Tinder vs Badoo

McCall Martin
McCall Martin | Senior Editor
When it comes to finding the love of your life who do you trust? Badoo or Tinder? 

Badoo was founded by Andrey Andreev and first launched in Moscow in 2006. Today, Badoo boasts of being the largest social discovery network in the world. The popular dating app is available in over 190 countries. Most of Badoo's new users are in European and South American regions. 

Badoo’s website and mobile app cater to a younger generation and has a similar layout to Tinder. But Badoo has a few extra features that Tinder just doesn’t offer. Similar to Tinder, Badoo has a bit of a reputation for being a hookup app. However, there are a number of members who are looking for a serious relationship. 

Tinder was first introduced on college campuses in 2012 and instantly gained popularity. The dating app requires no approval process before users can message each other and the app popularized the simple swipe right to “like” and swipe left to “pass.” 

Tinder is one of the simplest ways to meet new people in your area. Throughout the years Tinder has notoriously been called a “hookup app” and garnered a less than favorable reputation, but it remains one of the most popular dating apps. 
Tinder logo
#3 Tinder
4.7 Overall Score
3.3
star star star star_half star_border
(338)
Badoo logo
#13 Badoo
2.1 Overall Score
1.4
star star_half star_border star_border star_border
(12)

Overview

Tinder

Account Available Via

N/A

Monthly Price

N/A

Offers a Free App Option

N/A

Time in Business

Undisclosed

Badoo

N/A

N/A

N/A

Undisclosed

Ratings

Tinder

Overall Score
4.7 of 10
Review Score
3.3
star star star star_half star_border
Value for Money
3.5
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Quality of Product or Service
3.6
star star star star_half star_border
Company Trustworthiness
3.5
star star star star_half star_border
Likely to Recommend
6.3 of 10

Badoo

2.1 of 10
1.4
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1.7
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1.8
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1.7
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0.0 of 10

Pros & Cons

Tinder

PROS

  • Easy user interface
  • Location-based matching
  • Large pool of users
  • Free messaging

CONS

  • No matching algorithm
  • Swipe limits
  • Age-based pay scale

Badoo

PROS

  • Free basic membership
  • Easy sign-up process
  • Real-Time location connections
  • Lookalike search function

CONS

  • Pay to increase profile view, status, encounters
  • Purchased credits will expire
  • No matching algorithm

Reviews

Tinder

Number of Reviews
338
Review Breakdown
3.3
star star star star_half star_border
1 star
10%
2 star
12%
3 star
24%
4 star
30%
5 star
25%

Badoo

12
1.4
star star_half star_border star_border star_border
1 star
92%
2 star
0%
3 star
0%
4 star
0%
5 star
8%

Reviews for Tinder

Helpful Favorable Review

star star star star star

Emma Morrill

May 15th, 2023

DETAILS

I thoroughly enjoyed using tinder. I do think it is easier for women than men to find matches. Most of the time I would use it to hook up and found that matching wasn’t to difficult when I made my intentions clear. Be open and honest about what you want and set boundaries. You’ll be amazed at who you could meet - I met my husband through tinder!

Helpful Critical Review

star star star_border star_border star_border

Mohamed CHEDDADI

June 11th, 2023

DETAILS

Subject: Frustration with Tinder’s Match Availability and Subscription Issues Dear Tinder Administrators, I am writing to express my frustration and disappointment with the lack of matches despite having a paid subscription. It appears that the algorithm offers matches freely before subscribing but significantly reduces them afterward. This practice feels unethical and goes against consumer principles. I urge you to address this issue and provide a fair resolution that prioritizes user satisfaction and experience. Thank you, Mohamed Cheddadi

Reviews for Badoo

Helpful Favorable Review

star star star star star

Brenda Mertes

November 15th, 2019

DETAILS

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Review Source

Badoo has been fun. I haven't taken it seriously, but it is nice to be able to simply click a little heart icon to show interest in someone and learn that a hundred people actually like you back. Chats are casual and you can see who wants kids, who is living with their parents, and what their interests are.

Helpful Critical Review

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

Shane Ward

August 26th, 2023

DETAILS

I have spent over £500 on this app in a year. Everytime premium runs out you get one like but have to sign up to reveal. The funny thing is you only get a like when the premiuk runs out its a con to make you pay again. The whole tging is a rip off. I was depressed didn't realise i spent so much they take advantage of men like me. I woupd avoid at all costs you shouldn't have to pay to find love. You know it makes sense.

