Frequently Asked Questions

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Skip is designed to create a safer dating experience, no matter where you met, by combining multiple safety features across the full dating process, before, during, and after the date.

1. Background checks can help make first dates safer by adding an extra screening step before meeting. Skip’s background check process includes SSN verification and ID review to help reduce fraud risk compared with name-only screening.Require a match to pass a background check* before the first date.Screening may include, where available, sex offender registries, global watchlists, and national records.Results are generally valid for 12 months, so there is no need to repeat for every date.

2. Date Cards help turn any connection into a safer first date.
- Digital Date Cards: Digital Date Cards give you a safer way to plan a first date, no matter where the connection started, whether on a dating app, social media, through friends, over text, or in person. The digital card brings the connection into Skip, where they must pass any deal breaker and background check requirements you've enabled before they can propose a date.
- Physical Date Cards: If you see someone in person you’re interested in getting to know, hand them a Physical Date Card instead of sharing your number. The card sends them to your Skip profile, where the same safety and compatibility steps apply before a date can be proposed.

3. Deal breakers help make first dates safer by setting expectations early, filtering out bad fits, and making red flags easier to recognize.
- Set Expectations Early: Use deal breakers to communicate what matters before the date, so you do not have to bring up important boundaries for the first time in an awkward or uncomfortable in-person moment.
- Filter Out Bad Fits Early: On Skip, matches must pass your deal breakers at 100% in order to propose a date, helping filter out people who do not meet your standards before a first date.
- Spot Red Flags: Setting clear boundary deal breakers upfront makes it easier to recognize when someone intentionally crosses a line, because your boundaries were already clearly communicated.

4. Date reviews can help make first dates safer by adding accountability after the date. Users can leave private feedback to help surface red flags and support a safer community.
- Private feedback: Users can leave anonymous ratings and reviews after each date to help surface positive or concerning behavior.
- Date tracking: Skip logs who, where, and when a date occurs, helping connect reviews to real dates and add accountability.
- Trust signals: Positive post-date compliments can appear on a profile and help provide added context for future users considering whether to like their profile.
- Removing Unsafe Users: Reviews help flag users who violate safety standards, making it easier for Skip to remove unsafe users.

‍5. Profile verification helps make dating safer by helping confirm the person in the photos is the same person you would meet on the date.
- Take a guided selfie.

- We verify authenticity to help prevent fakes.

- Earn a blue checkmark once confirmed.

6. Age verification and ID review
Age verification and ID review add more trust signals before meeting someone in person.
- Age verified: Skip reviews a government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, to confirm the date of birth shown on the ID. This helps give you more confidence that the age shown on the person’s profile is accurate.
-  ID reviewed: Skip compares the ID photo with the user’s profile photos and live verification photo. This helps give you more confidence that the person you’re meeting matches the person shown on their profile.

7. No AI Chat Catfishing
- Skip helps make dating safer by preventing AI chat catfishing through completely removing in-app chat, so bots and scammers cannot hide behind fake conversations.
- Without chat, scammers have fewer ways to ask for money, stay anonymous, or manipulate users remotely. Most will not agree to an in-person date, because it exposes their identity and makes scams much harder to pull off.

Skip allows you to bring connections from anywhere onto the app, where you can require them to pass a background check before proposing a first date, depending on your match type and settings.

There are three ways to connect through Skip:

1. DIGITAL DATE CARD
Already talking to someone on another dating app, social media, or anywhere else? Send them a Digital Date Card by text, DM, link, or QR code. They’ll receive a personalized Skip Date Invite where they can view your profile and like you if they’re interested.

2. PHYSICAL DATE CARD
See someone you’re interested in? Hand them a Physical Date Card instead of immediately asking for or sharing a phone number. It’s a simple, low-pressure way to show interest without putting them on the spot. They can check out your Skip profile on their own time.

3. FIND SOMEONE ALREADY ON SKIP
Browse profiles and like someone you’re interested in. If they like you back, it’s a match.

No matter where the connection started, once you match on Skip, the other person must pass any deal breaker and background check requirements you've enabled before they can propose a date.

Who can require a background check depends on match type and the user’s selected experience. In women seeking men matches, women may require men to complete a background check before proposing a date, men cannot require a background check from women in this match type. In other match types, the ability to require a match to complete a background check is available only to users who choose the “screen others” experience. Background checks are limited to available records.

You can choose to require a background check before your match can propose a date, so anyone you go on a first date with through Skip has already passed a background check before the first date happens. This added screening step helps create a safer dating experience.

Skip’s background check flow includes SSN verification and an ID review step, which helps reduce fraud risk compared with name-only screening. The ID review requires a government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, and helps confirm that the background check submission matches the user’s submitted information, including their name, profile photos, age, and profile verification selfie or live photo. This extra step helps ensure the person who matched with you is the same person completing the check, reducing the risk of impersonation or using someone else’s information. 

Screening may include, where available:
· Sex offender registry search: Searches registries from all 50 states, Washington DC, and US territories.
· Global watchlist search: Searches a comprehensive network of domestic and international government watchlists for criminal history.
· National criminal search: Searches county records that query up to 900 million public records.

Example flow: 

1. Set Your Deal Breakers
Set custom deal breakers to know your match is compatible before the first date.

2. Meet someone you’re interested in
A connection can start anywhere.

3. Connect through Skip
Send a Digital Date Card, hand them a Physical Date Card in person, or like their profile if they’re already on Skip.

4. Match
If you both like each other, it’s a match.

5. Screen your match
They’ll need to pass any deal breaker and background check requirements you’ve enabled before they can propose a date.

6. Plan the date
Align on a date, time, and place using each other’s availability and date location preferences.

7. Confirm & check in
Confirm your plans, share your ETA, and check in when you arrive.

8. Enjoy your date
Meet up and see if there’s a spark.

9. Review & decide what’s next
Review each other after the date. If you’d like to keep the connection going, exchange contact details.

This timing is intentional. Skip does not require people to complete or pay for a background check upfront before there is mutual interest and compatibility. A match first passes your deal breakers, then completes the background check before moving forward toward a date. 

Most background checks are completed in about 24 hours, but some can take longer. In some cases, the process may take 3 to 5 business days depending on record availability, review needs, or whether additional information is required.

Who can require a background check depends on match type and the user’s selected experience. In women seeking men matches, women may require men to complete a background check before proposing a date, men cannot require a background check from women in this match type. In other match types, the ability to require a match to complete a background check is available only to users who choose the “screen others” experience. Background checks are limited to available records.

SKIP DOES NOT CONDUCT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS ON EVERY MEMBER.

Background checks help reduce risk, but they do not verify identity and do not guarantee safety, future behavior, or that no records exist everywhere.

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On Skip, background checks can help make first dates safer by adding an extra screening step before someone moves toward an in-person date. They help reduce risk before meeting and work alongside Skip’s other safety features, like date cards, deal breakers, profile verification, age verification, ID review and date reviews.

What Skip checks for
- Any arrest, charge, conviction, sex offender registry listing, or other record that may affect eligibility
- A DUI or DWI within the past 5 years
- Two or more DUI or DWI records at any time

Usually okay
- Minor traffic tickets, such as speeding, parking, or equipment violations
-One DUI/DWI older than 5 years, with no additional DUI/DWI records

Only approved members receive background check verified status.

Both Digital and Physical Date Cards help turn a connection into a safer first date by bringing the person you’re interested in onto Skip’s platform, where they’ll need to pass any deal breaker and background check requirements you’ve enabled before you agree to a date. The difference is how you use them. Digital Date Cards are designed for connections that have already started, whether on another dating app, social media, through friends, over text, or in person. Physical Date Cards give you a low-pressure way to show interest in someone you meet in person without putting them on the spot to say yes or reject you. Simply hand them your Date Card and let them check out your Skip profile on their own time.

No. Background checks help reduce risk, but no background check, badge, or app feature can guarantee safety or future behavior. Even if someone passes a background check, behavior still matters. If someone pressures you, ignores your boundaries, or makes you feel uncomfortable, take that seriously.

If you do not pass a background check, your account will be disabled for 12 months. After that period, you may be able to take another background check and try again. This is part of how Skip works to help keep the community safer and reduce risk before people meet in person.

If you believe there is an error in the screening result, you should follow the dispute or support steps provided during the background check process.

You can choose to require compatibility and boundary deal breakers before your match can propose a date. That means anyone you go on a first date with through Skip has already passed your required deal breakers before the date happens. This added screening step helps support a safer and more compatible dating experience.

A typical flow looks like this:

1. Set custom deal breakers
2. Connect through Skip using a Digital Date Card, Physical Date Card, or by liking someone's profile on the app
3. They like your profile back and you match
4. They must pass your deal breakers at 100%
5. They complete and pass a background check*
6. They propose a date
7. You confirm a time and location or suggest a new one
8. Go on the date
9.Leave anonymous reviews

This timing is intentional. Skip does not allow someone to move toward a date before there is a match and they have passed your required deal breakers. This helps communicate expectations early, filter out bad fits, and support safer first dates.

