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Software · head to head

Coffee Meets Bagel vs Mastodon

Coffee Meets Bagel logo

Coffee Meets Bagel

Software

Quality over quantity

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mastodon logo

Mastodon

Software

Social networking that's not for sale

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Coffee Meets Bagel high volume of fake profiles and scammer accounts despite moderation; Mastodon the App Store listing (publisher Mastodon gGmbH) states the official app is free with no subscription tier; as a federated non-profit network there is no vendor-hosted enterprise plan or SLA available to purchase.
  • They diverge on capability: Coffee Meets Bagel covers Curated Daily Matches, Mastodon covers Decentralization.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Coffee Meets Bagel and Mastodon actually diverge.

Attributes where Coffee Meets Bagel and Mastodon differ
AttributeCoffee Meets BagelMastodon
Pricing modelUnknownfree
PlatformsiOS, AndroidIos, Android, Web
Founded20122016

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

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 Coffee Meets Bagel

  • Curated Daily Matches
  • Discover Section
  • Icebreakers
  • Activity Reports
  • Photo Lab
  • Video Chat
  • Facebook

Only in Mastodon

  • Decentralization
  • Custom Servers
  • No Ads
  • Chronological Feed
  • Content Warnings
  • Federation
  • ActivityPub
  • Fediverse

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Android support

Where each one falls short

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

Coffee Meets Bagel

  • High volume of fake profiles and scammer accounts despite moderation
  • Weak matching algorithm compared to competitors like eharmony and OkCupid
  • Limited free features with most features requiring premium subscription
  • Frequent app bugs, glitches, and technical issues affecting usability
  • Slow and unresponsive customer service with rude representatives
  • Billing errors and overcharging issues with difficult refund processes
  • Limited user base in smaller cities and non-urban areas

Mastodon

  • The App Store listing (publisher Mastodon gGmbH) states the official app is free with no subscription tier; as a federated non-profit network there is no vendor-hosted enterprise plan or SLA available to purchase.

Pricing, plan by plan

Coffee Meets Bagel

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Coffee Meets Bagel review.

Mastodon

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Toots
    • Federation
    • Custom Instances

Which should you pick?

Choose Coffee Meets Bagel if

  • You need curated daily matches.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want discover section.
Coffee Meets Bagel review

Choose Mastodon if

  • You need decentralization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want custom servers.
Mastodon review

Questions people ask

Is Coffee Meets Bagel or Mastodon better?
Neither clearly leads. Coffee Meets Bagel starts at Free and Mastodon at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Coffee Meets Bagel or Mastodon?
Coffee Meets Bagel starts at Free and Mastodon at Free.
Does Coffee Meets Bagel or Mastodon run on more platforms?
Coffee Meets Bagel runs on iOS, Android. Mastodon runs on Ios, Android, Web.
Can I use Coffee Meets Bagel for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What can Coffee Meets Bagel do that Mastodon cannot?
Coffee Meets Bagel covers Curated Daily Matches, Discover Section, Icebreakers, Activity Reports. Mastodon covers Decentralization, Custom Servers, No Ads, Chronological Feed. Both handle Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Coffee Meets Bagel: What is Coffee Meets Bagel's pricing?

Coffee Meets Bagel offers a free tier with daily bagels and premium plans starting at $14.99/month (Mini plan) and $35/month (Premium). In-app currency called Beans can be purchased for additional features.

Source
Coffee Meets Bagel: What are Coffee Meets Bagel's main features?

The app sends users a limited set of daily matches called bagels based on preferences and behavior. If both users like each other, a chat opens that expires in seven days. 91% of users on CMB seek serious relationships.

Source
Coffee Meets Bagel: How many matches has Coffee Meets Bagel facilitated?

Coffee Meets Bagel has made over 150 million matches for its users globally.

Source
Coffee Meets Bagel: How did Coffee Meets Bagel turn down a Shark Tank offer?

In Shark Tank Season 6 (2015), Mark Cuban offered $30 million to buy the company outright. The founders rejected the offer, believing the company could grow as large as Match.com and reach a billion-dollar valuation.

Source
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Related pages

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