Badoo Review
Badoo aims to do dating better. It’s first and foremost a social media dating website, having started life on Facebook as quizzes and games before launching into the world’s most extensive dating network.
It’s available in over 190 countries and 47 languages, and its popularity speaks for itself worldwide. However, as a social media site, it’s mostly centered around its mobile app, so on-the-go dating is here to stay with Badoo.
Want to find out a little more? Check out our review below.
Badoo member structure
Badoo mainly attracts a younger crowd – most of its users are under 30 and looking for something more casual than long-term.
- There are over 417 million users worldwide.
- UK Members: Approximately 7 million of these are from the UK.
- On an average day: 350 million messages are sent. Ten million photos are added. There are 12 billion swipes. Four hundred thousand new people sign up. Each person spends an average of 1.8 hours a day on Badoo.
- Per month:60 million users are active.
- Gender proportion: 60% Male and 40% Female
How does Badoo work?
You’re almost left to your own devices with Badoo. There’s no personality test or questionnaire to take – you create your profile and then start using the site. When you first sign up, you can select whether you want to meet new people to date, chat with, or make new friends.
After that, you create your matches through the various features, which work similarly to other social media sites, like Tinder.
How do I sign up for Badoo?
To sign up, you must go to www.badoo.com and enter your email, password, and date of birth. Then click “Become a member!”.
After that, the app will lead you to a new page asking you for your full name, city, and gender. Then, all you have to do is enter the information and click “Finish.” After that, you can complete registration by opening your email and clicking on the welcome link sent by Badoo.
To make life easier, you can sign up via Facebook. You then have to add at least one photo – again, you can pull them through Facebook and Instagram instead of uploading something new.
Once you’re in, you can go to your profile dashboard and start using the site.
Ease of use
Badoo’s pretty easy to use. On sign-up, you start seeing profiles to match with straight away. The messaging feature is pretty simple, too – it’s just like a messenger service.
Chat, Messages & Notifications
How do you chat on Badoo? Once you’ve uploaded a photo, you can start talking to other members. All you have to do is visit their profile page and click on the “Chat Now” button at the top right corner of that page. You can then see a pop-up message window. To one side of this window, you will see the names of connected users.
Suppose you haven’t matched with someone. You can only send them one message. If they don’t reply, you’ll be blocked from sending any more. It’s a neat little safety feature that stops any unwanted attention. You can also send fun stickers and gifts if you pay for credits.
Profile Quality
All verified profiles get an unmistakable blue tick, so you can easily see who’s gone through verification and are, therefore, genuine. You must also upload a photo to access many of the features, which the Badoo modifiers will verify.
There’s a scoring system too, but it’s a little flawed as you’re primarily scored through your appearance in photos. And even though you can add profile information, you can only choose your interests from a list, so it’s not quite as detailed as it could be.
Badoo mobile app download for Android
Badoo is the biggest dating app in the world – it was the most downloaded dating app in 2016 and is still going strong. As Badoo is, first and foremost, a social media site, the mobile app is better than the desktop site.
It’s a great little tool – it’s easy to use and all your messages and kept in one place to make them easier to find.
One excellent (and slightly creepy) feature is ‘bumped into,’ which accesses your mobile location data to let you know if you’ve crossed paths with someone that day. But don’t worry, you can turn this off.
If you’re going away from home, you can change your location settings to meet new people in that area. You can also see if you have friends in common.
Real-life reviews
I’ve been using Badoo for over a year and plan to keep doing so. It has changed a bit in that time, and I like most things about it. I’ve tried other sites, too; some great alternatives like WeJustFit.com and some not-so-great ones, like Twoo!! But overall, I’m happy where I am and find that most women are genuine and up for a bit of Badoo chat! Recommended.
From sitejabber.com
Key features
Encounters. It helps you search for members. It’s similar to Tinder in that you’re presented with a profile, and you can mark them with a heart if you’re interested or a cross if you’re not. You then move on to another profile to rate.
People Nearby. Badoo’s search filter, which you can set to look for people with your preferences, like gender and location.
Featured Users. You can feature your photo with credits (that you have to purchase), making it easier to be seen.
Special features
Lookalikes. If someone catches your eye, you can use this feature to find other members that look similar.
Profile score. Other members can rate your photos, pushing you up the ratings.