If your match does not pass your required deal breakers at 100 percent, they will not be able to propose a date. Their match status will update to Incompatible. This helps filter out people who do not meet your standards before a first date happens.

Who can require deal breakers depends on the match type and the user’s selected experience. 

- In women-seeking-men matches, women can require men to pass their deal breakers before they can propose a date.
- In all other match types (including same-gender), the person who chose the ‘screen others’ experience can require deal breakers.

If you are in immediate danger or experiencing an emergency, contact local emergency services right away.
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If something feels off, trust your instincts. You do not owe anyone more time, more information, or another chance just because they say they did not mean it. If you feel uncomfortable, leave. If someone behaves in a way that feels unsafe or inappropriate, report them through Skip.

On Skip, date reviews can help make first dates safer by adding accountability after the date. Users can leave private feedback after each date, helping surface red flags, support a safer community, and make it easier for Skip to identify and remove unsafe behavior.
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Not every safety concern appears on a profile or during a background check. Some issues, such as pressure, ignored boundaries, disrespect, or manipulative behavior, may only become clear during or after a real date.
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Skip connects reviews to actual in-person dates, including who, where, and when the date happened. That gives Skip stronger context when reviewing reports or safety concerns. This post-date accountability can help:
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- surface patterns that pre-date screening might miss
- encourage more respectful behavior by knowing feedback will be given after the date
- support a safer community by making it easier to identify and remove unsafe users
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Date reviews can be especially useful when combined with Skip’s boundary deal breakers. If someone passed your clearly stated boundaries but later ignored them or tried to push past them on the date, that information helps give Skip better context when responding to reports or safety concerns.

Skip offers both Digital and Physical Date Cards to help turn connections into safer first dates.Digital

Date Cards: give you a safer way to plan a first date, no matter where the connection started, whether on a dating app, social media, through friends, over text, or in person. Send someone you’re interested in your Digital Date Card, and they’ll receive a Skip Date Invite where they can view your profile and like you if they’re interested. If you like them back, it’s a match. From there, they complete any deal breaker and background check requirements you’ve enabled before they can propose a date.

‍Physical Date Cards: If you see someone in person you’re interested in getting to know, hand them a Date Card instead of sharing your number. The card sends them to your Skip profile, where they can like you if they’re interested. If you like them back, it’s a match. From there, they complete any deal breakers and background check requirements you’ve enabled before they can propose a date.

A typical flow looks like this:

1. Send someone a Digital Date Card or hand them a Physical Date Card in person.
2. They visit your Skip profile and like your profile.
3. You are notified, review their profile, and like them back to create a match.
4. They pass your deal breakers at 100 percent
5. They complete and pass a background check 
6. They propose a date
7. You confirm a time and location or suggest a new one
8. Go on the date
9. Leave anonymous reviews

Skip Date Cards can help empower you to take your dating life into your own hands by bringing more structure and safety into the process. Date cards work anywhere in the USA, so you are not limited to only using them in cities where Skip already has a larger online presence.

Skip Date Cards are designed to bring Skip’s safety tools into any connections no matter where they started, so the same safety steps can still apply before a first date. That can include:

- Deal breakers, which help communicate boundaries and filter out people who do not pass your standards before a first date.
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- Background checks, which can help reduce risk by adding an extra screening step before someone moves toward an in-person date.
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- Profile verification, which helps confirm the person using the profile appears to match the profile photos.

- Date reviews, which add accountability after the date and help Skip identify unsafe behavior over time.

A background check badge means the user completed a Skip background check through our partner, Checkr, and their result was approved based on the screening sources used for that check, where available. Skip’s background check flow includes SSN verification and an ID review step, which helps reduce fraud risk compared with name-only screening. A background check badge helps reduce risk, but it does not guarantee safety, identity, future behavior, or that no records exist everywhere. Users should still use caution and good judgment when meeting anyone.

A blue check badge means the user passed Skip’s profile verification, which asks users to take a guided selfie to help confirm the person using the profile appears to match the profile photos. A background check badge means the user completed a Skip background check and received a passed status based on the screening sources used for that check, where available. These badges mean different things. Profile verification helps support authenticity. A background check adds an extra screening step. Neither badge guarantees safety.

Yes. Skip’s background check flow includes an ID review step that requires a government-issued ID (such as a driver’s license or passport). This review helps confirm that the background check submission matches the user’s submitted information, including their name, age, profile photos, and profile verification selfie/live photo, helping reduce the risk of someone submitting another person’s information. This ID review helps reduce fraud risk, but it does not guarantee identity or safety.

Who can require a background check depends on match type and the user’s selected experience.

- In women-seeking-men matches, women can require men to complete a background check before proposing a date.
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- In all other match types (including same-gender), the person who chose the ‘screen others’ experience can require the background check.
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- Anyone can also choose to complete a background check voluntarily from Settings.

Yes. If your settings and match type support deal breaker and background check requirements, your match will need to pass your deal breakers and complete a background check before they can propose a date. This can help you communicate boundaries early, filter out bad fits before meeting, and add an extra screening step before someone moves toward an in-person date.

Who can require background checks and deal breakers depends on the match type and the user’s selected experience. In women seeking men matches, women can require men to pass their deal breakers and complete a background check before they can propose. In other match types, the ability to require deal breakers and a background check is available only to the person who selected the “screen others” experience.

No. On Skip, you do not have to complete or pay for a background check upfront. You can sign up, create a profile, like profiles, get a match, and pass your match’s deal breakers first, so you know there is mutual interest and compatibility before deciding whether to complete a background check. If your match requires a background check, it happens after passing their deal breakers and before moving forward with the date.

No problem. If your match requires a background check and you have not completed one yet, Skip will prompt you to complete a background check after you pass their deal breakers, and before moving forward with the date proposal.

If you require a background check, your match must pass your deal breakers at 100% before completing and passing a background check. They can then propose a date.

This timing is intentional. Skip does not require people to complete or pay for a background check upfront before there is mutual interest and compatibility.

Example flow: 
1. Turn on the background check requirement 
2. Connect through Skip using a Digital Date Card, Physical Date Card, or by liking someone's profile on the app.
3. They like your profile back and you match
4. They must pass your deal breakers at 100%
5. They complete and pass a background check*
6. They propose a date
7. You confirm a time and location or suggest a new one
8. Go on the date
9. Leave anonymous reviews

On Skip, deal breakers can help with both compatibility and safety. Compatibility deal breakers help filter for fit. Boundary deal breakers can make first dates safer by helping you communicate boundaries clearly, set expectations early, and filter out people who do not pass your standards before a first date ever happens, because matches must pass your deal breakers at 100 percent before they can propose a date.

Boundary deal breakers can also make it easier to recognize a red flag if someone later crosses a line on a date, because your boundaries were already clearly communicated beforehand.

Yes. Boundary deal breakers can help you communicate important boundaries before meeting in person, which can reduce ambiguity, avoid awkward or pressured in-person moments, and make red flags easier to recognize if someone later pushes past what was already made clear.

Yes. Skip has already helped people go from first dates to real relationships, including marriage. Users often say Skip feels more like a matchmaking service than a dating app, and that Skip Date Cards helped them feel safer asking someone out.

Skip is a safer way to plan a first date, no matter where you met.

Unlike traditional dating apps that rely primarily on browsing and matching with existing users, Skip also lets you bring connections from anywhere onto the platform.

You can connect in three ways: 

DIGITAL DATE CARD
Already talking to someone on another dating app, social media, or anywhere else? Send them a Digital Date Card by text, DM, link, or QR code. They’ll receive a personalized Skip Date Invite where they can view your profile and like you if they’re interested.

PHYSICAL DATE CARD
See someone you’re interested in? Hand them a Physical Date Card instead of immediately asking for or sharing a phone number. It’s a simple, low-pressure way to show interest without putting them on the spot. They can check out your Skip profile on their own time.

FIND SOMEONE ALREADY ON SKIP
Browse profiles and like someone you’re interested in. If they like you back, it’s a match.

Once you match, Skip guides you through any required deal breakers and background checks before a date can be proposed. The app also helps with scheduling, date confirmation, check-in, and post-date reviews. Skip focuses on helping people make more informed dating decisions before meeting in-person.

Yes. Men can create a profile, match with someone, plan a date, and go on a date through Skip for free.

However, if your match requires you to complete a background check, you are responsible for the cost of that check.

You can also create and send Digital Date Cards using Skip's free designs. Optional Premium Digital Date Cards, custom photo cards, and Physical Date Cards may require a purchase.

Yes. Skip requires profile verification to help confirm that the person using a profile appears to match the photos displayed on it.

The verification process includes a guided selfie and may involve manual review. Once verified, users can receive a blue checkmark on their profile.

Profile verification is different from a criminal background check. A blue verification badge indicates that the submitted images appeared consistent during review, while a green background check badge indicates an approved screening result.

Neither verification nor background checks guarantee identity or safety.

No. Skip does not conduct criminal background checks on every member.

Depending on your match type and settings, you can require someone to complete and pass a background check before they can propose a first date. Anyone can also voluntarily complete a background check through Skip to receive a background check badge if approved.

