Dating & Social · head to head
Raya vs Coffee Meets Bagel
The short version
- Only Coffee Meets Bagel has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Raya access requires submitting an application that is queued and reviewed, and an applicant can remain waitlisted indefinitely; Coffee Meets Bagel high volume of fake profiles and scammer accounts despite moderation
- They diverge on capability: Raya covers Exclusive Membership, Coffee Meets Bagel covers Curated Daily Matches.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Raya and Coffee Meets Bagel actually diverge.
| Attribute | Raya | Coffee Meets Bagel |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $9.99/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | Unknown |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Ios | iOS, Android |
| Founded | 2015 | 2012 |
Identical on both: 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 Raya
- Exclusive Membership
- Committee Review
- Privacy Protection
- Social Networking
- Work Networking
- Cultural Events
Only in Coffee Meets Bagel
- Curated Daily Matches
- Discover Section
- Icebreakers
- Activity Reports
- Photo Lab
- Video Chat
- Android support
Both cover
- Ios support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Raya
- Private membership network for dating, networking and friendshipnot Coffee Meets Bagel
- Meeting vetted members while controlling your visibilitynot Coffee Meets Bagel
- Application-gated social access rather than open sign-upnot Coffee Meets Bagel
Coffee Meets Bagel
No use cases recorded yet. See the Coffee Meets Bagel review.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Raya
$9.99/month- Membership$9.99/month
- Access to Community
- Dating Mode
- Social Mode
Coffee Meets Bagel
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Coffee Meets Bagel review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Raya if
- You need exclusive membership.
- You work on Ios.
- You also want committee review.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Raya or Coffee Meets Bagel better?
- Neither clearly leads. Raya starts at $9.99/month and Coffee Meets Bagel at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Raya or Coffee Meets Bagel?
- Coffee Meets Bagel has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $9.99/month for Raya and Free for Coffee Meets Bagel.
- Does Raya or Coffee Meets Bagel run on more platforms?
- Raya runs on Ios. Coffee Meets Bagel runs on iOS, Android.
- Can I use Coffee Meets Bagel for free?
- Yes. Coffee Meets Bagel has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Raya starts at $9.99/month.
- What is Raya best used for?
- Raya is most often used for private membership network for dating, networking and friendship, meeting vetted members while controlling your visibility, application-gated social access rather than open sign-up. Of those, private membership network for dating, networking and friendship and meeting vetted members while controlling your visibility are not what Coffee Meets Bagel is typically brought in for.
- What can Raya do that Coffee Meets Bagel cannot?
- Raya covers Exclusive Membership, Committee Review, Privacy Protection, Social Networking. Coffee Meets Bagel covers Curated Daily Matches, Discover Section, Icebreakers, Activity Reports. Both handle Ios 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.
SourceCoffee 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.
SourceCoffee Meets Bagel: How many matches has Coffee Meets Bagel facilitated?
Coffee Meets Bagel has made over 150 million matches for its users globally.
SourceCoffee 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