An in-depth view of Badoo – opportunities for real dates or just fakes?

How high are your chances of getting to know genuine people on the Badoo app in New Zealand?

Well, answering this question is not so easy. Naturally, it depends on how you present yourself and whether you are able to make a good first impression when you strike up a conversation.

But first, let’s take a closer look at Badoo:

Badoo is one of the biggest dating apps worldwide: The app has been downloaded by around half a billion users worldwide. Singles from more than 190 countries have used the app to date and to meet new people.

Sounds promising doesn’t it?

But what does this mean in concrete terms for you and your search for romance in New Zealand?

With the following hands-on test, we took Badoo for a spin to see for ourselves whether the app is useful where you are.

How does Badoo really function?

Does the name Badoo mean anything to you? If so, this is probably due to Badoo’s extensive history and broad popularity. Badoo has been on the market since 2006 and is even older than Tinder.

The platform is designed for people all over the world who want to meet and flirt with new people. The general mood of the app is pretty laid-back and users tend not to feel any great need to make big commitments. Getting to know people and having fun is very much in the foreground here.

Roughly 52% of registered users on Badoo Chat are male. Correspondingly, around 48% of registered users are female. So the ratio is pretty much equal, which is why so many sizzling new contacts are made every day. The average user age lies somewhere between 20-35 years old.

Conquer the impatience of online dating

If you want to be proactive and quickly make new contacts, then Badoo is most definitely the app for you.

As soon as you have registered you can start looking for potential partners and, more importantly, chat for free. Through chat you can see the many users in your area. If you have any sort of flirting skills, you should be able to arrange a date in a short amount of time.

Women generally have the advantage on dating apps, and things are no different on Badoo. Here, as with other platforms, women are messaged by lots of guys everyday and consequently have more than enough choice. As a result, many women often take a while to respond to messages and in many cases do not respond at all.

So what does this mean for single-men from New Zealand on Badoo?

So that you do not suffer this unfortunate fate, you need to go that extra mile right from the get-go. Only by putting in the work will you stand out from all the other men using this app.

Our experience with Badoo shows us that there is certainly a wide range of members using chat. Of course, it’s not possible to get to know everyone, and the vibe definitely revolves around casual and low-key chats. For those that take it easy and simply enjoy chatting rather than pursuing love at all costs, Badoo is the place to be. And with a little luck who knows, it could lead to much more.

Is Badoo free? This is probably the most common question that we receive.

And the answer is yes. As noted earlier, you can get started on Badoo Chat for free as soon as you have registered. From setting up a profile all the way to organising a date, you do not need to pay anything.

And what’s more, there are further functions that come without any additional cost. Here’s a brief overview of these additional functions:

Free on Badoo

• You can read and write messages in chat for free (10 messages per day)
• Viewing and rating images
• The complete profile search function
• Swiping and matching

Additional costs on Badoo

• See who likes you before matching
• Invisible mode
• Set your profile right at the top of search results
• See who bookmarked you as a favourite
• Unlimited messages
• Recover and reverse swipes
• Highlight messages

If you want all of these additional benefits, you can go for the Premium-membership option. We have all the costs set out for you here:

• Badoo premium for a week costs NZD 10
• Badoo premium for a month costs NZD 30
• Badoo premium for 3 months costs NZD 70
• Unlimited membership costs NZD 140

No idea how long you want to be on Badoo? Then the permanent membership is really not for you. But this doesn’t matter, you can use Badoo coins to unlock single features and one-off benefits for your profile.

For example, with 50 coins you can raise your profile to the top of the search results. This puts your profile right on show for other members.

Badoo Coins are purchased in bundles. We have the costs set out for you below:

• 100 Badoo Coins: NZD 5
• 550 Badoo Coins: NZD 22
• 1,250 Badoo Coins: NZD 45
• 2,750 Badoo Coins: NZD 85

What’s more, in addition to purchasing coins you can also earn them. Take advantage of offers from advertising partners or take part in surveys placed on the Badoo platform to earn yourself coins.

Badoo pricing: our conclusion

In general, we can say that the free version of Badoo is the ideal way to start flirting straight away. In particular, the fact that the chat-function is free is a fantastic advantage for users.

What you should however bear in mind is that the number of members is incredibly high. There is a lot of activity on this platform. The downside of this is that it is not always easy to stand out from the crowd. To this extent you may very well be needing those additional premium features.

But careful: Badoo membership works like a subscription. When you no longer wish to have the premium-membership you will need to actively cancel it, otherwise the costs will continue rolling on a monthly basis.

At this stage we’d like to take a deeper look at the platform’s functionality and look at some real user experiences so as to give you a clearer view of what the app is really like.

In particular we clarify what advantages Badoo’s invisible mode brings to the table as well as how the encounters function operates. We’ve tested all the app functions and laid them all out for you to see. What’s more, we’ve also gone and tested the website for you!

a) Registering on Badoo

Registering on the app is a breeze. You can register using either Facebook (as well as other apps) or by setting up with your email address and a password. After this, you are good to go.

b) Using Badoo search

With the Badoo app, the location-based search is worth its weight in gold. Especially if you want to meet other singles in your area, you should activate the location search. Activate your location and discover numerous profiles of men and women who are in your immediate vicinity.

