The League Dating App Review, Is The League Worth It?

The League Dating App: Review, How Long Is The Waitlist? How Does The League Work? The League Cost? The League vs. Raya, Bumble, Hinge

The naming alone sounds a bit elitist, but the screening process for the intentions is enough for people to ignore the stigma around the pretentious name. Similarly, the app has a relaxed screening process (for better or for worst) resulting in more overlap of users on apps like Hinge & Bumble.

Working professionals is a bit vague, but largely people assume it means tech, startups, finance, law, medicine, executives or other white collared jobs with a career-minded focus.

The League app uses LinkedIn to verify profiles, build profiles and block co-workers from your company seeing your profile (by blocking them in the matching algorithm). It uses Facebook to pull in photos for a profile, as well as another signal to verify users. It also offers privacy (limiting who can see your profile – but for a steep cost).

Below are some tips on what to expect from an app like The League, who uses the app, costs, pros and cons, comparisons to other apps as well as how to navigate the app and cliche, boring items to avoid in your profile.

Related reading:  Dating apps for doctors

Update: Match Group Acquires The League (July 12, 2022)

For those seeking help with their dating woes, check out my services here. Services span on where to live, places to meet singles, grooming, styling, lifestyle choices, hobbies, interests, conversation skills, help with dating apps, photos, identifying blind spots. Specialty working with introverted men, engineers, successful women, gay men and those seeking relationships

Related read: What To Expect From Online Dating

How Does The League Dating App Work? Dating App For Intellectuals

The League is available in select cities (see below) and requires users to apply to use the app via a waitlist. It uses more or less the same dating app info as other apps: up to 6 photos, height, location, interests, ethnicity and a short bio.

Users are required to sync their accounts with LinkedIn to pull in employment and education information (read why you shouldn’t use Linkedin headshots in your dating profile).

Users get 3 prospects a day as a guest (5-7 if you are a paid member) to review and swipe on depending on their level of membership.

How Do Matches Work On The League? 

Matches last up to 21 days before users are encouraged to message each other (share offline details and go on dates).

Conversations that stall after 14 days also expire. The person who sends the like second gets a notification that users matched, but anyone can send the first message.

Who Sends The First Message On The League

Anyone can.

The League Requirements; How Selective Is The League? Is The League Actually Exclusive?

Up to 6 photos (a mix of full body and close-ups), LinkedIn account, no sunglasses photos, no group shots, no-exes. There is an About Me section that users need to fill out about themselves. All of this is required in a profile in order to apply for the wait list.

Preferences need to set up during this time. The more strict your preferences are, the longer it will take to get approved for The League.

The League tries to keep a balance of men and women so depending on the current mix, it’s most likely quicker, easier for women to join than men with the exception of places like NYC.

How Long Is The Waitlist On The League? How Hard Is It To Get Into The League Dating App? 

It can be anywhere from a few weeks to several months or longer. It depends on your location, gender, profile – essentially supply and demand. You can expedite the review process by becoming a member or getting vouched by a current member.

Applicants can see their estimated wait time but it can fluctuate up or down as more users pay to bypass the waitlist. The waitlist resembles an over-hyped club in LA with velvet rope lined with people who pay to get in front of the line. Do you really want to be inside this club?

If you have a friend already on the app, ask for a VIP ticket to expedite the review process.

How To Get Off The League Waitlist? The League Dating App Cost

After applying, check back regularly and refer friends (sending out endorsements) to expedite the process. They want people who are engaged and not just kicking the tires. According to CEO Amanda Bradford on an interview with The Verge:

“Then we put you on a waitlist, and we can see who’s checking back in, who’s referring friends, who’s actually checking out the app and figuring out how it all works, and we use all of that information to predict who’s going to be a good user in the system.”

In that same interview, she mentions using good photos and filling out the profile completely. Incomplete information signals that people may not be that serious about dating.

Is The League Free? What Are The League Tickets? How Much Is The League? 

It costs money to expedite the waitlist depending on your lever of membership: Member, Owner or VIP. Each comes with its benefits. You don’t need to pay to get matches but it does takes time since users receive 3 matches a day.

In addition to membership costs, additional features like more profiles in your batches or undoing a left swipe requires the use of tickets which can be paid for a la carte or discounted when buying in bulk.

Monthly costs range from $66-$199 per month but more comprehensive subscriptions can cost $999/month.

Is The League Dating App Worth It? Is The League A Good Dating App?

It definitely can be depending on your age, location, height, appearance, career and lifestyle. It requires patience, good photos, solid financial stability and approachability.

With that said, like with all dating apps, approach it like an ordering app, don’t treat it like an ordering app or you will be disappointed.

