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Now that American singles are facing a post-COVID world, a lot of talk has been swirling around dating sites with a COVID vaccination status available on the profile. Such sites can help online daters swipe according to their values and viewpoints.
First, let’s get something straight. No dating site or app will require vaccination information from users. It is always voluntary. There is no COVID vaccination passport in online dating. At most, you may see online dating profiles sporting a fully vaccinated badge or featuring a photo of a person getting the shot. Vaccine status updates are 100% optional.
It has become increasingly common to see singles mention their COVID-19 vaccination in their online dating profile because it’s an important public health issue — and a potential dealbreaker. In the last few months, a lot of popular dating sites and apps have incorporated COVID vaccination statuses into the matchmaking process to ensure vaccinated users can meet a potential partner who meets their standards.
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1. Match
★★★★★
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Match has been among the top dating sites in the world since 1995. Its long reign has endured many changes to the online dating landscape, but nothing to compare with the COVID crisis of 2020. Once lockdowns and social distancing became widespread in the U.S., the Match Group acted quickly to add video chat features and virtual dating assistance to its dating platform.
In 2021, the Biden Administration partnered with Match Group to devise a plan for encouraging online daters (particularly those in the under-30 age group) to get their COVID-19 vaccine. Match.com will soon unveil an incentive program that rewards users for adding a vaccination badge to their profile.
“We are honored to work with the White House on increasing vaccinations across America,” said Match Group CEO Shar Dubey. “[This] will allow people to once again meet in person and engage in meaningful ways. This will make dating safer for everyone, everywhere.”
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“Accounting for 2% of U.S. marriages, eharmony's compatibility-based system and commitment-minded user base are ideal for those seeking a serious relationship...”
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2. eharmony
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Founded in 2000, eharmony is another experienced leader in the online dating industry. The platform uses psychology to power smart matchmaking and pair compatible users. Its comprehensive questionnaire includes everything from family values to personal hobbies, and now eharmony is adding COVID vaccination preferences to its profile.
The eharmony site provides plenty of space to talk about who you are and where you are in life. An eharmony survey found that people have learned coping skills during the pandemic, and relationships have gotten stronger as a result.
In 2020, eharmony also became one of the first mainstream dating sites to incorporate video calls into its private messaging window. The video feature has proven extremely popular and will likely remain on the dating platform long after the COVID pandemic has subsided.
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“Zoosk is integrated with social media sites, like Facebook and Google+, so it's very popular with singles on the go...”
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3. Zoosk
★★★★★
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48%*
52%*
28.9 Million*
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Zoosk is a highly engaging dating platform where singles can match and chat at their leisure. Its network includes over 40 million users in 80 countries. Of course, the majority of its online dating activity takes place in the United States, which is its home country.
Zoosk has already added a photo verification badge, social media badges, and interest tags to its dating profile, so adding a vaccination badge is within its wheelhouse. The Silicon Valley team is currently working on COVID-related features to upgrade its online dating experience and help vaccinated users find one another more easily.
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“ChristianMingle is among the largest dating sites in the industry that only caters to single Christian men and women, and the site has some of the best search filters and safety features...”
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44%*
56%*
3.5 Million*
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ChristianMingle was created on a solid foundation of traditional Christian values. The niche dating site has made a name for itself by prioritizing shared values in the dating scene, and that philosophy is particularly important for post-COVID dating.
The ChristianMingle community respects every individual’s right to choose to get a vaccine shot, and it does not require users to disclose that private information. Instead, the dating site offers open-ended profile prompts where singles talk about the things that matter to them. These days, that often means mentioning how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted life and a general stance on vaccinations.
Christian singles can struggle to meet like-minded people in their daily lives, so it helps to have such targeted matchmaking tools close at hand.
5. Tinder
is easily one of the most popular dating apps available for free. The app’s streamlined matchmaking has won over a generation of online daters and has empowered lonely, bored, or curious individuals to take action and find compatible dates in their city.
