Pop Culture

20 Shows Like Love Island

January 22, 2025

If you’re a pop culture or reality TV show fan of any kind, then chances are you know (and love!) Love Island. One of the most popular dating reality shows of the summer, Love Island serves chaos, complicated situationships, and enough romance to keep you emotionally invested—even when you know better. Just take it from the Pepe Garcia podcast episode from The Toast! And with dozens of spin-off shows in over 20 countries, they really know how to keep you hooked.

It’s no secret that Love Island shaped modern dating shows. Compared to what these series used to feature, fans want exotic locations, season-long sagas, and super messy relationships. (And, of course, to know what Iris has to say about the TJ photos that shocked the internet.) Which makes you wonder… Are there ANY shows that do it as good as Love Island? Spoiler: ABSOLUTELY!

Which is exactly what we’re here to break down today. In this post, we’re sharing all of the best shows to watch while waiting for the next season of Love Island. Whether you’ve been rewatching old seasons or looking for something watch in between Love Island: Beyond the Villa releases, this post has everything you need and more.

TV Shows About Dating

What is it that really gets us hooked on TV shows about dating? Is the scandalous secrets that we all get a thrill from? The back-and-forth relationships that we can relate to a littleeee too much? Or is it just a chaotic break in between watching shows like Gilmore Girls? Here’s the thing: you don’t have to have a reason—shows like Love Island are just so easily binge-worthy!

Ultimately, dating shows have evolved far beyond simple matchmaking. Today’s most popular series bend romance with strategy, completion, and personality-driven storytelling, turning each story into full-on entertainment. And with a boom in podcasts over recent years, you can hear from a LOT of these contestants themselves! Take The Dating Debrief, hosted by The Bachelorette’s very own Rachel Recchia, for example, and her episode titled “Casey: Date 1 (The Evangelical Ghoster).” Or even “Everyone Can Be a Pilates Princess with Guest Raven Ross” from Sunday Sports Club.

We’re not just invested in these player’s love stories—we’re invested in their lives. And while Love Island is one of THE best shows in this industry, that doesn’t mean it’s the only good one. Here are a handful of shows like Love Island that feature that same decision-making, alliance-forming, and emotional turbulence you love:

20 Shows Like Love Island

Love Island Games

We had to start off with the most obvious Love Island comparison—what better to watch than Love Island Games? This spinoff features various contestants from allll of the other seasons (and series). We’re talkin’ Courtney Boerner from Love Island USA Season 4, Georgia Steel from Love Island UK Season 4, Lisa Celander from Love Island Sweden Season 3—the list just goes on and on.

This show still features that “shot at love” dynamic, just with some fun challenges that you’ve never seen before. Oh, and there may be some dramatic appearances and twists. We aren’t giving ANYTHING away, you’ll have to find out for yourself!

Married at First Sight

What’s America’s obsession with people finding love without meeting? Don’t know, don’t care, because millions of us love the drama! We watch Love is Blind and Married at First Sight ready for the tearful break-ups and questionable long-term romance. It just sucks us in!

In this series, couples are paired based on compatibility by relationship experts. They marry in the first episode, are given a quick honeymoon, and then are placed in their home together! Yeah, this happens CRAZY fast. For the rest of the season, you see how their relationship unfolds as a newlywed couple that literally just met. In the final episode, they must decide if they want to stay married or divorce. It’s SO FUN to watch.

The Circle

Okay, The Circle isn’t actually a dating show, it’s a popularity contest—but, if you like dating competition shows, you’ll LOVE The Circle. And hey, there’s some flirty tension sprinkled throughout the show! All of the players live in the same complex but in separate rooms blocked off from the outside world. The only communication they have is through texts and a special social media app. The contestants converse and hang out on the phone until rating day, where they rank the players from best to worst.

The catch? The contestants can portray themselves however they want! Catfishing is a strategy often used in the game; whoever is ranked worst is “blocked” and has to go home, and whoever is ranked the best becomes “influencers” with special privileges. Whoever is ranked the best by the end of the game wins a big cash prize. It has drama that you won’t wanna miss out on.