Background checks are limited to available records and do not guarantee someone's identity, safety, or future behavior.

No. You do not need to complete a background check or provide your Social Security number just to create a profile, browse profiles, or connect with someone through Skip.

However, if you choose to complete a background check or your match requires one, Skip's background check process includes SSN verification and an ID review using a government-issued ID, such as a driver's license or passport.

You do not need to complete or pay for a background check upfront before matching with someone that you are interested in.

Yes. Skip allows eligible women to require a match to complete and pass a background check before the first date, at no cost to the woman.

In women-seeking-men matches, women can require men to pass a background check before proposing a date. There is no charge to require the background check. The person completing the check is responsible for the fee.

This applies no matter where the connection started. Whether you met someone on another dating app, social media, through friends, in person, or directly on Skip, you can bring the connection onto Skip using a Digital or Physical Date Card or by matching through the app.

In other match types, the ability to require a background check is available to users who select the "screen others" experience.

Yes. You can create multiple Digital Date Cards with different designs for different connections, moods, and occasions. Whether you want something funny, flirty, bold, romantic, or seasonal, you can choose a Date Card that fits the person or moment.

Yes. You can switch between Digital Date Cards you've already created at any time for free. Simply select the card you want to use. Switching between your existing cards does not require any additional credits.

Yes. You can bookmark designs you like and find them later from the bookmark button.This makes it easy to keep track of your favorites without having to create a Date Card right away.

Saving a design does not use any credits. Credits are only required when you create a Digital Date Card using a Premium design or your own photo.

Yes. When browsing Digital Date Card designs, you can use the filters to view "All designs," "Free only," or "Premium only."

Free designs require no Date Card credits, while Premium designs require one credit to create. These filters apply to Digital Date Cards, not Physical Date Cards.

Yes. Choose from 1,300+ ready-made designs or upload a photo to make your Date Card your own. You can also add an intro message to make your Date Invite feel more personal and help you stand out.

Free designs require no credits, while Premium designs and custom cards made with your own photo require one Date Card credit.

Yes. You can edit your Digital Date Card after creating it, including updating your intro message and card profile photo.

Date Card credits are used to create Premium Digital Date Cards and custom Digital Date Cards made with your own photo.

Free designs require no credits. Premium designs and custom photo cards require one credit each when creating a new card.

You can purchase Date Card credits directly in the Skip app, with options to buy 1, 5, or 20 credits. Pricing is displayed in the app before purchasing.

Once you create a Date Card, you can switch between your existing cards and update your intro message without using additional credits.

No. Editing your digital date card intro message or profile picture is always free.

No. Deleting a Digital Date Card permanently removes it. If you used a Date Card credit to create that card, the credit will not be returned.

You can switch between your existing Digital Date Cards for free, so you do not need to delete a card just to use a different one.

Custom photos uploaded for Digital Date Cards are reviewed before they are approved for use.

If your photo is marked "Pending review," it means the review is still in progress. If your photo is not approved, you can upload a different photo or choose another Free or Premium design without using an additional Date Card credit.

The credit originally used to create your Digital Date Card is not refunded..

They receive a personalized Skip Date Invite with an image of your Digital Date Card, your intro message, a link to your Skip profile, and instructions for what to do next.

No problem. Your Date Card will guide them to get started with Skip. Once they create a profile, they can view your profile and like you if they're interested.

No. Skip doesn't need a large existing user base to be worth using. Unlike traditional dating apps that rely primarily on having enough users in your area to browse and match with, Skip allows you to connect with people you've met anywhere, even if they aren't already using Skip.

You can send a Digital Date Card to someone you met on another dating app, through social media, through friends, over text, or in person. You can also hand someone a Physical Date Card when you meet them in person.

Your Date Card invites them to connect through Skip, where they can create a profile, match with you, and complete any deal breaker and background check requirements you've enabled before proposing a date.

Skip Date Cards work anywhere in the USA, even in cities where Skip is still growing.

While browsing profiles directly on Skip depends on having enough users in your area, you don't need an existing pool of local Skip users to benefit from the app. Instead of limiting your dating options to people already using Skip, you can bring connections from anywhere into Skip for a safer, more structured first date.

Yes. You can send the same Digital Date Card to multiple people by text, DM, link, or QR code.

Digital Date Cards you've already shared will remain unchanged. Switching to another Digital Date Card only changes which card you use going forward. Switching is free.

That's okay. Even if they're not interested, a Date Card can still feel like a nice compliment. It lets them know you noticed them in a respectful way without making the moment awkward for either of you.

If you see someone in person you’re interested in getting to know, hand them a Date Card instead of sharing your number. The card sends them to your Skip profile, where they can like you if they’re interested. If you like them back, it’s a match. From there, they complete any deal breakers and background check requirements you’ve enabled before they can propose a date.

Digital Date Cards give you a safer way to plan a first date, no matter where the connection started, whether on a dating app, social media, through friends, over text, or in person. Send someone you’re interested in your Digital Date Card, and they’ll receive a Skip Date Invite where they can view your profile and like you if they’re interested. If you like them back, it’s a match. From there, they complete any deal breaker and background check requirements you’ve enabled before they can propose a date.

Sharing your phone number with someone you just met can reveal more personal information than you may expect, including details that may be connected to your address, family members, workplace, or online accounts. A Date Card gives them a way to connect with you through Skip instead, so you can show interest while keeping your personal information private. It also helps turn an in-person connection into a safer first date by guiding them through your required safety and compatibility steps, like passing your deal breakers and background check requirements you’ve enabled before you agree to go on a date.

They can view your Skip profile and like you. If you like them back, you match. From there, they’ll need to pass any deal breaker and background check requirements you’ve enabled before they can propose a date.

No. Your Date Card links to your Skip profile, not your personal phone number. You decide if, when, or whether to share contact information later.

You can keep it simple: “I thought you seemed cool. No pressure, but here’s my Date Card if you’d like to connect.” Then let them decide from there.

Yes. Date Cards are designed for everyday in-person moments, like meeting someone at a coffee shop, gym, bar, event, campus, park, or while out with friends.

It doesn’t have to be. It’s not always easy to tell if someone is single, interested, or open to being approached. A Date Card gives you a low-pressure way to show interest without putting them on the spot to say yes or reject you. They can check out your profile later and decide whether they want to connect.

No. Skip does not have in-app chat. Instead, the app guides both people through matching, safety and compatibility screening, date proposals, scheduling, and post-date reviews without chat.

Yes. Choose from 1,300+ ready-made designs or upload a photo to make your Date Card your own.

Yes, Skip currently offers free delivery of Date Cards where shown in the app. Pricing, availability, and delivery offers may vary, so check the Skip app for the latest details before ordering.

For the best print quality, upload a clear photo that is at least 1050 × 600 pixels.

Digital Date Cards can be sent anywhere a connection starts. Send it to someone you met on another dating app, through social media or DMs, through friends, over text, or in person using your QR code. Wherever you meet, a Digital Date Card lets you bring the connection into Skip, where they’ll be required to pass any deal breakers and background check requirements you’ve enabled before you agree to a date.

A Digital Date Card gives you a safer way to plan a first date by bringing the connection into Skip before you agree to meet. They’ll need to pass any deal breaker and background check requirements you’ve enabled, helping you see who respects your safety and is serious about meeting. You can also keep your contact information private and decide if, when, or whether to share it.

Digital Date Cards help turn any connection into a safer first date by guiding the other person through your required safety steps on Skip, including background checks, boundary deal breakers, and profile verification, age verification, ID review, before you agree to go on a date.

Date Cards help turn an offline connection into a safer first date by guiding the other person through your required safety steps on Skip, including background checks, boundary deal breakers, profile verification, age verification, ID review, before you agree to go on a date.

A Digital Date Card helps you quickly see who respects your safety, passes your deal breakers, and has genuine intentions before you move forward.

Yes. Your Digital Date Card lets them connect through your Skip profile first for screening, so you don’t have to share your phone number upfront. You decide if, when, or whether to share any contact information.

They can view your Skip profile and like you if they’re interested. If you like them back, it’s a match. From there, they’ll need to pass any deal breaker and background check requirements you’ve enabled before they can propose a date.

No. Skip does not have in-app chat. Instead, the app guides both people through matching, safety and compatibility screening, date proposals, scheduling, and post-date reviews without chat.

Yes. You can create, edit, and send a Digital Date Card for free by choosing one of Skip’s free designs. Premium designs and custom cards made with your own photo are optional and require one Date Card credit.

No. Sending your Digital Date Card is only an invitation to connect through Skip. You still choose whether to like them back, match, accept a date proposal, or share contact information.

No. A Date Card is only an invitation to connect through Skip. You still choose whether to like them back, match, accept a date proposal, or share contact information.

Yes. If you meet someone while you’re out, open the Skip app and let them scan the QR code from your phone.

Yes. Your dating distance settings determine which profiles you can browse directly on Skip, but Date Cards let you connect with people outside that range.

