How far are you willing to go to find eternal love? Would you, say, marry a complete stranger chosen by matchmakers? Or getting engaged to someone whose face you've never seen?
“Love is Blind” and “Married at First Sight” are two reality shows that invite participants to indulge in bold marriage experiments.
Love Is Blind premiered on Netflix in 2020 and spawned numerous international versions, from France to Brazil. Married at First Sight was adapted from the Danish version of the show. FYI, it started in 2014, later moved to Lifetime, and from 2025 to Peacock.
Whether you've watched one or both series, there are some clear similarities and differences between them. Below we'll break down how the shows compare.
Concept
“Love is Blind”
If you've never seen Love Is Blind, the concept is pretty simple. Singles meet in dating pods separated by a black wall. By taking physical looks out of the equation, the show tries to see if people form deeper, more authentic emotional connections. Only after getting engaged can couples meet face to face.
Afterwards, the engaged couples go on a romantic trip and then move in together. Over the course of a few weeks, they begin meeting each other's families and friends and explore how their romantic connections develop in the real world.
At the end of the experiment, the couples will have to decide whether they are ready to get married on their wedding day. Some couples go through this, while others break up. Some even decide not to get married, but continue dating.
“Married at first sight”
The title of the show speaks for itself. Married at First Sight contestants get married the first time they meet.
Unlike Love Is Blind, couples get married before they know each other and then work with a group of experts to strengthen their relationship.
Couples have access to pastors, marriage counselors, sexologists, sociologists and relationship specialists to explore their connection and determine whether they are willing to go the distance with their new spouse.
As in Love Is Blind, couples must make a decision at the end of the experiment and decide whether they are going to stay married or get divorced.
Pop culture legacy
“Love is Blind”
“Love is Blind” first premiere in February 2020 on Netflix. The show is currently in its ninth season. In addition to the American version of the dating series, Love is Blind also has international versions in the following countries:
- Love Is Blind: Brazil premiered in October 2021 and currently has five seasons.
- Love is Blind: Japan premiered in February 2022 and currently has one season.
- Love is Blind: Sweden premiered in January 2024 and currently has two seasons.
- Love is Blind: Mexico premiered in August 2024 and currently has one season.
- Love is Blind: Habibi premiered in October 2024 and currently has one season.
- Love is Blind: Argentina premiered in November 2024 and currently has one season.
- Love is Blind: Germany premiered in January 2025 and currently has one season.
- Love is Blind: France premiered in September 2025 and currently has one season.
- Love Is Blind: UK premiered in August 2024 and has produced two seasons so far.
Netflix is also developing Love is Blind in the following countries, according to the streamer's press site. Tumdu:
“Married at first sight”
Married at First Sight is originally based on the Danish series Gift Ved Første Blik. Deadline. In the United States, it premiered on FYI in 2014. Seasons 2 through 5 aired simulcast on A&E before the show moved to Lifetime.
In January 2025, Deadline reported that Married at First Sight was moving to Peacock starting with Season 19 in October 2025.
Like Love is Blind, Married at First Sight quickly gained popularity and inspired several spin-off series, including:
- “Married at First Sight: The First Year”
- “Family Life”
- “Married at First Sight: Second Chance”
- “Jamie and Doug Plus One”
- “Married at First Sight: Honeymoon Island”
- “Married at First Sight: Happily Ever After”
- “Married at First Sight: Couples Cam”
- “Married at First Sight: Unbeatable”
According to DiversityThere are also 30 international versions of the series.
Manufacturing company
Chris Coelen's production company Kinetic Content produced Love is Blind and Married at First Sight.
Coelen is also the creator of several other dating series, including Ultimatum and The Perfect Match.
Success rate
Both Love is Blind and Married at First Sight led to several successful relationships. Here's a look at the success rate of each show.
“Love is Blind”
Having said “I do” on TV, many couples from seasons 1-8 of the American version still together.
The pair of lovers have now become parents, including Amber Pike and Matthew Barnett (season 1), Alexa and Brennon Lemieux (Season 3) and Bliss Puritezadi-Goitowski and Zach Goitowski (Season 4).
“Married at first sight”
Several Married at First Sight couples decided to save their relationship and… still married.
Some of them also have children. For example, Jamie Otis and Doug Hehner, who met in the first season of the show, welcomed the twins in 2024. Season 11 stars Amani Aaliyah and Woody Randall now have two children. Season 12 stars Briana Miles and Vincent Morales welcome their second child in 2024.
