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Dating · head to head

Badoo vs Raya

Badoo logo

Badoo

Dating

Make the first move

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Raya logo

Raya

Dating

An exclusive community

From
$9.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Badoo has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Badoo less popular than Tinder in developed Western markets; Raya access requires submitting an application that is queued and reviewed, and an applicant can remain waitlisted indefinitely
  • They diverge on capability: Badoo covers Encounters, Raya covers Exclusive Membership.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Badoo and Raya actually diverge.

Attributes where Badoo and Raya differ
AttributeBadooRaya
Starting priceFree$9.99/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebIos
Founded20062015

Identical on both: 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
  • Facebook
  • Android support

Only in Raya

  • Exclusive Membership
  • Committee Review
  • Privacy Protection
  • Social Networking
  • Work Networking
  • Cultural Events

Both cover

  • Instagram
  • Ios 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.

Raya

  • Private membership network for dating, networking and friendshipnot Badoo
  • Meeting vetted members while controlling your visibilitynot Badoo
  • Application-gated social access rather than open sign-upnot 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

Raya

  • Access requires submitting an application that is queued and reviewed, and an applicant can remain waitlisted indefinitely
  • Full functionality of the service is only available while a paid membership is active
  • Memberships are sold only as 1, 6 or 12 month auto-renewing terms
  • Auto-renewals are charged within 24 hours before the end of the period
  • Cancelling a subscription only takes effect at the end of the current period, with no mid-term exit
  • Accounts can be suspended or terminated for conduct judged not to reflect the community guidelines
  • The iOS app requires iOS 17.0 or later

Pricing, plan by plan

Badoo

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

Raya

$9.99/month
  • Membership$9.99/month
    • Access to Community
    • Dating Mode
    • Social Mode

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 Raya if

  • You need exclusive membership.
  • You work on Ios.
  • You also want committee review.
Raya review

Questions people ask

Is Badoo or Raya better?
Neither clearly leads. Badoo starts at Free and Raya at $9.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Badoo or Raya?
Badoo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Badoo and $9.99/month for Raya.
Does Badoo or Raya run on more platforms?
Badoo runs on iOS, Android, Web. Raya runs on Ios.
Can I use Badoo for free?
Yes. Badoo has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Raya starts at $9.99/month.
What can Badoo do that Raya cannot?
Badoo covers Encounters, People Nearby, Live Video, Photo Verification. Raya covers Exclusive Membership, Committee Review, Privacy Protection, Social Networking. Both handle Instagram, Ios 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.

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