You can send a Digital Date Card or give someone a Physical Date Card anywhere in the USA, even if they live outside your dating distance range or aren't already using Skip.

No. You only use one Date Card credit when creating a Premium Digital Date Card or a custom card made with your own photo.

Once created, you can send the same Digital Date Card to as many people as you'd like by text, DM, link, or QR code without using additional credits.Yes. Your dating distance settings determine which profiles you can browse directly on Skip, but Date Cards let you connect with people outside that range.

Physical Date Cards typically ship within 7 to 14 business days after ordering. Actual delivery times may vary depending on your location and shipping conditions.No. You only use one Date Card credit when creating a Premium Digital Date Card or a custom card made with your own photo.

Digital Date Cards do not automatically expire. You can continue using and sharing your created Digital Date Cards for as long as you'd like, unless you delete them.

Date Invites you've already shared can still be used to connect through your Skip profile.

No. A criminal record does not automatically mean someone is unsafe or a bad person.

The criminal justice system is not perfect. Arrests and charges do not prove guilt, wrongful convictions can happen, and criminal records may be incomplete, inaccurate, or missing important context.

Some criminal histories may raise serious safety concerns, but not every record carries the same level of risk. The nature, severity, timing, and circumstances of an offense can matter.

Background checks are one tool to help reduce dating risks, not a complete judgment of someone's character, intentions, or future behavior.

Skip considers available information when determining background check eligibility, but certain records may prevent a user from receiving an approved status. Background checks should always be viewed as one part of making more informed dating decisions, alongside personal boundaries, behavior, and good judgment.

Many people do not talk about boundaries until they are already on a date, if they talk about them at all. By then, bringing up important questions can feel harder and more awkward, especially in person when you are still getting to know someone and may feel pressure to keep things comfortable.
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Boundary deal breakers help move those conversations earlier. Instead of having to bring up certain boundaries for the first time on a date, you can communicate them beforehand through Skip. That can help reduce awkwardness, reduce ambiguity, and lower the chance of ending up in an uncomfortable or unsafe situation.

They can be especially helpful when you want to make expectations clear around things like physical touch, alcohol, public meeting places, or how someone responds if you say no or feel uncomfortable.

1. Set expectations before the first date
Boundary deal breakers give you a way to communicate what matters before meeting in person. This can reduce ambiguity, make your boundaries clearer from the start, and support consent by helping communicate expectations before you are in a more pressured or uncomfortable moment. For a deeper look at this topic, see our Consent 101 guide.

2. Filter out people who do not pass before the date
On Skip, boundary deal breakers do not just help you ask important questions. They also help filter out people who do not pass your required standards before moving forward. That can help you avoid poor matches and reduce the chance of ending up on a date with someone who already failed to meet what matters most to you.

3. Avoid awkward or pressured in-person moments
It is often easier and safer to identify important issues before a date than during one. Boundary deal breakers help move that screening earlier, so you do not have to bring up certain boundaries for the first time in person while trying to read someone’s reaction in the moment.

4. Make red flags easier to recognize on the date
If someone later crosses a line on a date after your boundary was already clearly communicated through your deal breakers, that can make it easier to recognize a red flag for what it is. You are not left wondering whether you were unclear, whether you are overreacting, or whether they did not understand. Your boundary was already made clear.

Boundary deal breakers are not limited to people you meet directly on Skip. They can also be used for connections that started elsewhere through Digital and Physical Date Cards. Date Cards help turn any connection into a safer first date by guiding the other person through your required safety steps on Skip, including background checks and boundary deal breakers, before you go on a date.

If a background check is required for that match, no. You will need to complete and pass the background check before moving forward with proposing a date.
Most background checks are completed within about 24 hours, but some can take 3 to 5 business days depending on the review process, record availability, or if additional information is needed.

If your match’s background check is marked pending, it means their screening is still being processed and is not complete yet. If you require a completed background check, they will need to finish that step before they can propose a date. Most background checks are completed within about 24 hours, but some can take 3 to 5 business days depending on the review process, record availability, or if additional information is needed.

Most background checks are completed within about 24 hours, but some may take longer. In some cases, reviews can take 3 to 5 business days depending on the screening process, record availability, or if additional information is needed.

A background check may remain pending if the screening process is still in progress, records are taking longer to return, or additional information is needed. Some checks are completed quickly, while others may take a few business days.

If additional information is needed, you may be asked to provide more details or documents to continue the background check process. Your background check may stay pending until the requested information is submitted and reviewed.

If you do not provide the requested information within the requested time, you may not pass the background check, and your submission may expire. If that happens, you may need to start the process again and pay for a new background check.

Please follow the instructions in the email or prompt you received.

If you do not complete the requested information, your background check may remain incomplete or expire, and you will not be able to move forward with date proposals that require a completed background check. If that happens, you may need to start the process again and pay for a new background check.

If your background check invite link expires, the old link will no longer work. You will need to start the background check flow again in the app to receive a new invite link or follow the latest prompt provided by Skip.

If a background check is required, the person completing the background check is responsible for the cost. Pricing may vary and will be shown during the background check flow before completion. In woman seeking man matches, this would typically mean the man pays for the background check if he needs to complete it before he can propose a date. Anyone can also choose to complete a background check at any time from Settings and, if they receive a passed status, they may receive a background check badge.

Skip is designed to help people go on safer and better dates, with more accountability and less wasted time. By removing in-app chat, Skip is able to automate the dating process with custom deal breakers, background checks, scheduling, and date reviews built in. This helps create a safer dating experience by adding more structure and accountability before the first date, while also helping reduce chat-based ghosting, bot messages, unsolicited pics, scams, and AI chat catfishing inside the app.

No. Skip is built around human-first dating, not AI matchmaking.

We believe you know best who you want to meet. Our job is not to let AI decide your dating life, but to give you tools that help you make safer, more confident decisions before meeting in person.

That includes background checks, custom deal breakers, date reviews, and Date Cards for safer and better dates.

Yes. Anyone can complete a background check at any time from the Settings page, even before matching with someone. If you receive a passed status, you may receive a background check badge.

No, not if your current background check result is still valid. Skip background check results may remain valid for a period of time (for example, up to 12 months), so you do not need to repeat the process for every date during that valid period.

Background check results are generally valid for 12 months from approval, unless otherwise stated in the app. After expiration, you may need to complete a new background check if a future match requires one.

No, not if your current background check result is still valid. Skip background check results may remain valid for a period of time (for example, up to 12 months), so you do not need to repeat the process for every date during that valid period.

Yes, it can. A background check badge reflects a passed status at a point in time. If the background check expires, a recheck is required, or your status changes, your badge or status may change. Background check results are generally valid for a limited time, for example up to 12 months, unless otherwise stated in the app.

Skip partners with Checkr, a background check provider trusted by 100,000+ customers and used by companies like Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, and Instacart. Screening may include, where available:

- Sex offender registry search: Searches registries from all 50 states, Washington DC, and US territories.
- Global watchlist search: Searches a comprehensive network of domestic and international government watchlists for criminal history.
- National criminal search: Searches county records that query up to 900 million public records.

Skip does not publicly display your background check report to your matches. Matches may only see status information or a badge related to background check completion. Background checks help reduce risk, but they do not verify identity and do not guarantee safety.

No, Skip does not publicly display your full background check report to your matches. Matches may only see status information or a badge related to background check completion.

Skip only uses the information needed to support the background check process through its provider. Information handling and data use are subject to Skip’s policies and the background check provider’s process. Please review the relevant privacy terms in the app for more details.

Yes, if you believe a background check result is incorrect, you should follow the dispute instructions provided in the background check process or provider communications. The screening provider handles the reporting process and any disputes about screening records.

Anyone can complete a background check from the Settings page and, if they receive a passed status, they may receive a background check badge.

Who can require a background check before a date depends on match type and the user’s selected experience. In woman seeking man matches, women can require a background check before a man can propose or confirm a date. Men in this match type cannot require a background check from the woman.

In other match types, the ability to require the other person to complete a background check is available only to the person who selected the “screen others” experience (the user who sets requirements for their dates).

Dating readiness check is not about having everything figured out. It is about checking in with yourself and asking whether dating feels supportive to your safety, well-being, and emotional capacity right now.

For some people, dating may feel exciting and manageable. For others, past experiences, especially sexual assault, coercion, abuse, or other trauma, can affect how safe dating feels in ways that are not always obvious at first. Past trauma can shape how your nervous system responds to attention, pressure, conflict, intimacy, or uncertainty. These responses are common, and they are not your fault. But they can make it harder to recognize risk, hold boundaries, and leave unsafe situations.

Taking a dating readiness check-in can help you better understand your patterns, strengthen your boundaries, and decide whether this is a good season to date, or a good season to pause and focus on healing first.

Pausing dating is not failure. Sometimes it is the strongest and safest choice.