In 2020, Tinder actually saw a surge in users when lockdowns hit country after country and closed bars, nightclubs, and other in-person dating venues.
Tinder has been responsible for making over 60 billion matches since 2012.
Match Group is Tinder’s parent company, and the dating app was the first to launch vaccination promotional offers in partnership with the Biden Administration.
Tinder now offers an I’m Vaccinated tag on dating profiles in the U.S. A vaccinated person who adds this tag will qualify for special perks, including access to Super Likes and a profile boost on the dating app.
6. Bumble
has a good reputation as the world’s first feminist dating app. The company is reliably progressive and creative in how it operates, and the female-led team isn’t afraid to break with tradition when developing matchmaking tools.
It therefore isn’t surprising that Bumble was among the first dating apps to promote COVID vaccine dating advice and promote COVID-safe ways to meet through the app.
The Bumble dating app has free and premium features for locating dates.
Bumble now has a vaccine status badge available for users who have received their coronavirus shots. Whether they’ve gotten the Pfizer vaccine, the Moderna shot, or another type of COVID-19 shot, vaccinated adults can share that information with every potential match on Bumble and start chats on a positive and healthy note.
“A good way to signal to somebody you want to know their antibody situation is to tell them yours while you’re still in the messaging phase, before you meet in person,” the Bumble team advises.
7. OkCupid
launched in 2004 on a mission to use extensive questionnaires and deep-diving profiles to calculate a couple’s long-term compatibility. The OkCupid app has proven effective and is responsible for around 91 million matches a year.
The use of the word “vaccine” in Okcupid profiles increased by 137% in the winter of 2020. The OkCupid team took notice of this trend and added a temporary COVID vaccination badge to profiles to help steer like-minded people together.
The OkCupid app saw an increased interest in virtual dating and vaccinated matches in 2020.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, OkCupid rapidly adjusted to the new normal and added personal questions about social distancing, mask preferences, and a potential COVID vaccine. The platform hosted a lot of interesting conversations about what’s going on in the world, and it united dating app users with similar perspectives and goals.
According to internal statistics, OkCupid users received 20% more likes if they said in the dating profile that they were likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Pro-vaccination users also made 12% more matches than their anti-vaxxer counterparts.
8. Hinge
is a dating app geared toward inspiring long-term relationships and marriages. The algorithm doesn’t mess around when pairing up its users. The dating app boasts a 72% success rate for first dates, meaning the majority of first dates lead to second dates.
American adults can use Hinge to meet people within a certain age group or city, and they can also set preferences regarding education, income, and public health.
Hinge offers a highly sophisticated and streamlined dating experience.
As part of a deal with the White House, the Hinge app has released a COVID vaccination sticker that singles can choose to add to their profiles. Once a person adds the sticker, he or she will receive a free Rose to give to their most promising potential match. A Rose is premium content on Hinge, and it’s a fun way to show extra interest in a match beyond a simple swipe.
Users should note this promotional offer will not be available forever. It will end around the Fourth of July, which is a deadline set by the Biden Administration to reach a 70% vaccination goal.
9. Plenty of Fish
touts itself as the dating site for adults. However, thanks to its free chat features, it’s become a particular favorite among young adults. App users don’t have to worry about subscription fees or communication limits here. All chatting functionality is 100% free and doesn’t require mutual matching.
The POF community extends to over 150 million users in 20 countries, and vaccination status is a major concern when connecting such a large and diverse network.
Plenty of Fish has set up a matchmaking shortcut for singles who have gotten a coronavirus vaccine
POF is already completely free, but vaccinated users will get some special privileges that give them an added incentive to get their shot. After your vaccine appointment, you can send your information to POF to qualify for an upgraded online dating experience.
By downloading Plenty of Fish, users can expand their social circle and search for local dates by age, gender, relationship status, occupation, and a host of other important characteristics.