People lie on the app, misrepresent their status just like any other app so patience, good judgment, ability to screen profiles and read people is necessary to do well

Is The League Pretentious? Is The League App Elitist?

Yes, at one point is felt rather cringy, but the requirements have been relaxed and more and more people are using the app. It is still a bit pretentious but not as much as before.

Are There Fake Profiles On The League?

Not likely, they do a rigorous background check on users, but that doesn’t mean someone can lie about their height, marital status, employment etc.

Are There Profile Boosts On The League? The League Dating App Tips

Yes, there are but at a cost. It allows you to be shown to extra batches of users. I generally tend to urge clients to focus on their photos, smile, wardrobes, hobbies, passions, career, social circles before spending time and money on boosts.

What Is The League Groups?

This is an offline community feature to get people to meet up offline, in person.

What Is The League Live? League Live Dating, League Live Video Chat

It is a video speed date that occurs on Sundays. These 3-3 minute dates are free but require an invitation. It used to be 3 2-minute dates. There is a waitlist so you have to get in the queue so you can be matched when it’s time. Since speed dating or League Live is limited, it requires you to be active on the app when the window opens up.

League Live matches might be new profiles, might be people you matched with or possibly people you have slept with or someone that ghosted you. What could be more fun? Similarly, the League live has more expanded location options so you won’t necessarily meet with people in your ideal radius.

https://www.theleague.com/league-live/#are-you-in 

Related read: Speed Dating

The League: Lack Of Diversity

The League is very white. It’s gotten better over the years but expect of lot of Chad’s and Stacy’s

Male To Female Gender Ratio? What is The Average Age On The League? Demographics?

As of August 2016, the median age of the users was 28. They are 95% straight, and 99% have a college degree. As of 2017, The League claimed it was accepting approximately 10-20% of users who sign up.

The League aims to provide a concierge level approach to online dating and as such has a better male to female ratio than most dating apps. You might find some data here or there but it is largely sampled data.

The League is mostly made up of folks 25-45 and it starts to dwindle after that. It’s worth trying in major cities but may take time as most users move to Bumble or Hinge.

Amanda Bradford, CEO of ‘The League’ claimed that ~25% of their users were Jewish back in January 2019 (as mentioned in her podcast interview with The Verge back in January 2019). You can listen to the podcast here, 23 minute mark: https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/9/18170256/the-league-raya-exclusive-dating-apps-membership-whyd-you-push-that-button-podcast.

What Cities Does The League Currently Operate In? What City Is The League In?

New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, DC, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas, Seattle, Denver, Miami, Houston, Austin, San Diego, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Charlotte, Nashville, Raleigh, Orlando, Portland, Tampa, Pittsburgh, Sacramento, Hartford, St. Louis, Cleveland, Kansas City, Columbus, San Antonio, Salt Lake City, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Tulsa, Cincinnati, New Orleans, Paris, Vancouver, Milwaukee, Montreal, Richmond, Charleston, Birmingham, Syracuse, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Louisville, Buffalo, Norfolk, Albany, Madison, Santa Barbara, Providence, Jacksonville, Memphis, Honolulu, Omaha, Baton Rouge, Knoxville, Columbia, Fargo, Mobile-Pensacola (Ft. Walton Beach), Fresno, Little Rock, El Paso, Lexington, Des Moines-Ames, Green Bay-Appleton, Boise, Tallahassee, Wichita, Albuquerque/Santa Fe, Cedar Rapids, Providence, Spokane, Savannah, Fayetteville, Roanoke, Springfield, Charlottesville, Huntsville, Burlington, Jacksonville, Anchorage, Fargo, Kennewick and Tulsa.

UNITED STATES
New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, DC, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas, Seattle, Denver, Miami, Houston, Austin, San Diego, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Charlotte, Nashville, Raleigh, Orlando, Portland, Tampa, Pittsburgh, Sacramento, Hartford, St. Louis, Cleveland, Kansas City, Columbus, San Antonio, Salt Lake City, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Tulsa, Cincinnati, New Orleans, Paris, Vancouver, Milwaukee, Montreal, Richmond, Charleston, Birmingham, Syracuse, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Louisville, Buffalo, Norfolk, Albany, Madison, Santa Barbara, Providence, Jacksonville, Memphis, Honolulu, Omaha, Baton Rouge, Knoxville, Columbia, Fargo, Mobile-Pensacola (Ft. Walton Beach), Fresno, Little Rock, El Paso, Lexington, Des Moines-Ames, Green Bay-Appleton, Boise, Tallahassee, Wichita, Albuquerque/Santa Fe, Cedar Rapids, Providence, Spokane, Savannah, Fayetteville, Roanoke, Springfield, Charlottesville, Huntsville, Burlington, Jacksonville, Anchorage, Fargo, Kennewick, Tulsa