You may want to pause if:

- you regularly ignore your instincts
- you often go along with things you do not want
- you feel unable to say no or leave
- you frequently dissociate, shut down, or feel numb on dates
- dating consistently leaves you feeling panicked, dysregulated, or ashamed
- you are using dating to escape pain, prove your worth, or avoid being alone
- you know your wounds need more support, such as therapy or other forms of healing, before dating feels safe

A pause can create space for healing, clarity, and support. At Skip, we care about you and your safety. If dating does not feel safe or supportive right now, we encourage you to pause, whether that means taking a break from Skip, other dating apps, or dating altogether, and focus on getting the support and healing you need.

You can manage this in your preferences where background check options are available. Availability may depend on your match type and current app version.

Yes, if the feature is available in your settings, you can update your background check preferences later. Changes may apply to future matches.

This may depend on your app’s current background check flow and when the match is in the process. In general, new settings are most likely to apply to future actions, but the app will guide users based on the current flow.

This may depend on where you are in the date flow and how the feature is configured in the app. In general, if a background check becomes required before moving forward with the date, Skip will prompt the required person to complete it before the date can proceed. Skip will guide you to the next step in the app if additional action is needed.

Yes. Background checks are optional to require. You can still use Skip without turning on background check requirements, depending on your match type and selected experience.Anyone can also choose to complete their own background check from Settings and, if they receive a passed status, they may receive a background check badge.

Skip has four account verification badges that help you make more informed decisions before meeting someone in person.These are different parts of Skip’s safety and screening features.

- Background check (green badge): Means the user completed a Skip background check through our partner, Checkr, and received a passed status based on the screening sources used for that check, where available.
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- Profile verified (blue badge): Means the user passed Skip's profile verification, which asks users to take a guided selfie to help confirm the person using the profile appears to match their profile photos.
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- Age verified (dark blue badge): Means Skip reviewed a government-issued ID, such as a driver's license or passport, to confirm the date of birth shown on the ID. This helps give you more confidence that the age shown on the person's profile is accurate.

- ID reviewed (gray badge): Means Skip reviewed a government-issued ID and compared the ID photo with the user's profile photos and live verification photo. This helps give you more confidence that the person you're meeting matches the person shown on their profile.

These badges mean different things and work together to help make dating safer. However, no verification badge or background check guarantees someone's identity, safety, or future behavior.

This means your verification review is still in progress. Some verifications are completed quickly, while others may take longer depending on review volume or if additional review is needed. Please check back soon.

Background checks and profile verification are separate steps. Passing one does not automatically complete the other.

Yes. You can view someone's verification badges in the Verification section of their Skip profile. Skip displays four types of verification badges when completed:
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- Background check (green)
-Profile verified (blue)
- Age verified (dark blue)
- ID reviewed (gray)

The exact information requested may vary, but Skip’s background check flow may require personal information needed to process the background check, along with SSN verification and an ID review step.

The ID review requires a government-issued ID (such as a driver’s license or passport) and helps confirm that the background check submission matches the user’s submitted information, including their name, profile photos, and profile verification selfie/live photo.

If additional information or documents are needed, you may be asked to provide them during the background check process or through a follow-up prompt.

Skip is designed to help create a safer and better dating experience by combining multiple safety and compatibility features across the full dating process, before, during, and after the date. By removing in-app chat, Skip is able to automate the dating process with custom compatibility and boundary deal breaker questions, background checks, profile details and prompts, profile verification, age verification, ID review, scheduling, and date reviews built in. Matches must pass your required safety and compatibility steps before they can propose a date. This puts more focus on structured screening, clearer expectations, and safety measures before the first date, without relying on long, ambiguous messaging, which can be even less reliable today because of AI chat catfishing and bots.

"Age verified" means Skip reviewed a government-issued ID, such as a driver's license or passport, to confirm the date of birth shown on the ID.

This helps give you more confidence that the age shown on the person's Skip profile is accurate.

"ID reviewed" means the user completed Skip's ID review.Our team reviewed a government-issued ID, such as a driver's license or passport, to confirm their date of birth and compared the ID photo with their profile photos and live verification photo.

This helps give you more confidence that the person you're meeting matches the person shown on their profile.

Skip requires all users to complete profile verification, so you may initially see only the blue "Profile verified" badge on someone's profile.

The other three badges, Background check (green), Age verified (dark blue), and ID reviewed (gray), are earned through Skip's background check process.

If your match type and settings allow you to require a background check and you enable it, your match must complete and pass the background check, including age verification and government-issued ID review, before they can propose a date. Once approved, all four verification badges will appear on their profile.

Users can also choose to complete a background check voluntarily, even when a match does not require one.

Yes. Skip's age verification and government-issued ID review are included as part of our background check process.

If your match type and settings allow you to require a background check, you can enable this requirement in your preferences.

Your match must then pass your deal breakers and complete and pass the background check, including age verification and government-issued ID review, before they can propose a date.

Once approved, all four verification badges will appear on their profile:

- Background check (green)
- Profile verified (blue)
- Age verified (dark blue)
- ID reviewed (gray)

Skip does not offer in-app chat, so the common dating app experience of someone disappearing in chat without clarity does not happen on Skip. Users can still decline a date proposal or cancel a date if needed, but Skip removes the in-app chat ghosting problem by eliminating chat.

Skip does not offer in-app chat, so users do not receive in-app chat messages from bots on Skip. This helps reduce messaging spam and chat based scams inside the app.

Skip does not offer in-app chat, so users cannot send unsolicited photos through in-app chat on Skip. This helps prevent unwanted or inappropriate chat photo messages in the app.

Skip does not offer in-app chat, which removes a major way bots, scammers, or people using AI can impersonate real interest through long conversations. In a time when chat can be less reliable because of AI-generated messages and bots, Skip focuses more on structured screening, clearer expectations, and safety steps before the first date.

Skip is designed to automate screening, scheduling, and date proposal flows in the app so users can move toward a real date without needing in-app chat. The app guides the date setup process when both users are aligned.

On Skip, date reviews can help make first dates safer by adding accountability after the date. Users can leave private feedback after each date, helping surface red flags, support a safer community, and make it easier for Skip to identify and remove unsafe behavior. After a date, users are prompted to leave a review about how the date went. These reviews help support safety and accountability across the platform.

This process includes four key parts:

- Anonymous ratings and reviews: Users can leave private feedback after each date. These reviews can help surface patterns of disrespect, pressure, ignored boundaries, or other behavior that feels unsafe, uncomfortable, or against our Community Guidelines. This gives Skip important context to help support safer dating in the future.
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- Compliments as a trust signal: After a date, users may choose from pre-written compliments, such as “Even better in person,” “Respectful to staff,” and more. These compliments are displayed on the other person’s profile and can serve as an added safety-related trust signal for future users considering whether to like their profile or go on a date, because they reflect positive feedback from a real date through Skip.

- Date tracking: Skip logs who, where, and when a date occurs, helping connect reviews to real dates and add accountability.

- Removing unsafe users: Reviews help flag users who may violate safety standards, making it easier for Skip to review concerns and remove unsafe users when needed.

Date reviews are one part of how Skip helps support a safer community.

Date reviews are used to help improve safety and accountability on the platform. Reviews may be used as part of internal safety review processes, including identifying patterns, flagging issues, and helping remove bad actors when needed.

Yes. Date reviews are anonymous within Skip’s review flow. They are used as part of Skip’s internal safety and accountability processes. Depending on the review options selected, a user may also choose to share specific feedback with their date directly.

Anonymous date reviews are not publicly displayed on user profiles. However, positive post-date compliments, such as “Even better in person,” “Respectful to staff,” and others, may appear on a profile as added trust signals.

Depending on the review options you choose, you may have the option to share specific feedback with your date or choose to keep it private.

Yes, Skip will prompt both people to complete a post-date review after the date. Reviews help improve safety, accountability, and future date quality.

After a date is accepted, Skip guides both people through the date flow, including confirmation, arrival updates, and check-in before meeting.

On the day of the date, Skip allows each person to confirm they are still able to attend starting about 8 hours before the date. Both people must confirm at least 2 hours before the date. If one person does not confirm in time, Skip will automatically cancel the date and notify the other person.

Each person can also see when the other person has confirmed. As the date gets closer, Skip guides both people through the next steps in the app, including sharing ETA and arrival details.

Yes, both people are required to confirm they are still able to meet at least 2 hours before the date. Skip uses confirmation and accountability steps to help reduce no-shows and improve safety. You can also share your ETA when you are on your way. If you have trouble finding each other when you arrive, Skip provides a way to call your date through the app.

If one or both people do not complete the required confirmation steps in time, the date will be cancelled. Skip uses confirmation steps to help reduce no-shows and improve accountability.

Yes. You can cancel a date if needed. However, repeated cancellations after the confirmation point (within 2 hours of the date) may lead to penalties, because Skip uses accountability steps to help reduce no-shows.

The date details page in the Skip app, found under the Calendar icon, is where you manage date-day steps like confirmation, ETA updates, check-in, arrival details, and private calling if needed. Open your scheduled date in the app to access the date details page.

When you arrive, open the date details page in the Skip app to check in. Skip will prompt you to share where you are so your date can find you more easily. You can also share how your date can recognize you, for example what you are wearing, and add a photo of yourself. This helps make meeting up smoother and reduces confusion at the date location.