10. Grindr
is a popular gay dating app where men chat with men for free. The app has over 27 million users in the LGBTQ+ community, and it sees over 3 million daily active users.
Within the last year, Grindr has seen a wave of vaccine bros coming out with their vaccination status in their bio. By coming out as fully vaccinated and single, Grindr users can signal that they are ready for more than an online romance. It’s an easy way to impress and attract potential matches.
It’s free to download Grindr and swipe on local gay dating profiles.
Grindr polled 10,000 users during the COVID-19 pandemic to see how dating, hookups, and relationships fared in a time of social distancing. The gay dating app reported that over 80% of respondents agreed they prioritized their mental health and sexual health while under lockdown. Almost 60% said that having a steady relationship was now more important to them than it was pre-pandemic.
11. Coffee Meets Bagel
got its start in Silicon Valley, so the dating app is fairly progressive in how it tackles online matching. In 2021, the CMB team saw an increased interest in COVID vaccination information, and it welcomed conversations about social distancing and COVID safety. Dating app users can now select an answer to the prompt “When it comes to COVID-19, I am…” by editing their CMB dating profile.
According to a CMB survey, nearly 80% of users said a person not taking COVID seriously is a dealbreaker for them, and 43% said they were more likely to view a potential match favorably if they knew that person was fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Coffee Meets Bagel features a COVID question in the basic dating profile.
Coffee Meets Bagel allows dating app users to add their COVID vaccination status to their dating profile within a couple clicks. The accepted responses include fully vaccinated, waiting on an additional dose, planning to get the vaccine, not vaccinated, or prefer not to say. Looking ahead, Coffee Meets Bagel may update its options to add booster COVID vaccines if and when they become available.
12. Badoo
has over 510 million users worldwide. The dating platform uses livestreaming videos and dynamic profiles to engage users in flirty conversations. And now it’s adding COVID vaccine data into the mix.
In the summer of 2021, Badoo users can expect to see new COVID updates that will provide special incentives for vaccinated individuals.
Badoo is a social discovery and dating app that launched in 2006.
Badoo will soon offer a COVID vaccination badge for singles who have gotten their shots. The badge is optional, but it can be a valuable perk for online dating. A potential match may feel more comfortable knowing their date has been vaccinated, and the badge will unlock certain premium features to accelerate the matchmaking process.
What are the Different Vaccination Statuses You Can Have?
Every dating app has handled the vaccination issue slightly differently. But the general consensus is that a vaccination badge should only apply to individuals who have been fully vaccinated — not half-vaccinated, not planning to make a vaccination appointment, and not immune from contracting the coronavirus. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has published educational materials about the importance of a complete vaccine series to stop COVID-19 from spreading.
Only a person who has a completed vaccine series — that means two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, two doses of Moderna, or one dose of Johnson & Johnson — can qualify for a COVID-19 vaccine badge and the premium perks that come with it.
How Do Dating Sites With COVID Vaccination Statuses Really Work?
Dating sites and apps work the same as they alway have, but with some added features that allow users to share their vaccination status. COVID-19 vaccine badges are extra benefits that can be fun and helpful to add to a dating profile, but are by no means required. A vaccinated person may choose to publicize their COVID-19 immunity to assure potential matches that meeting in person is safe.
However, the badge is not a requirement, and one should not assume that a dating profile without a badge is unvaccinated. That person may just want to keep their health status private.
The swiping game hasn’t changed in the post-COVID world. It’s just gotten a little savvier when it comes to screening matches based on public health guidelines.
How Do I Go About Choosing the Best Dating Site With COVID Vaccination Status?
Choosing the best dating site or app isn’t an exact science. It may take some trial and error to find a space where you feel comfortable and can attract compatible dates. It’s a good idea to bounce ideas off friends and read reviews on the internet to make an informed decision.
We’ve endeavored to make post-COVID dating easier by highlighting a list of dating sites with COVID vaccination status badges available. Our reviews include the most popular dating apps of the day, and they’ve been ranked according to their overall effectiveness and ease of use.
