iDates Review 2026: Is This Coin-Based Dating Site Legit or a Waste of Money?

iDates markets itself as a global aplikacja randkowa for flirting and meeting new people. In practice it belongs to a family of pay-per-message dating sites, alongside platforms such as MyDates I our Moredates review, where the business model rewards long chats more than real meetings. Here’s how it works, what it costs and whether it’s worth your money in 2026.

iDates at a glance

What is iDates?

iDates is an online dating platform where communication runs on virtual coins rather than a monthly subscription. It has been active since around 2016 and is operated by Boranu Online B.V., a company based in Venlo in the Netherlands. iDates says it has millions of members internationally, but independent analysis suggests the number of genuinely active users is much smaller than the headline figures.

The pay-per-message model is the key thing to understand: the site earns more the longer you keep chatting, which is why sites like this attract so many complaints about suspiciously keen profiles. Similar coin-based platforms include iFlirts I WhatsFlirt.

How does iDates work?

1. Sign up on the website or the iOS or Android app with your email, gender, age and location.
2. Add photos and a short bio; email verification is optional.
3. Use your free welcome coins, browse profiles by city and like the people you’re interested in.
4. Check your visitor list and notifications to see who has viewed or liked you.
5. Buy coin packs to keep messaging, since every message costs 50 coins.

iDates features

iDates pricing: what it really costs

iDates is free to join, but conversations cost money. In the UK, coin packs run from about £4.99 for 150 coins to £49.99 for 1,500 coins and £99.99 for 3,000 coins, each with a small bonus. Because one message costs 50 coins, the smallest pack buys only three messages, and every pack works out at roughly £1.50 to £1.70 per message once bonuses are counted. There is no subscription, coins don’t expire and nothing auto-renews, but there’s also no money-back guarantee.

Pros and cons

Is iDates safe?

iDates is not dangerous to browse, but it’s risky for your wallet and your trust. Independent reviewers note that profile authenticity is not thoroughly checked, and the site’s user reviews are full of reports of scripted-sounding chats and profiles that never agree to meet.

• Set a spending limit before you buy any coins and stick to it.
• Be wary of very keen profiles that flirt heavily but always avoid meeting or video calls.
• Never send money or gift cards to anyone you meet online.
• Protect your details and don’t share your address, workplace or financial information.
• 18+ only. iDates is for adults, and age checks rely on users being honest.

How iDates compares

If you want to actually meet people, a mainstream app is a far better bet: how Badoo works lets you czat for free with a much larger, partly verified user base, and Bełkot adds photo verification and a respectful first-message system.

Who is iDates best for?

iDates is only really suited to people who enjoy casual online flirting, understand they’re paying per message and keep their spending tightly capped. Anyone looking for verified matches or real dates should start with a mainstream app. If you’d simply like a live conversation with someone new, our free video chat with strangers costs nothing and needs no sign-up (18+).

Frequently asked questions

Is iDates legit?

iDates is a real, operating dating site run by Boranu Online B.V. in the Netherlands, but legitimacy is not the same as value. Profiles are not thoroughly checked, and thousands of user reviews describe suspected bots or paid chatters and conversations that never lead to dates, so treat it with caution.

How much does iDates cost?

iDates is free to join and gives new users some welcome coins, but each message costs 50 coins. In the UK, coin packs range from about £4.99 for 150 coins to £99.99 for 3,000 coins, so a single message works out at roughly £1.50 to £1.70, depending on bonuses.

Is iDates a subscription?

No. iDates sells one-off coin packs rather than a subscription, the packs do not auto-renew and unused coins do not expire. There is no money-back guarantee, so only buy what you are prepared to lose.

Are there fake profiles on iDates?

Many users believe so. Independent reviewers note that photos and profiles are not closely moderated, and the site’s Trustpilot page is dominated by complaints about bots, AI-looking profiles and chatters who avoid meeting up.

Does iDates have an app?

Yes. iDates is available on the web and as apps for iOS and Android, with coin purchases in the apps processed through Apple or Google Play.

What are better alternatives to iDates?

For real-world dating, mainstream apps such as Badoo, Bumble or Tinder have far larger, better-verified user bases and let you chat without paying per message. If you just want a quick live conversation, a free random video chat is a cheaper way to meet new people.

The bottom line

iDates is easy to use and refreshingly free of subscriptions, but its pay-per-message model, light profile checks and overwhelmingly negative user feedback make it hard to recommend. If you try it, use the free coins first and set a firm budget. For genuine connections, a mainstream dating app is the smarter choice. Our rating: 2/5.