When checking in, it helps to share a clear location description, for example where you are sitting at a table left of the door inside, so your date can find you faster. Skip may also prompt you for additional arrival details in the app.

Yes. Skip prompts you to share details to help your date recognize you, such as what you are wearing and a photo. This helps make the meetup easier and less awkward.

Yes. Skip allows you to share your ETA as you are heading to the date. This helps your date know whether you are on time or running late.

If you are running late, update your ETA in the app as soon as possible so your date knows your status. Keeping your ETA updated helps reduce confusion and improves the date experience.

If you are having trouble finding each other after arriving, Skip provides a private number you can use to call your date. This helps you connect without sharing your personal phone number.

Open the date details page in the Skip app and update your check-in details, including where you are, what you are wearing, and a photo if available. If needed, use the private calling option in the app to connect without sharing your personal phone number.

Yes. If you are having trouble finding each other after arriving at the date location, Skip provides a private number you can use to call your date. This helps you connect without sharing your personal phone number.

Skip’s private calling option is designed for helping you connect when you arrive at the date location and cannot find each other. Follow the date flow prompts in the app for when calling is available.

If your date has not checked in yet, you can go to date details page to share your location and how they can recognize you. If you cannot find each other after arriving, use the private calling option in the app. If your date does not arrive, you can complete the post-date review flow and report the issue if needed.

If your date does not show up, first use the date details page in the Skip app to check arrival details and try the private calling option in case you are having trouble finding each other. If they still do not show, complete the post-date review and share what happened. Skip uses reviews and accountability systems to help reduce no-shows and improve the experience.

Skip shows required steps within the date flow when action is needed, such as passing deal breakers, background checks (if required), or verification steps. Follow the prompts shown in the app to continue.

“Pending” means a required step is still in progress, such as a background check review or another required action before the date can move forward.

Matches expire after 48 hours if no one responds and no date is set up. If a required background check is in progress, the match may be placed in pending status while that step is completed.

Yes, If your settings require a background check before moving forward with a date, your match will be prompted in the flow when that step is required. Skip guides them through the required next steps in the app.

There may be one or more required steps still pending before a date can be proposed, such as matching, passing deal breakers, completing a background check (if required), or other required verification steps. Skip will guide you to the next step in the app.

Your match may still have required steps pending, such as passing your deal breakers, completing a background check (if required), or other required verification steps. Once they complete the required steps, they can move forward if eligible.

Skip does not offer in-app chat. This means users cannot message each other through in-app chat before or after a date. Skip is designed to automate screening, scheduling, and date setup without in-app chat. Users can choose what contact information to share after the date, if any.

No. You are in control of what contact information, if any, you share after the date. Skip does not publicly display your phone number on your profile.

Open your date details page in the Skip app, then tap the Share icon. Skip makes it easy to share key date details, including who you are meeting, where, and when, so trusted friends or family can stay informed. This is part of Skip’s safety-focused date flow.

No. Skip does not require you to share your personal phone number with your date. For added privacy, Skip recommends using a second number, such as Google Voice, until you decide you are ready to share your real contact information.

Skip recommends using a second phone number, such as a Google Voice number, for added privacy and safety. This can help protect your personal phone number until you decide you are comfortable sharing it.

Skip is designed so you can wait until after the first date to share contact information, if you choose. You stay in control of when and with whom you share your contact details.

Yes. If a Date Card leads to a match in Skip, the normal Skip flow and safety features still apply, including deal breakers, background checks (if required), profile verification, and date reviews.

Background checks work the same way for connections made through Digital or Physical Date Cards as they do for matches made directly on Skip. If you require a background check, Date Card matches and app matches must complete and pass it before they can propose a date.

Yes. If you require a background check, Date Card matches and app matches must complete and pass it before they can propose a date.

Yes. If you require deal breakers, they apply to all matches, whether they come from a Date Card or from the app. The person must pass your deal breakers at 100% before they can propose a date.

No. Date Cards are optional. You can still meet and match with people directly on Skip without using Date Cards. Digital and Physical Date Cards are simply additional ways to turn connections into safer, more structured first dates.

Yes. Skip Date Cards work anywhere in the USA, so you are not limited to only using them in cities where Skip already has a larger online presence.

No. Your deal breaker questions are not publicly displayed on your profile. Only someone you like who matches with you can see and answer your deal breaker questions.

The people you see on your discover home page are shown before deal breakers are applied. If you both like (heart) each other, your match will be prompted to answer your deal breaker questions. If they pass 100% of them, and a background check (if enabled), they can then send you a date proposal.

Tap on profile, Then preferences icon, then select where it says “Deal breakers” and adjust your deal breakers to your liking. See video below. Video Demo

Consent is a clear, voluntary, enthusiastic, informed, and ongoing agreement between everyone involved.

Key aspects of consent:
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- Consent must be freely given: It's an enthusiastic "yes," not the absence of a "no".
- Consent isn't permanent: Agreeing to one activity doesn't mean agreement for others, different times, or different people.
- Consent can be withdrawn: Someone can change their mind at any point.
- Incapacitation invalidates consent: Alcohol, drugs, sleep, or blackouts prevent someone from giving consent.
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If these things are not true, then it is not consent.

No. Skip’s structure can help reduce ambiguity and support more intentional dating, but no app feature can replace consent in the moment. Consent still has to be clear, ongoing, and respected.

If something happened without your consent, it was not your fault. If you froze, felt pressured, went along out of fear, or someone used manipulation or coercion, your experience still matters and is valid.

Many people feel confusion, shame, or self-blame afterward, especially when trauma responses like freezing, fawning, dissociation, or self-blame are involved. That does not mean what happened was okay.

Physical responses do not equal consent. A body can respond during an unwanted or nonconsensual experience, and that does not make what happened okay.

Consent can feel more complicated if past trauma has made it harder to notice discomfort, trust your instincts, or act on your boundaries in the moment. That does not make what happened your fault. It simply means support, clarity, and self-trust may matter even more.

If this brings up patterns that make dating feel confusing, unsafe, or hard to navigate, it may help to consider pausing dating for now while you focus on support, healing, and rebuilding trust in your instincts and boundaries. You may also want to read our Dating Readiness Check guide.

If you want to report what happened, getting medical care sooner can be helpful. It may support your health and may help preserve evidence. You can still get care and support even if you are not ready to report to law enforcement. You may also want to read our Consent 101 guide.

If you need more support, these resources may help:

Find a therapist through Psychology Today
RAINN: Overcoming Trauma After Sexual Violence
RAINN: How to Find a Trauma-Informed Therapist
RAINN: How to Tell Someone You Were Sexually Assaulted
RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE

If someone behaves in a way that feels unsafe, inappropriate, suspicious, abusive, dishonest, or harmful, you can report them through Skip. Reports help our team review concerning behavior, identify patterns, and take action when needed.

You should consider reporting someone if they seem fake, appear under 18, share explicit content, pressure you, ignore your boundaries, harass you, behave dishonestly or suspiciously, make you fear for your safety, or violate Skip’s Community Guidelines or Safety Policy in any other way.

After a date, Skip also prompts both people to leave an anonymous review. These reviews are not publicly displayed on profiles. They are used as part of Skip’s internal safety and accountability processes, including helping flag issues and identify unsafe behavior over time.

If something happened on a date that felt unsafe, inappropriate, pressuring, dishonest, or harmful, use the reporting tools and complete your post-date review honestly. Date reviews and reporting can work together to help surface patterns and remove unsafe users.

On Skip, profile verification can help make first dates safer by helping confirm that the person using the profile is the same person shown in the profile photos. It adds another trust signal before meeting in person and helps support a safer, more authentic dating experience.

Choose the boundaries that matter most to you
Focus on the questions and standards that help you feel safe, respected, and comfortable.

‍Be clear and intentional
The more clearly your deal breakers reflect what matters to you, the more useful they become as a safety tool.

‍Pay attention to what happens later, not just what was answered
If someone passes your deal breakers but later tries to push past what was already made clear, take that seriously. You do not need to keep explaining your boundaries. Slow things down, end the interaction, leave if needed, and consider no longer seeing that person again. If you feel unsafe or are in immediate danger, contact emergency services right away.

‍Do not feel pressured to give endless grace
You do not need to keep explaining or defending a boundary that was already made clear. Someone who respects you should take it seriously.

Take a moment to review the safety and compatibility tools available to you on Skip. 

‍Set your deal breakers
On Skip, deal breakers can help with both compatibility and safety. Compatibility deal breakers help filter for fit. Boundary deal breakers can make first dates safer by helping you communicate boundaries clearly, set expectations early, and filter out people who do not pass your standards before a first date ever happens, because matches must pass your deal breakers at 100 percent before they can propose a date.

Boundary deal breakers can also make it easier to recognize a red flag if someone later crosses a line on a date, because your boundaries were already clearly communicated beforehand.