You can sign up for Badoo Premium (prices further down), which unlocks the following special features:
- See who voted ‘Yes’ to you in Encounters.
- Browse invisibly.
- Undo your ‘No’ vote in Encounters if you change your mind.
- See who’s added you as a favorite.
- Get direct access to the most popular members.
- Chat to new members first.
- Highlight your messages so they’re seen.
You can also buy credits (prices further down) that unlock special features, including the following:
- Rise to first place.
- Get featured straight away.
- Get shown in more searches.
- Send better gifts.
- Add stickers to chats.
- Show when you’re online.
They also say that people with credits get two times more messages than people who don’t.
Is Badoo safe and legit?
Is Badoo legit? Badoo is a legitimate website. Today, it is considered one of the most popular online dating sites (with over 330 million users). It also has ways to verify identity.
Is Badoo safe? Badoo is apparent in their’ over 18s only’ policy. To ensure underage users don’t use the site, they use photo verification to check that users are over 18.
Everyone who signs up will be asked to take a selfie while copying a specific gesture. The moderation team then reviews it to make sure no one under the age of 18 gets through.
These verified profiles get a blue tick. You’ll have to provide an additional ID if they can’t verify the photo. They also scour the site and messages for any reference to phrases that give away that a user is under 18.
If you’re female, you’re in luck – you can ask a guy to send you a selfie to prove he is who he says he is. And finally, you can block or report anyone bothering you, and the Badoo team will look into it. Safety does come first with Badoo.
Keep in mind that while the site itself is safe and legit, not all users necessarily are. However, you can take precautions to stay safe while using Badoo.
Badoo prices and membership fees
What does Badoo cost to join? Memberships are free, but you can sign up for Badoo Premium for the following prices:
Badoo Premium Prices:
You can also buy credits that unlock additional features for the following prices:
Badoo Credit Prices:
- 100 credits: £3
- 550 credits: £12.99
- 1,250 credits: £20.99
- 2,750 credits: £49.99
You’re given the option to top up your credits once they go below 200 automatically. This box is already ticked – don’t forget to uncheck it if you don’t want your credits to renew.
Discount, offers, and promo codes
As mentioned in the prices section above, the credits and monthly subscriptions are currently on offer and reduced by quite a significant amount. Additionally, discounts are available through the site.
It might be more of a marketing tool to make the prices seem more reasonable than they are, though. So make sure you take the time to determine which subscription is best for you without being sucked in.
Is Badoo free to use?
Are there free trials for Badoo? The site is a free service, so there is no need for a free trial. Badoo registration is free, and it will take you less than a minute to start creating your profile – whether you are using the dedicated app for iPhone and Android devices or the website.
Pros and Cons
✓ Pros of Badoo
- There are loads of users on the site, and finding people you like (and locally) is pretty straightforward.
- It’s free, and so are loads of great features, making it feel like you’re getting a great online dating experience.
- The app is one of the best dating apps and is free to download.
X Cons of Badoo
- Many people on the site are looking for something more casual, so it’s not the best for long-term relationships (and messages often tend to go cold).
- It feels like the ‘discounts’ are more of a marketing tool to suck you into thinking you’re getting a good deal. So be wary before you buy.
- The points system is based far too much on appearance.
Our recommendation
If you love social media, then you’ll love Badoo. It started life on Facebook so you can see the influence, and the profiles are reminiscent of something you’d find on a social media site.
The chat feature is excellent, and Badoo has loads of features that other dating sites are lagging on. You could say it’s leading the way regarding online dating through social media.
It’s not without its downsides, though. Profile quality needs some improvement – the points system is not good enough and relies too heavily on how good your picture is, not what’s behind it. If you’re already feeling self-conscious, then this won’t help.
The discounting is odd, too. The lifetime membership was £541, now reduced to £119.99, which seems too good a deal to believe.
With a great app, though, we can see how it’s attractive to the younger generation, and if casual dating or friendship is more your thing, then it’s worth a go. So we give Badoo 3.6 out of 5.
Join Badoo today
FAQ
How to change my password on Badoo?
To change your password, go to your profile and settings in the top right corner. Then, select the pencil icon next to the ‘Your account’ section. You can enter the new password, click ‘Save,’ and type in your current password. Click ‘Save to confirm this.
What should I do if I forget my password?
