notcupidhow it works
← back
a connection experiment

meet people. not profiles.

one quiz, two lines, real connection — the algo does the heavy lifting.

the basics

everyone starts here.

1
📝 sign up

name, email, a 6-digit code to prove it’s you. born in Boston, now open across the Northeast — all of New England, the NYC metro, and North Jersey.

2
🧠 take the core quiz

a short, chaptered run — who you are (personality), the day-to-day (lifestyle), and a rapid-fire round. ~4 minutes, no photos, no performing.

3
🚉 pick your line

board the Love Line (dating), the Friend Line (platonic), or both. your core quiz powers both sides — then each line asks a few questions of its own.

chapter one · dating

💘 the love line

🧭
go deeper on love

a few more questions — what you’re looking for, how you connect (attachment style), and what matters most (values, kids, lifestyle, fitness). that’s what the matching actually weighs, not just vibes.

🃏
your curated roster

the algo can hand you up to ten compatible people: three included connection picks plus seven browseable alternatives, ranked on values, attachment, personality and shared rapid-fire answers — no swiping, no endless feed.

👉
you pick

every 24-hour roster includes three distinct connection picks. all ten profiles stay free to browse when enough compatible people are available. a one-time $0.99 AI Compatibility Read adds a private six-signal fit summary and one extra connection to that exact person—one purchase, never two. if the request is declined or expires before becoming mutual, its connection value returns as an in-app credit while the read stays open.

💞
it’s a match

when you both accept, the chat opens and we email you both. set your match radius (5–75 mi) so you only see people you’d actually meet.

🔓
profiles stay free

open any Love roster card to see their bio, interests and prompts before choosing. accepting, replying, blocking and reporting never cost anything. the optional AI + HEXACO tab interprets broad six-signal bands between you; raw answers and exact scores stay private, and it is never presented as a diagnosis or guarantee.

🍽️
plan the date

once you’re talking, Date Vibes makes choosing what to do a game — a deck of curated local spots and live events; a mutual yes reveals the plan.

chapter two · friends

🧡 the friend line

🧡
join the friend line

a quick friend quiz — the activities you’re into, who you’re open to meeting, your age range. platonic only, its own separate pool.

🎒
open a friendship pack

a pack is up to 5 people picked for you to meet. your first pack is free; more weekly packs are $0.99 (free on Pro). packs pace how many people you SEE — the connections themselves are unlimited.

🤝
connect — your 1:1s

tap connect on anyone in a pack; they get a ping, and when they accept back you’re connected for good. connect with as many people as you like.

💬
the group chat

choose the whole pack to open a group chat with everyone in it — the room you meet in. people who opt in are active; the rest show as invited.

🪪
connections, added & dropped

click any connection to open their friend card — their interests, your match, and a button to connect or to drop the connection. drop one and you quietly leave the shared chat if they were your last tie there. only connections can message each other.

🎟️
the scene & city pulse

the Scene is the live board for plans and posts. City Pulse is the discovery layer: community hubs, clubs, and which neighborhoods have plans forming.

🎟️ your fare

the quiz and every Love profile are free. each roster includes three connection picks; each additional distinct pick is a one-time $0.99 and includes chat if mutual. on Friend, your first friendship pack is free — additional packs are $0.99 each, and group chats are always free.

or go Pro — AI Compatibility Reads, extra Love connection picks, and unlimited friendship packs for $3.99/mo. accepting and replying are always free.

🎟️ entries closed · Thursday, August 20
The NotCupid Dating Experiment

Two compatible Boston pairs. Dinner is on us. Qualified entrants receive up to two reciprocal options and choose privately. Up to 2 disjoint mutual pairs each receive dinner up to $200 at a Boston restaurant. Entries for this round are closed.

how to joinbe 21+, live in Massachusetts within 20 miles of 02116, complete your profile, and answer four short experiment prompts. a private 5–15s intro video is optional. joining is free.

up to two strong optionsthe system prioritizes giving qualified people one reciprocal option before adding a second. everyone has the same two-option cap; paid membership never changes offers or odds.

🔒

private by designif you add an optional experiment video, only people placed on a reciprocal shortlist with you can view it. every yes, pass, and optional favorite stays sealed.

🤝

mutual choice winssay yes to either, both, or neither. only mutual yes pairs enter the final compatibility-weighted selection for up to 2 dinner pairs, each covered to $200.

capped at 400 entrants · entry date Tuesday, August 18 at 11:59 PM ET · dinner Thursday, August 20, 2026 — 6:30 PM or 8:30 PM ET; restaurant revealed privately later
see experiment details →

* No purchase necessary. Massachusetts residents 21+ within 20 miles of 02116. Up to two reciprocal options; only mutual yes pairs enter the final weighted selection for up to 2 dinner prizes. Odds depend on the qualified pool and private choices. Void where prohibited. Official Rules.

get started →