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Dating & Social · head to head

Happn vs Badoo

Happn logo

Happn

Dating & Social

Find the people you've crossed paths with

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Badoo logo

Badoo

Dating & Social

Make the first move

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

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

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Happn and Badoo actually diverge.

Attributes where Happn and Badoo differ
AttributeHappnBadoo
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsiOS, AndroidiOS, Android, Web
Founded20142006

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

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 Happn

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

Only in Badoo

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

Both cover

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

Badoo

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Happn

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Happn review.

Badoo

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Happn if

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

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

Questions people ask

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

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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: 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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