If you have forgotten your password – don’t worry. All you need to do is click on the link Forgot Password? which can be found on the Sign In page, and follow the instructions to reset your password.
How can I get in touch with customer support?
If you need help or have questions, get in touch with Badoo’s customer support using the Feedback form.
Is Badoo free to send messages?
Yes, Badoo is free to sign up for and use, and most features are free. For example, you can browse users in your area with the “People Nearby” feature, “like,” or “dislike” other users with the “Encounters” feature and send messages to people, all for free.
I want to add someone to my favorites – what do I do?
To add another user to your favorites:
1. Go to their profile
2. Select the star icon in the top right corner.
3. If you cannot find a star icon, select the three-dotted icon and select ‘Add to favorites.’
4. If you have already started chatting with someone, you can go to the ‘Messages’ section and select the star icon next to their name.
One of my conversations has disappeared – what does this mean?
If you cannot view a conversation, this user has deleted their account or been blocked for violating Badoo guidelines.
How can I unfavourite another user?
If you want to un-favorite someone:
Go to their profile, select the three-dotted icon in the top right corner, and select ‘Remove from favorites.’
If you already chatted with this user, you can also go to your ‘Messages’ section and select the star icon next to the user’s name. This icon will turn white, meaning the user is no longer a favorite.
If I delete a message, will it delete my match too?
Yes, when you delete a message thread with another person, you will also delete the match with them. You can only contact them again if they message you after your delete the thread from your side.
How does ‘Request a Selfie’ work?
It’s a new feature that gives you added security. For example, female users can request a selfie from male users to confirm who they are talking to.
When a male starts a chat with a female user, she can request a selfie. This request will appear in the conversation, and the male user will be asked to provide a photo.
Male users should make sure to have access to their phone cameras. The selfie will only appear to the user that has asked for it and will not be added to the male user’s profile.
How can I change my location?
To change your location, go into your profile and click on the pencil icon next to your current location. Here you can enter a new location or select from the drop-down menu.
If you are unable to see the pencil icon when trying to edit your location, it may be because:
- You are using the mobile app and the website at the same time. Therefore, your mobile automatically detects the GPS and cannot be changed.
- You aren’t using the app, and location services on your browser are not giving accurate coordinates. Disable the location services on your browser and manually set your location on your profile.
How can I update ‘I’m here too’?
If you would like to change your ‘I’m here to’ message:
1. Go to your profile and open it
2. Go to the section ‘I’m here to’ and select the pencil icon to edit
3. Choose if you want to ‘Date,’ ‘Chat,’ or ‘Make new friends
You can also indicate the gender and age of people you are interested in connecting with. Then, click on the filter icon next to the Encounters section on the left or People Nearby in the top right.
Is it possible to reactivate my deleted Badoo profile?
Yes, Badoo will take you back. To reactivate your profile, go to the confirmation email you received when you deleted your profile. Then, click the link it contains (this link is valid for 30 days from the day of profile deletion). If it has been more than 30 days since this confirmation email, you will need to set up a new profile on the Signup page.
Who can see my Badoo profile?
You have control over the visibility of your profile. You can select to show it to everyone or just Badoo users. You can adjust this whenever you like in your profile settings.
Am I able to see who visited my profile?
Yes, Badoo offers a Visitors page that will show you who and when someone looked at your profile, which will also link to their profile, so you can view them.
What are the benefits of the Badoo mobile app?
Benefits of the Badoo mobile app include:
- Free and safe way to meet new people
- Trusted by over 340 million people
- You can see people nearby or those you’ve bumped into
- There are regular updates with new features
- Robust verification system – meaning you won’t get cat-fished (ever)
- You can find and date celebrity lookalikes
What precautions can you take to stay safe on Badoo?
Precautions you can take to stay safe on Badoo:
- Only chat with users who have verified their profiles
- Change your privacy settings as soon as you sign up for an account to ensure they align with your personal preferences and comfort level.
- Never reveal personal or financial information to another user
- Report any users who act suspiciously
- Use caution when agreeing to meet another user. Be sure you can trust them and meet in a public place.
How can I block a user?
To block someone on Badoo, select the three-dotted icon in the top right corner of their profile and choose ‘Block or report.’ When you block a user, it will stop any of their messages from reaching you; however, they will still be able to see your profile.
