It’s shocking to realize thatThe Bachelorhas been on the air for more than 20 years. Debuting in 2002, the reality series is designed for singles looking for lasting love. One man is introduced to a large group of women from all walks of life with whom he “dates” simultaneously. As he gets to know them, he chooses ones to go on private dates with. Each episode, he eliminates them one by, offering a single rose a symbolic gesture to the women he wants to keep getting to know.
While the show has become more about the drama with women competing for the man’s affection, bad break-ups, and complicated feelings,The Bacheloris a favorite guilty pleasure among fans. But it’s only on twice per year, sothere’s room to check out other shows likeThe Bachelorwhile waiting for the next exciting season to come.
The Bachelor
10’Unreal' (2015–2018)
Created by Marti Nixon and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro
Unlike others on this list,Unrealactually isn’t a reality show. It’s a drama, butit’s designed to poke fun at the dating reality show genre and provide a glimpse into what goes on behind the scenesto manufacture events and make the shows as interesting as possible. The setting is the set of a popular fictional dating reality show calledEverlastingthat is strikingly similar toThe Bachelor.A young producer getting back into the scene after suffering a breakdown finds the stress back in her life when she discovers that her boss is willing to go to whatever lengths necessary to make every episode and season a hit. This often involves manipulating the contestants to achieve desired outcomes.
Unrealaired for four seasons and was met with positive reviews. For those who loveThe Bachelor, it’s easy to see the similarities between that show andEverlasting. But be warned that it might remove rose-colored glasses for those who believe that everything they see on reality TV is actually real.
9’Love Is Blind' (2020–)
Presented by Nick Lachey and Vanessa Lachey
WhenThe Bachelorpremiered, the end goal of a proposal after just a few weeks of dating sounded ludicrous to viewers.Love Is Blindtakes this another step further and requires a proposalbeforethe couples even meet in person. They chat in secluded pods through a wall where they never see one another in person and are discouraged from talking about physical appearance. Once two people make a deep enough emotional connection, they may get engaged. Then and only then do they meet in person. From there, a whirlwind relationship begins that ends in a wedding where those who make it that far either say “I do” or “I don’t.”
Love is Blindstrips away the idea of physical attraction, which is arguably the antithesis ofThe Bachelor, which relies heavily on physical chemistry. It’s nice to see the other side of the coin with relationships, though the series is marred with just as much drama and even someinfamousLove Is Blindcontroversial moments.
Love Is Blind
8’Bachelor in Paradise' (2014–)
Presented by Chris Harrison and Jesse Palmer
Following the success of so many singles that didn’t get chosen as “the one,”The BachelorlaunchedBachelor in Paradiseas a vehicle to put these singles from different seasons together on a vacation where they can get up to all types of debauchery. Without the pressure of getting married hanging over their heads, they let loose, hook up, and make connections of all kinds.
Far more risqué thanThe Bachelor,Bachelor in Paradisestill uses the rose processto determine which individuals want to pair up with others while those without roses are sent home. But the show also brings in new people as others are eliminated. The goal? Downright fun in the sun.
Bachelor in Paradise
7’The Golden Bachelor' (2023–)
Presented by Jesse Palmer
There hasonly been a single seasonso far ofThe Golden Bachelor, but this series had fans excited to finally see someone older at the helm. WhileThe Bachelorcontestants have historically been in their 20s and 30s, the first Golden Bachelor was a 72-year-old man looking for a second shot at love.
A refreshing take with a little less drama and more maturity but the same format,The Golden Bachelorwas such a hit, it led to the development ofThe Golden Bachelorette, which itself is a spin-off of successfulThe Bachelorspin-offThe Bachelorette.
The Golden Bachelor
6’Love Island' (2019–)
Presented by Arielle Vandenberg, Sarah Hyland, and Ariana Madix
Love Islandis arguably about everythingbutlove. Based on the British series of the same name, the dating reality show sees single enter a secluded island where they are encouraged to pair up with others, whether it’s because of romantic interest, friendship, or simply survival in the game. But there’s a twist: as the game progresses, they are forced to switch couples and pair with someone else. Naturally, this leads to plenty of jealousy and drama, especially with some ofthe meanestLove Islandcontestants.