The Final Word

Signup Process (Winner: Tinder)
The signup process with Badoo is simple and straightforward. To create a free profile, you will need to enter your name, birth date, location, and email address. After creating a profile, Badoo lets you start a conversation with nearby people and upload videos or photos.

However, if you want to maximize the benefits you get with Badoo, you’ll need to verify your profile. To verify your account, you’ll receive a verification email which will then have you link to your Facebook or other social media accounts, or you’ll enter in your phone number to check your identity.

While the signup process with Badoo is simple, Tinder makes it even easier. All you need to signup for Tinder is a Facebook profile. The dating app will take all your information (location, gender, age, work, educational background, etc.) to create your profile. Once that is complete, you’ll have full access to send messages and meet new people.

Device Compatibility (Winner: Tie)
Both Tinder and Badoo are compatible with Android and iOS mobile devices. However, Tinder and Badoo also let users log on via desktop. While today most people usually use their phones for online dating, it is nice that both companies offer an alternative option.

Premium Services (Winner: Tie)
Badoo’s Premium Services vary from seeing who added your profile to their favorites list to having your profile bumped up to the top of the search results. There are some other perks to having a premium service; users can undo their last vote, chat with the most popular users on Badoo, have your messages read first, and browse Badoo without anyone seeing that you visited their profile. You can purchase a one-month subscription for just $9.99. Although for the best deal, you’ll want to subscribe to Badoo’s six-month subscription for $39.99. If you don’t feel like signing up for a subscription plan, you can purchase credits, which allow you to increase your likelihood of getting featured.

Tinder Plus and Tinder Gold are Tinder’s Premium services that claim to help users receive more likes, views, and messages.  Tinder Plus features include Unlimited Likes where users can swipe right as much as they’d like, Rewind (to undo an accidental swipe), Boost their profile to the top for 30 minutes, and Super Like (which will help your profile stand out). Tinder Gold includes all the same features as Tinder Plus, but you get access to the Likes You feature — this feature allows you to see who liked your profile even before you swipe. Tinder users can expect to pay anywhere from $.99 to $19.99 per month for these premium features.

Both online dating services offer a fair amount of premium features that increase the chances of someone liking your profile or messaging you for a date.

Profiles and Matches (Winner: Tie)
If you’re looking to connect with people with similar interests, hobbies, or lifestyles, be prepared to swipe through a lot of profiles. Neither Tinder nor Badoo has a matching algorithm. A match is made when both users like each other.

The majority of dating sites often have users complete a personality test or fill out a form that helps the dating site connect people with common interests. While filling out a form may seem time-consuming and unnecessary, it does come in handy when you’re looking to genuinely connect with a potential match.

Security (Winner: Badoo)
While it’s extremely difficult to catch every single fake profile and scam account, Badoo has more security features than Tinder.

Badoo users can verify their profiles with pictures, phone numbers, or they can link to their social media accounts. If you’re nervous and want to control who can/can’t see your profile, be sure to adjust your privacy settings. Badoo has a reasonably comprehensive privacy settings menu that allows you to adjust the setting to your personal preferences. Users can even customize their privacy settings to only allow users with a verified profile to contact them.

Badoo’s Privacy Policy also states, “Badoo uses automated decisions to block accounts as part of its anti-spam procedures. In order to do this, our systems check accounts and messages for content that indicates breaches of our Terms and Conditions of Use.” Although the system isn’t perfect, it does show that the company does care about its users and has a few levels of security to keep them safe.

There are a lot fewer security measures on Tinder; users are encouraged to report any fake or scam profiles by sending in the user name, bio, photos and the reason for the report.

Tinder does offer verified badges but these are often reserved for public figures. Tinder does recommend that users confirm their authenticity by connecting an Instagram account to their profile.

Recommendation
Online daters won’t have to worry about their options being limited with either of these dating sites. Badoo has over 411 million registered users worldwide and 50 million people use Tinder every month. However, if you’re looking for a long, committed relationship, these relationship websites might not be for you. There are no matching algorithms and a match is determined if both users like each other. However, it's not that you can't find love on these sites, you'll just have to sort through hundreds of profiles of people looking for something more casual. You’ll need to be prepared to swipe left and right on hundreds of profiles and even then you might not have anything in common with the other person. 

Although both sites have a bit of a “hookup” reputation, there are users who are out there looking for a committed relationship. 

Top Choice

Tinder Logo
Tinder

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