If you open the app store on your smartphone and enter the search query, “Dating,” you will see dozens or hundreds of results. Today, there are so many dating services that can get a regular user confused in this variety.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that every dating app promises its users some unique algorithms that allow them to find love with a 100% guarantee. Is this true?

Today, we will discuss how such algorithms work in practice and whether they are effective as marketers claim.

Three basic algorithms for pair selection in dating apps

Although almost every modern dating app talks about the uniqueness of its algorithms, in reality, they can be divided into three main categories.

1. Algorithms with search filters

This is the simplest category of matchmaking algorithms, which boils down to conducting personality tests, analyzing them, and selecting potentially suitable people for dating. In some cases, it’s simpler; you can indicate the necessary parameters of a potential applicant by gender, age, place of residence, interests, etc. Filters work similarly in Match, Tinder, and many other dating services.

Such algorithms are easy to implement, allow users to customize their search for potential partners flexibly, and turn out to be effective sometimes. At the same time, they limit the choice, do not take into account the “chemistry” and emotional compatibility between people, and form a superficial opinion about a person. The fact that a person fits your list of parameters does not guarantee that he is right for you.

2. Matching algorithms

These are more complex and advanced algorithms that work on the principle of similarity. They compare user-profiles and calculate how well they match each other. Personal characteristics, values, beliefs, lifestyle, and more are taken into account. This is how eHarmony, Hinge, and other services work.

Matching algorithms consider more important and deeper factors and provide better and more personalized recommendations. However, all these advantages are immediately broken by the fact that people often create a personality on the Internet that does not correspond to reality. As a result, the algorithm recommends a person who is not suitable for you.

3. Adaptive algorithms

Perhaps, this is the most innovative and promising method of matchmaking. Such algorithms constantly improve, analyze users' behavior and communication style, and adapt their recommendations by their preferences. They consider the context and situation in which users find themselves in order to offer them promising connections. Bumble, Coffee Meets Bagel, Happn, and some other dating services offer something similar. However, such algorithms are imperfect, often make mistakes, and sometimes give unpredictable results. Additionally, they do not give you proper control over the situation, which is critical for many users.

Sometimes the best algorithm is no algorithm

No matter how much marketers praise all sorts of algorithms and smart match search filters, they are all far from ideal. There are many reasons why you should not rely on such solutions. We will explain them below:

1. Algorithms are limited: They use a limited amount of information about users, such as age, gender, location, and some profile data. This may not be enough to find your perfect match.
2. People are more complex than algorithms: Human psychology and compatibility are very complex and depend on many nuances. Algorithms can't fully take this into account.
3. You might miss someone suitable for you: By relying solely on algorithms, you run the risk of not seeing someone truly interesting, who for some reason, didn’t make it into your recommended profiles.
4. Mistakes and errors happen: The algorithms are not perfect; there may be strong inaccuracies that will give profiles that are completely unsuitable for you.

If you are committed to serious and promising dating, the most reliable way to find the right person and understand that they are the one is through live communication with them. There is a perfect alternative web dating format for this purpose; random video chat.

Video chat allows you to meet new people, communicate with them via video, see and hear them, read emotions and moods, willingness to continue communication, and develop relationships. An example of an online video chat is Camsurf. This is a simple service in which you can filter your interlocutors by gender, language, and list of interests. On the other hand, the choice is made randomly, and dating occurs in person. This way, it is much easier to understand whether a person is right for you or not. If they suit you, you can continue communication and gradually move it offline. If it doesn't work, you can switch to the next interlocutor in just one click.

If Camsurf is not suitable for you for some reason, there are plenty of worthy alternatives out there:

• Chatspin — a minimalistic and simple alternative to Camsurf with a gender filter, a choice of communication language, as well as a large set of A/I masks that can be used to hide one's face from the interlocutor, or simply add bright colors to your communication.
• Monkey — a popular online video chat for dating and one-on-one communication. There are minimal search settings here, so the selection of interlocutors is random to some extent. For added convenience, you can download the Monkey app on Android so that video chat is always at your fingertips. On iOS devices, you can use the mobile version of the site.
• CooMeet — a functional alternative to Camsurf with a flawlessly working gender filter, a built-in message translator, excellent moderation and support service, and convenient applications for iOS and Android. Video chat on coomeet.com/camsurf connects men only with ladies and never makes mistakes, which is very convenient and saves a lot of time. Today, video chat has more than nine million users from 120 countries.
• Azarlive — another pretty famous online video chat with gender and geographical filters. In Azarlive, you will meet people one-on-one and watch or conduct live broadcasts to many participants. If you like this type of entertainment, Azarlive is definitely worthy of your attention.

The number of random video chats in the world is increasing every year. Modern society values the concept of meeting and communicating via video since it is similar to real life. Additionally, various “smart algorithms” in dating apps no longer generate as much interest and excitement as before. After all, in practice, they are far from being as effective as they claim.

If you haven't used random video chats for dating yet, we strongly recommend that you do so. We are sure you will like this format. Honestly, you might not want to return to traditional web dating ever again.