Aside from BlackPeopleMeet, BlackCupid may be the only other Black dating site on the market with real credibility and value, and their only competition.
They may have not has any commercials on the air, but that doesn’t take away from the greatness of this dating site for Black singles looking for love. Their services specifically cater to the Black community in hopes of bringing people together and finding you the person of your dreams.
If you’ve ever had any doubts about using dating apps or websites, I get it, but BlackCupid is one of those you never have to worry about when it comes to scams, fake profiles, or being a waste of time. The reason why is because it’s run by the leading niche dating conglomerate Cupid Media that is responsible for several other niche dating websites. They’ve been around since 2000, and have clustered up a significant amount of users over the years.
Getting into the dating scene is tough, no matter who you are. You never know if you’re doing or saying the right things, and the hardest part can be where to start. You don’t know where to find the potential love of your life, or how to even ask out a stranger these days without them mistaking you for being a sex trafficker or something.
That’s where dating apps/sites come in.
They make it easier to find people in your area looking for relationships and make communication easier than ever before. Depending on your criteria, you both could be looking for the same thing and are already on the same page just by signing up for it, and with the help of niche dating sites like BalckCupid, you find exactly who you’re looking for.
If you are a Black single and looking to meet others near you and are ready to take the plunge into the world of online dating, then here is an in-depth review that will tell you everything you’d want to know before signing up for BlackCupid.
First Impression
BlackCupid has a very user-friendly site. When you log on, it feels like a safe dating website. The first thing they let you know is that BlackCupid is free to join and if you scroll down just a bit, will see that they’re currently offering a three-month free trial to their Platinum membership.
That alone would make you want to join BlackCupid because since it’s free, you don’t have anything to lose.
Maybe time if you find that it’s a useless site, but that’s far from the truth.
All you need to input to join BlackCupid is your first name, gender, age, e-mail address, and create your password. Once you’ve entered all that information, the only thing you’ll need to do now is click on “View Singles Now” and start browsing. You can choose to complete your profile once you’re signed in, or just finish it off later and see what things BlackCupid has to offer.
Features
The first thing you notice when you’re logged onto the homepage of your BlackCupid profile is a grid of your recommended matches’ profiles with pictures. Some of these people will be far off from where you’re located, and that could be a problem if you’re not into long distance and would prefer someone to be within 30 miles of you.
But lucky for you, that is possible on BlackCupid!
All you need to do is click on the “Improve Matches” button which will take you to edit your match criteria where you can filter for what you’re looking for in a match. The requirements can range from something as simple as what body type you’re looking for (you can find anyone from a skinny girl to a BBW!!!) to if they’re willing to relocate.
Just as you can edit your match criteria you can edit your profile to show off your personality and who you are, as well as your looks. You can answer profile questions under five categories: Basics, appearance, lifestyle, background/cultural views, and in your own words. There are also two other ways to tell other members about yourself — the personality profile and your hobbies and interests. The personality profile gives you the option to write-in your own answers to questions like what your favorite movie is and how you would describe your sense of humor.
A standard feature that many dating sites have, including those belonging to Cupid Media, is an Advanced Search tool. BlackCupid’s lets you filter for all the basics, such as location, age, and gender, as well as some specifics like political views and star sign.
This is a unique one I haven’t seen before, and quite frankly, needed. I mean, you wouldn’t want to date a Gemini, would you? Much less a Trump supporter.
And even worse than that, if they were both!
These things are important.
To interact with matches you’re interested in, there are also a few different methods of showing interest on BlackCupid.
Two subtle ways to show someone you’re into them without messaging them are the “favorite” and “show interest” features. When you click “show interest” on someone’s profile, they get a notification of it, and your profile will go into their list of people who’ve shown interest, and vice versa when someone does it to you. Favorites are sort of like bookmarks; when you favorite someone, they stay in your favorites list so you can look back on and remember their profile.
Of course, the traditional online dating method of messaging someone is still an option.
Not only can you receive and send messages to people through your Inbox, but BlackCupid will also occasionally send you some messages regarding your profile and other updates.
Unfortunately, if you’re a free user, you can’t read the messages sent to you, and communication is impossible between two free users. You’ll only be able to talk to paying members. But if you do upgrade and want someone to chat with right away, you can always click on the “Members Online” number, which is always displayed, and see who’s currently online.
Pricing & Membership Benefits
Along with the messaging features, there are a few others that will be unlocked with either a Gold or Platinum membership, BlackCupid’s upgraded membership from a free account.
One of the things you’ll be able to do with a Gold account is have the ability to communicate with all members of BlackCupid regardless of their membership status. You’ll also be able to use BlackCupid’s live chat instant messenger, use the site with no ads and can hide your profile to browse anonymously.
A platinum membership unlocks everything Black Cupid has to offer. Along with both the free and Gold membership benefits, Platinum members can enjoy five extra perks. These include ranking above other members in search results, doubling your profile space, get VIP profile highlighting, exclusive search features, and advanced matching algorithms.
For both Gold and Platinum memberships, there are three monthly options to choose from. Gold memberships cost $24.98 for one month, $16.66 per month for three months (billed in one payment of $49.99), and $8.33 per month for one year (billed in one payment of $99.98). Platinum memberships amount to $29.98 for one month, $20.00 per month for three months (billed in one payment of $59.99), and $10.00 per month for one year (billed in one payment of $119.98).
Pros
You can communicate with paying members, which there are quite a few of, and can show interest and favorite people with a free membership. There’s no shortage of Black men and women on this dating site, and you’ll never find someone who doesn’t want a relationship since this is a dating site and everyone signs up with the same goal in mind.
Cons
The love of your life might not be a Platinum member! Two free accounts can’t message one another limiting who you talk to. This puts a huge limit on who you can talk with (and potentially meet and fuck)!
Conclusion & Rating
BlackCupid is a great site for those of you looking to get into online dating. There’s a good mix of older people and 20-somethings on BlackCupid, so you have a diverse blend of people to get to know.
If you’re Black, single, and ready to mingle, then you need to try out BlackCupid!
4/5 Stars