Our verdict
Badoo is one of the oldest dating apps, launched in 2006 and now owned by Bumble Inc. It mixes swiping in Encounters with browsing people nearby in Discover, and the free version covers matching, chat and video calls.
Bottom line: Badoo is worth trying if you want a low-cost app for chatting and casual dates, especially in Europe or Latin America.
Great for: Meeting people nearby on a budget
Not ideal for: People who want serious, compatibility-based matching, or who don’t want to pay Credits to message before a match.
What is Badoo and how does it work?
Badoo is a free dating app and website, and the Badoo dating site works the same way on the web as in the Badoo app for iPhone and Android. It gives you two ways to meet people. Encounters shows one profile at a time: tap the heart if you like someone or the cross to pass. If the interest is mutual, you match and can start chatting straight away. On the free plan you get a daily number of votes, which refreshes 24 hours after you reach the limit.
Discover lets you browse people near you, plus a For You list of suggestions, at your own pace. You can narrow both by age, distance and gender. Once you match, conversations happen in the Chats tab, where you can send messages and GIFs or start a video or voice call without sharing your phone number. A colored dot next to a photo shows who’s around: a green dot on Badoo means online now, red means recently online and grey means offline. To message someone you haven’t matched with, Badoo asks for a verified profile and Credits.
What you can do for free
Badoo’s free version covers the basics well. You can:
- like and pass in Encounters, up to the daily vote limit;
- browse Discover and the For You suggestions;
- chat, video call and voice call with your matches;
- verify your photos and get the blue checkmark.
Paying adds visibility and convenience rather than access. Badoo Extra and Badoo Premium are subscriptions, and Credits pay for one-off extras such as moving to the top of Discover. Our Badoo pricing guide explains what each one costs.
Who uses Badoo
Badoo launched in 2006 and is owned by Bumble Inc., the company behind Bumble. Bumble Inc. describes Badoo as a leader in online dating in several countries in Europe and Latin America, and it reported an average of about 1.24 million paying users for Badoo and its smaller apps in 2025 (Bumble Inc., 2026). In practice, you’ll find a broad age range and a mix of intentions, from chatting and casual dates to relationships, so it’s worth saying on your profile what you want.
Is Badoo legit and safe?
Yes, Badoo is a legitimate, long-running dating app from a listed company, but like any free app it has some inactive and fake profiles. Photo verification asks for a selfie that copies a gesture, checked by automated and human review, and verified members show a blue checkmark. Badoo may also ask for ID to confirm that you’re over 18, and you can report a message or a member from the chat. Stick to verified members, use the video call before meeting and be wary of anyone who rushes you onto WhatsApp or Telegram, a common pattern in romance scams.
Common complaints about Badoo
In Badoo reviews, the same few complaints come up again and again:
- Messaging before a match costs Credits, even though chatting with matches is free.
- The free plan has a daily vote limit in Encounters.
- Credits expire six months after purchase, unless you bought them through the Apple App Store.
- Intentions are mixed, with plenty of casual chat alongside people who want a relationship.
Badoo vs Tinder, Bumble and happn
- Compared with Tinder, Badoo adds the Discover tab for browsing people nearby, while Tinder is mostly swiping. See our Tinder vs Badoo comparison.
- Badoo vs Bumble: Bumble belongs to the same company and, since August 2026, also lets either person message first after a match. Bumble gives you 72 hours to start the chat before a match expires, while Badoo adds Discover for browsing people nearby. See our Bumble review.
- Badoo vs happn: happn shows people you’ve crossed paths with, while Badoo’s Discover lets you browse everyone within the distance you choose. See our happn review.
Is Badoo a good dating app for you?
Badoo is a good dating app if you want low-cost chat and casual dates with people nearby. The Badoo dating service isn’t the best fit if you want a site built around serious, long-term matching, or if you don’t want to pay to message people before you match. For a relationship, Hinge and eHarmony are better choices.
How to get more from Badoo
To get more from Badoo online dating, verify your photos on day one: the blue checkmark builds trust, and you need it anyway to message people from Discover. Then spend a few evenings in Discover rather than only swiping in Encounters. Browsing nearby profiles shows you how active Badoo really is in your area before you think about paying.
