For the bold and brainy: Best dating sites for geeks, nerds, and sci-fi buffs
Overview
Best paid dating app
Match
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Best Match alternative
Hinge
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Table of Contents
We geeks are a passionate bunch. We’ll happily spend hours dissecting the latest superhero movie or Star Wars series, but ask us to decode dating signals, and we’re lost. Our love language might be quoting obscure anime, and our idea of a perfect date might involve tabletop games, but finding someone who gets that? That’s a challenge.
For nerdy women, dating means sifting through profiles of guys who think “gamer girl” is a personality (or creeps chasing their Manic Pixie Dream Elf-girl fantasy). For men, it’s the struggle to express your love for all things nerdy without scaring off potential partners or, worse, being labeled “that guy.”
Is there a dating site for geeks?Yes, but you don’t need a niche dating site exclusively for geeks to find your soulmate.
We compared the internet’s top dating sites, trendy swiping apps, and geek-specific platforms to pinpoint the ones where you can proudly fly your nerd flag. With the best dating sites for geeks, you might just find that special someone who shares your obscure passions. We’re talking about someone who’ll happily debate the merits of Pokémon Emerald vs. Scarlet/Violet or create the perfect couples cosplay for the next Comic-Con. The best part? These platforms are all easily accessible via the App Store and Google Play Store.
Just remember this: Even if a potential match doesn’t share your specific hobby or interest, they could still be the right partner for you. Don’t fall for this common geek relationship fallacy. The most important thing is that they respect your nerdy obsessions, and you respect theirs.
You might notice we no longer recommend geek-specific sites like Soul Geek, Gamer Dating, and Dating for Muggles). Sadly, these platforms haven’t kept up with the times and are feeling a bit… well, dated. You can get the full scoop in our ‘How we tested’ section below.
Here are our top picks for the best dating sites where geeks, nerds, and anyone with a passion for their niche hobbies can find love:
Our Pick
Read our full OkCupid review.
Who it’s for: OkCupid has stepped up and is now one of the most popular dating sites for left-leaning 25 to 35-year-olds looking for more than just a hookup. While it’s not exclusively for geeks, OkCupid’s massive user base means you’ve got a good chance of finding someone who will talk nerdy to you. Plus, its profile prompts are basically an invitation to geek out, so you can bond over your favorite anime, video games, or whatever else gets you excited.
Whether you’re searching for a fellow gamer to conquer virtual worlds with, a comic book enthusiast to attend conventions, or a self-proclaimed dork who shares your passion for geek culture, OkCupid is a great place to start. It’s a community where you can be yourself without fear of judgment or ridicule. For all these reasons, we think it’s the best dating site for geeks in 2024.
Why we picked this: OkCupid is particularly well-suited for geeks and nerds who value intellectual compatibility and shared interests.
The app’s in-depth questions are designed to connect you with people who get your obsession with gaming, sci-fi, technology, comics, and whatever else fuels your inner nerd. To find other geeks, answer prompts like how you’d spend your Friday night by being honest and specific, like saying you’re playing Magic: The Gathering at your local game store. Even better, OkCupid’s specific prompts about your memorable board game moments, who you main in melee, and what anime defined your childhood make the process even easier.
With a massive and diverse user base, your chances of finding that special someone are better than scoring a critical hit in D&D. Oh, and did we mention that OkCupid’s free version is surprisingly impressive? You can do a lot without having to pay a dime, and we wish all free dating apps were this robust.
The Good
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Match
Best paid dating app
Read our full review of Match.
Who it’s for: Match might not be the first place you think of when it comes to geeky dating, but don’t write it off just yet. Its diverse user base means you’ll find all sorts of people here, including plenty of fellow nerds and geeks. According to the Match website, 19 percent of users are between 18 and 29, 44 percent are between 30 and 40, and 37 percent are 50 or older.
If you’re willing to invest a little time and money (yes, Match is a paid site), it could open up a world of possibilities for your love life. After all, your perfect match might not be on a niche dating site but rather hiding in plain sight on the largest dating platform out there.
