Step-by-Step Guide: Building an OkCupid Clone with Adalo

Building a dating app like OkCupid requires complex features—detailed user profiles, compatibility algorithms, real-time chat, swipe mechanics, and subscription tiers—all of which traditionally demand months of development across multiple codebases for web, iOS, and Android. For founders and indie developers without engineering teams or six-figure budgets, this technical barrier has long made the dating app space feel out of reach.

That's where Adalo changes everything. Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms. AI-assisted building and streamlined publishing enable launch to the Apple App Store and Google Play in days rather than months. With Adalo's visual development environment, you can design sophisticated matching logic, build interactive profiles, and deploy a fully functional OkCupid clone without writing a single line of code.

Why Adalo Is Ideal for Building a Dating App Like OkCupid

Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms, published to the Apple App Store and Google Play. This makes it the perfect choice for creating a feature-rich dating app like OkCupid, where user profiles, matching algorithms, and real-time messaging all depend on a robust database architecture.

For dating apps, native app store distribution is essential—users expect to download from the App Store or Google Play, receive push notifications for new matches and messages, and enjoy a smooth mobile experience. With Adalo, you can build once and deploy everywhere, ensuring your OkCupid clone reaches users on their preferred devices while keeping them engaged with timely alerts about potential connections.

This comprehensive tutorial walks you through creating a functional, profile-driven dating app (à la OkCupid) using Adalo’s platform. You’ll design rich profiles and questionnaires, implement compatibility scoring and swipe discovery, add chat and premium tiers. You can even publish the same app to the web, native iOS, and native Android with Adalo, all without writing a line of code or rebuilding anything.

Prerequisites and Initial Setup

Step 1: Create Your Adalo Account

1. Go to Adalo.com and sign up.
2. Start on the Free plan for prototyping; upgrade later as needed. See current pricing for limits and features.
3. Verify your email and complete onboarding.

Step 2: Start Your Project

1. Click Create New App → Mobile App.
2. Name your project (e.g., OkCupidClone).
3. Choose Start from Scratch or browse app templates for a head start.

Step 3: Configure App Settings

1. Targets: iOS, Android, and Web App (PWA).
2. Responsive: Enable responsive design to support phones, tablets, and desktop.
3. Locale: Set default language and region.
4. Branding: Colors, typography, icons, and splash screens.

Designing the Data Model (Profiles, Preferences, Q&A)

Step 4: Enhance the Users Collection

Open Database → Users and add:

• Display Name (Text)
• Date of Birth (Date) → compute age with a Formula
• Gender (Text / options)
• Sexual Orientation (Multi-select Text)
• Bio (Multiline Text, ~500 chars)
• Location (Location) + City (Text)
• Distance Preference (Number, miles/km)
• Age Range Min/Max (Numbers)
• Looking For (Text: Dating, Friendship, etc.)
• Verification Status (Text)
• Premium Member (True/False)
• Account Created (Date & Time – automatic)
• Last Active (Date & Time)

Step 5: Profile Enhancements (Optional but Useful)

• Photos (up to 6 Image fields or a separate Photos collection)
• Education Level (Text / options)
• Occupation / Company (Text)
• Religion / Politics (Text / options)
• Lifestyle: Drinking, Smoking, Has Kids, Wants Kids (Text / True/False)
• Any other attributes relevant to your niche.

Step 6: Questions (OkCupid-style)

Create Questions collection:

• Question Text (Text)
• Category (Text: Lifestyle, Values, Dating, etc.)
• Type (Text: Multiple Choice, Scale, Yes/No)
• Answer Options (Text; store JSON or pipe-separated choices)
• Weight (Number; importance for scoring)
• Active (True/False)

Step 7: User Answers

Create UserAnswers collection:

• Answer Value (Text)
• Importance (Number: 1–5)
• Created Date (Date & Time)
• User → Users (Many-to-One)
• Question → Questions (Many-to-One)

Authentication & Onboarding

Step 8: Welcome Screen

• Logo + tagline (“Find your most compatible matches”).
• Buttons: Sign Up, Log In, Learn More.

Step 9: Multi-Step Registration

Screen 1 – Account

• Email, Password, Display Name → Submit → next.

Screen 2 – Personal

• DOB (compute Age), Gender, Orientation, Location (device or manual).

Screen 3 – Preferences

• Looking For, Age Range dual slider, Distance slider, Relationship Type.