The Bachelor

The Bachelor is one of the most ICONIC dating shows in history. Even if you don’t watch The Bachelor, you’ve heard of it. It starts off with a single man who meet a group of women that are all aiming to get one thing: that final rose.

Through dates and plenty of other one-on-ones, the bachelor gets to narrow down which woman he can see the most potential in. The ultimate goal? To find love and potentially propose by the end of the season, obvi! For some fun behind the scenes stories, check out the Tyler Cameron episode and the Joey Graziadei episode of The Squeeze.

Bachelor in Paradise

Speaking of The Bachelor, if you are a fan, you’ll be familiar with this elimination-style dating game show. Like Love Island, though, this spin-off of The Bachelor takes place in an exotic location! The concept is simple:

There are a few men and a lot of women. They all hang out in paradise and at the end of each episode, they have a “Rose Ceremony” where the men select the women they want to get to know more. The last woman standing wins the love and partnership of the male contestants! We LOVE this version of the series just as much as the originals.

Dating Around

There aren’t a ton of episodes of Dating Around to watch, but it’s definitely worth a weekend binge. The contestants go on blind dates with people of all genders, races, and sexual orientations, despite the player’s personal preferences. The forced experimentation is really fun and gives the show a totally one-of-a-kind twist.

FBoy Island

Seeing a running theme with the “island” thing? Yeah, there is something about tropical settings that make the perfect reality dating show location. Maybe because people are just primed for relaxation and romance? Or, maybe it breeds really terrible decision-making for our viewing pleasure. Whatever it is, FBoy Island feeds all of our entertainment needs.

The show hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser starts with 3 women and 24 men—the men are either f*ckboys or nice guys. Basically, some of the men are looking for hook-ups and plan to take 100% of the show’s cash prize and some are looking for long-term relationships and want to split the cash prize with their partner. The thing is, the women don’t know who’s who! They eliminate 3 men each week and only then do they find out if they kicked a f*uckboy or a nice guy off the island. Super binge-worthy.

Lovers and Liars

Another dating show hosted by the beloved Nikki Glaser, Lovers and Liars is a spinoff of Fboy Island. Actually, it kinda is Fboy Island, but girls take the lead, this time.

It starts off with 3 men and 24 women, and now the men have to figure out which women are there to find love, and which women are there to cash in that $100,000 prize. Of course, it takes place on a tropical island, but we didn’t need to tell you that.

Dated and Related

At first glance, Dated and Related can sound a liittlleeee… questionable. But, it’s not what you think! This dating show features pairs of siblings that act as “wingmen” for each other in finding the perfect one.

Who knows you better than your sibling? NOBODY, according to this hit Netflix show. Each contestant is accompanied by their sibling who helps them navigate the dating world, all in hopes of gaining that cash prize at the end. Dating is awkward as it is, so having your sibling there to witness all of those private and intimate moments just adds a whole new meaning to “uncomfortable.” But yet, we can’t look away.

Vanderpump Rules

You’re right, this isn’t a dating competition show, but it’s all about relationships and classic reality TV drama. It’s a spin-off from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and focuses on Lisa Vanderpump, who is a successful restaurateur, designer, author, actress, and badass businesswoman. You see her interactions and relationships with her staff, friends, and family and ALL the chaos that comes with it. And, trust us, there’s a lot.

If you get totally obsessed with Vanderpump Rules, check out the best Bravo podcasts and listen to what the hosts of our Dear Media podcasts are saying about Vanderpump Rules in these binge-worthy episodes:

Vanderpump Scandal and Hailey & Selena – Not Skinny, But Not Fat
Katie Maloney on Scandoval – Not Skinny, But Not Fat
Andy Cohen on SCANDOVAL, Daddy Diaries & His Fav Bravo Show – Not Skinny, But Not Fat
Stassi Schroeder On Life After Cancellation, Being A New Mom, Vanderpump Rules, & Lessons Along The Way – The Bossticks
Cosmo Radio and Vanderpump Rules Collide – Taste of Taylor
Brittany Cartwright Of Vanderpump Rules On Weight Loss, Reality TV, Jenny Craig, Hooters, & All Things Vanderpump – The Bossticks
Lisa Vanderpump On The Future Of Vanderpump Rules, Housewives Juice, Grief, & How To Forgive
“Rawt in Hail, Sandoval” with Brittany Cartwright & Jax Turner – Scheananigans
+ The One About Rachel and the Reunion – Scheananigans
+ In this one Scheanna Shay from Scheananigans even talks with a Love Island star about Vanderpump rules!