Why we picked this: Match might not be free, but sometimes the best things in life (like finding your Player Two) require a little investment. And trust us, this app is worth it. The platform is user-friendly, has a clean interface, and features a lengthy matchmaking questionnaire to help optimize your dating profile and narrow your matches as efficiently as possible.
But what really sets Match apart for geeks is the level of personalization you can bring to your profile. With a massive library of interest tags, you can blast your love for gaming, horror marathons, or the latest VR tech with a massive library. Let everyone know you’re a Comic-Con regular, a trivia champ, or someone who values “Intellectual Stimulation” (because who doesn’t?).
Plus, Match gives you the chance to really geek out with essay-style answers to prompts about your favorite games, books, movies, and more. The paid features also help filter out those who aren’t serious about finding a real connection, and the requirement for at least one clear photo (you can add up to 26) shows that everyone on the platform is willing to put in the effort.
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Hinge
Best Match alternative
Who it’s for: Hinge is the ideal dating app for geeky 20 to 30-somethings looking to see where a connection takes them. It’s not as serious as eharmony and a little more hip than Match, with on-profile videos, prompts, and a fresh, modern design.
Hinge is a top-three dating app among young people between the ages of 18 and 29 (Tinder and Bumble have more users), according to research from the Pew Research Center. The organization found that approximately one in five young people have used Hinge, and among online dating app users in this demographic, 39 percent used Hinge.
Why we picked this: Even though Hinge is a part of Match Group, it takes a more personalized approach to dating. With Hinge, you can embrace your geekiness and showcase your interests through the app’s profile prompts and on-profile videos. The more you put yourself out there, the higher your chances of finding your lobster (or that special someone).
Because users are encouraged to respond to profile prompts and engage in conversations based on shared interests, Hinge provides a platform where geeks can connect on a deeper level beyond looks.
While some users have complained that Hinge uses an “attractiveness score,” we haven’t found any concrete evidence of it within the app itself.
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Details
Read our comparison of EliteSingles vs. eharmony.
Who it’s for: EliteSingles is where the intellectuals and deep thinkers hang out. If you’re tired of swiping through endless profiles of people who don’t get your references or can’t appreciate a fine Bordeaux, this might be the place for you.
Designed for those who value intelligence, wit, and genuinely stimulating conversation, EliteSingles is built to help you find other professionals who are just as passionate about their hobbies and interests as you are. Whether you’re a scientist, engineer, or just someone who loves to learn and grow, we recommend giving this app a try.
Why we picked this: With its in-depth, 200-question personality test that assesses important traits like agreeableness, openness, extraversion, conscientiousness, and neuroticism, EliteSingles takes matchmaking to a whole new level.
EliteSingles knows us analytical geeks appreciate a thorough approach. The in-depth test unlocks your unique personality and nerdy passions, then uses that data to find matches who are genuinely compatible on an intellectual level.
Unlike other apps that rely on endless swiping, EliteSingles simplifies the process by curating a selection of three to five highly compatible matches for you each day. This thoughtful approach saves you time and energy, allowing you to focus on getting to know your matches on a deeper level.
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happn
Best if you believe in love at first sight
Who it’s for: Ever lock eyes with someone cute at the comic book store or while waiting for your latte, only to wish you had a way to connect beyond that fleeting moment? Happn is the app that turns those missed connections into real-life meet-cutes. It uses your smartphone’s location to show you other users you’ve crossed paths with in real life and gives you a second chance to say “Hello.”
Why we picked this: Happn is like a real-life dating sim but with even better graphics (because, you know, real people). By using your location to engineer moments of serendipity, happn turns your daily routine into a potential adventure. From now on, your commute will be filled with potential connections just waiting to be made.
If you’re a rom-com geek who believes in the magic of chance encounters, Happn just might be your dream app. It’s less about swiping and more about those spark-filled moments when you lock eyes with someone across a crowded room or brush shoulders with them on a busy street.
