Purpose: For the tenacious lover who is constantly on the climb, The League is an app centered on one of its core values: status. By vetting candidates before allowing them on the platform — LinkedIn must first confirm their job title — The League works well for those on a mission to find love because it's almost like old-fashioned matchmaking. The League serves up just a few profiles to run through each day, handing users a veritable checklist they'll be able to complete regularly. While the free Guest membership starts you with three candidates every day at 5 p.m., or "happy hour," you receive more as you upgrade to Member ($300/month), Owner ($400/month), and Investor ($1,000/month). Most popular usage cities include NYC, SF, and LA.
Pros: The League is the best dating app for those who enjoy exclusivity. The app promotes higher education and career ambition first and foremost. After you sort through your daily picks, you are also presented with nearby event links that other users are attending and social interest groups you can join on the app. The free concierge service connects you to a real person named Connor, who you can tap if you have any questions about app technicalities or dating in general. The League also stands out in that there are three-minute video dates every Sunday at 8 p.m., where you can opt in to be automatically connected to one of your matches for a virtual call. When you upgrade to the Owner tier, it's one of the only apps that allows you to scout multiple cities at once, and you'll also be able to see if someone you're checking out liked you first.
Cons: Unless you automatically opt in for a premium membership, you have to go through a waitlist process before you can join. Upgrading to the Member tier only grants you two more prospects a day, which is a bit disappointing. If you're going to pay for a subscription, you'd likely want to see at least seven daily prospects, but the Investor level — which also allows you to browse through likes you've received even before 5 p.m. — feels extremely expensive when compared to other dating apps at $1,000/month. I tried "boosting" my profile for tickets (which you have to collect over time) but only received five to seven more likes than usual the following day. I also feel that, when compared to Hinge, the dating pool is not as stimulating as the hype suggests.
