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Dating for the aesthetically average

Ugly Dating: Real Love for Real People

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For singles who would rather be fancied for their jokes than their jawline.

The kind of people you could meet

A few of the members already on the dance floor.

The Ugly Bug Ball: real dating for real people since 2010

Why you should join

  • Date on the go

    Use it straight from your phone's browser, or add it to your home screen and it opens like an app.

  • Every upload screened

    Photos, videos and messages are checked as they arrive, and any member can verify with ID or a short video call.

  • Matches near you every day

    Fresh suggestions of members nearby who fit the ages and the kind of relationship you want.

  • Help whenever you need it

    Real people on chat, phone or message, day and night.

Welcome to reality

Forget perfect people strolling hand in hand along a beach at sunset. Real life isn't like that, and The Ugly Bug Ball has never pretended it is. This is ugly dating: a dating site for ugly people, plain people and perfectly ordinary people who'd rather be liked for their kindness, their laugh and their questionable taste in films than for a flawless face.

Ugly is a word you can use about yourself here, with a grin. Nobody gets to use it about you. Maybe you feel plainer, heavier, balder, older or shyer than the faces on the big apps. Maybe you're happy with how you look and just want someone who cares more about character than cheekbones. Either way, you're welcome at the ball.

Where your personality gets noticed first

Write a few honest lines about yourself, add a photo you're happy with and say who you'd like to meet. Every day brings new matches near you, and you message the ones who catch your eye. Here the words matter as much as the picture, so a good profile goes a long way. Our dating profile tips show you how, even if you hate having your picture taken.

More than 2,000 members on both sides of the Atlantic

Back in 2010 The Ugly Bug Ball was a cheeky little British site. It's kept the cheek and picked up plenty of Americans along the way: most members live in the USA or the UK, with the biggest groups in California, New York, Texas, Greater London and Florida. Our pages on ugly dating in the USA and the UK go region by region.

Every age turns up to the ball

Twenty-something or sixty-something, you won't be the only one: 39% of members are under 35 and 18% are 55 or over.

  • 18 to 2416%
  • 25 to 3423%
  • 35 to 4426%
  • 45 to 5416%
  • 55 and over18%

Relax, you're in good hands

Any member can verify their profile with ID or a short live video call with a moderator, and a badge shows who has. Explicit pictures arrive blurred, and you get a warning if someone pushes to move the chat to WhatsApp. Every protection is listed on our safety page.

All the ways to say hello

  • Private messages, chat rooms and group chats.
  • Daily matches near you, based on age, distance and what you're looking for.
  • A members' feed for photos, posts and comments, plus polls and quizzes.
  • Verified, Chatterbox, Heartthrob and Most Popular badges.
  • One account on your phone, tablet and computer.

The full tour is on our features page.

Curious how we stack up?

Our comparisons put The Ugly Bug Ball side by side with Tinder, Hinge, Bumble and Plenty of Fish, so you can see the difference for yourself. Our guides cover everything from whether there's a dating app for ugly people to first date ideas, and even where on earth our name comes from.

Start with your side of the Atlantic, or see how it all works.

Your questions, answered

Is The Ugly Bug Ball really for ugly people?

Yes, and for anyone who wants to be liked for who they are rather than for how they photograph. You might call yourself ugly with a grin, feel plain or ordinary, or simply want a partner who puts personality first. Our guide to what ugly dating is explains more.

Is there an app?

You can use The Ugly Bug Ball on any phone, straight from the browser, and add it to your home screen so it opens just like an app. Our guide to dating apps for ugly people has the full answer.

Who runs The Ugly Bug Ball?

It's been around since 2010 and today runs on HubPeople, a dating platform that looks after accounts, moderation and support. Our about page has the story and the house rules.

Ugly dating

Your next date could start with a laugh

Come as you are, and say hello to someone who gets the joke.

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