Badoo Review: top pros, prices, and pitfalls of the leading dating service

Most persons from around the Globe have heard about the Badoo website or applications at least once. Even those who don’t associate themselves with dating platforms. The service combines features of a dating platform proper and a social network; hence, a younger audience is picked up as the target one. This service has no specifications; hence a person looking for dating sites should prefer other solutions.

The former leader of the online dating sector saw the light in 2006. The service was launched in London by the Russian businessman Andrey Andreev. Investors from different countries focused on the promising startup, while the British-based media had called it among the most successful European IT projects. The offices of this dating service are opened in London, Moscow, and Valletta.

At present, Badoo is the confident leader of the online dating market. The platform enters top-200 most visited websites globally. Such a service continues to grab international popularity, as the list of pros extends due to multiple updates.

Badoo profiles: who joins the service?

According to the official statistics, more than 485 million people worldwide have already registered for the platform. The average number of monthly visits is 123 million users, while a person spends about 10 minutes on the service, browsing at least 19 pages. The community extends by about a million newcomers monthly.

Male profiles outnumber the service, but registered women are more than 140 million; therefore, a person faces an enormous choice. As for the age distribution, the following table illustrates the dominant groups:

The above-mentioned table shows the age differentiation has invisible differences between male and female profiles. Note that you should be over 18 to start using the service. Such a rule meets the requirements of the British government.

No matter what is your sexual orientation, open a Badoo account. The platform implies no restrictions and limitations. The same concerns users’ ethnicity. While referring to the geographic distribution of subscribers, the following countries are leading from the viewpoint of representatives’ number: Russia (9.99%), France (9.65%), Poland (7.72%), Brazil (7.12%), and Italy (4.89%).

Expert’s opinion

An average Badoo review rates the service high, as such a platform fulfills subscribers’ goals. An enormous number of users ready to communicate with nearby persons or people worldwide enables every newcomer with an opportunity to find a significant other or an exciting adventure for one night.

With the service’s help, users get a global universal way of communication always at their fingertips. Send messages for free and make new friends worldwide. At first sight, the platform reminds hundreds of other applications based on the matching-roulette principle. Differences are significant while diving into the service deeper.

Developers highlight their purpose is to maintain Badoo the most convenient, user-friendly, and effective service. Detailed profiles create the complete image of a user. You may even hear subscribers’ laugh. As for messages, share audio or video content, add emoji and stickers, send gifts. The scope of features is extremely diverse.

The team takes security and safety into account, providing users with a robust verification process. Creators recommend a person communicating with verified persons only to avoid the risk of facing scammers and catfishes. There is no risk of meeting a person wearing a mask of other people.

Well, there are some cons connected with functionality and premium options, but in general, the platform confirms its leading status. That’s why its audience is constantly growing.

The platform interface overview

Such a service has already undergone several updates so that users could obtain a convenient and attractive design linked with straightforward functionality. Members spend just seconds to understand which options they need.

Creators made a bid for the white color while selecting the background. That was a reasonable choice. A neutral color scheme relaxes a subscriber while black and pink icons are well distinctive. On the one hand, the design is simple, but the minimalistic style is a perfect way to save your time, providing a broad scope of features.

All features are divided into two groups. The upper menu enables users to activate the following features: see who likes you, get more displays, activate matchmaking filters. The upper menu contains the following options:

• Search for people nearby. The system displays nearby persons based on your location (defined automatically).
• Enter the matching-roulette regime. The system displays persons corresponding to activated filters. You may like or skip a displayed user.
• Notification. The section informs you about visits, likes, and messages of other users.
• Profile settings. Edit your personal information and change account settings there.

Sign-Up process steps

If you are a person over 18, the system welcomes you to join the community. Follow a step-by-step guide to open an account:

1. Choose the device to enter the platform: either visit the website from your PC or download apps to your mobile phones.
2. Select the preferred way to complete the registration. New entries are accessible to sign up with Facebook, Google+, or other ways to speed up the process. Furthermore, there is a traditional way to open an account.
3. Specify your gender. Inscribe your first name, date, and location. Enter your valid email address and create a strong password.
4. Upload your photos from a device or add pictures from Facebook and Instagram profiles.
5. Validate your account through email. Follow the received link.
6. Undergo the second lap of your verification. Upload a selfie or confirm your phone number.

