Coffee Meets Bagel: Is it Worth the Hype? We Tested it for you

Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB) is a dating app that offers something refreshingly different in online dating. After a soft launch solely in New York City during April 2011 by Dawoon, Arum, and Soo Kang Sisters, the service gradually expanded to include Boston and San Francisco.

In September 2012, the company declared that it had raised seed funding of $600,000 spearheaded by Lightbank, with Match.com co-founder Peng T. Ong also contributing.

In January 2015, Coffee Meets Bagel was presented on Shark Tank episode, where sisters petitioned a $500,000 investment in exchange for 5% of the company.

They did not come to an agreement with any of the sharks and notably refused Mark Cuban's theoretical offer to buy the whole company for $30 million. Today, Coffee Meets Bagel net worth is more than $150 million.

It's unique machine learning algorithm curates potential matches based on interests, location, and social circles. Instead of endlessly swiping through profiles, users are presented with a limited number of “Bagels” each day with whom they’re highly compatible.

One standout feature of this dating site is the focus on quality over quantity. With only a limited number of Bagels per day, users are encouraged to take their time – meaning more meaningful connections rather than mindless scrolling.

Women are empowered as well: they can initiate conversations only with someone who has already shown interest in them. But here’s something else worth noting: conversations expire after eight days (you’ll need to use “beans,” the in-app currency, or purchase additional beans to continue talking).

For daters who are tired of giving all to only get ghosted in return, Coffee Meets Bagel is a welcome relief from the surface-level swipe life. The app aims to help singles make more intentional connections of higher substance.

The app has quickly gained a loyal following among 30 to 49-year-olds – the people looking not just for another hookup but for a genuine relationship in an ocean of profiles floating around them on other apps.

By focusing on limited daily matches through its algorithm, profiles don't get lost in the shuffle or overwhelmed with too much attention.

Offered to focus more on quality than quantity (or popularity), perhaps Coffee Meets Bagel will offer you something out of what you expect from your online dating experience.

Coffee Meets Bagel app is just one among one million popular dating sites in the world, but how does it compare with other sites or applications like POF, Bumble, Hinge, and Tinder? Take a look closely:

Coffee Meets Bagel vs. Pof

If you prefer a popular dating app that takes quality over quantity seriously, Coffee Meets Bagel might be the one for you.

This app offers a more curated experience than most, with features like importing Facebook pictures for profile pics, daily matches rated through an algorithm and prepared by humans, ad-free browsing, and more. 

Meanwhile, POF offers a dizzying array of options for daters who want something less curated: message history deletion, Android compatibility (Apple users tend to get the lion’s share of cool products and features in the online dating world), privacy options galore, etc.

Coffee Meets Bagel vs. Bumble

Coffee Meets Bagel is designed for individuals seeking serious relationships and appeals to a more specific, educated demographic. The app offers a daily selection of profiles based on user preferences, with an emphasis on quality rather than quantity.

Bumble is like Tinder but with one key difference - women are in the driving seat when it comes to starting a conversation.

That’s aimed at reducing unsolicited messages and creating a safer environment, although it does also introduce an extra level of complexity that isn’t always welcome. 

Coffee Meets Bagel vs. Hinge

When it comes to signing up, both apps keep things simple. However, Coffee Meets Bagel asks users to share much more detailed personal preferences and interests in order to match them with other people.

While Hinge prompts users with a series of questions designed to create a narrative profile.

Both apps have an interface that is easy for millennials and others to navigate, but there are some downsides. CMB can suffer from app stability issues and delays in receiving notifications – two aspects that the smoother experience on Hinge avoids.

Coffee Meets Bagel vs. Tinder

With its limited number of curated matches a day per user, Coffee Meets Bagel creates a less overwhelming and more private-feeling dating experience.

Tinder’s easy swipe feature and a huge pool of potential matches mean the app appeals to many types of daters – from those seeking casual hook-ups to something more serious.

Its integration with other platforms and fuller profiles give users plenty of scope for showing off their looks as well as their personalities.

Coffee Meets Bagel offers a Premium membership that costs extra but enhances the free experience and might improve your chances of success.

Here’s what you get when you upgrade to Premium:

• View All Matches in the "Likes You" Feed: See everyone who likes you at once, rather than one at a time, like in the free version. Match instantly!

  
  

• Discover Likes: Send eight likes per month in the Discover section without using beans.

  
  

• Profile Boosts: Get three profile boosts per month to increase views up to 5x potentially.

  
  

• Activity Reports: Know how active someone is on CMB.

  
  

• Premium Preferences & Filters: Access advanced filters for more tailored matching.

  
  

• Unlimited "Skip The Line": Prioritize your profile in popular bagels’ feeds with as many as you want each day.

  
  

• Unlimited Rewinds: Take back any likes or passes that you might've regretted!

  
  

• Read Receipts: See when people read the messages that you send them!

  
  

• Beans Discounts: Save on beans!

Pricing Structure

 Regular Premium Membership:

• 1 month: $34.99

  
  

• 3 months: $25/month

  
  

• 6 months: $20/month

  
  

CMB Mini Membership (lighter version):

• 1 month: $14.99

  
  

• 3 months: $10/month

  
  

• 6 months: $9/month

The cost of the subscription may differ depending on where you are. If you don't cancel your premium subscription at least 24 hours before it renews, it'll automatically renew.

Whether the extra features are worth it might come down to personal preference and dating goals. 

If you’re serious about finding a partner and willing to pay for extras, such as detailed activity reports or profile boosts, the added expense might be worth it. 

On the other hand, if you’d rather take a casual approach or if you’re new to online dating and want to give things a go first without committing cash, free could work just fine for you.

Based on a range of sources, such as Reddit, the opinion on Coffee Meets Bagel is generally positive, with some mixed feelings.

Users are attracted to the app because it suggests matches depending on quality rather than quantity. They see this as a pleasing variation from endless swiping apps like Bumble and Tinder.

Here are some Reddit reviews:

• imakeitrainbow: “I've had some quality dates from it, I like that you sort of have to pace yourself, rather than being able to swipe endlessly. A friend met her husband on Cmb. They just bought a house and are expecting their first baby.”

• Jkpoker13: “Agree location matters but I feel people are more down for relationships on it and you get more serious folks which to me is good. It’s not like tinder where you are going to find a lot of people just looking for casual sex.”

• Yournonstoplover: “I'm in NYC. Personally I like it since you can showcase your personality a little better than other dating apps (such as Bumble or Hinge). For example, the character limit for prompts is a little bit higher, so you can say a bit more, if you wanted.”

• Yad76: “As a man, it has been completely useless for me. Matches are pretty rare and then most never respond to my initial message. Had only one legit conversation with a woman who turned out to be scarily weird.”

In general, Coffee Meets Bagel may not be the ideal choice for everyone – particularly people in search of more casual relationships. You may not have matches for a long time!

But it does bring something new and original to online dating, especially for people who are interested in finding a serious relationship rather than a fling.