And you know what’s even better?

You can write to all of the users in your area totally free of charge.

As far as the filter functions concerned, you may wish to activate the "popular" filter. If you have this set, you will see contacts who receive a particularly large number of likes. If you do decide to use this filter, be aware that competition will be even greater here and you will have your work cut out.

c) Encounters

With encounters, Badoo has created something similar to the "swipe system" used by platforms such as Tinder, with which you can like or dislike members as they appear on your screen.

However, while most other NZ dating-platforms use the standard right or left swipe function, Badoo uses the Heart or X. Click on the heart when you are attracted to the member and wish to chat or meet. Click on the X when you feel the opposite.

If you are particularly in to someone, you can use the 2-Heart function. This means "Crush", and the member will receive this straight away, so you won’t have to hang around waiting for that mutual Heart match.

d) Straight into the action: use Badoo live

Badoo Live can be an absolute highlight for those that like to be in the limelight. If you like to hold court and be the centre of attention, then Badoo live is definitely for you.

Similar to Instagram TV, you can go live "on air" and share the livestream with your contacts. Not sure whether you’ll go down a storm? Then take a look at a few live streams from other users first so you can get an idea of it in advance!

Our Badoo Live experience revealed quite the range of entertaining curiosities. It’s absolutely worth checking out.

Encourage Badoo Live Streamers with gifts

Badoo Live is also a great way for the casual viewer simply to come into contact with other single people. Furthermore, you also have the option of giving virtual gifts to the Live Streamer which could earn you some attention in return.

e) Invisible Mode

Is this all too much exposure for you?

With Badoo you have the option of remaining “invisible” while you check out profiles.  But to use this function you will need a Premium-membership. You can activate this on your profile under settings.

So you’ve gone incognito but you aren’t sure whether anyone can see you or not?

It’s easy to find this out:

When you are invisible your Profile has a grey silhouette with a hat.  Nobody can see your profile photos or information.

f) Using Badoo via app and website

Badoo is not just an app but also a well-functioning website.

What does this mean exactly?

You can use the same login details to log into the service on both your smartphone and your laptop.

Regarding which one to choose, there really are no major advantages or disadvantages. In essence, it is pretty much a matter of taste as to which you prefer to use.

That being said, there are two functions that are not available on your desktop.

First off, there are the location services. Your smartphone has no trouble figuring out not just your location but showing how far away other users are. This is not the case for the desktop version. And secondly, Badoo Live is only available on the smartphone version.

Otherwise, they’re both the same. Both Badoo’s Desktop and mobile version are fun and very well presented visually.

And why would you want to chat on a laptop?

Again, this is a matter of taste. On occasion, it might be easier to type on your PC rather than on a small phone screen. Should it turn into a long conversation, you’d most definitely want to set yourself up comfortably on the computer.

Our Badoo NZ Test: The Conclusion

The Badoo dating app is for anyone that wants to flirt- completely relaxed and without obligations. Here, fun stays firmly in the foreground rather than the search for a husband or wife.

And on Badoo there are a number of creative and innovative functions that makes contacting other people easy. It’s so much fun actually, you may want to look out for signs of addiction!

The main advantage of Badoo is the considerably large database. There really are a lot of registered users on this site. Unfortunately however, there are also heaps of inactive accounts and fake-profiles. But don’t worry, we’ll make it all clear in the next chapter exactly how you can steer well clear of them.

Because the initial free Badoo functions work so well, you have the freedom to make your own impression of the platform. And the app really is a pleasant use of your time. If you come into the experience without high expectations (finding true love or a fixed relationship for instance), Badoo really can be a lot of fun. But watch out: The level of quality is not always great. Nonetheless, there are many great NZ singles out there for you.

Are you concerned that you might be tricked by the fake profiles?

The reality is…

There are simply fakes everywhere. And on occasion you will cross paths with frauds who will ask probing and personal questions.

And not only this... sometimes you will meet people who don’t answer you at all or who aren’t interested in dating. Those that don’t appear to have any intention of using the app for what it’s for could also fairly be described as "fake".

Part of the problem is that Badoo has a relatively large number of inactive users. Strangely, these profiles continue to be displayed by the algorithm to Badoo users.

Moreover, there are some users on Badoo who are really quite unenthusiastic. So you should be prepared for some poor quality chats and disappointments.

How does one recognise the genuine frauds?

If you strike up a conversation with a Badoo- verified member, you can rest assured that they are in all probability a genuine app user.

Of course, you can also verify your own profile. This will increase your chances of receiving responses.

How do you do that?

• On your profile you’ll see a photo symbol: “Verify profile”
• Activate the “take a photo” function and unlock your camera
• Imitate the gesture as requested for by Badoo and make sure that your face is clearly visible
• Press the “send for verification” button.
• Badoo customer services will respond within a few minutes either to confirm or reject the image.

