Are you fascinated by the diverse range of reality TV shows? We got you, watching reality TV shows is an effective resort to escape the harshness of real life. Despite being scripted, many reality shows, through their absurd and over-the-top performances, provide a kind of emotional release for viewers burdened by daily life. Next, we’ll introduce you to different themes of the best reality TV shows.
A List of Best Reality TV Shows
1. Weight for Love (2024)
The show centers around a group of plus-sized women who compete for the affection of a male entrepreneur named Stefan. The competition includes challenges like the breakfast challenge, the Asian cuisine challenge, the fitness challenge, and more. Each challenge is filled with absurdity and jaw-dropping moments, making it one of the best drama reality shows.
Weight for Love was once released on Tubi.
2. Love Island (2015)
Love Island is among the best trashy reality TV shows. In the show, a group of attractive single men and women are placed in a luxurious villa, where they must interact and pair up. Ultimately, they compete for a large cash prize, while those who remain single or are voted off by the audience and fellow contestants face elimination.
Watch it on: Hulu and YouTube (Both require a subscription).
Related: Best Movies & Shows on Hulu: Top Picks You Shouldn’t Miss
3. The Bachelor (2002)
The Bachelor is undoubtedly one of the most binge-worthy reality TV shows out there. It masterfully blends absurdity, raw emotion, and intense competition. The premise is simple yet captivating: a group of single women vies for the heart of one eligible man, known as “The Bachelor”. Each week, during the iconic “Rose Ceremony,” he eliminates one or more contestants based on his feelings, while those who receive a rose get to stay and continue the journey.
Available on: The Bachelor is free on Tubi TV and Sling TV, while requiring a subscription to Hulu, Disney+, YouTube/YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, and Fandango at Home.
Related: 10 Best Free TV Show Websites: Access Global Streaming
4. Married at First Sight (2014)
This show has run for 18 seasons and has become incredibly popular, earning its place on our list of the best reality TV shows. Audiences often compare it to an upgraded version of Love Is Blind. The premise is based on research from professionals, such as psychologists and sociologists, where two strangers are matched and legally married without any prior interaction.
After tying the knot, the newlyweds embark on a several-week honeymoon to get to know each other. In the end, they must decide whether to stay married or get a divorce.
Available on: Married at First Sight is free on Lifetime and Sling TV, while it needs a subscription to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Disney+, YouTube, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.
5. Love Is Blind (2020)
Love Is Blind can be one of the best reality TV shows on Netflix and YouTube because of its uniqueness. Unlike traditional shows, where contestants can showcase their charm through physical appearance, it requires participants to communicate through “pods,” where they can talk to each other without seeing one another. The process is both mysterious and filled with excitement.
Available on: Netflix and YouTube (Both need a subscription).
6. Dubai Bling (2022)
Curious about how millionaires live? Dubai Bling is your perfect window into the extravagant world of Dubai’s elite. Beyond the glitz and glamour, the show dives into their dramatic relationships that are full of tension, alliances, and conflicts that might leave an average viewer both entertained and bewildered. Many drama show lovers consider it one of the best reality TV shows.
Watch it on: Netflix (A subscription is required).
7. Love on the Spectrum (2022)
Love on the Spectrum can rightfully be considered one of the best love reality TV shows. It offers a heartfelt exploration of the personal experiences of individuals on the autism spectrum as they navigate the unique journey of finding love. Free from manufactured drama or over-the-top segments, the show beautifully showcases the sincerity and joy that love can bring in its purest form.
Available on: Netflix (A subscription is needed).
8. 90 Day Fiancée (2014)
The show focuses on the outcomes of long-distance relationships. In this case, one partner travels to the USA to meet their significant other and go through the K-1 visa process together. However, without the filters of online communication, many challenges arise, such as cultural differences and language barriers.
Available on: Hulu, HBO Max, Philo, YouTube/YouTube TV, Roku, Disney+, Sling TV, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and TCL Go (All need a subscription).
9. Vanderpump Rules (2013)
Vanderpump Rules is one of the best reality TV shows out there. In the show, a group of employees works at a trendy restaurant owned by Lisa Vanderpump, a prominent figure from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. They compete for work, love, and status. The core “formula” of Vanderpump Rules is essentially a mix of reality TV, workplace drama, and emotional soap opera.