Farmer Wants a Wife

If you’ve seen the buzz of Farmer Wants a Wife, but you haven’t tuned in? Take this as your sign to do so. This series follows farmers across the country as they embark on the journey of finding the one. Each farmer invites a single woman from the city to their working farm—and you can imagine the culture shock that brings.

But here’s the thing: the success rate is surprisingly high! More specifically, the show has produced over 200 marriages and 500 children globally. People love the idea of that “country-made” charm, highlighting sincere dating over sensationalized storylines and superficial romance.

Want more? Tune into “Farmer Wants a Wet Willy with Matt and John” from Let’s Be Honest! You can also read our post, “Shows Like Farmer Wants a Wife to Watch Next” for more recs!

Is Temptation Island the Same as Love Island?

No, Temptation Island is not the same thing as Love Island. While they share similar themes, they’re different in SO many ways. Let’s break it down:

Temptation Island is a reality TV series where four couples travel to an exotic destination to test their relationship. These people are already dating, and are experiencing some sort of rockiness in their relationship. Think: cheating, trust issues, lying, different attachment styles, unequal interest—the list goes on. Each couple is then split up by gender, thrown into a villa, and surrounded by single men and women to try and test their loyalty. It’s SPICY, and it’s so good.

Love Island, on the other hand, is a reality dating show where young singles live together in one villa and try to find “the one.” Throughout the series, viewers can vote on who they want to leave, couple up, or break up, testing the bond of each relationship. Whichever couple makes it to the end, and shares genuine romantic interest, typically “wins” Love Island. So, not exactly Temptation Island, even though they share similar titles. However, both series are SO good in their own rights.

Shows Like Love Island on Netflix

Only looking for shows like Love Island through Netflix? We get it! And just because you’re keeping to one specific platform doesn’t mean you don’t still have options. Here are all of our TOP recs:

Temptation Island

Temptation Island was originally aired in 2001 on USA Network, but it’s been recently rebooted on Netflix for some more fun and entertaining love-related drama. And honestly? We can’t get enough of it. Couples who are experiencing relationship issues agree to come on the show, split up, and be put into “tempting groups.”

Men are put into a villa with a dozen attractive women, while women are put into a villa with a dozen attractive men. There aren’t any specific rules as to who each partner has to couple up with—they chose that all on their own. Throughout the course of the show, they have to decide whether their relationship is worth going back to—or worth walking away from. It’s juicy and FULL of drama.

The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On

This show has us HOOOOKED. If you’ve ever wanted a dating show centered around real-life couples and their real-life problems, this is everything you could ever want and more. This show features a handful of different couples who all share one common problem: one partner wants to put a ring on it, and the other partner isn’t ready just yet.

You get to watch these couples “break up,” mingle with the other newfound singles, find a new partner, and see how a trial marriage would be with someone new for a week. Once that week is up, they return back to their OG partner to see if they’re ready for marriage yet. There’s 3 ways this could end: the original partners get engaged, they leave with other people, or, they leave single. It immediately sucks you in. Don’t miss out on The Ultimatum: Queer Love, either!

Are You the One?

This reality dating show is another must-see. With a group of singles in one house, the contestants of Are You The One? work with a matchmaking algorithm to discover who their perfect partner is. Sooo technically, their matches are already pre-determined, they just have to figure out who their match is. At the end of the game, there’s a shared cash prize given to all the contests. But the catch? Allll of the matches have to be correct.

With a whirlwind of drama, romance, and strategy, you’ll have to watch this show for yourself to see just how captivating it truly is. It’s a really unique format, and, as of recently, it includes LGBTQ+ contestants, which both make the series more interesting and more inclusive!

