Dating sites have managed to touch on almost any demographic you can think of. From fetish sites to religious focused apps, there is something out there for pretty much everyone. Well, the makers of Kippo managed to identify a demographic that has been largely ignored by digital dating companies – gamers.
The gaming community is huge, and it’s shocking that more dating sites/apps haven’t worked harder to try and create a place where gamers can connect and feel comfortable making friends and romantic connections. So, we automatically give Kippo a virtual high five.
However, if you have seen any of our other dating site reviews, you know that we won’t give a dating site a pass that easily. In this Kippo review, we are going to go deeper into the world of Kippo. Are there cheat codes to finding love? Is the site a microtransaction minefield? Read on to find out if this site is actually worth the hype!
Kippo App at a Glance
Overall Rating – 3.8/5.0
| Userbase | 25,000 + |
| Sign-Up Time | Under 5 minutes |
| Membership Cost | Premium memberships start at $10/month |
| Payment Required? | Yes, free trial membership available |
| Avg. User Rating | 3.7/5.0 |
| Avg. User Age | 18-24 |
| Gender Ratio | 60% Men | 40% Women |
| Free Messaging? | Yes |
| Video Chat? | No |
| iOS App? | Yes |
| Android App? | Yes |
| Web Friendly? | App only |
| Support Options | Ticket Support, Short FAQ page |
| Launch Date | 2018 |
| Owned By | David Park (Covalent Inc.) |
Is Kippo Right for me?
Kippo may not have the numbers of other popular sites like Tinder and Bumble, but we can easily see them catching up over time! The app is sleek, fun, and truly unique. Sometimes, dating apps can make you feel dirty or low. They can make it feel like the people you meet only want sex and aren’t interested in having a real connection.
Kippo feels different. You can have so much fun using the app that it helps you to really open up to the people you meet. This makes it super easy, and almost unintentional, to make genuine, lasting connections.
The site is great for Millenial and Gen Z singles who want to meet others with similar interests and personalities.
- What is Kippo?
- How Does Kippo Work?
- Free vs. Paid Memberships
- How Much Does Kippo Cost?
- What Kind of Relationships is Kippo For?
- Is Kippo Worth It?
- User Reviews of Kippo
- Kippo vs. The Other Guys
- Kippo FAQ
What is Kippo?
Kippo is one of the newest selections in the digital dating landscape. The app seems to take some inspiration from sites like Twitch along with brick and mortar locations like gaming lounges and arcades. Essentially, users can base their connections on their fandoms and hobbies.
Kippo History
Kippo was created by David Park, an entrepreneur from California. The team that David put together to develop the app is filled with more than just entrepreneurs and programmers – it also includes professional gamers and twitch streamers. This is why the app doesn’t just pander to gamers, but actually feels like a platform that deeply understands the dating goals and needs of today’s gaming community.
Now, Kippo has tens of thousands of active users and is quickly becoming one of the most popular dating apps on the market.
What Makes Kippo Different?
Kippo plays exactly like a game. If you love titles like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley, Kippo is right up your alley! You get to create your own character and roam around a virtual world, making new connections.
There are multiple ways to interact with others. You can meet people in the Kippoverse or through the traditional match feature. Sure, the Kippoverse is obviously the most unique feature of Kippo, but we want to also shine a line on the streamlined matching system.
It functions like many other swipe apps, but the design is bold, simple to use, and incorporates seamlessly into the digital world.
Pros and Cons of Kippo
Pros
- Covers a niche audience that aren’t properly catered to on other dating sites.
- There is a high number of female members, despite most gaming-focused platforms being filled with mostly male users.
- The app is nice to look at and genuinely fun to use.
Cons
- The app lacks some common features, like video chat.
- Older singles may have a harder time connecting on the app.
- Some users report app crashes and bugs.
How Does Kippo Work? – Features Overview
Kippo is super simple to use, but it does have some features that you’ve likely never seen on another dating app. Specifically, the Kippoverse. This is a digital lounge where you can roam around with your own custom avatar and interact with others and the environment.
If you’ve ever played a MMORPG and wished your digital relationships were real, Kippo is perfect for you!
Of course, there is more to the app than building avatars and wandering around the virtual cobblestone streets. Let’s look at some more details about the app!
Signup process
To download Kippo, you have to start by downloading the app. It is available on IOS and Android. Once you open the app, you can choose to login with a phone number or an email, but phone number is the fastest option.
After you confirm your phone number, you just have to complete a few steps:
- Enter your name.
- Add your birthday.
- Denote your gender identification.
- Choose the profiles you want to see (male, female, non-binary).
- Upload 4 photos with a clear view of your face.
- Allow location access.
