Many people reading this will unfortunately be able to relate to the experience of matching with someone on a dating app who is lazy with conversation, is overtly sexual too soon, or emits another online dating red flags. But my experience on The League was totally different. 

I recently decided to explore dating apps outside of my traditional standbys (such as Bumble, Tinder, and Hinge)—and after testing The League for several months, I have a lot to say about it. 

Designed for ambitious people who want to date other ambitious people, The League is one of the most exclusive dating apps available today. It’s a great choice for working professionals, introverts, and daters of all ages.

To join The League, you’ll first need to download the app and get on the waitlist. I was lucky enough to have a friend refer me, so I didn’t have to wait—but I have been told the waitlist can take a couple months. You can also choose to pay for a membership, which fast tracks the process. 

Outside of basic profile-setup information (age, occupation, height, gender), I was also asked to answer a few prompts about what I’m looking for. The League also offers the ability to have an “Opening Video” that can serve as a sort of introduction for potential matches. 

The League prioritizes quality over quantity, so you only get three matches per day (though you can pay to see more prospects). 

Once you match, you have 21 days to chat before the match and your chat expires. While an expired chat history is still viewable, you won’t be able to engage with that person anymore. The League does this to encourage users to get off the app and out on a date.

Like I said, my experience testing The League was like a breath of fresh air compared to other dating apps. Everyone I talked to seemed to be very intentional about asking lots of questions and sharing about their own life.

The best part? Time between matching and actually going out on a date was way shorter than on other apps I’ve tested. Since you get limited prospects a day, I love knowing I can count on The League’s users being focused on quality over quantity. 

I really enjoyed The League’s weekly speed dating sessions and the mixers they have in real life. Other singles mixers I’ve been to have featured a bit of a mixed bag, but there were so many great prospects at The League’s events! 

What’s really cool about the events is that the app lets you know when people you’ve matched with RSVP, in case you want to make a plan to connect with them there.

One thing I love about The League is that you have access to pretty much every feature with a free membership. I was able to filter by age, height, distance, ethnicity, education, and religion, attend live virtual and in-person events, and speak to matches for three weeks before they expire—all without paying.

Still, there are benefits to the premium memberships. You’ll get more than three prospects a day depending on the level of membership you choose.

To be successful in dating on The League, dating expert Rachel DeAlto recommends starting by doing some work off the app. Since The League is really about getting more narrow and specific with your choices, she says to take time to figure out what you want in dating. 

“Women especially often find themselves ignoring non-negotiables and end up wasting their time,” she says. I took her advice before getting on the app, and can honestly say it made my whole experience more fulfilling. 

DeAlto also reminds introverts or beginners that they don’t need to put so much pressure on the opening message in a chat. While The League is definitely designed to be more exclusive, she encourages people not to feel intimidated by that. 

Since The League requires more patience than other dating apps, DeAlto stresses that there is no rush. I myself have seriously benefited from dating with less urgency in mind.