Registered members are free to add more information from their social network accounts or fill in some fields manually:

• Inscribe information about your education and occupation.
• Add a brief description. This step is among distinctive ones, as every person is about to read your description thoroughly.
• Specify your marital (relationship) status.
• Choose your sexual orientation.
• What is your height?

Aside from the indicated fields, new entries are free to add some information to describe their appearance, drinking and smoking habits, spoken languages, and your interests to let other members understand you better. Add photos and videos to reveal your personality from different sides.

Available communicating features

What is the first step towards contact initiation? Most users start by specifying the search filters. Let the system understand what kind of person you need. Basic matchmaking algorithms include gender, age, and location (from 2 to 200 km).

The next step includes the proper search process. Select the mode you prefer. Find people nearby displayed in the traditional way or activate the matching-roulette mode. Click on a person’s profile or just scroll down to get more information and photos.

Users are available to like or skip suggested profiles. These options are basic, but not the only one. Subscribers are accessible to activate the following options:

• Send a super like to catch a person’s attention.
• Add a person to the list of your favorites.
• Send a gift to show your special interest.
• Type a message (this feature is available for verified profiles only).

Note that the matching-roulette principle implies mutual likes. In case a person doesn’t like your profile in response, you won’t be able to send more than two messages. There is an opportunity to send gifts without limits, but they are paid.

Users need to be creative, as referred to in initial messages. According to Badoo reviews, about 80% of subscribers are not satisfied with common invitations like ‘Hi! How are you?’ Persons expect to see something original, pretending to catch their attention instantly.

Unique features

Despite the fact, exclusive features are not large, users point out some most prominent options:

• Top users:
  Every person wishes to communicate with the best people. What about the most popular subscribers nearby? The system selects top persons based on your location and offers you to communicate with the most exciting people.
• Nearby people:
  The platform uses your location to show nearby people who live some 5, 10, or 20 km away from you. That is amazing! In the morning, you start communicating with a person, and several hours later, you two are enjoying the cozy atmosphere of a café. Furthermore, there is an option to see people you’ve crossed paths with.
• Super likes:
  What if your ordinary like is too less to catch the attention of someone special? The Badoo website has super likes for this situation. Follow your goals and prove you are the best person to communicate.
• People looking like you:
  The service has an exciting game to find persons who have much in common with you from the viewpoint of their appearance. They say similar people are destined to be happy together.

Available mobile apps

On-the-go subscribers appreciate Badoo creators’ care, as there are launched applications for both Android and iOS devices. Apps look more stylish and are even more convenient from the viewpoint of their functionality.

More than 100 million users have already downloaded the Android-directed app that requires at least the 5.0 version of the system. You need to have 48.9 MB of free storage space on your mobile device to install the application. Subscribers rate the platform at 4.1 stars, highlighting its user-friendliness and convenience.

As for the app launched for iOS devices, download the application from the App Store if your mobile device has at least the 12.0 version of the system. Furthermore, the app requires 162.6 MB of free storage space. The platform is compatible with diverse devices run by iOS: iPads, iPods, and iPhones. Subscribers rate the service at 4.5 stars, and this ranking is among the highest referred to dating services.

A Badoo review puts an accent on the opportunity to spend time effectively. Whether you have to wait several minutes in a queue or several hours in a bus, apply to this platform, looking for some exciting people globally.

Prices of premium packages

There is a widespread opinion that a dating service is considered free when users are available to send messages without fees. From this viewpoint, the Badoo website is free, but the platform still offers some premium features.

Subscribers get two ways to obtain some privileges: purchase a premium membership or refill your account with credits. Prices are modest enough:

Badoo reviews show the platform is a low-priced service. Moreover, a person may purchase a life-time subscription to get a premium forever. The experts recommend commencing with the 1-week premium access to evaluate all pros of given privileges.