‍Do a dating readiness check-in
Before dating, take a moment to check in with yourself and whether you feel ready to date in a way that supports your safety and well-being. Past sexual assault or trauma can affect dating safety in real ways, especially if those wounds have not had space to heal, often with the help of therapy or other support. It may show up as freezing, fawning, ignoring your instincts, going along with things to avoid conflict, struggling to enforce boundaries, dissociating, or feeling pressure to stay in situations that do not feel right. These responses are common after trauma and are not your fault, but they can make it harder to recognize risk, hold boundaries, and leave unsafe situations. If you notice these patterns coming up, consider pausing dating for now and focusing on support and healing first. To learn more, read our full guide on date readiness check.

‍Require a background check
Depending on your match type and settings, you may be able to require a match to complete a background check before they can propose a date. Background checks help make first dates safer. Skip uses SSN verification, which helps reduce fraud risk compared to name-only screening.

‍Find someone you like
Choose how you connect through Skip:

DIGITAL DATE CARD
Already talking to someone on another dating app, social media, or anywhere else? Send them a Digital Date Card by text, DM, link, or QR code. They’ll receive a personalized Skip Date Invite where they can view your profile and like you if they’re interested.

PHYSICAL DATE CARD
See someone you’re interested in? Hand them a Physical Date Card instead of immediately asking for or sharing a phone number. It’s a simple, low-pressure way to show interest without putting them on the spot. They can check out your Skip profile on their own time.

FIND SOMEONE ALREADY ON SKIPBrowse profiles and like someone you’re interested in. If they like you back, it’s a match.

‍Look for multiple trust signals
Before liking someone on Skip, review their profile, photos, prompts, verification status, and past date review tags carefully and trust your judgment if something seems unusual or does not add up.

‍Meet in a public place
Once you receive a date proposal from a match who has passed your deal breakers and background check requirement, use Skip’s date planning flow to align on a time and location that works for both of you. For safety, only choose a public, well-lit place where you feel comfortable and can easily leave if needed.

Share your date details
Let a trusted friend or family member know who you are meeting, where you are going, and when. Skip can help you keep those details organized.

‍Use your own transportation
Try to avoid relying on someone you do not know well for a ride to or from the date.

‍Be mindful with alcohol
If you choose to drink, keep it moderate and stay aware of how you feel. Do not leave your drink unattended, and do not feel pressured to drink more than you want. If someone pushes your limits, encourages you to drink more, or makes you feel less in control, take that seriously.

‍Have an exit plan
Before the date, make sure your phone is charged, you know how you are getting home, and you have a simple reason ready to leave if needed. You do not need to debate or explain your way out of an uncomfortable situation.

‍Watch for pressure to change the plan
Be cautious if someone tries to move the date from a public place to a private one, pressures you to stay longer than you want, or pushes past what you already agreed to. That can be an early red flag.

‍Pay attention to behavior
Badges and features matter, but behavior matters more. If someone pressures you, ignores your boundaries, or makes you feel uncomfortable, take that seriously.

‍If something feels off
Trust your instincts. You do not owe anyone more time, more information, or another chance just because they say they did not mean it. If you feel uncomfortable, leave. If someone behaves in a way that feels unsafe or inappropriate, report them through Skip. If you are in immediate danger, contact emergency services right away.

‍Review what consent looks like when dating
Consent is not just about saying yes or no. It is about making sure any interaction is clear, voluntary, informed, and respectful.

‍Key aspects of consent:
- Consent must be freely given: It's an enthusiastic "yes," not the absence of a "no".
- Consent isn't permanent: Agreeing to one activity doesn't mean agreement for others, different times, or different people.
- Consent can be withdrawn: Someone can change their mind at any point.
- Incapacitation invalidates consent: Alcohol, drugs, sleep, or blackouts prevent someone from giving consent.

‍If these things are not true, then it is not consent.
If something happened without your consent, it was not your fault. If you froze, did not fight back, felt pressured, went along with something out of fear, or someone used manipulation or coercion, what happened still matters, and your experience is valid. If you want a deeper look at this topic, see our Consent 101 guide.

After the date, both people are prompted to leave an anonymous review. These reviews are not publicly displayed on user profiles and are used as part of Skip’s internal safety and accountability processes, including flagging issues and helping remove people when needed. Depending on the review options selected, a user may also choose to share specific feedback with your date directly.

Take a moment to check in with yourself.
Did you feel respected and comfortable? Did this person honor your boundaries you had set? Did the date feel aligned with what you want and your deal breakers?

‍Protect your privacy
‍After the date, you decide what contact information to share, if any. Skip is designed so you wait until after the first date to share contact information, if you choose. For added privacy and safety, Skip gives you the option to use a second phone number, such as Google Voice, until you feel comfortable sharing your primary number.

Before dating, take a moment to ask yourself:

- When I think about dating right now, does my body feel calm, tense, shut down, or on edge?
- If a date starts to feel uncomfortable, do I usually speak up, freeze, go quiet, or go along with things to avoid conflict?
- Have I ever looked back on a date and wished I had listened to myself sooner?
- Have past experiences made it harder to trust my boundaries or instincts while dating?
- How often does alcohol affect how clear, grounded, or in control I feel while dating?
- Do I feel able to say no, slow down, or leave, even if it disappoints someone?
- Do I tend to blame myself or minimize what happened after a dating or sexual experience that left me uncomfortable, pressured, confused, or upset?
- Do I have someone I trust I could reach out to if a date left me feeling unsafe, confused, pressured, or harmed?

You do not need perfect answers. The goal is simply to notice where you are right now.

Past trauma, especially sexual trauma, can affect dating safety long after the original experience. Sometimes the impact is not obvious at first. It may show up later in patterns like feeling disconnected from yourself, drinking more to cope, struggling to hold boundaries, going along with things you do not truly want, or getting stuck in cycles of loneliness, shame, or self-blame.

Trauma can shape how your nervous system responds to attention, pressure, conflict, intimacy, or uncertainty. You may notice things like:

- freezing when uncomfortable
- fawning, or going along with things to avoid conflict
- ignoring your instincts
- dissociating, feeling disconnected, or having trouble remembering parts of what happened
- emotionally shutting down or compartmentalizing what happened in order to get through it
- feeling like you went along with a sexual experience that did not reflect your values or what you truly wanted
- struggling to enforce boundariesfeeling pressure to stay in situations that do not feel right, and not knowing how to safely leave
- becoming avoidant, anxious, defensive, or overwhelmed in dating situations

These responses are not weakness. They are common survival responses from the nervous system that may once have helped you cope with danger. But in dating, they can make it harder to recognize red flags, respond in the moment, or protect your own boundaries.

Sometimes you may know your values clearly and still struggle to access them under stress. That is part of why a readiness check matters. Dating readiness is not just about knowing your boundaries, it is also about asking whether those boundaries feel usable when a situation becomes uncomfortable, pressured, or overwhelming.

Fawn response
A fawn response can look like agreeing to things to avoid conflict, prioritizing someone else’s comfort over your own, being overly accommodating on dates, or feeling regret afterward. This often happens because your nervous system learned that staying agreeable could reduce perceived threat.In dating, this can make it harder to say no, slow things down, or honor your discomfort.

‍Freeze response
A freeze response can look like going quiet, feeling numb, feeling unable to speak up, or later wondering why you did not leave. The nervous system may shut down when it senses danger, especially when escape does not feel possible.This can be especially confusing because afterward you may judge yourself for not reacting differently, even though your body was trying to protect you.

‍Flight response
A flight response can look like canceling dates due to anxiety, avoiding dating altogether after painful experiences, or feeling a strong urge to escape emotional closeness. This can happen when your nervous system starts associating dating with danger.Sometimes avoidance is protective. Sometimes it is a sign that more support may be needed before dating feels manageable again.

‍Fight response
A fight response can look like irritability, defensiveness, or intense anger when boundaries feel threatened. Your body may be trying to stay alert and ready to defend against harm.This does not make you difficult. It may mean your system does not yet feel safe.

‍Dissociation
Dissociation can look like feeling detached, unreal, numb, or like you are watching yourself from the outside. You may lose track of time, struggle to stay present, or feel disconnected during intimacy or stress. Dissociation is one way the brain creates distance from overwhelming experiences.

If this happens during dating, it can make it harder to stay connected to your instincts and limits in the moment.

Alcohol can make dating feel easier in the moment, but it can also lower your ability to recognize discomfort, enforce boundaries, or respond clearly to unsafe situations. It may increase confusion afterward, especially for people already navigating trauma-related patterns.

That does not make anything that happened your fault. It simply means alcohol can make a vulnerable situation harder to navigate.

For some people, it may help to choose lower-alcohol or alcohol-free early dates until trust is established.

You may know your values clearly and still struggle to enforce them in real time. You may question yourself afterward, minimize what happened, or wonder whether you were overreacting. Past trauma, especially sexual trauma, can disrupt your internal sense of safety and self-trust, even long after the original experience.

That is why dating readiness is not just about knowing your boundaries. It is also about asking whether those boundaries feel accessible to you under stress.

Before dating, it may help to identify 2 or 3 non-negotiables around things like:

- pace
- physical boundaries
- alcohol
- transportation
- communication
- where and when you meet

Keeping them simple can make them easier to remember and use.