Too Hot to Handle

Ever seen those dating shows where the whole series is meaningless flings with noncommittal contestants? Though we love those, Too Hot to Handle is the PERFECT twist on this reality TV trope. A group of singles who are known for engaging in everything BUT long-term relationships are all thrown in a house together and told they can’t kiss, have sex, or participate in any self-gratification. But here’s the thing… if any of those things do happen, it doesn’t just cost them—it costs everyone else in the house, too.

The hope is that this sexual prohibition allows them to curate lasting relationships and true emotional connections. Think it works? If you’re not sold on the show, listen to this episode of Not Skinny, But Not Fat about the show! And for some real deal info on intimacy from Too Hot To Handle‘s intimacy coach, tune into this episode from We Met At Acme.

Perfect Match

You know those iconic dating shows where you get hooked on a specific cast member? Like, you begin to wonder… What’s their dating life like now? Sure, we can check their socials, but what’s the fun in that? Don’t worry, Perfect Match brings all of your fave players back together again.

Watch these singles from previous dating shows come together in a tropical villa (shocker, we know), to see which person they’re most compatible with. Here’s the twist, though: only one couple can win. Having to go through trials, dates with other couples, and a unique voting system, this dating show is full of on-the-edge-of-your-seat moments that we can’t get enough of.

Love Is Blind

Another dating show we can’t get enough of is Love Is Blind. In this series, contestants start in pods where they date only through audio calls. The couples don’t meet until they’re engaged… yeah, you read that right. They can’t see each other until there’s a marriage proposal!

Once there are a few engaged couples, they all go to a resort together where they meet their partners and the other contestants. As you can imagine, romance, sex, and betrayal ensue here. The surviving couples then move to the final stage of the competition by moving into an apartment together in the same city to see if their blind love is for real. You can hear more about this show on these episodes of Not Skinny, Not Fat called, “Is Love Really Blind?” and, “Love Is Blind: Taylor Krause & Hannah Jiles.“

Cheat: Unfinished Business

Hosted by Amanda Holden, Cheat: Unfinished Business is as juicy as it sounds. Eight (former!) couples travel to Spain to reunite with their exes and confront all of the messy drama that happened in their past. They talk all things betrayals, trust issues, and rekindling their romance.

And they don’t do it alone—relationship expert Paul C. Brunson is here to help the couples navigate those hard-to-have conversations. Ultimately, the goal is to figure out whether the couples should restart their relationships, or if they should accept the finality of their separation. It’s intense, it’s emotional, and, for a lot of us, it’s relatable.

If you’re ready to dive in, make sure to listen to “How Your Past Is Affecting Your Dating Life ft. Danny Morel.” It just feels appropriate, right?

The Later Daters

It’s NEVER too late to find love, and The Later Daters proves it. This series, executive produced by Michelle Obama, follows six adults in their 50s-70s who are trying to navigate modern dating. Many of these baby boomer singles are widowed or divorced, and just need a little gentle nudge to back out into the dating world!

Joined by Logan Ury, a behavioral scientist, as well as the contestants’ children and close friends, the show is all about overcoming the fear of commitment and, ultimately, finding love at an older age. It’s honestly super sweet, vulnerable, and so worth the watch.

Sneaky Links: Dating After Dark

In this Netflix reality dating series, singles check into a motel hoping to find love. What they find instead, however, is their “sneaky links.” AKA, their FWB, casual hookups, secrets on the side—call it what you want. Hosted by Chloe Veitch and Spicy Mari, the singles of the series must then decide whether they want to pursue their casual sneaky link.

In other words, do they want to turn their FWB into a full-blown relationship? Or would they rather pursue other romantic possibilities with the other singles at the motel? It’s SOOO good—and you don’t get FOMO and feel like you have to contact YOUR old sneaky link. (The drama reminds you why this may not be the best idea.)

You’ve still got time to binge these shows before the next season of Love Island!

We hope all these shows across various streaming services keep you busy and feed your dating show addiction, because they fed ours! And, once you’ve finished all the episodes, why not try a podcast? We’ve got a whole roster of kickass stellar shows ready to be binged! For more recommendations, life advice, and pop culture nonsense, browse more posts like this on the Dear Media blog. You may just fall in love! (with our content, that is.)

If you still wanna binge some Love Island related content, check out these episodes to get your fix!