating app. So no doubt, sexual attraction is a factor (although not the only factor). And therefore, you will want to add a nice picture of yourself.

Avoid Photoshop or any other form of exaggerated editing. When someone likes you for what you are, you can be more comfortable dating them. 

Answering questions: You will want to answer as many matching questions as possible. The more questions you answer, the more accurately the OkCupid algorithm can match you up with people. Also, answer the questions as honestly as possible. 

Writing intro messages: Use all your creativity and thoughtfulness when writing an introductory message to someone. First, think about how that person’s profile made you feel and write those thoughts down as a draft. Edit, re-edit, and summarize it to create your message. Keep your feelings within 50 words and mind your grammar. 

What Are The Special Features Of OkCupid?

In the ever-increasing dating sites and apps market, OkCupid manages to stand out for some of its unique features. Such as its low price, smart algorithm, and unique functions like Super Likes, Dealbreakers, etc. 

Most Affordable: Currently, OkCupid is the cheapest dating site if you consider all the services you are getting for its membership price. The basic membership is only $9.99 a month. And with that, you can send likes to an unlimited number of profiles. No need to wait for the reset. Besides that, the free option is still available. 

Super Likes: You know that two users have to like each other before exchanging messages. This is more or less common on all dating sites. However, OkCupid offers a feature called Super Likes. Each user gets one free Super Like Per week. You can use it to like someone and send them a “Note” before they like it back. 

Deal Breakers: This is essentially a filter. You can use this to filter out matches that fail to fulfill any of your essential criteria. The feature is available for both paying and non-paying users. DealBreakers helps to perfect the match-making process in OkCupid. 

Stacks: This feature lets you view your matches according to categories. The users who answer the most questions will show up as Question Pros. You will see some matches as ‘Recommended.’ These are the people OkCupid especially recommends for you. Other such categories are Nearby, Online, Popular, and New People. 

OkCupid Recap

Here are some more articles that will help enhance your OkCupid experience.

Why Would OkCupid Messages Disappear?

This article explores the main reasons behind OkCupid message loss, whether from user actions or app issues. Get tips to prevent disappearance and maintain connections.

5 Reasons Your OkCupid Account Was Suspended

Learn what common violations can lead to account suspension on OkCupid, including policy breaches and improper behavior. Plus guidance for appealing restrictions.

How OkCupid Measures Attractiveness

Unpack the science behind OkCupid’s algorithms for determining compatibility scores. Optimize your profile to boost your rating and find better-matched partners.

Writing Your OkCupid Self-Summary: 12 Examples

Crafting an engaging self-summary is vital for showcasing your personality. Explore 12 diverse approaches with expert tips for making a winning first impression.

These articles offer valuable information and guidance for OkCupid users, whether you’re navigating messaging issues, account suspensions, understanding platform algorithms, or enhancing your profile to stand out in the dating world.

About the Author

Julia has over 10+ years in the mobile dating app space as a consultant and analyst. Her work has been featured on top websites like Mashable and Women's Health Mag. She writes these blogs to help singles find their true love and life long companion!