Fact Checked by: Grady Shumway, LCSW
Dating apps are supposed to make dating easier, so it is pretty frustrating when we come across apps that are impossible to figure out! Badoo claims to be built with the purpose of being the most intuitive dating site out there, which definitely has our ears perked!
Of course, we’ve learned to do a little more digging before believing any hype. You can rest assured that we got to the bottom of this one. We looked at the platform, the amenities, the user base, the cost, and even the customer support system to ensure that Badoo is truly as great as they claim.
Is Badoo right for you?
If you love casual dating apps but are completely over Tinder, we think Badoo is a great choice for you. The approach to dating is very similar but there are some added features and layers of security that helps the Badoo app to stand on its own. In fact, many users in other countries prefer Badoo to Tinder and other swipe-style dating apps.
Pros
- Badoo offers multiple communication methods, including video chat.
- Badoo utilizes user verification to help reduce fake accounts.
- Badoo strictly monitors uploaded content to help keep unsolicited, explicit media out of your inbox.
Cons
- Though Badoo says they are adding new features in the future, the current selection is minimal when compared to similar sites.
- Badoo doesn’t have a history of performing well on tests of privacy and app security.
- Badoo matching is based on photos and attraction, not true compatibility.
Badoo vs Tinder
The Badoo app has been around about 6 years longer than Tinder, but what have they done with that time? Let’s take a look at how these 2 dating apps compare, shall we?
- Tinder is geared toward casual dating and in this way Badoo and tinder are very similar bothing matching singles based on appearances alone. Both are often viewed as “hook up apps”.
- If you’re looking for options Badoo takes the cake. Badoo is the world’s most downloaded dating app with over 400 million users registered since launch. (Over 300 Million more than Tinder)
- Tinder was rated lower overall by our team (7.75/10) – See Tinder Review
So what’s the final answer for Tinder vs Badoo? Our best advice here is to check out both and see which one you like more. Both dating apps are well rated and used by millions. If you’re looking for relaxed casual dating you can’t really go wrong with either one.
Badoo vs Bumble
Are you a woman? If so, the consensus from our team is that Bumble is better than Badoo for 2022. Why?
- Women send the first messages on Bumble!
- Bumble has behavioral matchmaking giving you better matches.
- Bumble was given a higher overall rating than Badoo by our team – See Bumble Review
It is worth noting that Bumble costs more than Badoo is all cases so if cost is a big factor for you, or you’re someone who doesn’t want to wait for women to reach out first, Bumble may not be for you.
Badoo vs Hinge
With this one, we have to look at the majority vote. There has to be a reason that Badoo is usually rated 2.5 stars higher than Hinge by users. But does this mean Hinge is garbage compared to the Badoo dating app?
Not necessarily. Hinge does have a few nice features that Badoo doesn’t like advanced search filters, real-time connection options, and anti-spam measures to limit fake profiles from being created. To make a fully informed decision we recommend you check out our Hinge review if you’re weighing these two options.
Testing for Badoo – Overview
| Factor | Results (out of 10) | Weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety and Security | 5.8 | 20% | Strong moderation of content & verification, but spotty privacy history and no advanced security protections. |
| Profile Engagement | 7.5 | 15% | Many users, but profiles often shallow; engagement high due to sheer volume. |
| Feature Effectiveness | 7.2 | 15% | Fun extras (stickers, boosts, invisible mode), but core matching is purely superficial. |
| Pricing | 8.5 | 15% | One of the most flexible pricing models in dating apps; affordable short-term options. |
| UX and Usability | 8.8 | 10% | Intuitive, smooth app; easy navigation for all user levels. |
| Popularity | 9.5 | 10% | Huge worldwide footprint, over 60M active users; especially strong in Europe and South America. |
| External Reviews | 7.2 | 10% | Mixed; praised for usability, criticized for privacy and scam concerns. |
| Feature Growth | 7.0 | 5% | Continues evolving slowly; new features arrive but core experience hasn’t changed dramatically. |
| Overall | 7.36 | ~ | ~ |
Learn more about how we test and score here.
How Badoo Scored on Safety and Security
| Factor | Score (0-10) | Weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Privacy Policy Protections | 5.5 | 15% | Past issues with data privacy, especially earlier lawsuits over photo use. |
| Third-Party Data Usage | 5.5 | 15% | Standard data sharing for a freemium app; no major standout protections. |
| App and Data Encryption | 6.0 | 15% | Basic encryption but lacks multi-factor auth and advanced security. |
| Block and Report Options | 8.5 | 15% | Solid blocking/reporting tools built into messaging and profiles. |
| Account Verification Options | 8.0 | 10% | Strong verification with photo and identity checks, improving trust. |
| Data Minimization Practices | 5.0 | 10% | Collects significant user data; limited controls for users to minimize it. |
| 2FA Available | 4.0 | 10% | No two-factor authentication available. |
| TOS Acknowledges Safety | 6.5 | 5% | Addresses safety but without exceptional safeguards. |
| Strong Password Requirements | 6.0 | 5% | Basic password strength requirements, no advanced checks. |
| Overall | 5.8 | ~ | ~ |
Did you know…?