Badoo at a glance
| Audience | Broad ages, strongest in Europe and Latin America |
|---|---|
| Typical goal | Chatting and casual dating |
| Free version | Yes — Swiping in Encounters (daily vote limit), Discover: browse people nearby, Chat, video and voice calls with matches, Photo verification |
| Paid from | ≈ $13.99/week for Premium (US) (see all plans) |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web |
Pros and cons
Pros
- Generous free version for matching and chatting
- Built-in video and voice calls
- Photo and ID verification
- Apps for iPhone and Android plus a website
Cons
- Messaging without a match costs Credits
- Daily vote limit on the free plan
- Mixed intentions, mostly casual
- Credits expire six months after purchase
Key features
- Encounters
- See one profile at a time and like or pass; a mutual like is a match.
- Discover
- Browse people nearby and a For You list of suggestions, filtered by age, distance and gender.
- Video and voice calls
- Call a match inside the app without sharing your phone number.
- Verification
- Photo verification adds a blue checkmark; Badoo may also ask for ID to confirm you’re over 18.
How much does Badoo cost?
| Plan | Indicative price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Swiping in Encounters (daily vote limit), Discover: browse people nearby, Chat, video and voice calls with matches, Photo verification |
| Badoo Extra | Shown in the app; one week to six months | 1 Crush a day, No ads, Undo your last left swipe, Bonus Credits on purchases |
| Badoo Premium | ≈ $13.99 for 7 days (US App Store); longer plans and lifetime too | Everything in Extra, See who likes you, Unlimited votes and filters, Invisible mode and private browsing |
| Credits | Pay as you go (one-off packs) | Top of Discover and Extra Shows, Chat without a match (verified members), Read receipts and gifts |
Prices are indicative, in US dollars unless another currency is shown, and were checked October 3, 2026. Apps often charge different amounts by country, age, platform and plan length — confirm the final price in the app before paying.
Want the full breakdown and ways to save? Read our Badoo pricing guide and free trial options.
Is Badoo safe?
Photo verification adds a blue checkmark, Badoo may ask for ID to confirm you’re over 18, and you can report messages from the chat. Be careful with profiles that quickly ask to move to another messenger.
Before meeting anyone, follow our verification checklist.
Not sure Badoo is right for you?
These alternatives may suit you better depending on your goals. See all Badoo alternatives.
Best for: Meeting lots of people fast
- Huge, active user base almost everywhere
- Free version lets you match and chat
- Very fast and easy to use
- Free version
- Yes
- Paid from
- ≈ $9.99 (US App Store)
Best for: A big, well-moderated swipe app
- Big pool, with 100M+ Google Play downloads
- Photo verification required in the US
- Free in-app voice and video calls
- Free version
- Yes
- Paid from
- ≈ $2.99 for Boost (US App Store)
Best for: City dwellers who want to meet people nearby
- Unique real-world discovery
- Free matching and chat
- Simple to use
- Free version
- Yes
- Paid from
- ≈ $14.99 (US App Store)
Best for: Finding a relationship in your 20s and 30s
- Detailed, conversation-friendly profiles
- Strong focus on real relationships
- Free version is usable, with free faith and ethnicity filters
- Free version
- Yes
- Paid from
- ≈ $16.99 (US App Store)
Compare Badoo
Badoo FAQ
Is Badoo legit?
Yes. Badoo is a long-running dating app, launched in 2006 and owned by Bumble Inc. Like any free app it has some fake and inactive profiles, so look for the blue checkmark that shows a member has verified their photos, video call before meeting and never send money to a match.
Is Badoo owned by Bumble?
Yes. Badoo belongs to Bumble Inc., the company that also runs Bumble, but the two apps work differently. Badoo lets you browse people nearby in Discover and pay Credits to message before a match, while Bumble is built around swiping and photo-verified profiles. Both are free to use, with paid upgrades.
Can I use Badoo on my phone and computer?
Yes. Badoo has apps for iPhone and Android and a website at badoo.com, and your account works on all of them. A Premium or Extra subscription also works across devices, as long as you’re logged into the same Badoo account.
How do I change my location on Badoo?
If location services are on, Badoo sets your location automatically and you can’t change it by hand. With them off, open your profile, tap the pencil icon to edit it, scroll to Location, enter your new location and tap Save. Badoo isn’t available in every country.
Can you search for someone on Badoo by name?
No. Badoo doesn’t let you search for a member by name or phone number. You can narrow who you see in Encounters and Discover by age, distance and gender, and people may come up there again, but there’s no list of everyone you’ve liked.