As for credits, there are the following packages available:

Package	Price for 1 month	Total cost
100 credits	€0.0299	€2.99
550 credits	€0.0125	€6.25
1 250 credits	€0.01	€12.70
2 750 credits	€0.0092	€25.35

List of standard features

Users are available to get the following options for free:

1. Complete your profile information to help other registered persons understand whether your interests are mutual.
2. Upload your photos and videos or import pictures from social networks.
3. Activate basic filters and up to three advanced matchmaking algorithms.
4. View members’ profiles and full-size photos. Read more information about a person.
5. Send likes to a person who kindles your interest.
6. Add other subscribers to your favorites.
7. Send messages to a person. Two initial messages are available without any restrictions, while further communication is possible in case of a mutual like only.
8. Find people nearby, letting the system use your location (or enter your location manually).
9. Download mobile applications and enjoy the service everywhere.

A standard account doesn’t limit your functionality; hence, a person gets an opportunity to both spend no money and enjoy the service functionality. Premium options are waiting for persons who always strive for more.

List of premium features

The Badoo premium subscription enables a user with the following features:

• View who’s sent you like.
• View persons who’ve added your profile to their favorites.
• Activate any advanced search filters without limitations.
• Communicate with top persons among the first ones.
• Reject your swipe and change your mind.
• Get your messages at the top of others’ messaging history.
• Browse the service anonymously. Incognito mode is an exciting way to find exciting people without revealing your personality.
• Communicate with newly registered persons.
• Enjoy the service without advertisements.

Moreover, a person may use credits to get some more privileges:

• Boost your profile to get a higher place in other users’ search results (100 credits).
• Get your photos to display more frequently (100 credits).
• Send gifts to persons you love (100 credits or more depending on a gift).
• Tell every user nearby you are online (100 credits).

Available payment options

A Badoo review highlights that all prices are indicated in Euros, no matter what your location is. Meanwhile, subscribers are accessible to purchase the premium membership or credits worldwide. Your bank will convert EUR into your currency automatically. Users should be ready for some additional fees in such a case.

The following payment options are available for a person:

• debit and credit cards (the most common way to purchase premium packages);
• PayPal wallets (accessible in countries that support the PayPal payment system);
• telephone number (users are available to purchase only the 1-week premium access through this option).

When you need to purchase the premium membership or credits, take the following steps:

1. Enter your Badoo account.
2. Click on your profile settings.
3. Choose the premium subscription or credits.
4. Specify the package you prefer. Note those premium features are not interconnected and unblock different features.
5. Select the most convenient way to purchase premium access or add-ons.
6. Confirm your purchase.

Furthermore, you may activate the auto-renewal option inactive by default. This option implies the automatic refilling of your account when your balance is lower than 100 credits.

Is the Badoo service safe and secure?

According to the team viewpoint, all subscribers’ security and safety is the ground the whole platform is based on. Developers paid much attention to the verification system so that scammers could not get access to the service. Foremost, a person needs to verify the email address. Additionally, newcomers are expected to verify their phone numbers and photos; otherwise, some features are not accessible to them. Users are welcome to attach their profiles in social networks to import information and photos.

Registered persons are welcome to personalize their privacy settings. The incognito mode is available for users who wish to protect their anonymity.

The Badoo reviews show the team moderates all profiles thoroughly. There is a scope of rules users are obliged to follow. For instance, nudity content, offensive messages, abuses, etc., are strictly forbidden. Violation of the mentioned rules leads to a life-time ban. Every person is available to report a user facing any violations.

Badoo resume

The service stays the leading online dating platform, and numbers describe advantages the best. More than 400 million registered users! 108 minutes per day are spent on the service by an average subscriber. Representatives of 190 countries are already involved in the community. Badoo proves the statistics are not accidental.

Developers have already done hard work but continue to update the service, making it even more convenient, user-friendly, and versatile. Most features are free. Registered persons are available to send messages without fees. Such an advantage is highlighted as the principal one.

On the one hand, this website is for everyone. No limitations from the viewpoint of ethnicities, sexual orientations, or geographical locations are attached. On the other hand, this platform is definitely not among the dating sites – men or women only are welcome to join the community.

By the way, this platform is available for both PC users and on-the-go subscribers. The registration process is straightforward, but all newcomers need to verify their personalities. Safety and security are notions creators understand among top priorities. Robust verification and constant moderation of accounts make every user feel protected from scammers and aggressive persons. With a broad diversity of features and an understandable interface, the Badoo website or applications are undoubtedly worth joining.