Badoo Review 2026: Honest Rating & Expert Verdict
Quick Verdict
Badoo is one of the longest-running dating apps. It launched in 2006, and its owner, Bumble Inc., describes it as a leader in online dating in several countries in Europe and Latin America, though it has never achieved the cultural dominance of Tinder in English-speaking markets. The app combines swipe-based matching with a social networking feel, including video chat and a "People Nearby" feature. The free tier lets you message people without matching first, and Badoo Premium adds seeing who liked you, unlimited likes, Invisible Mode and undoing left swipes. Badoo says its Deception Detector aims to block fake, scam and spam accounts, and photo verification lets you choose to talk only to verified profiles. However, profile quality is highly variable, and the platform feels dated compared to Hinge or Bumble. Badoo is worth considering for international daters or users in non-English-speaking markets, but for US/UK users, mainstream alternatives are generally superior.
Badoo at a glance
| Our score | 6.8/10 |
|---|---|
| Free plan | No free plan |
| Paid plans | Super Powers: £2.29 or £8.99; Badoo Premium: £4.49 or £6.99; 7 Days Badoo Premium: £9.99US: Badoo Premium: $5.99 or $6.99; Premium: $8.99; Super Powers: $2.99 or $11.99; 7 Days Badoo Premium: $13.99 All Badoo prices |
| Works on | iOS, Android, Web |
| Owner | Bumble Inc. (agreed on 13 Oct 2026 to be bought by Ithaca Holdings; not yet completed) |
| App Store rating | 4.6 out of 5 from 150k ratings (App Store US, 19 Oct 2026) |
| Last reviewed | 17 Oct 2026 by Bill Alena |
Prices checked 19 Oct 2026 (App Store UK). Prices can change and may vary by age and country. Check the app before you pay.
How Badoo scores
Scores out of 10. How we review
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What Is Badoo?
Badoo was founded in 2006 by Russian-British entrepreneur Andrey Andreev and is headquartered in London. It is owned by Bumble Inc. (Andreev partnered with Whitney Wolfe Herd to launch Bumble in 2014, and the two apps share corporate ownership). On 13 October 2026 Bumble Inc. agreed to be bought by Ithaca Holdings in an all-cash deal valuing it at about $1.3 billion, and said it will operate as a privately held company once the deal closes. The announcement does not say whether anything changes for Badoo members. Bumble does not publish Badoo's total user numbers. It reported about 1.08 million paying users in the second quarter of 2026 for Badoo and its other smaller apps combined, down from about 1.28 million a year earlier. Badoo's strength is concentrated outside the English-speaking world. The app combines dating features (swiping, matching) with social features (People Nearby, video chat). Badoo is available on web, iOS, and Android.
Key Features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founder | Andrey Andreev |
| Owner | Bumble Inc. (agreed on 13 Oct 2026 to be bought by Ithaca Holdings; not yet completed) |
| Paying Users | About 1.08 million, Badoo and other smaller apps combined (Bumble Inc., Q2 2026) |
| Strongest Markets | Europe, Latin America |
| Matching | Swipe + people nearby + video chat |
| Pricing | Free tier / Badoo Premium (price varies by country and plan length) |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web |
What We Like
What Could Be Better
Latest Badoo news
- 19 Oct 2026Bumble Inc. agrees to be bought by Ithaca HoldingsNothing changes for Bumble or Badoo members yet, because the sale is not complete. Bumble Inc. has not announced any changes to the apps, so there is nothing to do now.
What Changed
- Monday 19th October 2026Badoo's owner, Bumble Inc., agreed to be sold to Ithaca Holdings; the sale is not complete and nothing changes for members yet.
Pricing Summary
UK prices
| Plan | Cost | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Super Powers | £2.29 or £8.99 | |
| Badoo Premium | £4.49 or £6.99 | |
| 7 Days Badoo Premium | £9.99 | Badoo Premium for 7 days: see who liked you, unlimited likes, unlimited Advanced Filters, messages read first, Invisible Mode, undo left swipes |
Source: App Store UK, checked 19 Oct 2026.
US prices
| Plan | Cost | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Badoo Premium | $5.99 or $6.99 | |
| Premium | $8.99 | |
| Super Powers | $2.99 or $11.99 | |
| 7 Days Badoo Premium | $13.99 | Badoo Premium for 7 days: see who liked you, unlimited likes, unlimited Advanced Filters, messages read first, Invisible Mode, undo left swipes |
Source: US App Store in-app purchases (apps.apple.com/us/app/id351331194). Apple lists up to 10 in-app purchases and does not show plan lengths, so one plan can appear at several prices, checked 19 Oct 2026.
Prices can change and may vary by age, location and platform. Check the app before you pay.
Visit Badoo
See plans, features and sign up on the official site.
Visit BadooWhichDating may earn a commission. See our affiliate disclosure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cancel Badoo Premium?
If you pay through the App Store, Badoo Premium renews automatically. To stop it, turn off automatic renewal in your Apple account's subscription settings at least 24 hours before the current period ends, according to Badoo's App Store listing.
Who owns Badoo?
Badoo is owned by Bumble Inc., which also runs Bumble and BFF. On 13 October 2026 Bumble Inc. agreed to be acquired by Ithaca Holdings. Bumble said it will become a privately held company once the deal closes.