Available on: Peacock, fuboTV, Hulu, Sling TV, YouTube/YouTube TV, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and Amazon Prime Video (All require a subscription).
10. Selling the Hamptons (2022)
Selling the Hamptons deserves a spot among the best real estate reality TV shows. It follows a group of elite real estate agents as they navigate the high-stakes world of luxury property sales in the Hamptons — the coveted coastal haven on Long Island, New York. Battling for wealthy clients and multimillion-dollar commissions, these agents also showcase the glamorous lifestyle that comes with the territory.
Watch on: HBO Max, Hulu, Sling TV, The Roku Channel, Discovery Plus, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube TV (All need a subscription).
11. This Old House (1979)
If you are avid for house DIY and renovation, don’t miss This Old House. This is a home improvement television show that centers on renovating and restoring older homes. It has 46 seasons! Each episode shows rich skills and knowledge of experts, attracting audiences to learn.
Available platforms: The Old House series is free on PBS, The Roku Channel, Peacock, Xumo Play, Tubi, Pluto TV, PLEX, and Amazon Prime Video, while it requires a subscription to YouTube TV.
12. Alone (2015)
Alone is widely regarded as one of the best survival reality TV shows. It challenges 10 contestants to survive in remote, isolated wilderness locations, with the ultimate goal of winning a cash prize. What sets the show apart is that the contestants are responsible for filming themselves; no professional crew follows or assists them. This unique setup creates an atmosphere of desperation, harshness, and isolation.
Watch on: Alone is free on Tubi, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, and History, while it needs a subscription to Netflix, Hulu, Philo, Disney+, Sling TV, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.
13. Survivorman (2004)
Survivorman follows survival expert Les Stroud as he is dropped into various wilderness environments with minimal equipment, where he must survive alone for up to seven days. Unlike Alone, which pits multiple participants against each other, Survivorman focuses on showcasing essential survival skills, such as shelter-building, foraging for food, and locating water.
Available platforms: Survivorman is free on Tubi, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, PLEX, Sling TV, and Apple TV.
14. The Circle (2020)
The Circle is certainly one of the best reality TV shows. It focuses on the complex psychological battle among different contestants who can choose to hide their identities and gain trust from others. Finally, the winners can decide who to eliminate. This is like a social version of Werewolf.
Watch on: Netflix
15. Big Brother (2000)
The core concept of Big Brother is similar to The Circle, which both highlight the complex psychological battle. However, in Big Brother, contestants can interact face-to-face and participate in different games to compete for the winner.
Available on: It is free on Pluto TV, while it requires a subscription to Paramount+, CBS TVE, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and Fandango at Home.
Other Best Reality TV Shows to “Binge-Watch”
- The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (2010): Drama
- Selling Sunset (2019): Real Estate
- The Challenge (1998): Competition, challenge
- Man vs. Wild (2006): Survival
- The Great British Bake Off (2010): Cooking, competition
- Culinary Wars (2024): Cooking, competition
- Banking Impossible (2021): Business, challenge
- Physical 100 (2023): Competition, challenge
- MasterChef (2010): Cooking, competition
- Buying Beverly Hills (2022): Real estate
- 7 vs Wild (2021): Survival
- 28 Days Haunted (2018): Horror, challenge
- Million Dollar Listing LA (2006): Real estate
- Owning Manhattan (2024): Real estate
- Become a Farmer (2023): Farming, management, and co-operation. Itis one of the best Chinese reality TV shows.
Unlock Global Streaming Resources with LightningX VPN
To access geo-blocked online resources, such as movies, reality shows, and games, use a robust VPN (e.g., LightningX VPN). This is one of the best VPNs for streaming, gaming, and browsing. It has 2,000+ servers in 50+ countries, each node with unlimited bandwidth. Your online privacy will also be highly encrypted using LightningX VPN.
Additionally, LightningX VPN supports Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, smart TVs, Linux, and Chrome. It allows 3 simultaneous devices to connect. You can also customize the device number.
It now offers a free trial for every beginner!
![How to Fix ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED Error [10 Ways]](https://lightningxvpn.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/fix-err-connection-closed-thumbnail.png)