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Read our full review of eharmony.
Who it’s for: Think of eharmony as the Gandalf of dating sites — wise, experienced, and dedicated to guiding you on your journey to finding your fellowship (of the ring finger, that is). With over two decades of experience matching singles, eharmony has evolved into a modern platform that still holds true to its core mission: helping people find lasting love.
Just remember, eharmony is all about commitment and serious relationships, so if you’re not ready to settle down, you might want to explore other options.
Why we picked this: eharmony’s advanced matching algorithm sets it apart from other dating platforms. With 32 different dimensions of compatibility, it delves deep into your personality traits, values, beliefs, and preferences to ensure highly compatible matches. This meticulous approach increases the likelihood of finding a partner who aligns with your core values and aspirations.
Like most dating apps, eharmony has a space to add interests and hobbies. Though none are specifically nerdy, you can definitely use the extensive profile to share what you’re passionate about so you can connect with your fellow nerds looking for a long-term connection.
And if you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community, you’ll be happy to know that eharmony has pivoted far from its historically heteronormative approach. In fact, the platform has evolved so much that it’s angered quite a few religious groups, including One Million Moms, which even started a petition to have the company remove its same-sex ads from TV.
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Zoosk
Dating site to avoid
Read our full review of Zoosk.
Who it’s for: Zoosk isn’t the trendiest or most visually appealing dating platform, and unfortunately, it doesn’t have great features for daters either. That’s why we recommend you steer clear of this dating site unless you’re really dying to use a dating platform not owned by Match Group. (Zoosk is owned by Spark Networks, which also owns Christin Mingle, Jdate, and EliteSingles.)
Why we don’t recommend this: There are a ton of options out there for dating sites these days, and Zoosk doesn’t stand out. It’s filled with bot accounts, isn’t cheap, and requires paying for most basic features, like messaging. Considering there are free dating sites for serious connections and paid sites that tend to attract more real (literally, not just emotionally) people, we’d say you’d probably do best to take your geeky interests and open heart elsewhere.
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To offer our readers the most reliable and current information, we regularly test online dating sites to ensure they’re worth joining. We extensively examine each site’s features and functionality, from signup to the actual user experience.
Our testing process involves creating different types of profiles, some complete and others incomplete, to track the number of matches generated with incomplete profiles. This can suggest a lack of quality control, bots, and fake users.
For this roundup, we revisited several geek-specific dating sites we’d previously recommended, including GamerDating, SoulGeek, and Dating for Muggles. While they might have been decent options in the past — and they definitely cater to a geeky crowd — these days, they seem too outdated and lack active users to reasonably recommend. However, many mainstream dating apps allow for enough profile customization that you can freely share your interests and find your fellow geeks “out in the wild.”
We also assess the diversity and inclusivity of each platform we review, including whether or not it caters to the LGBTQ+ community. Apps on this list with linked reviews have been hands-on tested by Mashable staff writers or freelance journalists with experience researching and writing about sex and relationships.
Leah Stodart is a Philadelphia-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable where she covers essential home tech like vacuums and TVs as well as sustainable swaps and travel. Her ever-growing experience in these categories comes in clutch when making recommendations on how to spend your money during shopping holidays like Black Friday, which Leah has been covering for Mashable since 2017.
Leah graduated from Penn State University in 2016 with dual degrees in Sociology and Media Studies. When she’s not writing about shopping (or shopping online for herself), she’s almost definitely watching a horror movie, “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” or “The Office.” You can follow her on X at @notleah or email her at [email protected].
Tabitha Britt is a freelance writer, editor, SEO & content strategist. Aside from writing for Mashable, Tabitha is also the founding editor-in-chief of DO YOU ENDO — a digital magazine by individuals with endometriosis, for individuals with endometriosis. She has a Master’s degree in Creative Publishing and Critical Journalism from The New School of Social Research and is a grad of Sextech School. You can find more of her work in various online pubs, including National Geographic, Insider, Kinkly, and others.