There’s no mincing words: those who don’t have a partner after a switch are “dumped” from the island. There’s a level of viewer interaction as well as those at home can vote on their favorite couples or who they think are most compatible using the companion mobile app.Combining strategy with the potential for romantic love,Love Islandis as guilty a pleasure as they comeand takes the idea of dating multiple people at once to a new level.
Love Island
5’Too Hot to Handle' (2020–)
Presented by Lana (A Virtual AI)
Interestingly inspired by “The Contest” fromSeinfeld, the premise behindToo Hot to Handleis simple: singles must stay on an island with other singles but they are prohibited from any intimate interactions. No kissing, sexual contact, or even masturbation. Any time a rule is broken, the prize pot is reduced.
They are further encouraged through workshops to engage in personal growth and learn how to form more meaningful connections. Of course, rules are broken often, and the reality show is filled with tons of commotion and arguments. In a fun twist, the host is actually a virtual AI named Lana.WhileThe Bacheloris able to engage in physical contact,Too Hot to Handlesimilarly tries to encourage connectionsbeyond just that.
Too Hot To Handle
4’Are You the One?' (2014–2023)
Presented by Ryan Devlin, Terrence J, Kamie Crawford
A matchmaking algorithm is used to pair singles, and they all live together with the purpose of trying to discover their “perfect matches.” If everyone succeeds, they share a prize pot. Contestants must indicate who their perfect match is from those within the house and others need to successfully guess the matches to keep the prize amount intact.
One of few shows to feature sexually fluid contestants,Are You the One?aired from 2014 to 2019 on MTVthen was revived for Paramount+ for several new seasons. The series spawned several international versions in countries like Brazil, Italy, and Sweden.LikeThe Bachelor,the ultimate goal is to find a soulmate, but there’s also money involved for good measure.
Are You the One?
3’Perfect Match' (2023–)
Presented by Nick Lachey
Typically featuring contestants who previously appeared on other reality shows,Perfect Matchbrings together singles who are encouraged to mingle and find one person they want to pair up with. Each episode, the pair voted the most compatible couple is given a task to shake up the game, like to pair someone who is already vibing with another person with a new player they must go on a date with. The most enduring couples have a better chance at winning, but it’s up to all the remaining couples in the end to vote on who they believe is the “perfect match.”
Of course, there are lots of frustrations and conflict as temptations and lies loom,marking some ofthe messiest moments in Netflix reality shows. ButPerfect Matchhas also been praised for featuring bisexual cast members, making it one of the more progressive reality dating shows.
Perfect Match
2'90 Day Fiancé' (2014–)
Presented by Shaun Robinson
Focused on marriage just likeThe Bachelor,90 Day Fiancéhas a unique spin. It’s about couples leveraging the K-1 visa process to get married. One is American and another is from a different country. The latter visits their long-distance partner and begins an in-person relationship while arranging a wedding that would allow the foreigner to remain in the country. If they don’t get married within the 90-day requirement period, the foreigner must leave the country.
90 Day Fiancéhas had fans glued to their TV screens for the last decade, and even spawned various international spin-offs. The couples are often interesting matches, some of whom make it for the long haul, but many who don’t.There’s something exciting about the show, which has the same urgency asThe Bachelorexcept with a much tighter timeline to go from dating to the altar.
90 Day Fiancé
1’The Bachelorette' (2003–)
Presented by Chris Harrison, Tayshia Adams, Kaitlyn Bristowe, and Jesse Palmer
The most obvious show to watch for those who loveThe BachelorisThe Bachelorette, which does a gender swap whereby it’s the woman who is meeting with dozens of single men to choose her potential lifelong mate. Typically, the woman is chosen as a popular contestant from a previous season ofThe Bachelorand sinceThe Bachelorettedebuted, many of the newest bachelors have come from the previous season ofThe Bachelorette.
The series is virtually identical toThe Bachelor, following the exact same format except putting the power in the woman’s hands. It has led to the same level of drama withthe meanestBachelorettecontestants, but also some lasting couples. Most notable is the very first bacheloretteTrista Rehn, who remains married to the man she chose on the show,Ryan Sutter.
