Video first dates aren’t a consolation prize—they’re a smart, low-effort vibe check. With a little prep, a flattering setup, and a fun activity, a webcam meetup can feel like a real date (minus the commute and cover charge). Let’s make yours actually good, not grainy-and-awkward good.
TL;DR
- Have an exit or “keep chatting” plan depending on how it goes.
- Pick a simple activity (watch-together, mini-game, or tasting) so you’re not just staring at each other.
- Tidy the background, fix the lighting, and check angles—your camera lies unless you tame it.
- Use modern tools like SharePlay, Teleparty, or Discord for co-watching or gaming.
- Stay safe with in-app verification and share your date plan with a trusted friend.
Is a Video Call a Good First Date?
Absolutely. A virtual first date can be fantastic—or a laggy cringe fest—depending on how you set it up. The good news: most of that is in your control. Treat it like a “first coffee” with training wheels: low cost, low time, high signal on whether you click. It’s become normal to hop on a quick video call before meeting, even if you live close by—think of it as a vibe check, not an audition. You won’t learn everything about someone in 20–30 minutes, but you can confirm there’s chemistry and that they don’t seem, uh, weird. For pre-date calls, you don’t need a full itinerary—but do look put together or that in-person invite may mysteriously never materialize.
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How Can I Make a Video Call Date?
Pitch the date with a light plan (“Want to try a 30-min watch-together and chat after?”) instead of “stare at my giant face for an hour.” Suggest one or two activities so it feels like a real date. For example: start a SharePlay session on FaceTime to watch a short episode together, or use Teleparty in the browser if you’re not both on Apple devices. A clear gameplan beats a vague “hang?” every time. Then set things up so the tech doesn’t sabotage you mid-flirt.
How To Prepare for a Video Date
Setting the Scene
You’re trying to impress a human. Move the pizza boxes and sock mountain out of frame. Add a plant, framed print, or something personal to spark conversation. If you’re brave, plan a mini home tour—but only if the rest of your place isn’t in chaos. Skip novelty virtual backgrounds. A subtle blur or clean real background works best, and most platforms make that easy.
Mentally Preparing
Prep your activity (install the extension or test the stream) and pocket a few topics you know you both enjoy. Technical meltdowns are the new spilled wine; a two-minute dry run saves a date. Know your tool: Apple’s SharePlay syncs playback, Teleparty syncs in browsers, and Discord “Go Live” lets you share videos or games smoothly.
How Do You Look Good on a Video Date?
Lights
Use a small dimmable ring light or face a window for natural glow. Avoid backlighting unless “mystery silhouette” is your aesthetic. Soft, even light makes you instantly more engaging on camera.
Camera
Laptop webcams are fine, but external cams are kinder to skin tones. Whatever you use, keep it at eye level. On phones, use a small tripod or stack of books to stay steady and framed naturally.
Action
Shower. Hair. Teeth. A quick scrub or light makeup helps, but don’t overdo filters—natural confidence looks better. Some platforms even offer subtle “touch-up” filters to even tone, but keep it minimal.
Bonus: Sound
Background noise ruins flirting. Use headphones or enable noise suppression. If you’re listening to music together, adjust settings so the app doesn’t muffle the fun.
What To Wear on a Video Date
Dress like it’s a real date—because it is. And yes, wear actual bottoms. If you’d wear it to a cozy bar or cute coffee shop, it works for your webcam too.
What Should a Girl Wear on a Video Date?
Match the activity: cozy-cute for a movie, elevated casual for a tasting. Jewelry helps frame your face and add a touch of shine. Think simple, not overdone.
What Should a Guy Wear on a Video Date?
Pick something you feel great in—a clean tee or casual button-down. Avoid faded, holey favorites. A watch or minimal accessory helps pull the look together.
Best Video Date Ideas for 2025
Watch Party
- SharePlay (Apple): Watch shows, sports, or YouTube together while on FaceTime.
- Teleparty (browser): Sync Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, or HBO Max with built-in chat.
Discord “Go Live”: Share short clips or game streams with great quality.
Play Together
- Steam Remote Play: Only one person needs to own the game—great for party or puzzle games.
- PS5/PS4 Share Play: Share your screen or “pass” the controller virtually.
Xbox Cloud Gaming: Jump into supported titles without installing.
IRL-but-Apart
- Cocktail or wine tasting: Compare notes and see whose palate wins.
- Origami or drawing challenge: Free, silly, and great icebreakers.
- Cook the same recipe: Easy dishes work best for avoiding kitchen chaos.
Culture Trip
Tour a museum or gallery virtually. Explore the Vatican, the Louvre, or anything on Google Arts & Culture together. Great for slow, curious conversation.
Are There Video Dating Apps?
Most dating apps now include built-in video or verification tools:
- Bumble: Offers ID verification and “Share Date” safety features.
- Hinge: Includes video selfie verification for authenticity.
Tinder: Adds social options like “Double Date” for lower-pressure meets.
Of course, any familiar platform—FaceTime, Zoom, Meet—still works great for a casual first call.
Playing Board Games
If you like board games rather than the video variety, it’s also possible to find either tabletop simulators or digital versions of all-time classic games like Monopoly, Jeopardy, or Risk pretty easily if you’re willing to pay a few bucks for access (usually you pay once and can return and play indefinitely, so it’s definitely worth it if you’ll be back).