Step 10: Photo Upload & Verification

• Image Picker with 1–6 photos and “Set Primary” toggle.
• Verification flow (optional): selfie prompt using Camera component; store verification image and set Verification Status.

Phone verification: implement via a third-party service (e.g., Twilio Verify) using Custom Actions.

Matching Engine (Scoring, Filters, and Mutual Likes)

Step 11: Matches Collection

• Match Score (Number, 0–100)
• Match Date (Date & Time)
• User 1 Liked / User 2 Liked (True/False)
• Is Mutual (True/False)
• Last Interaction (Date & Time)
• User 1 → Users (Many-to-One)
• User 2 → Users (Many-to-One)

Step 12: Compatibility Scoring

Implement with Formulas + logic:

• Inputs: shared answers, answer compatibility %, distance, age preference fit, profile completeness, recent activity.
• Weight with Question.Weight and UserAnswers.Importance.
• Save Match Score to show as a badge (e.g., “86% compatible”).

Step 13: Criteria & Exclusions

Must match (AND):

• Both users within each other’s Age Range
• Within Distance Preference
• Gender/Orientation compatibility
• Not blocked/reported

Should match (OR):

• Shared interests/lifestyle values
• Similar education or habits
• Recent activity

Discovery, Profiles, and Swipe UI

Step 14: Discovery (Swipe) Screen

• Add a Card/Stack component bound to Users.
• Filter:
  
  • Not already liked/passed by the current user
  • Meets mutual age and distance preferences
  • Exclude blocked/reported
• Card content: primary photo, name + age, city/distance, match %.

Gestures & actions:

• Right = Like → create “like” interaction, check for mutual like → if mutual, create Matches record and open It’s a Match screen.
• Left = Pass → create “pass” record.
• Up = Super Like (premium) → record and notify.

Step 15: Detailed Profile

• Screen: View Profile
• Sections: photo carousel, basic info, bio, lifestyle tags, “Top answers” to key questions.
• Buttons: Like, Pass, Super Like, Report.

Step 16: Match Celebration

• “It’s a Match!” overlay with both photos, match %, and actions: Send Message / Keep Swiping.

Messaging (Conversations & Notifications)

Step 17: Messages Collection

• Message Text (Multiline Text)
• Sent Date (Date & Time)
• Is Read (True/False)
• Message Type (Text: text/image/gif)
• Sender → Users
• Conversation → Conversations

Step 18: Conversations Collection

• Last Message (Text)
• Last Message Date (Date & Time)
• Unread Count User 1 / User 2 (Numbers)
• Is Active (True/False)
• Participant 1 / Participant 2 → Users

Step 19: Chat Screen

• Header with match’s photo/name and Unmatch menu.
• Messages list (sort ascending), distinct styling for sent/received.
• Input bar: text, send, image attach (and optional GIF via Custom Action).
• Push notifications for new messages and matches:
  
  • Trigger push notifications

Premium Features & Monetization

Step 20: Subscription Tiers

Suggested tiers:

• Basic (Free): limited daily swipes (e.g., 25), standard filters, basic messaging.
• Premium (example pricing): unlimited swipes, See Who Liked You, advanced filters, Rewind.
• Gold (example pricing): Premium + Super Likes (daily), monthly Boost, priority support.

Step 21: Payments Implementation

• iOS/Android in-app purchases (digital goods): integrate IAPHUB with Adalo for native IAP flows:
  
  • IAPHUB on Adalo
• Stripe for web payments or eligible non-digital services via Marketplace components:
  
  • Adalo Marketplace

Step 22: Premium Gating

• Conditional visibility for premium UI.
• Usage tracking for daily limit counters, Super Likes, Boosts.
• Upsell modals when a non-premium user taps gated features.

Location & Proximity Matching

Step 23: Location Permissions

• Prompt users for permission; provide manual location fallback.
• Store Location (lat/long) and update on app open or at suitable intervals.

Step 24: Distance Filtering

• Store each user’s coordinates with the Location property (lat/long are available via Magic Text). Compute straight-line distances using Adalo’s Latitude, Longitude, and Special Formulas guide, or call a small external API if you need driving distance. Adalo Help
  
  • Latitude, Longitude, and Special Formulas
• To compare two saved locations (e.g., “within X miles/km”), follow Adalo’s Comparing Locations walkthrough and apply your app’s Distance Preference filter (e.g., 1–100 miles/km; premium could offer “Travel Mode” or a global radius). Adalo Help
  
  • Comparing Locations

Step 25: Location-Driven Features (Optional)

• Nearby Matches, Travel Mode (set a virtual location), Local Events screens.

