Reality TV dating shows are a dime a dozen, but Love is Blind has broken through a crowded landscape and managed to become memorable. The show, which is basically The Voice but for dating, features a group of singles who agree to get to know each other and even get engaged without ever seeing each other. It’s been successful enough that it’s spawned its fair share of international versions, from Love is Blind: Brazil, to Love is Blind: UK and even Love is Blind: Mexico.
The combination of the wild premise—people can’t see each other, but have to get engaged—the new drama that occurs each season and continues on way after the show is over, plus the high success rate has made Love is Blind the type of success Netflix could have only dreamt of a decade ago. The US version is on Season 8, with at least 10 guaranteed. The international versions keep on being announced. And hosts Nick and Vanessa Lachey are now more known for a reality TV universe than anything else.
But if you’ve already exhausted your episodes and you want a show like Love Is Blind to fill your reality TV dating show addiction, here are five similar shows to watch and where to watch them.
Perfect Match
Think of it like Love Is Blind’s younger, more chaotic cousin. Often featuring characters who have been on Love Is Blind, and cross-promoted with that show, Perfect Match basically features a whole host of reality TV rejects looking for a second chance at love. Will they find that? Unlikely. But just like The Bachelor’s version of this, Bachelor in Paradise, there will at least be a lot of drama to keep us entertained.
Temptation Island
If you thought Love is Blind was wild, this show is about sending off your actual partner, that you love, to live on an island full of hot, eligible single people, just to see if they can resist temptation. And though Temptation Island might, at times, be more about who’s cheating on who and who’s fighting with who than who ends up together, it’s still a memorable addition to the annals of reality TV dating shows.
The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On
Depending on how you want to look at it this is either a tamer version of Temptation Island, or much worse. Because in this one you and your partner also try to date other people to see if your relationship is strong enough for marriage, it’s just that you date one person at a time. It makes for stronger connections, more jealousy and a lot more drama. It also, surprisingly, seems to make a lot of people realize they really do want to marry each other. Who knew?
The Bachelor
Maybe the show you think of when you think reality TV dating shows, The Bachelor, which has spawned its own female-centric version, The Bachelorette, sees one man date anywhere from 25 to 40 women before narrowing it down to just one, who he will then propose to—or not, there are no rules here! There’s certainly not as much drama here as in the other shows, and a lot more actual dating—meeting the family included—but the show will always be ubiquitous with the genre, if only for its catchphrase “will you accept this rose?”
Love Island USA
Of course a show called Love Island USA would end up taking the drama to the next level, in the best way possible. Throw a bunch of conventionally attractive people on an island where they must find a partner in order to even remain on the island and you know what they’ll do? They’ll find love, even if it’s short-lived. And then they’ll find a way to be messy. They will fight each other. And in the meantime, we probably won’t be able to stop watching.
Sexy Beasts
Take the Love is Blind premise and make it weirder. Way weirder. Date people while they’re wearing prosthetics to make them resemble different creatures kind of weird. That’s one way to make sure you’re attracted to someone because of their personality! Whoever knew people were so shallow that there need to be so many reality shows focused on making sure people are making the right decisions from the heart. And if you forever remember who you picked by the animal prosthetic they were wearing, so be it.
Dated & Related
Despite how worrisome this one sounds, you are not actually dating your siblings. Instead, your siblings are helping you date! A little bit like Love Island USA, but with the added drama that one of the people who knows you best and has dirt on you is also there to not just point out what you’re doing right or wrong, but also to give you advice. Which can be great. Or it can be horrible. You decide.
The Bachelorette
Just like The Bachelor, but with a woman at the center. It works exactly like The Bachelor, down to the giving out roses to the chosen contestants, though ironically, this one has a much better track record than the version where the man gets to pick. Maybe women just have a better idea of what they want? There’s also, often, a lot more drama. Never let it be said that men will not argue over a woman, or over the silliest things—like space, who looked at who funny, or a book.
Too Hot to Handle
How many different versions of a reality show can there be? Well, this is a new one. In this one, singles fight to not get involved with each other. In fact, they’re paid to. If you can meet, mingle and remain celibate, you win money. Or, you can choose to walk out of there with the love of your life. Alternatively, you can choose chaos. Throughout the course of the show, contestants have chosen a lot of different things. And they have all been very entertaining.
The Circle
This one’s a weird one. At times part reality show, part dating show, part game show, The Circle sees contestants compete against each other—and catfish each other—over a social media platform called the Circle in order to win a big prize. But who is being genuine or who is putting up a front? Can you trust anyone? Part of the fun is that audiences know about as little as the contestants do. Some people might be falling in love. Some might just be in it for the money. Some might be in it for the thrill of the game. Either way, it’s a lot of fun.
Where to watch all the shows like Love is Blind streaming online
Check out our list below to find all the shows like Love is Blind available to stream online in the US.