Match.com topped our list due to its longstanding history of helping singles find dates and get in relationships.
Available on: iOS, Android
- Relationships: Fun Dates, Serious Relationships
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- About the App: Available via the App Store and Google Play, Match is a fantastic app for dates and relationships. With a user base of 30 million singles, Match is where you'll have a high chance of success. It's free to download, create a profile, search for date prospects, and receive compatible matches based on personalized preferences. Free members can also chat with select members and send unlimited likes.
- Browse Free: View Profiles Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | App Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Singles* |
49%*
51%*
|
13.5 Million* | Free Download |
Match.com can provide a dashboard of local matches based on your criteria, but members can only communicate for free with their Top Picks. That means chatting may be a little slow for singles who are used to the fast-paced action of swiping apps like Tinder.
If you want to flex your dating muscles and break out from your lockdown routine, we recommend creating dating profiles on multiple platforms to give yourself a lot of romantic options and opportunities in your city or county. Remember that dating is a numbers game, so a good strategy is to wade into large dating pools and interact with as many single people as possible.
Are Dating Sites With COVID Vaccination Statuses Actually Safe?
Singles have always had safety concerns about meeting a stranger for a first date, but the COVID-19 pandemic brought extra anxiety and risk to the equation. Throughout 2020, American adults had to navigate new dating rules that included social distancing and mask protocols. And now vaccination status has become a hot topic for daters.
If you’re concerned about public health and safety, you should consider joining dating sites with COVID vaccination status updates. These platforms provide more vaccination information and give users an incentive to talk about their health in a meaningful way.
It is safe to disclose a vaccination status to a dating platform or talk about it in a dating profile. However, we strongly advise online users not to post pictures with their vaccination cards. These cards have personal details (last names, birthdates, vaccine doses) that should not be shared with strangers.
What Other Corporate Giveaways Can Vaccinated People Get?
Over the last few months, adult Americans have been offered everything from free donuts at Krispy Kreme to potential cash prizes from the state government in exchange for getting vaccination doses. Two Ohio residents so far have won $1 million each in the statewide COVID-19 lottery. New Mexico is offering its vaccinated adults a chance at $10 million in total winnings. Some lucky vaccinated individuals will earn a windfall for doing their part to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
But not all the perks are up to the luck of the draw. Some freebies and corporate giveaways are available to all American adults who have gotten or want to get their coronavirus shots. After your second dose, you are eligible for free gifts from companies, including free vaccine card laminations at OfficeMax, Office Depot, and Staples.
A COVID vaccination card can unlock fun promotional perks ranging from free donuts to cheaper concert tickets.
The Biden Administration has made significant promotional efforts in the tech world to encourage young adults to get fully vaccinated. Uber and Lyft partnered with government officials to offer a free ride to any local vaccination site throughout the summer.
Additionally, U.S. officials worked with Match Group to brainstorm premium perks that could be offered to vaccinated adults. As a result, online daters will soon see Tinder, Plenty of Fish, Match.com, OkCupid, and other popular dating apps unveil premium content for vaccinated users only. That means singles who have gotten their second shot will have a better shot at picking up dates!
Enjoy a Healthy Dose of Fun on Popular Dating Apps
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the dating world in 2020. But things are getting back to normal (or at least a new normal), and American adults can easily get their vaccine doses and then rejoin the dating scene in their city.
The good news is you don’t need an appointment, a subscription, or a vaccination card to get started in the online dating world. All it takes is some basic information, a profile picture, and maybe a social media link or email verification. If you feel comfortable, you can choose to disclose your vaccination status to make yourself more appealing to potential matches, and hopefully put some minds at ease.
In recent months, the online dating world has seen a movement toward dating sites with COVID vaccination status featured prominently. Whether it’s through vaccination badges or other promotions, vaccinated users have an advantage in the online dating world, and our experts don’t expect that to change anytime soon. So go get vaccinated and then get swiping!
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