More of an OG blog than a data set pull and pretty graphs like you expect. I wanted to go over some of the big ideas and plans I have in store for this project/pipe dream. Don’t worry, the next few posts will be for crunching numbers and studies.
What’s the big idea?
Honestly, I hate almost everything the internet has become in the time I’ve been around (56k modem plays softly in the background). Making connections online has moved from the backrooms and seedy chat apps and parents warning you that you might be talking to a 40yo man to the forefront of what people used the internet for to back to seedy chat apps about The Backrooms (2026) where you seek out 40yo men. Every login is a Fuck You. Every site wants your data, your unique identifier, they want to sell you something or sell you to someone and the entire experience on the open web feels like rawdogging a bonzibuddy taskbar install. It doesn’t have to be like this. Ok Cupid was great and I want it back. Do you?
Spite.
It’s 100% spite and 10% nostalgia.
I’m obviously not a Harvard math major like the old crew.
I’m just a guy that’s tired of having to accept dogshit. Imagine me, sitting at my desk, looking over my shoulder at my framed picture of Uncle Ted (Harvard math major) with shame in my eyes as I type this: AI has made all this possible. Theoretically, I can take the fight to the apps not by complaining about how much they suck and asking for redress but by making an alternative. I have a history of doing exactly that.
The little ideas
You already got the nickel tour on the landing page. Here’s what else I have in mind:
- All moderation gets human sign off. All. Nobody gets their shit deleted without knowing why. Nobody gets shadowbanned because they said the word “cyber”. Wanna post a pic with a gun, a dead fish, your much hotter friends, go ahead. As long as it isn't illegal or opens us up to litigation, go ham. Even then, if it’s funny, we might leave it up anyways.
- Premium features will always be obtainable without paying TWICE. More on that later.
- The purpose of the site is to get you out there, meeting people IRL. Everything here should serve that first, and cover hosting second. I don’t care if this shit makes me a penny. This is about spite, love, and making something cool. The moment this project deviates from that, blow my shit smoove off.
- True matchmaking algos based on data YOU enter. Nothing black box. Answer the questions, enter weights for others’ answers. That’s as deep as it gets.
- Premium features and paywall don’t make the site unusable if you don’t have them.
Premium
We call it OG status. With it, you get unlimited messaging and exclusive features like references. Without it, you have to take the Dating Persona Test (up now in beta), answer 250 match questions, and have a fully fleshed out profile with pictures and everything, then you can message OG status users if they message you first or send the first message if your match% is over 97%.
To get it, it costs 3 Bucks.
To keep it, you have to do everything above, and either respond to 25% of messages received or get a 25% response rate on messages sent AND send or receive 4 messages a month, and it’s free after that. Never pay again. ALL features, nothing behind separate paywalls. I think that’s fair. Look at what the other guys are charging for far less:
| App | Lowest paid tier | Reported U.S. price | What that gets you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tinder | Plus | $9.99* | Unlimited likes and rewinds, Passport location changes, fewer ads. |
| Plenty of Fish | POF Plus | $19.99/mo | Unlimited likes, extended profiles, incognito browsing, no ads. |
| Grindr | XTRA | $14.99–$22.99* | No third-party ads, up to 500 profiles, read receipts, Grindr Web. |
| Bumble | Boost | $29.99–$39.99/mo | Unlimited likes, Backtrack, Rematch, Extend, Spotlight/SuperSwipe allowances. |
| OkCupid | Premium | $34.99/mo | See who likes you, unlimited likes, dealbreakers, more match-question access. |
| Match | Basic / Standard | $44.99/mo | Unlimited likes, rewinds, expanded discovery. |
| Hinge | Hinge+ | $49.99/mo | Unlimited likes, advanced preferences, see all incoming likes together. |
U.S. pricing snapshot, November 2026. Monthly figures reflect reported single-month options, not discounted long-term plans. *Tinder Plus and Grindr XTRA amounts are publicly listed in-app purchases whose billing periods aren't specified in the listing. Actual prices vary by location, age, platform, promotion and term. Sources: U.S. App Store price index, Bumble, Hinge, OkCupid, and POF.