A Free OkCupid Alternative for People Who Match on Values
TL;DR
Souldaters is a good fit if you like compatibility-based dating but want every feature free, hard dealbreaker filters for things like veganism or sobriety, community tribes and a friends mode. OkCupid is still a strong choice if you enjoy answering many detailed questions and want a large, long-established, inclusive community.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Souldaters | OkCupid |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 100% free, no paid tier | Free basic version; paid subscriptions add features |
| Compatibility approach | Soul-match % from tribes, diet, goals, lifestyle and distance, with reasons | Match % based on answers to many personal questions |
| Messaging | Only after a mutual match | Messages generally reach people once there is mutual interest (details vary) |
| See who liked you | Free for everyone | Generally part of paid tiers |
| Identity options | Woman/man/non-binary, custom label, trans flag, pronouns, orientation | Wide range of gender and orientation options |
| Hard dealbreaker filters | Free (only vegans, sober, non-smokers, want kids…) | Filters available; some advanced options in paid tiers |
| Groups / communities | Tribes with public pages and discussion boards | Profile-based; no tribe-style groups |
| Friends mode | Built in: dating, friends or both | Can indicate interest in friendship (varies) |
| Community size | New (launched 2026), growing | Large, long-established |
Competitor features and pricing change often; check OkCupid's own site for current details.
Why do people search for an OkCupid alternative?
OkCupid has been around for a long time and is known for its questions: you answer as many as you like, and the app estimates how compatible you are with others. For many people, that depth is exactly the appeal. Those who look for an alternative often want the spirit of compatibility matching with a different emphasis. They may want to filter strictly on a few non-negotiables, such as a plant-based diet or an alcohol-free lifestyle, rather than weigh hundreds of answers. They may want features like seeing who liked them without paying. Or they may want to belong to groups around what they care about, not only browse profiles.
What does OkCupid do well?
- Depth of questions. Its question system lets you express nuanced views on politics, lifestyle, relationships and more.
- Inclusivity. OkCupid has long offered a wide range of gender identities and orientations, and has been welcoming to LGBTQ+ and non-monogamous daters.
- A large, established community in many countries.
- Useful free version. You can get a lot done without paying, even though some features sit in paid tiers.
If you love answering questions and reading detailed profiles, OkCupid is a good home.
How is Souldaters different?
Compatibility you can read at a glance
Instead of hundreds of questions, Souldaters builds a soul-match compatibility percentage from a handful of meaningful signals: shared tribes, interests, diet, relationship goals, lifestyle choices around kids, smoking, drinking and exercise, and distance. Every score comes with plain-language reasons, such as "3 shared tribes, both vegetarian, both want kids", so you understand why someone showed up without having to trust a black box.
Hard dealbreakers, free
Some things are not a matter of weighting. Souldaters lets you set strict filters: only vegans; only vegans and vegetarians; non-smokers; sober or non-drinkers; no-makeup or minimal-makeup; people who exercise often; only with photos; only verified; only people sharing a tribe; want kids; don't want kids. They are all free.
Tribes: communities, not just tags
Tribes are interest tags that are also groups. Each has a public page and a discussion board. There are around sixty curated tribes, from vegan and conscious dating to polyamory, asexual, neurodivergent, gamers and gardeners, and any member can create a new one. Joining tribes raises your compatibility with others in them, and you can use "only people sharing a tribe" as a filter.
Everything is free
No premium tier, no paywall, no boosts. Seeing who liked you is free for everyone. Every member has the same tools.
Friends mode and mutual matching
You can set your intent to dating, friends only, or both. Whether it is a date or a friend, chat only opens after both people like (or wave at) each other. Nobody can send you a message you did not invite.
Identity and inclusion on Souldaters
Souldaters is built for all kinds of people. Profiles include woman, man or non-binary, an optional custom gender label, an optional trans flag, pronouns and orientation. There are tribes for LGBTQ+ members and specific communities within them, plus tribes around faith, life stage, disability and neurodivergence. If you valued OkCupid's inclusivity, you will find the same intention here, expressed through tribes and profile fields. Our LGBTQ+ dating guide has more.
What are the trade-offs?
OkCupid's questions capture far more nuance than Souldaters' lifestyle fields; if you want to compare views on dozens of topics before talking, OkCupid does that better. OkCupid is also much larger and has native store apps, while Souldaters launched in 2026, is still growing, and is currently an installable web app with native apps coming. In a quiet area, stacking several dealbreakers can leave few people to see for now.
It is also worth saying that no compatibility score, whether built from questions or from tribes, can predict chemistry. Both are tools to help you decide who to talk to first.
Features and pricing of other apps change often; check their site for current details.
Who is each best for?
| Souldaters | OkCupid |
|---|---|
| People who want a few clear non-negotiables handled by strict filters | People who enjoy answering many detailed questions |
| People who want every feature free | People who want a large, established community |
| People who want tribes and discussion boards | People who prefer long written profiles |
| People who want dating and friends in one place | People who want a native app today |
Many people happily use both: OkCupid for its depth and reach, Souldaters for its free features, tribes and strict filters. There is no need to choose only one while you work out what suits you.
How to move from OkCupid to Souldaters
- Create a free account and pick dating, friends or both.
- Condense your OkCupid essay into a short bio and three prompts. Keep the specifics that say the most about you.
- Translate your most important question answers into tribes and lifestyle fields: diet, drinking, smoking, exercise, kids, religion or outlook.
- Set the two or three dealbreakers that truly matter and leave the rest open.
- Browse the tribe boards; conversations there are a relaxed way to meet people.
Frequently asked questions
What is a free alternative to OkCupid?
Souldaters is a completely free option with a compatibility score based on shared tribes, diet, goals and lifestyle, free dealbreaker filters and a friends mode. Hinge and Bumble also have free versions if you want larger general apps.
Does Souldaters have a match percentage like OkCupid?
Yes. Souldaters shows a soul-match compatibility percentage calculated from shared tribes, interests, diet, goals, lifestyle and distance, with readable reasons for each score.
Is Souldaters inclusive of LGBTQ+ and non-binary people?
Yes. Profiles support woman, man or non-binary, a custom gender label, a trans flag, pronouns and orientation, and there are LGBTQ+ tribes and communities.
Can I see who liked me on Souldaters for free?
Yes. Seeing who liked you is free for every member, as is every other feature. There is no paid tier.