One piece of advice I have always liked giving people about dating apps is to never get too attached! It’s always been like that – more about fleeting connections and less about getting involved. Sometimes, the interface and nature of these apps even stop you from connecting on a deeper level.
In spite of knowing this, you might ask: ‘why would you even get on an app then?
TBH, I had some time and I was working on my dream project – to make online dating a safe space for women! And I had to start from scratch – do app reviews! While doing so, one of the coolest apps I came across last month was Coffee Meets Bagel.
My friends had already been using it for sometime as a much needed Tinder alternative. And I had heard it was an excellent source of light-hearted fun and entertainment. One week on the app made me realize that everyone was on the app – but for different reasons, but mostly to find love.
Although I’ve been using the excuse of doing dating app reviews, a part of me also wanted to find love. Isn’t the desire to fall in love and to find someone who loves you super alluring?
Yeah, well, for many reasons, I tried out Coffee Meets Bagel, and here’s my comprehensive review on whether it is worth the hype.
Stay tuned.
What Is Coffee Meets Bagel?
Launched by three sisters – Soo Kang, Arum Kang, and Dawoon Kang – in 2012, Coffee Meets Bagel stands for its primary focus on serious relationships. Yes, the app does stand out in this aspect – a solid 70% of active users on the dating app are looking for serious relationships and another 11% are on the app for a spouse.
So, if you aren’t up for something serious, then it is best to avoid Coffee Meets Bagel.
Interestingly, the three founding members had also made an appearance on reality show Shark Tank, even getting an offer from Mark Cuban. However, the sisters rejected Cuban’s investment and instead leveraged their TV appearance to promote the app.
As per data, most dating apps can’t retain women for a long time.
In fact, Dawoon Kang spoke about this trend in a Forbes interview: “The industry has been coined a ’sausage-fest’ because of the 65% men/35% women gender ratio (of users). Things even get more lopsided when you consider the activity level of men and women, where men are typically 2x more active than women on a dating app.”
So, it was only appropriate for the three sisters to create an app that would be able to solve the issues they witnessed in the industry. Their solution? To make an app that focuses primarily on women.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Emphasis on long-term relationships. | 1. No video chat feature. |
| 2. Curated matches daily. | 2. Few options every day. |
| 3. Free version available for all. | 3. Simple, drab features. |
| 4. Expiry of chats. |
How Does Coffee Meets Bagel Work?
Coffee Meets Bagel uses a unique algorithm based on machine learning that curates potential love interests based on social circles, location, and interests.
Instead of swiping endlessly through profiles, you will get a few ‘bagels’ every day – typically, you are going to see that you are highly compatible with these bagels.
Moreover, a standout feature of this app is how it makes quality a primary focus. So, with limited bagels every day, you can take your time. This means you can make more meaningful bonds instead of scrolling mindlessly through profiles.
In addition, women also feel safe and empowered on this platform. This is because the app lets women start conversations with people who have shown interest in them.
However, the opportunity to initiate conversations expires within eight days. After eight days, you will have to use the in-app currency or beans to continue talking. Also, you can buy additional beans for doing the same.
Is Coffee Meets Bagel Free?
I might have already mentioned this – you can use the Coffee Meets Bagel app for free.
Yeah, I had downloaded the app on my device and created a profile before I could start matching and chatting with potential partners. Like most dating apps, you can do this for free.
Of course, there are dating apps that differ from most paid apps, which come with premium membership and subscription options. These paid apps will not allow you to contact anyone beyond likes or winks. Well, you don’t have to worry about that with Coffee Meets Bagel.
Also, it is worth noting that the timeframe for communicating with your matches is pretty limited. Yes, you will get only about eight days to get in touch with a potential match. After eight days, the contact option will automatically expire.
Moreover, the limitations in timeframe can get somewhat exhausting for busy working professionals. However, there is still enough time to at least exchange contact details to ensure you don’t lose touch.
So, here’s a breakdown of Coffee Meets Bagel pricing plans:
- $34.99/monthly.
- $25.00/monthly (for a 3-month subscription).
- $20.00/monthly (for 6-month subscription).
Coffee Meets Bagel Alternatives
So, I tried out several dating apps over a year. Based on my experience with these apps and research materials I obtained after talking to at least 100 women, here’s a list of Coffee Meets Bagel alternatives at a glance:
- Tawkify.
- Silversingles.
- Elite Singles.
- Tinder.
- Bumble.
- Hinge.
- OkCupid.
Is Coffee Meets Bagel Worth The Hype (And Investment)?
For active daters who are just done with getting ghosted without an explanation, Coffee Meets Bagel offers relief from surface-level connections and swipes. Moreover, the dating app aims to help people make more qualitative connections.
I also realized that the app has gained loyal followers in the 30 to 50 age group. This age group mostly includes people looking for something more meaningful than some casual hookup.
Moreover, by focusing only on limited matches daily, thanks to the app’s algorithm, profiles are typically not lost in the haze of too many matches.
So, if you want to make quality a priority, then Coffee Meets Bagel is a good option for you – it does offer something more than what we tend to expect usually. If you are all set to direct the overwhelming online dating landscape, Coffee Meets Bagel has got you covered – don’t forget to share your experience with us in the comments below.
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