Dating Reviews For The Best Dating Sites of 2024
An honest review of all dating apps!
An honest review of all dating apps!
Lately, I've been on the hunt for two things: a cougar and a modern day cougar app! I've checked out a few already, so I got impatient and took to Google to find me a cougar site that had an app avail for my phone. That's how I found the CougarD dating app - I couldn't even register on their website which I was actually relieved to see! The CougarD website said that over 150k singles register each month to use it, so hopefully most of them are active profiles.
Something I noticed immediately is that the CougarD app for iPhone has 4.5 stars and 28,300 reviews! This seems way more legit than some other cougar dating apps I’ve downloaded, so I’m really excited to check it out. I spent a lot of time trying this app out, so let’s talk about if it’s actually legit, what the features are, how much it costs, what I thought stood out about it in my CougarD app review.
Oh! And most importantly… would I recommend it to my friends!?
CougarD.net is a global dating app that bridges the age gap between those who are older and younger looking for love. Created in 2016, CougarD is less than ten years old, which explains the more modern look and having mobile apps available! Unlike some other cougar sites I used, CougarD attracts new users each month - more than 150,000 according to their site like I mentioned earlier!
Who is CougarD best for?
✔️Younger men looking to date older, more mature women.
✔️Younger women looking to date older, more mature women.
✔️People interested in a variety of different connections from hookups to longer-term.
✔️Singles interested in location-based technology to improve matches.
✔️Singles who prefer dating websites that also have a “credits” or “coin” option.
✔️A cougar dating site with an actual app!
✔️Someone who prefers dating apps with verification.
Who is CougarD not right for?
✖️Younger singles looking to date close to their age.
✖️Mature women looking for mature/older men.
✖️Someone who prefers to use a desktop vs. mobile app.
✖️Someone who is not comfortable sharing location info with a dating app.
✖️If you don’t like being required to upload a profile photo to sign up.
CougarD works in a few different ways to help you find people. One of the ways CougarD works is by using its location-based technology to hook you up with some other locals.
I could look for users by choosing from a few categories:
If that doesn't give me what I want, then I can click on the filter icon to change my settings to show me diff options. This allows me to look over 100km away from my location (the app shows it in km, not miles for us US-based users!). At first, I wasn’t sure if I could look out of the country. Some apps require you to pay extra if you want to find someone ahead of time in a location you’re traveling to. I used the search option to pretend I was looking in England and got really excited! Until… I realized you had to pay. We’ll discuss this later.
There’s another option in the center with the “compass” button that shows me a new screen with “Hot”, “New” and “Nearby” to browse, along with status messages from users. It seems this part of the CougardD app is similar to a social network.
I can also use the "Quick Match" feature which shows me users a la Tinder style, and I can pass or like their pics.
Once I find someone I like, I can send them a “Wink” that lets me choose from precreated messages, “Super Like” them (which is a paid feature) send them a message with text, an emoji or photo, audio (which was very neat to see!) or add a comment to their photo.
As far as using the app itself, there are a lot of helpful tips that pop up while you’re navigating it as a newbie, in-app notification banners to show when someone is interested in you, and many MANY screens that make you aware of features that are only paid, LOL.
What’s nice is you’ll get free Coins for different activities – for example, I got 20 free Coins each day that I showed up, so I could use them for Super-likes!
By the way, even though this is a cougar dating app, where traditionally younger men are looking for older women, women can actually look for older women to date as well!
✅ Yes!
Yes, it is! There is a CougarD app, and although it's almost a decade old, it's still pulling in new members each month which is a good sign. The profiles seem like real people and the bios came off as genuine - can't say the same about most of the other cougar sites I've seen! CougarD members can also be verified with a system that’s pretty difficult to fake, and there were plenty of gorg mature women on the app as well!
For some more legitimacy, CougarD.net released their 2023 User Report in March. In this article, CougarD is mentioned as the leading dating app for mature women, and the CEO Anna Fleszer is interviewed - how's that for legit?
When I downloaded this app, my first thought was FINALLY - a legit looking app for the cougars!! I was so excited to see a modern dating site. Here's what else I was excited about! Here are some first impressions when I was starting to use it for my CougarD review:
K, onto the questions.
