As humans, there is a deep desire to build something intimate with someone either of the same sex or different sex. Falling in love has a feel-good feeling, and it holds some medical benefits too. However, the problem with starting a romantic relationship is finding the right person.
Look back at your past relationships, how many times did you come out of them, concluding they were not the right person? How, then, do you find the right person? That’s precisely what Zoosk vs. OkCupid is all about.
Zoosk vs. OkCupid
Of the thousands of dating apps out there, the spotlight will be on these two to help you decide if dating apps is one way to find the right person.
Comparison of History
Even though Zoosk has been around for long, OkCupid is still older than it. Zoosk is a perfect example of the American Dream in action. Its founders were Iranian immigrants who moved to the United States to continue their education.
They came together to work on a dating platform that helps single people find a partner. Seven years after launching the platform, they took the company public to raise $100 million in business capital.
That same year, the company reported a revenue of about $200 million. After suffering losses that threatened to kill the company early in its strides, they managed to steady the ship and now have estimated annual revenue of $250 million.
Similar to Zoosk, OkCupid was built by students. While Zoosk was made by two students who had Masters degrees to their name, four Harvard graduates who had just earned their first degree created OkCupid. It was not their first Rodeo either, as they had previously built a similar platform, which they had sold after successfully running it for a while.
OkCupid was launched in 2004, and a change of hands has seen it now have the same parent company alongside notable dating platforms like Tinder and Match. Alongside its app and web version, it has reported revenue of $115 million annually.
Key Features of Both Sites
The online dating industry trend by dating service providers gives you access to some features for free and restrict access to beneficial ones. On Zoosk, it isn’t surprising that this is their way of keeping things running too. However, it is disappointing what very little you can do on a free account.
You can register accounts for free, create a profile, send smiles and hearts, view other users’ carousels of pictures and profile details. You cannot message a user you like because that functionality hides behind a paywall.
Paying for Zoosk means you get everything on the free-tier and more features. As a premium account user, you can chat with a match, see who likes you and get complete access to a feature called SmartPicks.
SmartPicks is a feature that learns about your preferences by presenting you with different profiles, giving you the option of hitting the heart button or the ‘X’ button. It does this over some time to provide you with better suggestions.
OkCupid employs a similar pricing model, but it lets you do more without upgrading your account to premium. You can register an account and create a profile for free. You are allowed to message other users, and you also have access to its basic search filters.
Want to know more about a specific user? There is an option that lets you browse through member profiles without paying. Unlike Zoosk, they give you access to a cool feature that looks like it should be behind a paywall called Double Take. Double Take is OkCupid’s roulette-type matching feature.
Comparison of the Sign-Up Process
Zoosk’s sign-up process is as rigorous as that of any other dating platform. It isn’t the part where you supply your details, which is strict, but Zoosk’s checks. Checks refer to things like zip-code verification and VPN detection. This makes it difficult to create fake profiles.
You can sign-up with your Google account or Facebook account, but you have to ensure you are using them to create an account on Zoosk in the same place you created them. If you encounter no problem making an account, you will receive an email verification link. In 5 minutes, you should be done.
OkCupid has other ways of keeping their platform safe, so they do no detect VPN usage or care about your zip code. You are required to answer a questionnaire that is important for creating your profile. In 3 to 5 minutes, you should be done.
User Base
OkCupid operates globally and has 50 million users worldwide; however, some countries are banned from using the platform, so they might want to check themselves on the use of the words’ global’ and ‘worldwide.’
They are very LGBT-friendly and have a user base that would be more liberal than conservative if the political pulse of the user base is taken. They have a million logins per day, meaning it is a pretty busy platform. OkCupid has a younger demographic.
Zoosk may not have as many users as OkCupid, but more people are using it every day. They have 40 million people worldwide and a closely balanced distribution of men and women on the platform. Most members fall within the age range of 25 to 34.
Ease of Use
Zoosk’s user interface could use some work to compete with a platform like OkCupid in attracting a younger demographic. The site’s layout is well thought out, and every feature is straightforward to use.
OkCupid has a very modern design that is pleasing to look at and use. The organization of features is excellent also. There is no hassle in finding a feature to use.
Success Rates
In the past, OkCupid had a reputation (depends on who you ask) of being where you go to find hookups. They have made significant updates that have brought more people looking for serious long-term and short-term relationships to the dating site.
Zoosk has lots of success stories of members finding love on the platform and going all the way to the altar. Their strict validation process ensures that you are conversing with a real person.
Pricing
Zoosk’s Plans
Monthly Membership
- 1 Month: 29.99 USD
- 3 Months: 59.99 USD
- 6 Months: 74.99 USD
Coins
- 180 Coins: 19.99 USD
- 480 Coins: 39.99 USD
OkCupid’s Plans
A-List Basic Subscription
- 1 Month: 7.95 USD
- 3 Months: 19.05 USD
- 6 Months: 23.70 USD
A-List Premium Subscription
- 1 Month: 24.90 USD
- 3 Months: 68.70 USD
- 6 Months: 119.40 USD
Boost
- 1 Credit: 1.99 USD
- 5 Credits: 9.45 USD
- 10 Credits: 16.90 USD
Pros and Cons
OkCupid Pros
- Allows more in-depth matching
- Modern design
OkCupid Cons
- The sign-up process is a bit tedious
- Matching options are great only if you live in an area where a lot of people use them.
Zoosk Pros
- Great subscription plans
- Simple user interface
Zoosk Cons
- Doesn’t have much older people
- You have to search for dates.
Bottom Line
At the end of the day, you are the one who gets to choose what platform you think would be best for you. OkCupid has had some turmoil in the past that they seem to have put behind them. In 2017, they decided to go back on their decision on the use of monikers because it put users at risk of getting doxed.
People had their photos on OkCupid used to build a face database without their consent because the company that used their data was started up by some founders of OkCupid.
Zoosk, on the other hand, has not been in the news for any shady dealings. You can never tell with these companies, Zoosk may not be into anything nefarious, or they may not have slipped up yet.