- Badoo started as a Facebook gaming app, but as a dating app has been downloaded over 400 million times, worldwide.
- Badoo has 60 million “active” users.
- The app services around 190 countries, but is mostly popular in South American and European countries.
- 4.6 star rating and over 60,000 reviews on the Apple store.
- 3.8 star rating and over 12,000 reviews on the Google Play store.
A look at the casual quirky features you’ll find
Badoo creates a casual atmosphere with their use of minimal, but quirky features. Though we find some of the features to not be super helpful when it comes to finding a great relationship, we can’t deny that they are enjoyable to use. Here are a few of the features Badoo has to offer and how to access them!
Encounters
“Encounters” is the initial stage of matching on Badoo. While in “encounters” you will be determining which singles interest you and which don’t. To land a match, you must like a photo of someone that also liked yours. You can also send a smile, which is Badoo’s equivalent of a super like. This will send a snippet of your profile directly to the match to see if they are interested.
You can also send “crushes” during encounters. This will let you see the person’s full profile without waiting for a like from them. The ability to send crushes is reserved for premium members or can be purchased individually with credits.
Invisible Mode
Invisible mode is a pretty standard feature among swipe-style dating apps. This feature will allow you to browse singles and search for singles without being visible to anyone else in the app. This feature is available for premium members.
Highlight
Highlight is a way to push your messages to the top of your contacts’ lists. This makes it more likely that your responses will be read before anyone else’s. This feature is available through a premium membership.
Stickers
Stickers are essentially emojis that you can purchase with credits and use during conversations. You can access your stickers through the emoji menu. Though most stickers can be purchased for Badoo credits, some are only available to premium members.
Rise Up
Rise up is a feature that can be purchased with Badoo credits. This pushes your photo to the top of the results for other members in your area, which improves your chances of being seen when compared to other singles.
Earn Your Credits
Sometimes Badoo will offer you the opportunity to earn credits, which can be spent on some features like stickers, rise ups, and more. This is usually done by writing a review for the app or completing a survey or general questionnaire.
Gifts
Gifts can be given to the singles with whom you are chatting. When you choose “send a gift” you will be shown a selection of stickers that can be sent to that person. It doesn’t have a lot of benefits, but it is a cute and fun way to let your match know you are thinking of them.
Catfish, scammers, and under 35s…
Typically, we don’t find the cream of the crop of singles on swipe-style dating apps. Sure, there can be some really great people, but they are found beneath the pile of catfishers, scammers, and socially inept pickup artists that overwhelm these types of sites.
However, we appreciate that Badoo is so strict on appropriate behavior by offering identity verification features and strict media filtering. This has reduced the amount of trolls on the app and leaves behind a pretty great pool of singles.
The singles pool isn’t going to be stellar for more mature singles because the user base does skew very young (under 35). Those in the appropriate age range will likely be impressed with the singles on Badoo.
Plenty of premium buying options
Flexibility is the keyword when it comes to badoo premium pricing. Typically you have to commit to a month (or longer) if you’d like to try the premium version of a dating app, but Badoo offers purchase options of a week, and even 1 day! See full pricing below:
| Membership Type | Membership Length | Membership Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | 1 Day | $1.99 |
| Premium | 1 Week | $7.99 |
| Premium | 1 Month | $25.99 |
| Premium | 3 Months | $31.99 |
| Premium | 6 Months | $47.99 |
| Premium | Lifetime | $159.99 |
Free Badoo Membership vs. Paid Badoo Membership
The free Badoo membership has no time limit and is also pretty easy-going on features. Free users can search, match, and message. This means that someone could download Badoo, sign up for a free membership, and find love without ever paying for a premium membership.
Still, the premium version of the app does have its perks. Some of the best premium features are:
- Liked you: Get a peak behind the curtain and see all the users who have liked you during “encounters.”
- Most Popular Users: See a list of the most popular users on the app and have the opportunity to match with them.
- Favorites: You can favorite users for yourself to view later, and you can see who favorited you for a fast track to a mutual match.
- Invisible Mode: Spend some time on the app without anyone knowing you’re there.
- Stickers: Gain access to a variety of fun stickers.
- Undo Last Vote: Voting is how you say whether or not you are interested in other singles. Make a mistake while voting? This feature lets you undo your last vote.
- New People: You will be the first to see and potentially match with new members.
- Highlighted Messages: Your messages stand out for all your matches.
Can You Get Badoo Premium for Free? Random Handouts…
To close out this conversation on the cost of Badoo we wanted to address some online chatter about getting premium access to Badoo at no cost:
In short, yes this is possible, but to be honest it’s extremely unlikely. From what we can tell the goal of this is to help boost membership in the areas they need it (IE more women or more singles in a specific age group). From the outside looking in it honestly seems fairly random and we would advise users not to count on this happening to them.
Reporting is easy, contacting support is hard…
We love that Badoo allows users to report accounts and block users straight from the messaging center, but we are less impressed with their lack of direct contact to a customer service rep. You can email them through an online form or reach out on social media, but that is the extent of their customer support options.