Rising Dating Fatigue Leads to Hybrid Matchmaker Alternatives

As dating apps continue to struggle for success, platforms like The League are betting on a hybrid model that merges online matching with in-person events. With monthly membership options reaching up to $1,000 per user, the platform is clearly focused on creating a highly exclusive face-to-face dating system – something that’s reflected in how it targets career-oriented people looking for a similarly successful partner.

In its latest initiative, The League has launched a series of high-profile gatherings in New York, including at the Hamptons and the US Open. This move aims to address growing dissatisfaction with online-only dating experiences and capitalize on the desire for real-world social interactions. Lisa Kraynak, Senior Vice President and Head of Marketing at The League, stated that the point was to marry the efficiency of dating apps with an in-person experience.

This shift comes as dating apps like Bumble, Hinge, and Tinder grapple with user burnout. Nearly half of app users report negative experiences, highlighting a demand for more meaningful interactions. The League’s focus on in-person events aligns with a resurgence in speed-dating and social mixers, but at an intentionally limiting membership price point.

This is far from the only platform to have made major shifts towards in-person dating events or opportunities, with multiple recent surveys and studies mentioning a growing “dating fatigue” that stems from the process of having to match over and over again on dating apps. While matchmaking platforms may have once been a less common alternative to dating apps, there is a good chance that they see a revival in recent months – or that existing dating apps begin to offer similar services.