Caution: perfect profile photos

Pay close attention to photos that appear too perfect to be real.

Do your potential dates’ photos look as if they were done by a professional modelling agency? This of course may not guarantee that you are dealing with a fake. That being said, frauds usually copy professional quality photos from the internet when creating fake profiles.

Tip: You can check the image using Google reverse image search. If you find information about the pictures that doesn't match the statements of the “user”, you should discontinue contact immediately and consider reporting them to customer service.

Check the text: Too good to be true?

You can also read into the profile text for clues

Statements that are too good to be true can also be indicative of a fake. If, for example, a 25-year-old woman is looking for a pensioner over 60, while this can of course correspond to reality, the probability is much higher that this is not the case.

Be careful with links to external websites

A common trick used by fraudsters is to redirect the user to an external website, which is often paid for. Generally speaking, this begins with a conversation initiated by what appears to be an incredibly beautiful woman. After a short harmless chat, the individual will claim that they only very rarely use the site and will attempt to get you on to a different website.

Undoubtedly a textbook case of fraud…please be careful!

Fakes will very rarely meet up in real life

Have you got chatting with someone but are still unsure whether they are a real person? Best thing to do is ask them out on a date. In most cases, a fraudster will make an excuse at the last minute or will try to postpone.

Be careful: Never meet someone for the first time at their place or yours. The first date should take place in a public and preferably busy location.

Our conclusion on fake profiles

Fake-Profiles are basically part of the Badoo NZ experience

But this is the case with many of the other dating apps, there are always people out there with bad intentions. The best way to protect yourself is to take note of our tips, use your common sense and pay attention to your gut instincts.

In doing this, you will be able to spot and ignore the fast majority of fakes and scams.

So, our brief summary of Badoo is: quite a few fakes, a whole lot of competition, and some superficial flirting thrown in. So now you are probably asking, is it even possible to have a proper date here?

Is Badoo a waste of time or does it have something going for it?

It’s really not so easy to give a direct answer to this question. In some cases the answer would be a firm “yes”, in other instances, a firm “no”.  But we’d like to explain what exactly makes all the difference between a positive and a negative experience.

Basic rule for online dating: If you put the hours in, you will get something in return. Proper dating, casual sex or forming new friendships- it’s all possible here. But it is always important that you communicate exactly what you are really looking for. Authenticity pays off.

What about hook-ups?

The truth:

You’ll soon see that it’s tough to stand out from the crowd. It is all too easy to get drowned out by all the other profiles and messages flying around

But it’s all on you!

You can pimp your profile out so that it is sure to be noticed.

And how can you do that?

A few tips:

Create an informative profile

A quality, meaningful profile makes the first contact easier for people who want to chat with you, and provides the information they need to assess whether they want to date you.

Make sure you state in your profile what you are looking for on Badoo and who should contact you. There are some basic options for you to choose, such as “Just chat”, “friendships”, “something casual” or “something serious”. Your chances of finding exactly what you are looking for increases if you say clearly what you want.

It‘s also important that you write a short bio about yourself.

Can’t think of what to say?

• Well you’re out of luck then aren’t you? ;) Don’t worry, we wouldn’t let you down. Here are some ideas for what you could say:
• What do you suck at?
• What’s your go-to excuse to get out of things you don’t want to do?
• Tell me an embarrassing story

Even if this ends up getting a bit awkward, other users will see that you have made an effort in doing something unique. And it also looks authentic. That's half the battle.

Let everyone see that you are not fake

Prove to other users in advance that you are not a fake.

Fakes are irritating. But you can get your Badoo profile officially verified. According to Badoo, those that do this are way more likely to receive messages. 

Simply follow the steps outlined earlier in the article to verify your account.

Score points with authentic photos

You should have at least one current photo of yourself on your profile otherwise you’ll not get very far. If possible, upload several good photos of yourself taking part in different activities.

And makes sure that you look authentic in your photos. Are you clear to see in the shots? Forget Photoshop and filters, show who you really are. But of course, from your best side ;)

If you link your profile with your social networks like Facebook or Instagram, you can give your entire profile even more authenticity. This way, other members get a much better idea of you.

Show your genuine interests

If you are interested in someone, you should also study their profile more closely. Using their profile, have a think what topics might be good for building rapport. You will score points by showing an interest in what makes them tick.

What should you look out for in a profile?

Some examples: does the user have pictures of any travel destinations? Are any of these places that you’ve been or places on your bucket list? It’s really easy to steer a conversation into one of these directions. Also, give your own thoughts and impressions if you ever visited any of the same places. All of this makes for a lively conversation.

Honesty and authenticity pays off

It should go without saying in every situation and not just online. Regardless of whether you find your chat partner hot or not, always be honest and authentic. By all means be direct but don't offend- be polite.

And remember: there is no such thing as total perfection. Stand by your mistakes. And this works both ways, you can’t expect your partner to be absolute perfection.

Know who you are. By the way, this is sexy. People who are self-confident (not to be confused with arrogant) always magically appear more attractive to the opposite sex. And this will help you find a partner much faster.