Many people carry shame after trauma, especially sexual trauma. It may sound like:

- “I should be over this by now”
- “Why did I not leave?”
- “Maybe I am just too sensitive”
- “Something must be wrong with me”

Shame often follows trauma, especially when boundaries or consent were violated, even though the trauma was not your fault. It can make it harder to trust your needs, speak up for yourself, or believe you deserve safety and respect.

Part of dating readiness is noticing whether shame is still running the conversation inside you.

Readiness does not mean fear disappears. It may simply mean you feel more able to care for yourself while dating.

You may be more ready if:
- you can notice discomfort earlier
- you trust your instincts more
- you can name a few clear boundaries
- you feel able to slow down or leave if needed
- you are dating from desire, not pressure
- you have support in place if dating brings things up
- you feel able to recover from disappointment without abandoning yourself
- you have received support, such as therapy or other healing work, for past trauma, including sexual trauma, that could affect dating

Healing looks different for everyone, but support can make dating feel safer and more grounded.

Depending on your needs, support may include:

- trauma-informed therapy
- EMDRsomatic work or trauma-informed yoga
- grounding practices
- trusted friends or supportive community
- support groups
- faith-based support, such as a pastor, counselor, or church community

You do not need to try everything. The goal is to find support that helps you feel safer in your body, more connected to your boundaries, and better able to trust yourself while dating.

Consent is not:

- silence
- freezing
- going along with something out of fear
- giving in because someone kept asking
- feeling too pressured, guilty, overwhelmed, or worn down to say no
- agreeing to one thing and then being pushed into something else
- saying yes while intoxicated, asleep, blacked out, or otherwise unable to decide clearly

If someone seems hesitant, uncomfortable, confused, quiet, or no longer actively participating, stop and check in. If the answer is not clear, do not keep going.

Before the date
- Use your deal breakers to communicate your boundaries before the date.
- Be clear about the plan, location, timing, and expectations.

‍During the date
- Pay attention to both words and body language. If they do not match, slow down and check in.
- Do not assume comfort just because someone agreed to the date.
- Ask clearly. A simple “Are you comfortable with this?” can go a long way.
- If someone seems tense, hesitant, uncomfortable, unsure, or quiet, slow down or stop.
- Respect their pace, and do not pressure them to share more than they want, stay out later, drink more, or change the plan.

‍After the date
- Respect their decision about whether to share contact information after the date.
- If you receive feedback that something felt uncomfortable, listen and learn.

Alcohol can make situations feel easier in the moment, but it can also make it harder to recognize discomfort, hold boundaries, or respond clearly. If someone is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, asleep, or blacked out, they cannot give consent.

Pressure matters too. If someone is pushing you to drink more, stay longer, go somewhere more private, move faster than you want, or do something you already seem unsure about, that is not respectful behavior. It can also be an early warning sign that your boundaries may not be honored.

Take it seriously if someone:

- keeps pushing after hesitation
- acts like you owe them something because they paid for the date, spent time with you, or think you led them on
- uses guilt, persistence, pressure, or manipulation to get a yes
- pushes alcohol when you have said no or seem unsure
- tries to move the date from public to private in a way that makes you less comfortable
- gnores your boundaries or acts like they are negotiable

These are red flags.

Today, you have to delete and add to reorder. We plan on making an update where you can drag and drop the deal breaker questions in the future.

After a woman likes a man’s profile, her profile appears on the man’s Likes page. If he likes her back, he is prompted to answer her deal breaker questions. If he passes 100% of them, and the background check (if enabled), he can propose a date. If she accepts, the date is booked."

Today, men who are interested in women are not able to set their own deal breakers. In the future we are planning on allowing that as an optional for men. The reason why we dont today is because the data indicated that most men didn't have a strong preference in setting deal breakers and instead were comfortable knowing they were aligned with the women’s deal breakers and liking their profile. This helped save time and reduce friction for setting up a date.

You get the choice to decide if you are interested in screening others or would like to be screened. So for example if a man was interested in a man. Man 1 selects if he wants to screen others then he would be provided the option to set up deal breakers. If Man 2 had selected he was open with being screened by others then he would not set up deal breakers. Man 1 and Man 2 would presented to each other as profiles to review and potentially like or pass on each for a date.

Scroll down on a profile and see the red buttons to report or block a profile. Video Demo

When you block a profile you will no longer see them come up in your potential profile options on your home page.

Yes, you are able to decline any date proposal. Skip does not force you to go on any dates.

To pass / reject a profile you tap on the "X". Video Demo

You are able to rewind on a profile you accidentally passed on by quickly tapping the rewind arrow after making the mistake. If you wait too long or close the app you won’t be able to rewind. The good news is you may see that profile again at some point if they become relevant again in your ranking. So don't worry if you accidentally passed on some profiles recently. Video Demo

To like a profile you hit the Skip heart logo. Either person is able to make the first like. Video Demo

No, there is no way to unlike a profile once you like them. The good news is even if you accidentally like a profile and get a date proposal you do not have to accept the date proposal.

Tap the star icon at the bottom to open the Likes page, see who liked you, and like them back to make a match. Video Demo

Skip is free to use from start to finish. You can create a profile, match with someone, plan a date, and go on the date without paying anything, unless your match requires you to complete a background check.

In women-seeking-men matches, women can require men to pass a background check for free. The person completing the background check is responsible for the cost.

You can also create, edit, and send a Digital Date Card for free by choosing one of Skip’s free designs. Premium designs and custom cards made with your own photo are optional and require one Date Card credit.

Other potential costs include voluntarily completing a background check or ordering Physical Date Cards.

Currently we are available in the US!

No. Skip is human-first dating.

We do not believe the future of dating is one AI profile deciding whether another AI profile should meet. We believe you know best who you want to meet.

Skip’s role is to give you better tools that help you make safer, more confident decisions before meeting in person. That includes background checks, custom deal breakers, date reviews, and Date Cards for safer and better dates.

Please try to turn off the large font within your settings. (the team is working on getting a fix for large font sizes) Please try using a mobile device vs a tablet.

This means we are still working on getting enough users in your area. The percentage shows how close we are to having enough users to open your area for browsing profiles and choosing to Like or Pass. Spreading the word will help us make this happen sooner.

In the meantime, you can still use Skip Date Cards. Send a Digital Date Card to someone you met on another dating app, through social media, through friends, or over text, or hand someone a Physical Date Card in person. Date Cards work anywhere in the USA, including cities where Skip is still growing.

Tap into the preferences icon, then tap then tap availability. Video Demo

Tap into the preferences icon, select the toggles where it says “Age preference” and adjust the range to your liking. Video Demo

Dating distance: This determines how far away you can browse profiles and choose to Like or Pass. For example, you could set your dating distance to 50 miles. You can adjust this setting up to 100 miles.

‍Preferred date location: This determines where you would like your future matches to propose a date. You can move the blue circle anywhere on the map and adjust its radius. For example, you could browse profiles within 50 miles but only want your match to propose a date within 20 miles of your preferred downtown area, so you don't have to drive too far.

‍Your actual location is not shown to your matches.

Tap profile, then tap preferences icon, then tap location and adjust the toggle distance and move the blue circle area to any area you would be interested in your future date proposing a date location within. Demo Video

No. Currently, Skip uses your phone's physical location to determine which potential match profiles to show you within your dating distance settings. In the future, we are looking at adding the ability to browse and Like or Pass on profiles in a different location, even when you are not physically there. This could be helpful for people who travel frequently but still want to browse profiles in another area.

Click on profile, then tap settings, then move the toggle to off on “Show me on Skip”

4 photos or more are required.

Yes, you can just go to edit profile and then hold on the photo you want to reorder and then drag and drop. Video Demo

Yes, you can just go to edit profile and then hold on the prompt you want to reorder and then drag and drop. Video Demo

Click the profile tab, then tap edit profile. Scroll down to prompt sections. Video Demo

Reach out to Skip support at info@skip.dating for help updating your age or name.

No, you are in full control of deciding what and if any information is shared with your date after the date has occurred. Phone numbers are not publicly displayed.

Digital Date Cards: You can create, edit, and send a Digital Date Card for free by choosing one of Skip’s free designs. Premium designs and custom cards made with your own photo are optional and require one Date Card credit.

‍Physical Date Cards: Pricing for Physical Date Cards may vary. You can find the most up-to-date pricing and purchase them directly in the Skip app!

Please email us details at info@skip.dating Please provide your Device type, OS version, and phone # used to create your account so we can provide these details to our development team to fixed the problem.

Yes, we are planning on releasing a video date option for users who want their first date to be a video call.

Yes, unfortunately, people do lie. The good news is that with Skip, you have not spent a week chatting only to go on a date and then find out they lied, people can also lie through chat. However, people do not always know the “right” answers to your deal breakers, if they are trying to lie. In the future, we plan to introduce advanced filtering options to help validate that deal breaker responses are true.

Our focus is to continue building out our safety features and screening capabilities to help ensure our users have the best possible dates.