How to delete CougarD account: CougarD makes deleting an account kiiiind of tricky because they hide it under the FAQs. But you know I got you! Here's how to get there:
What's CougarD's age limit?: CougarD's only age limit is that you must be at least 18 to use the app.
How do I cancel my CougarD's subscription? You can cancel your subscription by following the App Store or Google Play Store's Terms and Conditions. Just remember that you will still need to delete your CougarD account if you're looking to get rid of your account completely! Don’t pay the “I forgot” tax like me. 😬
Do you have to pay to use CougarD?: You don’t have to, but you can upgrade to Plus or purchase Coins if you want access to the more advanced (and fun) features!
Is CougarD app free to use?: There are free options to use before upgrading!
What features do I need Coins for on CougarD?: You’ll need Coins to send a Super-like or for a profile Boost. I talk more about this in the features section!
📲YES!! For both iOS and Android.
Praise the app gods - yes there is!!!! Signing up on the mobile app is the only way to create an account - no desktop version of the app here. You can download the app from Google Play or the App Store so everyone wins!
🐇Super fast! It took less than 5 minutes.
Is it weird that I'm actually excited to do CougarD's sign up process? It's been a while since I was able to have instant gratification…on my phone! By the way, this app requires you to upload a profile photo in order to fully register so, if that’s a deterrent, it’s not the best app for you!
Here's what it looks like to sign up for the CougarD app:
1. First, I download the app (you can do it from CougarD.net or right in the app stores) and see that I can continue with my Apple account, or sign in with my email. Buttt since I don't have an account yet, I'm going to go ahead and click that colorful "Create Account" button.
2. Then, I enter my email and create a password. I'm on the first step out of 4, so we're already off to a great start!
3. This is where I can upload a clear pic of my face - any pics that don't meet CougarD's requirements will be deleted.
IMPORTANT: You have to upload a photo here, you can’t bypass it.
Then, I fill in some info like my nickname, DOB, and gender. There's only two gender options and they can't be changed, which is a new one for me.
4. I can allow (or deny) CougarD to access my location for some more potential matches. I know there is concern around approving this, but tbh, part of the way the app works is using it so you may as well. You can always click “not now” and then use “Allow Once” when it pops up again.
5. Last step! At least we end things on a good note - I fill in deets about my relationship status:
And then choose 5 preferences like,
Like I mentioned, I’m supposedly on the last step, but I've been tricked before where I thought it was the end… only to have to answer more questions.
Let's hope that's not the case with CougarD!
Note: Right after this, a screen popped up for me to rate the CougarD app. 🤔Feels a lil’ premature right!?
6. Wowwww - no tricks here! In 5 easy steps, I'm done signing up with CougarD and am dropped into the main feed. I also have my first message from CougarD themselves . aww!
Here’s what the CougarD.net main feed (aka “CougarD Plaza”) looks like right after signing up. FYI - I took this screenshot on my iPad, so the view looks weird for some reason… but there is an interesting mix of ages here ranging from 18-61.
I chose my gender as female, but I couldn't choose which gender I wanted to see for matches. I find it a lil strange that I'm on a cougar site and am being shown all pics of dudes…does this mean I'm a cougar now?! LOL!
EDIT: I found out that I can change who I'm looking for by tapping on the filter icon and switching the "show me" from male to female.
So what’s on the main feed? I can find things like:
It’s a pretty intuitive interface to use, and simple as well! No extra, unnecessary frills or features.
The profiles on CougarD have a diff layout than the typical dating site/app. All of the person's information is literally right on their profile pic - just scroll down and you'll see their info. It provides a lot of info such as,
And more! Like what you read? CougarD makes it super easy to reach out directly from a profile. Just choose an option - I can send a wink, comment, or rank high on their list with a Super-like (this requires Coins.)
As far as what I could update on my profile, here it is!
I can add…
Overall, I really like the profile options. They have just enough information to get the convo started, without feeling super tedious to fill out. The one thing I didn’t like was how you had to swipe up to see someone’s profile info, and then it was layered over the pic making it hard to read.
