16 Reality Dating Shows to Fall in Love With Today

Whether you love them or hate them, reality TV dating shows are all the rage these days. But even the biggest reality TV fans can admit that some series are just better than others. Rather than waste time looking for a diamond in the rough of dozens of dating shows, we’ve done that for you!

Keep reading to get the breakdown on the hottest dating reality shows right now. Grab the popcorn and settle in for drama, romance and a healthy dose of chaos.

DIRECTV has the reality TV drama you want & so much more.

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16 Popular Dating Shows to Watch Next

Let’s get into our list of reality dating shows for you to check out next.

1 & 2. ‘Love Island US’ & ‘Love Island UK’

Latest Season: 6 (US), 11 (UK)
Watch On: Peacock
Vibes: Fun, Flirty, Dramatic

Originally from the UK, Love Island brings hot singles to a villa where they must couple up and face various challenges while trying to form romantic connections along the way. The audience plays an active role, voting on who stays or leaves the villa, making it an even more engaging reality dating show. With frequent recouplings, drama and flirtations, the show is a fast-paced, sunny look at love under the camera’s gaze.

Due to the massive success of its UK counterpart, Love Island US started in 2019 and follows a similar premise. Singles in a luxurious villa must couple up and face relationship challenges, all while the audience votes on their fate. With a combination of romance, twists and tons of episodes, the show keeps things light but competitive, making it an extremely addictive watch.

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3.’Love Is Blind’

Latest Season: 6
Watch On: Netflix
Vibes: Emotional, Thought-Provoking, Dramatic

One of the most successful – and addicting – reality dating shows from recent years is Netflix’s Love Is Blind. Singles participate in a social experiment where they date a number of people through walls, without ever seeing their potential partner. The show challenges participants to build emotional connections first and decide whether to get engaged sight unseen. They only meet face-to-face after a proposal.

But that’s not where the drama ends: once the proposals have been made, audiences get to watch the couples make it – or not – in the real world.

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4. ’90 Day Fiancé’

Latest Season:
Watch On: TLC
Vibes: Shocking, Tense, Emotional

How many people would willingly sign up for a long-distance relationship? And how many of those would be willing to marry the person after 90 days of living together while having it filmed? Considering the number of seasons and spin-off shows from the franchise, it’s actually more than you’d think, apparently.

90 Day Fiancé is one of the most culturally diverse shows on television, following people from all over the globe searching for love. Yet, even when they find love, differences in lifestyle, religion and not to mention distance are bound to get in the way. These love stories are highly entertaining, and, well, slightly dysfunctional (to say the least), making them nearly impossible to stop watching.

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5. ‘Temptation Island’

Latest Season: 5
Watch On: USA Network
Vibes: Tense, Suspenseful, Provocative

On Temptation Island, couples at a crossroads in their relationships (often due to a lack of desire to commit from one member of the couple) test their bond by living separately on an island filled with attractive singles.

Both partners face the temptation of dating other people amidst endless partying and drinking, which either strengthens their relationship or leads them to pursue someone new (we’ll let you guess which happens more often). The show delves into commitment, trust and temptation in high-pressure situations.

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6 & 7. ‘Love on the Spectrum US’ & ‘Love on the Spectrum Australia’

Latest Season: 2 (US), 2 (Australia)
Watch On: Netflix
Vibes: Heartfelt, Uplifting, Genuine

Soon after the instant success of Australia’s Love on the Spectrum, Netflix began expanding the series to other countries, including the US. These heartwarming dating docuseries follow individuals on the autism spectrum as they navigate the world of dating and relationships. With a focus on inclusivity and understanding, the show offers an insightful and compassionate look into their experiences, challenges and triumphs in finding love, with support from family, friends and even dating experts that specialize in neurodiverse individuals.

While the show isn’t exactly like many of the other dating shows on this list, it’s celebrated for its sensitivity, authenticity and positive representation of neurodiversity. And it’s absolutely worth watching.

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8 & 9. ‘The Bachelorette’ & ‘The Bachelor’

Latest Season: 21 (Bachelorette), 28 (Bachelor)
Watch On: ABC
Vibes: Romantic, Dramatic, Lavish

If you know anything about dating reality shows (or honestly, even if you don’t), you’ve likely heard of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette on ABC. The shows have become a cultural phenomenon following its debut in 2002 and is a must-see for reality TV fans. Each season, a single man or woman meets eligible women who vie for their affection and the opportunity to become engaged.