Safety & Moderation

Step 26: Reports & Blocks

• Reports collection: type (Fake Profile/Harassment/etc.), description, evidence (image), status.
• Blocked Users relation on Users; exclude blocked users from discovery and messages.
• Add a Safety screen with tips, reporting access, and links to policies.

Installing Essential Components

Step 27: Marketplace Components

Visit the Adalo Marketplace:

• Card Stack / Swipe for discovery
• Image Carousel for profile photos
• Maps (for location views)
• Chat UI (or build custom with lists)
• Camera/File upload for verification flows

Testing Your App (Flows, Edge Cases, Payments)

Step 28: Test Users & Data

• Seed 20–30 test profiles covering ages, orientations, locations, and mixed match % values.
• Include edge cases: incomplete profiles, inactive accounts, premium vs. free.

Step 29: Core Flow Tests

• Onboarding: registration, photos, preference setup.
• Discovery: swipe logic, mutual match creation, gated features.
• Chat: message send/receive, notifications, unread counts.
• Payments: purchase, entitlement unlock, renewal, cancellation.
• Safety: report/block flows and visibility exclusions.

Step 30: Preview & Device Testing

• Use Adalo’s previewer and test on physical devices for UI and performance.
• Verify conditional visibility, formulas, and all notification triggers.

Optimization, Limitations & Workarounds

Platform Limitations and Workarounds

Critical constraints to address

Performance considerations

• Large collections and complex relationships can slow screens.
• Deeply nested lists (lists within lists) increase render time.
• Heavy image/video usage impacts load times and storage.

Real-time limitations

• Continuous background sockets and native live tracking aren’t built-in.
• Foreground refresh (polling) is typical; background updates are limited.

Workaround strategies

• Keep each list to ~20–30 items and use “Load more” pagination.
• Offload heavy datasets/logic via External Collections or a lightweight backend API.
• Use Custom Actions to fetch computed results (e.g., distance, recommendations).
• Simulate “real-time” with timed list refresh + push notifications for events.
• Split roles into separate apps (e.g., user vs. admin) to keep screens lean.
• Pre-compress images; prefer carousels over large grids.

Helpful references

• Optimize performance
• Integrations & Custom Actions

Publishing to App Stores & Web

Step 31: iOS Submission

• Apple Developer Program: $99/year.
• Prepare screenshots, privacy policy, and metadata.
• Determine age rating using Apple’s questionnaire (many dating apps end up 17+ due to user-generated content).
• Publish guide: Apple App Store

Step 32: Google Play Submission

• Play Console: $25 one-time fee.
• Complete listing, upload AAB/APK, content rating.
• Publish guide: Google Play

Step 33: Web (PWA) Launch

• Choose Adalo subdomain or set a custom domain.
• Configure SSL, analytics, and SEO basics.
• Web publishing

Cost Breakdown and Resources

Adalo Subscription Costs

• Plans and limits change; see Adalo Pricing for current details.

Additional Service Costs (as applicable)

• Apple Developer Program: $99/year — Apple Programs
• Google Play Console: $25 one-time — Play Console Help
• Stripe processing fees — Stripe Pricing
• Maps/Geocoding (distance/ETA) — Google Maps Platform Pricing
• In-app purchases — IAPHUB for Adalo
• External databases/APIs — varies by provider

Marketplace Components

• Availability and pricing vary — see the Adalo Component Marketplace

Additional Resources

• Component Marketplace: prebuilt UI and utilities — Marketplace
• Database docs: relationships, formulas, performance — Database Docs
• Custom Actions: connect external APIs and services — Custom Actions Guide
• Push Notifications: triggers and setup — Notifications
• Templates & Learning: App Templates · Learning Hub

Notes: This guide focuses on what’s achievable with Adalo’s native features and light integrations. Real-time GPS tracking, continuous background updates, and complex server-side algorithms are not native; use Custom Actions, External Collections, or a small backend for those.

For larger-scale apps, prioritize: lean screens, progressive list loading, externalized heavy queries, and strict media optimization. Always verify plan features/limits and store policies at publication time, as they change periodically.

FAQ