TL;DR — Badoo Review 2026
Badoo est un service gratuit de rencontres et chat app for meeting people nearby, with swiping, messaging and vidéo calls. Launched in 2006 and now part of Bumble Inc, it is free to use with optional Premium and Credits, and it is strictly 18+. It is busy and easy to start, but fake profiles and frequent upsells are common complaints. Note : 3/5.
- Idéal pour : Adults who want a free, casual dating app with a big international user base.
- Coût: Free; Premium from about $8.99 a week in the US, plus optional Credits.
- Caractéristique remarquable : Free video calls with matches and photo verification.
- Passez cette étape si : You want instant video with strangers or a serious, relationship-focused app.
Badoo is one of the biggest free dating apps in the world, built for chatting with and meeting people nearby rather than random webcam matches. This page was originally written as a comparison with Plenty of Fish (POF), so we cover both below. If you mainly want face-to-face chat, Azar’s video-first matching et our guide to dating over video are good places to start.
Badoo at a glance
| Détail | Badoo |
|---|---|
| Taper | Dating and social discovery app |
| Lancé | 2006 |
| Owner | Bumble Inc. (app published by Badoo Software Ltd) |
| Prix | Free; optional Premium and Credits |
| S'inscrire | Compte requis |
| Applications | iOS, Android and web |
| Chat vidéo | Yes, video calls with matches |
| Vérification | Photo verification for profiles |
| Âge requis | 18+ |
| Notre évaluation | 3/5 |
Qu'est-ce que Badoo ?
Badoo is a free dating app that lets adults browse people nearby, swipe in Encounters, message matches and move to video calls. It launched in 2006 and is now part of Bumble Inc., the company behind Bumble. It sits between a social app and a dating app, so it attracts everyone from people looking for friends to people looking for a date. If you want a more relationship-focused route, our guide to meeting singles online compares dating-first options.
How does Badoo work?
Badoo works by matching you with people nearby through swiping and search, then letting you chat and video call once you connect.
- Download the Badoo app for iOS or Android, or open badoo.com in a browser.
- Create an account and add photos and a short bio.
- Verify your photos so other members can see your profile is real.
- Swipe in Encounters or browse People Nearby to find matches.
- Message your matches and start a video call when you both feel comfortable.
Badoo features
Badoo’s features cover the basics of dating apps plus free video calls.
| Fonctionnalité | Ce que cela fait | Pourquoi c'est important |
|---|---|---|
| Encounters | Swipe yes or no on profiles | Quick way to find mutual matches |
| People Nearby | Browse members in your area | Makes meeting locally easier |
| Messaging | Chat with matches | Free on the basic plan |
| Chat vidéo | Face-to-face calls with matches | Lets you check someone is real before meeting |
| Photo verification | Confirms profile photos correspondre the user | Helps cut down on fake profiles |
| Premium | Paid extras such as seeing who liked you | Optional speed-ups, not required pour discuter |
Is Badoo free?
Yes, Badoo is free to join, browse, message matches and video call. Premium is optional: Badoo’s App Store listing shows a Premium week at $8.99 in the US, and independent review site SwipeStats lists one month at about $25.99. Prices vary by country and promotion, and Credits are sold separately for boosts and extra visibility.
Badoo vs Plenty of Fish (POF)
Badoo and Plenty of Fish are both free, large, casual dating apps, but they come from different companies and feel different to use. Plenty of Fish was founded in 2003 and has been owned by Match Group since 2015; it is strongest in North America and offers free messaging plus vivre streaming. Badoo is part of Bumble Inc. and is especially popular in Europe and Latin America, with swiping, People Nearby and video calls.
| Badoo | Plenty of Fish | |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Bumble Inc. | Match Group |
| Lancé | 2006 | 2003 |
| Free messaging | Yes, with matches | Yes, with some limits |
| Vidéo | Video calls with matches | Live streaming and video features |
| Paid tier | Premium and Credits | Premium |
| Strongest in | Europe and Latin America | North America |
Badoo pros and cons
Badoo is busy and generous on free features, but the experience can feel cluttered.
| Pour | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free messaging and video calls | Fake profiles and scammers are a common complaint |
| Huge international user base | Frequent Premium upsells and pop-ups |
| Photo verification | Verification is not foolproof |
| Apps on iOS, Android and web | Mix of intentions, from friendship to casual dating |
| Clear 18+ rating | Needs an account and profile before you can chat |
Is Badoo safe?
Badoo is reasonably safe for adults who stick to verified profiles and keep conversations on the app, but scammers and fake accounts do get through.
Plus de sites de chat vidéo aléatoires
En savoir plus sur les différents sites web qui vous permettent d'effectuer des recherches aléatoires. discuter avec des inconnus en ligne :
- Prefer matches with verified photos, and video call before meeting anyone.
- Never send money, gift cards or crypto to someone you met on a dating app.
- Keep your address, workplace and financial details private.
- Be wary of anyone who pushes you to move to another app straight away.
- Meet in a public place for the first time and tell a friend your plans.
- Report and block suspicious profiles in the app.
Réservé aux personnes de plus de 18 ans : Badoo’s app is rated 18+, and Camround is also strictly for adults.
Badoo vs alternatives
Badoo competes with free dating apps and with video-first apps that skip the profile stage. Our OneNightFriend review covers a casual-dating site, and how MocoSpace compares shows a chat-and-games community. If you would rather see someone right now, Camround’s free one-on-one video chat matches you instantly with no profile needed and is strictly 18+.
| Plate-forme | Format | Gratuit? | S'inscrire | Ressortir |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badoo | Dating app with video calls | Yes, with Premium | Compte | Free video calls with matches |
| Camround | Vidéo aléatoire en tête-à-tête (18+) | Oui | Aucun profil requis | Appariement instantané, possibilité de passer à tout moment, signalement aux modérateurs |
| Azar | Random video chat app | Oui, avec des options payantes | Compte | Swipe-style video matching |
| Ami d'un soir | Casual dating site | Free to join, paid upgrades | Compte | Casual-dating focus |
| MocoSpace | Social chat and games | Yes, with in-app purchases | Compte | Games plus chat |
Who is Badoo best for?
Badoo is best for adults who want a free, casual dating app with lots of people nearby and the option to video call before meeting. If you want a site built around webcam conversations instead, see our CooMeet review for a premium video chat option.
Questions fréquemment posées
Is Badoo free?
Yes. Badoo is free to join, browse, message matches and video call. Premium and Credits are optional paid extras.
Who owns Badoo?
Badoo is part of Bumble Inc., the company behind the Bumble dating app. The Badoo app is published by Badoo Software Ltd.
Is Badoo the same as Plenty of Fish?
No. Plenty of Fish (POF) is a separate dating app owned by Match Group. Both are free, casual dating apps, but Badoo is more popular in Europe and Latin America and POF in North America.
Does Badoo have video chat?
Yes. Badoo lets you video call people you have matched with, which is a useful way to check someone is real before meeting.
How much is Badoo Premium?
Prices vary by country. Badoo’s US App Store listing shows a Premium week at $8.99, and independent reviews list about $25.99 for a month.
Is Badoo safe?
Badoo is 18+ and offers photo verification, but fake profiles and scammers exist. Never send money to matches and meet in public for the first time.
En résumé
Badoo is a big, free dating app with useful extras like video calls and photo verification, which earns it 3/5. Fake profiles and constant upsells stop it scoring higher. For more dating-first choices, see our Passion.com review.