Softwr

Dating · head to head

Badoo vs Happn

Badoo logo

Badoo

Dating

Make the first move

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Happn logo

Happn

Dating

Find the people you've crossed paths with

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Badoo less popular than Tinder in developed Western markets; Happn high volume of fake profiles, bots, and scammer accounts
  • They diverge on capability: Badoo covers Encounters, Happn covers Crossed Paths.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Badoo and Happn actually diverge.

Attributes where Badoo and Happn differ
AttributeBadooHappn
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebiOS, Android
Founded20062014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Dating).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Badoo

  • Encounters
  • People Nearby
  • Live Video
  • Photo Verification
  • Spotlight
  • Super Powers

Only in Happn

  • Crossed Paths
  • FlashNote
  • CrushTime
  • Video Call
  • Invisible Mode
  • Audio Messages
  • Spotify

Both cover

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Badoo

No use cases recorded yet. See the Badoo review.

Happn

  • Meeting people you crossed paths with locallynot Badoo
  • Dating within your geographic areanot Badoo
  • Connecting with nearby singles through proximitynot Badoo

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Badoo

  • Less popular than Tinder in developed Western markets
  • Profile verification process is weaker than competitors, leading to more fake profiles

Happn

  • High volume of fake profiles, bots, and scammer accounts
  • Poor match quality and low likelihood of resulting in actual dates
  • Limited user base in smaller cities and non-urban areas
  • Security concerns with location-based technology revealing user movement patterns
  • Subscription and billing issues with poor customer service response

Pricing, plan by plan

Badoo

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Encounters
    • Messaging
    • People Nearby
  • Premium$12.99/month
    • See Who Likes You
    • Invisible Browsing
    • Popularity Boost

Happn

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Happn review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Badoo if

  • You need encounters.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want people nearby.
Badoo review

Choose Happn if

  • You need crossed paths.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want flashnote.
Happn review

Questions people ask

Is Badoo or Happn better?
Neither clearly leads. Badoo starts at Free and Happn at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Badoo or Happn?
Badoo starts at Free and Happn at Free.
Does Badoo or Happn run on more platforms?
Badoo runs on iOS, Android, Web. Happn runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use Badoo for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What can Badoo do that Happn cannot?
Badoo covers Encounters, People Nearby, Live Video, Photo Verification. Happn covers Crossed Paths, FlashNote, CrushTime, Video Call. Both handle Facebook, Instagram, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Badoo: When was Badoo founded?

Badoo was founded in April 2006 in London by Russian entrepreneur Andrey Andreev and is available in 190 countries in 47 languages.

Source
Happn: Is Happn free to use?

Yes, Happn is free to download and use. Premium membership is optional and unlocks features like seeing who has liked your profile and sending FlashNotes to people you haven't matched with.

Source
Happn: How does Happn's location matching work?

Happn shows you profiles of people you have crossed paths with in real life. The app uses GPS to detect when two users are near each other and displays their profiles when this happens. Your exact location remains hidden to other users.

Source
Happn: What is the cost of Happn Premium?

Happn Premium pricing varies by region. In the US, a one-month subscription costs approximately $29.99, while in Europe it ranges from €34.99 for one month to €94.99 for a 12-month subscription.

Source
Happn: What premium features does Happn offer?

Happn Premium allows you to see who has liked your profile, send up to 10 FlashNotes per day to people you haven't matched with, make audio and video calls within the app, and access other advanced features.

Source
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