Fans of this show love it for the unexpected twists that happen throughout the season as contestants fight for the bachelorette’s attention. So, if the best reality dating shows in your opinion have jaw-dropping drama, this one’s for you.

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10 & 11. ‘The Golden Bachelorette’ & ‘The Golden Bachelor’

Latest Season: 1 (Bachelorette), 1 (Bachelor)
Watch On: ABC
Vibes: Wholesome, Uplifting, Mature

Just when you thought there couldn’t be any more dating shows spinning-off into other dating shows comes The Golden Bachelorette and The Golden Bachelor. These spin-offs follow the traditional Bachelor/Bachelorette format but with a mature twist, focusing on older contestants who are ready to find love later in life. These shows emphasize life experience, second chances and genuine connections, showcasing the timelessness of love. So, if the original franchise series are a bit too drama-filled for you, this more wholesome option may be for you!

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12. ‘FBoy Island’

Latest Season: 3
Watch On: The CW
Vibes: Funny, Bold, Cheeky

If you haven’t watched this original take on a classic reality dating show, this is your sign to get started! On FBoy Island, three women date a group of men who are either self-proclaimed “nice guys” or “FBoys.” The women on the show are then tasked with determining who is genuinely interested in a relationship and who is just playing the game. That game, by the way, results in a $100,000 prize that can either be split (if a nice guy is chosen), or not (if an FBoy wins). The show explores deception, loyalty and the blurred lines between love and manipulation.

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13. ‘Love ALLways’

Latest Season: 1
Watch On: USA Network
Vibes: Bold, LGBTQIA+, Dramatic

Love Allways is a reality dating series on Paramount+ where one pansexual bachelorette seeks love without boundaries, dating a mix of men and women. The contestants vie for her heart while also navigating complex friendships and alliances within the house.

The show explores fluid sexuality, modern dating and relationships and the challenges of dating multiple people at once, making for an unpredictable and drama-filled experience.

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14. ‘Farmer Wants a Wife’

Latest Season: 2
Watch On: FOX
Vibes: Rustic, Charming, Sweet

In FOX’s Farmer Wants a Wife – another series recreated after the massive success of its Australian counterpart – rural farmers are introduced to city women looking for love. The women relocate to the farmers’ land to experience country living and see if they can adapt to a quieter, less hectic lifestyle while finding romance. It’s a mix of culture clash, genuine connection and rustic charm. In the end, couples will determine if love really can conquer all, including differing lifestyles.

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15. ‘MILF Manor’

Latest Season: 2
Watch On: TLC
Vibes: Scandalous, Awkward, Unexpected

While we won’t get into the details of what MILF refers to, one of TLC’s latest reality dating shows, MILF Manor does a pretty good job of summing things up. The series brings older women together in a tropical location, where they meet and date younger men. The twist? The women’s sons are also part of the dating pool. The show is filled with unexpected moments, family drama and eyebrow-raising relationships, all in an effort to find love that transcends age.

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16. ‘MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT’

Latest Season: 17
Watch On: Lifetime
Vibes: Intense, Emotional, Unpredictable

Married at First Sight takes the idea of an arranged marriage up a notch. In a specified city, experts interview thousands of candidates and carefully select individuals to create perfect matches based on values, personality and interests. And you guessed it — these couples don’t see each other or meet until it’s time to get married.

After the wedding, you follow the newlyweds as they go on a honeymoon, navigate married life and get to know each other. Since these couples don’t know anything about each other, many challenges test the strength of their relationship (and communication skills) throughout the show.

Couples on Married at First Sight face unique issues other dating shows can’t match. There’s plenty of drama, tears, arguments and meltdowns fans of top reality dating shows won’t want to skip

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REALITY TV IS REAL WITH CLARE CRAWLEY

DIRECTV sat down with our favorite Bachelorette, Clare Crawley, to share some pro tips on all things hair care. Being a salon owner/hair stylist herself, we can assure you Clare knows exactly what she’s talking about proving she can keep it real.

You can watch Clare’s Bachelorette experience and so much more on DIRECTV.

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