Solving A Virtual Escape Room
Personally, I’m not an escape room guy. The thought of being trapped in one makes my hands sweat. But a virtual escape room? That might be kind of fun!
Virtual escape rooms are basically just online puzzles you solve together, which means you’ll quickly learn how you guys fare in a stressful situation.
They vary in difficulty and come with all sorts of themes so you should be able to find one that interests both of you.
This is only a good date idea if you aren’t overly competitive, though.
Watching your date have a tantrum because they can’t work out which book in a digital bookshelf they need to click to open an equally digital lockbox to finish a game that was supposed to be fun is not appealing!
If solving murder mysteries and impressing your date with big-brain detective skills sound more appealing to you, you could also check out Huntakiller — a murder mystery subscription box with a killer storyline (no pun intended) spread over six boxes or episodes so you have the next few dates covered as well.
(Not) Going To A Museum Or Art Gallery
If you want to do something a bit different (and cultured – so maybe pair it with the wine tasting?) you can find museum and art gallery tours online that you could take in together.
You’ll need to screen share, which is easiest if one of you streams on Discord using the ‘Go Live’ feature, with the other person in the voice room than it is in most video calling apps.
Some of the best online museums of art gallery tours available include London’s Natural History Museum, MASP in Sao Paulo, and the Vatican Museums in Rome.
So, you can travel all over the world with museum and gallery tours as well as scratching just about any itch interests-wise – You’re into space? NASA in DC has a tour.
Do you like Mexican art and history? Try the Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico City. Fancy some Christian iconography? Boom, Sistine Chapel! There’s a museum or gallery tour to suit all tastes.
(Not) Going To The Theater
Whether or not you were a regular theater-goer before the wonderful new age of online possibilities, you should give it a go digitally.
You can find plenty of shows on theater websites directly, or even on Youtube if you know what you’re looking for.
You even get theatre-based streaming services that give you everything from Royal Shakespeare Company productions to ballet, to Jerry Springer the Opera.
When I watch a play or musical online, I like to pretend I’m really at the theater.
So, I have a drink and a chat with my watching partner over Zoom before the play, and stop it in the middle for an ‘interval’ too where we can have more refreshments and talk about the production.
It might sound a little forced, but it really makes the evening feel special and allows you time to interact with your date.
(Not) Going to A Concert
Loads of bands and artists are live streaming all their shows these days. Check out the listings on SongKick and see if anything you’re interested in is coming up.
Going to concerts together has long been a part of bonding with someone new – you might already have chatted about music, but if not why not broach the topic and propose a streamed show together?
Again, Discord is best for this screen share because everyone can control the volume of the show themselves that way.
Anything Else That Feels Right
These are just my top video date ideas – there’s no need to stick to them religiously. If you think something sounds fun, and it seems like it would be possible through a video call or screen sharing, go ahead and propose it.
The worst thing your potential date can say is no. And if it all goes wrong technically? No worries, you’ll probably laugh about it. We’re all learning the ropes of this digital dating thing.
Video Date Tips
So, you now know to be prepared, look your best, and make sure your tech setup isn’t going to let you down.
My other tips for date video calls are simple, and really apply to all first dates, though I know being on video can throw things off so maybe a reminder is a good idea.
Firstly, have an excuse ready if you want to ditch the date. There’s nothing wrong with realizing early that someone just isn’t for you, but it’s best to let them down gently.
So, when you set up your video date maybe casually mention another arrangement a little later (and if you’re having a great time you can just claim it was canceled), or plant the seed that you have a lot of work to finish.
The specifics don’t really matter, as long as you can make a plausible excuse to end the call without hurting anyone’s feelings.
Sometimes video calls can feel a little unreal, and that’s why this next piece of advice is important: Don’t give out any personal information, and if you feel uncomfortable at any point trust your gut.
You’d stick by those rules on an in-person date, so do the same when it’s digital.
Is There A Video Dating App?
Several dating apps have introduced video dating in the last couple of years, while others already had the feature enabled.
Bumble video and Tinder video are both new and proving popular with gen z and millennial daters. Eharmony also has a video dating option, which is one of the most popular dating sites for 20 years now.
Finally, there are apps like Flingster that are totally based on the video. This is more of a wild-card option though, connecting you with users worldwide at random.
But just keep in mind that a lot of these folks are looking for something a bit raunchy, so only hop on there if you’re not too worried about strictly viewing things SFW.
Final Thoughts
Go for it. A first video date is low-risk, high-reward, and genuinely fun when you give it structure and intention. Video dating only feels awkward until it doesn’t—just like online dating once did. Master it now, and you’ll never dread a first date again.
FAQ
How long should a video first date be?
Aim for 30–45 minutes. It’s long enough to get comfortable but short enough to leave you both curious for more.
What’s the best way to watch something together now?
Use Teleparty in a browser or SharePlay on Apple devices to stay synced while chatting.
How do I prep my setup before starting?
Check lighting, camera angle, and audio. Turn on background blur or noise suppression to stay polished.
How can we play a game together online?
Try Steam Remote Play, PS Share Play, or Xbox Cloud Gaming—only one person usually needs the game.
What are the top safety tips for a video first date?
Verify profiles in the app, avoid oversharing, and use “Share Date” or a friend check-in for peace of mind.
Are virtual museum or gallery dates still popular?
Yes, and they’ve improved! Many major museums offer upgraded tours and interactive experiences—perfect for thoughtful, creative connections.
