Reality dating shows have been around for some time, and some viewers might even consider shows like Matchmaker, The Dating Game, and Blind Date from the ‘80s to fall into the genre. There have been so many twists in the concept, from Love is Blind which has players meeting without seeing one another, to the upcoming Amazon Prime Video series The One That Got Away which reunites singles with someone from their past who could possibly be “the one.”
But when it comes to reception, which reality TV dating shows are most beloved by viewers? According to votes on Ranker, there are a few that are tops, and while some are expected, others that made the top 10 might be surprising.
Note: Ranker lists are live and continue to accrue votes, so some rankings may have changed after this publishing.
The Bachelor (2002-Present)
Even after 26 seasons of the same, formulaic premise, The Bachelor remains a favorite among fans. The show popularized the concept of asking a woman to accept a rose as an indication that the person would like to continue dating them. Except these roses are handed out to multiple women: the bachelor meets many ladies in an attempt to find his special “one,” and potentially propose in the end.
Fans love not only the budding romances but also the drama between the ladies who each have distinct personalities and traits that cause conflict as they all vie for the same man’s attention. Of course, the ultimate goal is a happy ending that lasts beyond the span of the show.
The Bachelorette (2003-Present)
One of many spin-offs of The Bachelor, The Bachelorette flips the script and puts the power in the hands of one woman who gets to meet and date 25 men, eliminating contestants through each episode until she’s left with her top options. In the end, she decides who she wants to pursue a relationship with further, and they (or she) can propose if the feelings are mutual.
The show often features one of the women who wasn’t chosen on a previous season of The Bachelor, tying the two shows together and making them both popular among fans.
90 Day Fiance: Before The 90 Days (2017-Present)
One of many spin-offs of the show 90 Day Fiance, fans seem to love 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days, which also ranks among the best reality dating shows according to IMDb. It follows couples who have developed a relationship virtually while chatting online but haven’t yet met in person. Once the American person travels to the foreign country of their partner to finally meet, they can both decide if they want to pursue a K-1 visa and stay together or break up.
In the main show, 90 Day Fiance, the couples have already chosen to apply for the K-1 visa, which is designed for foreign fiances of U.S. citizens. The show then follows the next 90 days as they plan their pending marriage (or decide not to go through with it).
Temptation Island (2001-2003, 2019-Present)
The fans spoke, and Temptation Island was resurrected after a 16-year hiatus, complete with its original host Mark L. Walberg. The premise is simple enough: four couples who have come to a crossroads in their relationship decide to come and stay on separate islands. The guys move to an island with a group of single women hand-picked to possess the various qualities that appeal to them, and vice versa for the women.
Through the process, both the men and women meet with Walberg for bonfires where they see out-of-context snippet videos of what their partner is up to. The idea is to see how well the couples can resist temptation. But, more importantly, it’s to help them explore a part of themselves on their own to determine whether they should stay together, leave the island alone, or leave with someone else.
Ex On The Beach (2018-Present)
This reality show is a bit different in that Ex on the Beach features reality stars from other shows who are put in a home to live with their exes while the inevitable drama is filmed for viewers’ entertainment. While the show has featured many celebrities, there are other reality couple exes that are perfect for Ex on the Beach that fans would love to see.
However, the upcoming season will, for the first time, feature civilian couples versus known reality show personalities instead. Hosted by Romeo Miller, Ex on the Beach is one of the lesser-known reality dating shows but appears to be popular among voters on Ranker.
Too Hot To Handle (2020-Present)
The American-British reality dating show features 10 singles each season who can’t seem to commit to a real relationship. They are serial daters who love meaningless flings. In an effort to help them develop more meaningful relationships, Too Hot to Handle puts them in a house for a month where they go through various workshops and must refrain from kissing, sexual contact, or even self-gratification. Can they do it?
It appears audiences are fascinated with the concept and curious to find out, given that Too Hot to Handle also ranks among the best reality dating shows, according to Reddit. With a fourth season coming, Too Hot to Handle remains a fan favorite.
Bachelor In Paradise (2014-Present)
Yet another spin-off of The Bachelor, Bachelor in Paradise combines past players from both The Bachelor and The Bachelorette and puts them on a secluded resort in Mexico where they can get up to whatever hijinks they want.
This often includes conflict, dating, love triangles, hook-ups, excessive drinking, partying, and more. Indeed, there are some fantastic couples from Bachelor in Paradise. Fans love living vicariously through the players as well as seeing some of their favorites from the other shows return to the screen and potentially find happiness (or continue their villainy).
Love Island US (2019-Present)
With the first three seasons available on CBS, the upcoming fourth season of Love Island US has moved to the Peacock streaming service and promises to be “even steamier.” The show, based on the British original, follows a group of singles living in a beautiful villa in Hawaii who must find and couple up with someone else if they want to stay in the game. It can be a romantic connection, a deep friendship, or even a simple strategic partnership. But as long as they are in a couple, they remain safe.
Naturally, some couples stick together through thick and thin, others decide to swap partners, or sometimes they are forced to re-couple. Fans also love that they can vote through the Love Island app to influence the game.
Love Island UK (2015-Present)
The original Love Island, which aired in the UK, remains the most popular, according to Ranker voters. It features the same premise as the U.S. version except it takes place in a villa in Mallorca.
While the show has been marred with controversy, Love Island UK continues on, blazing the trail for the shows that have been inspired by it. Season 8 premiered in June 2022 and continued through the summer, with two seasons planned for 2023 as well.
Are You The One? (2014-Present)
It might surprise fans of the genre to know that the top-rated reality dating TV show, according to Ranker, is Are You The One? which follows young singles on their quest to find that special someone to spend their lives with. Groups of men and women are secretly paired up using a matchmaking algorithm, but as the players live together, they must try and figure out who was the person selected for them. If all the potential soulmates figure out who one another is and create the “perfect matches,” the group shares the prize of up to $1 million. Indeed, there have been some great couples from Are You The One?
With twists like a “fate button,” “truth booth,” and “matching ceremony,” fans love watching the players interact, guess, and try to figure out who is seemingly the one for them.