Steade vs FirstDate
FirstDate is a GovTech pilot for unmarried public officers aged 21 to 45. Like Steade, it uses stable matching, sends one match at a time and verifies identity. It shows a compatibility score but no photos, and swaps contact details if you both accept. Steade is free and open to every adult living in Singapore, shows photos, adds dealbreakers both people must meet, gives up to three factual reasons instead of a score, and lets you chat in the app first.
Last checked . Sign-up is open. Introductions start once most members have at least five people who fit them both ways.
The main difference
FirstDate and Steade share an idea: one person at a time, chosen by stable matching rather than browsing. FirstDate says it applies the Gale–Shapley algorithm to questionnaire answers about interests, habits, values and preferences, and that your profile is visible only to your match. You can use an alias, and your match doesn’t see your photo. Contact details are shared only if you both say yes.
The differences are who can join and what happens after a match. Steade is open to any adult living in Singapore. Dealbreakers bind both people, each introduction comes with up to three factual reasons, and you talk in the app with scam reminders, so nobody has to hand over a number to start talking.
Steade and FirstDate side by side
FirstDate is a pilot. Details come from its own site and from reporting by The Straits Times and MS News, checked on 22 October 2026, and may change.
| Topic | Steade | FirstDate |
|---|---|---|
| How you meet people | SteadeAt most one introduction per round, every Tuesday and Friday at 8 pm SGT, from what you both said matters. | FirstDateOne match at a time, with a new match each cycle, from questionnaire answers using the Gale–Shapley algorithm. The Straits Times reported a match isn’t guaranteed every cycle.12 |
| Browsing | SteadeNo feed and no swiping. You never browse profiles. | FirstDateNo. Your profile is visible only to your match.1 |
| What you see with a match | SteadeTheir photos and profile, and up to three factual reasons. Never a score. | FirstDateA compatibility score, a description of the match and a personal note. No photo: MS News reported you see a profile name, interests and other details.13 |
| Time to decide | Steade48 hours to accept or pass. | FirstDate3 days (72 hours) to say yes.1 |
| Cost | SteadeFree. There is no paid tier, and none is planned. | FirstDateNot stated in the sources we checked. |
| Identity check | SteadeRequired for every member before they can meet anyone: verify with Singpass, or send an NRIC or Singapore pass plus a selfie for a moderator to review. | FirstDateVerified with Singpass.1 |
| Who can join | SteadeAdults 18 and over living in Singapore. Steade introduces men and women only. | FirstDateA pilot for unmarried public officers aged 21 to 45 (35 at launch), including those who are widowed or divorced. Officers aren’t matched with colleagues from the same agency. The second cycle opened on 20 October 2026; FirstDate’s site says applications close on 26 October.1245 |
| Starting a conversation | SteadeOpens only when you both accept. For their first 14 days, new accounts can’t send links or phone numbers. | FirstDateContact details are shared only if you both say yes. MS News reported that FirstDate exchanges your Telegram contacts.13 |
Who should choose which
FirstDate may suit you better if
- You’re a public officer aged 21 to 45 and the pilot is open to you.
- You’d rather exchange contact details once you both say yes than chat in an app.
- You’d like to judge a match on personality and values before you see a photo.
- You’d like three days to decide on a match.
Steade may suit you better if
- You’re not a public officer, or you’re outside the 21 to 45 age range.
- You want to see someone’s photos before you decide.
- You want dealbreakers that both people must meet.
- You want to read the reasons for an introduction as plain facts, not a score.
- You want to talk in the app first, without sharing your number.
Questions
Is FirstDate open to everyone?
No. FirstDate describes itself as a pilot for public officers, and it is open to those aged 21 to 45. The Straits Times reported that widowed and divorced officers can apply, that officers won’t be matched with colleagues from the same agency, and that GovTech hasn’t decided whether to expand it beyond the pilot. Sign-ups for the second cycle close on 26 October 2026.
What can I use if I can’t join FirstDate?
Steade works on the same idea, one introduction at a time chosen by stable matching, and is open to adults aged 18 and over living in Singapore, whatever their job. It’s free, and every member’s identity is checked before they can meet anyone. Coffee Meets Bagel, PerfectPairing and matchmaking agencies are other options; see the full comparison.
Do Steade and FirstDate use the same algorithm?
Both use stable matching. FirstDate says it applies the Gale–Shapley algorithm to questionnaire answers. Steade computes a stable pairing between men and women from both people’s stated preferences and dealbreakers. Stable means no two people would both rather be with each other than with who they were given. It says nothing about attraction or whether a relationship will last.
Is Steade connected to GovTech or FirstDate?
No. Steade is operated by Huper Technology Pte Ltd and has no connection to GovTech or FirstDate.
When does Steade open?
Sign-up is open now. Introductions start once most members have at least five people who fit them both ways. Until then your profile and preferences are saved, and we’ll tell you when your first introduction arrives.
Be one of the first to meet someone.
- Free, with no paid tier
- Every member’s identity checked before they can meet anyone
- Reasons you can read, never scores
Takes about 10 minutes. Have your NRIC or Singapore pass ready.
Sources
Facts about other services come from these pages, checked on the dates shown. Facts about Steade come from our own product rules. Spotted something out of date? Email hello@steade.app.
- GovTech Singapore, “FirstDate”. Accessed 17 October 2026.
- The Straits Times, via Asia News Network, “Singapore government launches dating app for public officers”, 1 October 2026. Accessed 17 October 2026.
- MS News, “How government dating pilot FirstDate works, from making up an alias to getting a faceless match”, 16 October 2026. Accessed 17 October 2026.
- The Straits Times, via The Star, “Singapore dating service for govt staff: Scheme will not match those from same agency”, 2 October 2026. Accessed 17 October 2026.
- MS News, “Government dating platform FirstDate raises age limit from 35 to 45, opens second matchmaking cycle”, 20 October 2026. Accessed 17 October 2026.