Still, it has one of the better profile interfaces I’ve seen!
I was a little taken aback by the lack of options when searching on the CougarD app. Something to be aware of is if you’re searching for both genders, you can’t click “both.” You have to switch it on every search screen. 😑
Searching using the filtered search on top right:
Here's what I could search by:
Filtering on the main feed (CougarD Plaza)
I could also narrow my searches a bit more by clicking on a category underneath "CougarD Plaza." For example, I could search by…
Using the “Compass”
There’s also the option to hit the lil’ compass button on the footer, which shows you filter options (Hot, New, Nearby) and a user feed with profile photo and a recent status update (called “Moments). This is the social media style browsing I mentioned earlier!
Quick matches nearby (the heart option)
And last, I could click the heart in the footer to see local hotties and choose to like them, or swipe/hit the X. I could also send messages on here directly to my prospect!
✅Yes! But you need to upgrade for certain features.
The CougarD app is free to use, but it costs extra to do certain things, such as sending a message first to someone. You can get away with using it without upgrading for a while, but to get any meaningful connections out of it, you’ll have to pony up that cash!
So, a common question about this site is “why can’t I delete my CougarD account?!” And I get it! It does seem a bit tricker than usual like I mentioned earlier in the TL;DR. If you didn’t see it up there, here are the steps again:
And there you have it! Now you know how to delete CougarD account profiles.
CougarD has both a free and paid (Plus) subscription to use. The free subscription is great for those new to the cougar dating scene and is also great for those new to the site who want to check it out before committing. The CougarD Plus subscription is best for experienced users who know what they want and aren't afraid to go after it.
I love being able to check an app out for free! Here's what I could do on CougarD.net for FREE:
Not too bad! The main thing I didn’t like was not being able to message people first, because that makes it way more difficult to find a match. I could give them the hint every other way and hope that they messaged me, or buy Coins for super-likes!
💰Price ranges from $23.33 to $29.99
Exhausted all the free options and still want more? Like actually messaging people? Girl, I got you!
CougarD's Plus Subscription prices aren't too bad compared to other dating apps I've seen. It’s very similar to LuvCougar, more expensive than MatureDates, and cheaper than Cougars69.
Upgrading to CougarD Plus can be done for:
You get a bit of a discount for choosing the 3 month or 6 month packages, but starting with 1 month should be good to test the waters!
Here's what I could do with CougarD Plus:
CougarD app also has the option to buy Coins if you’re just looking to get someone’s attention and hope for a message, without trying out the Plus subscription yet! So what does that cost?
CougarD lets you earn Coins to use by doing simple things like showing up daily or updating certain parts of your profile. Here’s how much the Coin packages cost:
You’ll notice the option to buy Coins pop up when you try to click features that aren’t free. This is what you can do with Coins:
If you buy the smallest package, you’ll be able to send a few Super-likes and get Boosted.
With all of the cougar dating sites out there, it's hard to stand apart from the crowd. Luckily, there's features that dating apps like CougarD can offer to help attract more users - and judging by other people’s CougarD reviews, they feel the same way!
Here's what made CougarD a unique dating app:
Every dating site has its pros and cons, including CougarD. Curious to know what they are?
We can cap off my CougarD review with them!
It's hard not to like something that brings you sexy singles for free!! Here's what else I loved about CougarD:
CougarD had a lot going for it, and they have a mobile app so I really can't complain! Buttt, if I was going to complain, it would be about these:
It was so refreshing seeing a CougarD app that catered to both iPhone and Android users. It def stands out from the other cougar dating sites due to its more modern approach and active user base, but it could still do a few things to make it more appealing.
I did end up getting a ton of admirers right off the bat! But unfortunately it seems like younger men are using it as a regular dating app to find younger women / women their age (and probably vice versa), so my inbox had a d*ck pic in it pretty quickly. 😑I hit that block button SOOO fast! There were a ton of gorg older ladies on here that were active – so many to connect and chat with. I was glad I tried out this cougar dating site and was able to share this CougarD app review with you!
I will definitely use CougarD when on the prowl. It was worth the upgrade.
Visit Visit CougarD App
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