These Are The Best 8 Reality TV Dating Shows

Summary

Love Island thrives on good-looking singles finding love on an island, making it a perfect reality dating show to binge-watch.
Are You the One? brings a unique twist with a secret matchmaking algorithm, standing out in the repetitive reality dating genre.
Married at First Sight offers a mix of awkward moments and success stories, giving viewers hope for the couples they root for.

Over the last several decades, it has been increasingly common for people to care about celebrity couples. For example, fans want to know about Taika Waititi and Rita Ora's wedding, Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney rumors, and Charlie Heaton and Natalia Dyer's relationship.

With that in mind, it makes sense that there are now several dating reality shows. However, some of those dating shows are better than others, like Married at First Sight, that fans like enough to care about what happened to the couples. With that in mind, it is fascinating to look at the best reality dating shows ever.

8 Why Is Love Island One Of The Best Reality Dating Shows?

Airs On Peacock

Love Island's cast — Love Island promotional photo

When Did It Debut:	July 9, 2019
How Many Seasons Are There:	6

A show that features an odd number of incredibly good-looking singles living on an island together, the cast members get eliminated if they don't couple up. That concept encourages the show's stars to be open to everyone on the island in order to make sure they find someone so they can stick around.

A show that never really pretends that its stars are destined for marriage, Love Island is a show that knows what it is. That is part of what makes Love Island a perfect easy-to-digest reality dating show.

7 Why Is Too Hot To Handle One Of The Best Reality Dating Shows?

Airs On Netflix

Too Hot to Handle's Carly Lawrence and Chase De Moor before their breakup — Too Hot to Handle's Carly Lawrence and Chase De Moor looking happy

When Did It Debut:	April 17, 2020
How Many Seasons Are There:	6

Arguably the polar opposite of Love Island, Too Hot To Handle brings together more gorgeous people but tells them they can't hook up. While the show states that the idea for the cast to find relationships that are more than just physical, that is only part of what makes the show great.

The other key that makes Too Hot To Handle such a great show is watching the cast trying to fight their natural instincts. After all, the cast members know that if they embrace their carnal desires, their prize money will disappear.

Carly Lawrence And Bennett Sipes' Divorce Foreshadowed In Their Dicey Previous Reality Show Relationships

Carly Lawrence And Bennett Sipes reality show past sadly reveals a pattern of their relationships not working out.

Posts

6 Why Is Are You the One? One Of The Best Reality Dating Shows?

Airs On Paramount+

Are You The One cast photo — Are You The One?

When Did It Debut:	January 21, 2014
How Many Seasons Are There:	9

Yet another show that brings hot single people to a tropical paradise, the charm of Are You The One? is the show's core concept. Instead of letting the show's cast simply pick who they are interested in, a matchmaking algorithm matches the cast into secret pairs. The cast then has to figure out who they are meant to be with throughout the process.

Are You The One?'s concept makes the show stand out in a reality TV genre that can feel repetitive. On top of that, Are You The One? gets bonus points for including LGBTQ+ cast members, which is still shockingly rare in the reality dating genre.

Montage of Pedro Jimeno looking happy and Chantel Everett crying, divided by a rip.

What's 'The Family Chantel's' Pedro Jimeno Up To After His Nasty Divorce From Chantel Everett?

Many of 'The Family Chantel's' fans were outraged when Pedro Jimeno divorced Chantel Everett but that hasn't stopped him from living his life.

Posts

5 Why Is 90 Day Fiancé One Of The Best Reality Dating Shows?

Airs On TLC

90 Day Fiancé's Big Ed Brown and Liz Woods before their breakup — 90 Day Fiance's Big Ed Brown and Liz Woods looking happier

When Did It Debut:	January 12, 2014
How Many Seasons Are There:	10

Throughout reality TV history, there haven't been too many shows that have become popular enough to spawn a franchise. As anyone familiar with 90 Day Fiancé will know, however, the show's titanic success has allowed it to spawn a staggering number of spin-off shows.

Still, the original show remains the best pure dating show of the franchise. After all, it is fascinating to see two people from different countries trying to build a life together. On top of that, the truth of the matter is that a huge part of 90 Day Fiancé's appeal is seeing some of the trainwrecks who star in the show.

the Bachelor's Ryan Sutter Scared Fans About His Marriage to Trista

The Bachelorette's Ryan Sutter Scared Fans About His Marriage, An Update On Why Trista Sutter Is 'Inaccessible'

The Bachelorette's Ryan Sutter freaked out fans with his social media posts about his wife, Trista Sutter before giving an update on her.

Posts

4 Why Are The Bachelor And The Bachelorette Two Of The Best Reality Dating Shows?

Airs On ABC

Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia with their men for The Bachelorette — Former Bachelorette leads with their contestants posing for a photo.

When Did It Debut:	The Bachelor: March 25, 2002 & The Bachelorette: January 8, 2003
How Many Seasons Are There:	The Bachelor: 28 & The Bachelorette: 21

The mother and father of the modern generation of dating shows, there will be many people who are shocked that The Bachelor and The Bachelorette aren't in this list's top spot. While The Bachelor and The Bachelorette are the most successful dating reality shows, they simply aren't the most entertaining anymore.

That said, The Bachelor and The Bachelorette remain titans of the genre for good reason, as they are both still fantastic. It remains amazing to see so many people vying for the affections of one person and the first episode of each season remains as incredible as ever.

3 Why Is Bachelor in Paradise One Of The Best Reality Dating Shows?

Airs On ABC

Bachelor in Paradise cast drinking — Bachelor in Paradise cheers

When Did It Debut:	August 4, 2014
How Many Seasons Are There:	9

During each season of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, fans are introduced to several people they come to care about. For a long time, that investment went nowhere as the vast majority of the franchise's rejected singles would disappear forever.

Now, Bachelor In Paradise allows the franchise's fans to see the rejected singles get the chance to fall for each other. The only reason why Bachelor In Paradise isn't higher on this list is that it remains hard to overlook the scandal that once rocked the show.

Airs On Netflix

The Cast of Love Is Blind 2024 — The new cast of Love Is Blind on Netflix

When Did It Debut:	2020
How Many Seasons Are There:	6

When Love Is Blind premiered on Netflix, it turned out to be a watershed moment for the streaming service. While other dating shows were already calling Netflix home, Love Is Blind made the streaming service a destination for fans who love reality dating shows.

A show that arguably has a brilliant concept, having singles interact without seeing each other results in plenty of delicious moments. After all, couples can be elated or depressed after they first see each other. That moment also turns out to just be the beginning, as the couples then have to navigate all the pitfalls of other dating shows.

1 Why Is Married At First Sight One Of The Best Reality Dating Shows?

Airs On Lifetime

Married At First Sight Season 13 Cast Photo — MAFS Decision Day Couples

When Did It Debut:	July 8, 2014
How Many Seasons Are There:	17

Essentially, Love Is Blind with wedding vows and no discussions before the couples meet, it is hard to imagine how any dating show fan wouldn't like Married at First Sight.

After all, each season features a slew of the awkward and uncomfortable moments that make reality dating shows great. On top of that, there are still some MAFS success stories and that give viewers hope for the couples they root for.