CANADA
Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa, Kingston

EUROPE
London, Paris, Dublin, Manchester, Oxford, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Lyon, Marseille, Madrid, Barcelona, Oslo, Athens, Munich, Copenhagen, Rome, Milan, Stockholm, Lisbon, Zurich, Brussels, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Budapest, Istanbul,

ASIA-PAC
Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Auckland, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Mumbai

LATAM
Mexico City, Santiago, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Bogotá, Buenos Aires

MIDDLE EAST
Tel Aviv, Dubai

COMING SOON
Cape Town, Johannesburg, Shanghai, Beijing, Manila, Tehran, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Moscow, Bucharest, Jakarta, Tokyo, Nairobi, Bangkok, Kolkata, Kuala Lumpur, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Lima, Seoul, Chennai, Taipei.

Hinge vs. The League vs Bumble, Which App Is Better? Dating App Comparison

The League is often compared to Bumble and Hinge when it comes to dating apps. Most women are on 1-2 apps whereas most men are on 2-4 apps. You will definitely see duplicate profiles but not more than 40% overlap in my opinion.

It’s important to focus on what you can control i.e. profile, photos, opening lines, prompts, bios, smiles, wardrobe, passions, hobbies etc. rather than joining another app.

If you have not had much success on the first few apps, joining an app like The League may not be much different unless your main focus is profession, lifestyle rather than substance, quality, personality etc.

The League Vs Raya

Both are a little pretentious, but Raya takes the cake when it comes to superficiality. The League has opened up registrations and not as pretentious as it was when it first came out.

Do People Actually Pay For The League? Is The League Membership Worth It?

A number of people pay to either expedite getting off the waitlist or get more profiles each day. Some people view curated, paid apps as higher quality as people are more committed, but whether that is true or not remains to be seen.

This thinking can provide a false sense of trust. Whether it’s worth it depends on the strength of your profile (paying for dating apps doesn’t make you more attractive) and how eager you are to meet someone.

The League Dating App Review: Is The League App Worth It? Is The League Worth It?

It definitely can be but only if you live in large cities, you learn to be patient and you have a great profile since the platform is highly competitive.

It definitely can be but that depends on your demographics, patience, ability to screen people and profile, photos etc.

Can You Join The League Without Linkedin? Can You Join The League For Free? 

Free guest access requires a Linkedin account. Full memberships allow people to create accounts without Facebook.

How Do You Get Invited To The League?

Ask around, chances are more people than you know are on it.

What Percentage Of People Get Accepted To The League? The League App Rejection Rate

Around 10-20% according to an old article on TC.

Does The League Show Up On Linkedin?

No.

Is The League Better Than Tinder? Is The League A Hookup App?

It is for some people, not for others. It depends on your age, location, photos, education, career, lifestyle and such.

The League, like all dating apps, are merely introduction apps. Not all people are looking for relationships or dating. It’s up to you to use good judgment, screen profiles, ID red flags and be patient rather than take the word of someone who tries to say all the right things to gain your trust, confidence.

The League Waitlist, How Long Is The League Waitlist? Exclusive Dating App

The League gives everyone a number, but that represents where you are in aggregate, which doesn’t offer much insight. The League makes decisions based on city and gender, so it’s possible to leapfrog people quickly, easily.

It’s also possible to wait a long time if you are in a competitive, gender lop-sided market.

The League Dating App How To Get In, How To Get Off The League Waitlist

Use good photos, fill out your profile thoroughly, purchase a membership, refer friends, add a phone number, sync IG or get feedback on your profile from an expert.

Best Dating Apps, Sites For Women, Best Online Dating Apps For Women

Read this.

The League Filters

The League filters out Facebook friends and LinkedIn connections. Users can filter on distance, age, height, ethnicity, religion, education, etc.

The League Happy Hour: Daily Prospects, What Are Prospects On The League?

Everyday at “happy hour” at 5pm The League serves you prospects to review (usually 1-3 people). These are potential matches. They are described as curated but not guaranteed to be interested in you or even possibly in your league.

Banned From The League

Users who don’t log in enough can be banned from The League. Similarly, users can report others for behavior in communications or live dates.

Lying about age, height, as well as other items like offline behavior, can get you banned from dating apps. 

Changing Name, Age and Gender On The League

The League requires people to contact the concierge service to make these changes on a profile. Users can change their location on their own. Guest users can’t change their profession or education.

The League Home Run Notification

If mutual likes occur, you will get a notification that a homerun was made.