After this, you can jump right into the Kippoverse, but we recommend stopping in to create your avatar!
You can change your avatar’s hair, skin color, outfit, and more!
Matchmaking Process
Kippo allows you to meet matches in two ways – interacting in the Kippoverse or matching in the main match area.
The Kippoverse is virtual and yet somehow more meta. You interact in real time with other avatars in the arcade.
In the main matching area, you will see snippets of profiles and choose whether to “heart” or “pass” on the profile. If you “heart” a profile of someone who has hearted yours, you will be given a match!
Unique Features
When you aren’t making matches, you can spend time in your own personal Kippo home. You can change your avatar’s clothes, adjust your profile and interact with premium features (if you are a paid member).
Some of these paid features include chat customization, unique profile cards, see who likes you, send unlimited dm’s, and unlimited browsing.
By far the most interesting feature is the Kippoverse. This is essentially an arcade where you can interact with other users in a virtual town. It is one of the most interesting and entertaining ways we have found to meet singles!
INTRO
Free vs Paid Kippo Memberships
One reason Kippo is so popular is because most sites that advertise a new and exciting approach to dating hide those approaches behind a paywall. Kippo is a bit different. They do limit features to entice users to pay, but the app is completely functional as a free account. Free users can swipe, make an avatar, message, add gamer cards, and more!
Still, there are some paid features worth considering. Here is a quick list of the features you will get with a Kippo Infinity account:
- More Profile Cards: Infinity members can add up to 7 gamer cards to their deck.
- Unlimited Matching: Free users are capped at thirty swipes a day.
- Enhanced Profile Customization: Create a more in depth profile to attract more matches.
- Kippo Arcade: Unlock all the features of the Kippoverse for better match potential and more fun!
How Much Does Kippo Cost?
| Membership Type | Length | Monthly Price | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | Unlimited | Free | Free |
| Infinity (Premium) | 1 months | $10 | $10 |
| Infinity (Premium) | 6 months | $6.17 | $37 |
| Infinity (Premium) | 1 year | 4.67 | $56 |
What Kind of Relationships is Kippo For?
Kippo is all about building strong, meaningful relationships – relationships built on mutual understanding and shared hobbies. While it is possible to meet friends on the app, there is no place to exclusively mark your intentions. So, you should expect other users to be after romantic connections.
The Bottom Line – Is Kippo Worth It?
Kippo is one of the most interesting and entertaining dating apps on the modern market. If you are feeling tired of the same old dating app routine and want to make dating feel like a game, Kippo is right for you.
There are quite a few features held back for paid members, but the free version of the app lets you get a good idea of the app and its features. Overall, we think the app is definitely worth a try!
User Reviews of Kippo
Kippo has a pretty good rating on both the IOS and Android app stores. The average rating of the app is 3.85 out of 5 stars.
Positive reviews discuss how unique and fun the app is. Users seem to love having the ability to get to know people on a deeper level without letting their worries about their looks get in the way of putting themselves out there. There seems to be a good balance between matching based on physical attraction vs emotional attraction.
The negative reviewers have two main complaints:
- There is a bug that leads some users to having their account restricted without explanation. These users have to contact customer service to get the issue resolved.
- There are strict limitations on unpaid users, and those limits aren’t very clear until you’ve reached the end of them. That can lead users to feeling they were tricked into wasting their swipes and other features.
The Kippo App vs The Other Guys
Kippo isn’t the only popular dating app out there, so let’s take a look at how it compares with a few other industry favorites.
Kippo vs Tinder
Kippo and Tinder have one thing in common – the swipe style matching system is easy to use. Other than that, the two apps couldn’t be any more different. Kippo focuses on making connections that rely on personality and interests instead of looks. Tinder is much more of a “hookup” site than Kippo.
If you are looking for a serious relationship; Kippo is the clear winner.
Kippo vs Bumble
Bumble is one of the closest alternatives to Kippo, but isn’t necessarily better. The matching on both apps is swipe-based, but communications on Bumble are controlled exclusively by women. Other than the gaming aspect of Kippo, the app is also superior in that it is much more open and welcoming to LGBTQ users.
Is Kippo better than Bumble? You decide.
Kippo vs Hinge
Like Kippo, Hinge is a dating app that focuses on real relationships over convenient hookups. It doesn’t have the modern, gaming feel of Kippo. This may be why the average age of users of Hinge is higher. If you want a more youthful (40 and under) feel, try Kippo instead!
Is Kippo better than Hinge? If you are still young: Absolutely!
Kippo Dating App FAQ
Can I See What People Really Look Like, Or Can I Only See Their Avatars?
While you will only see avatars in the kippoverse, you can also exit to the main matching area. Here, you will see others profile photos just like any other swipe dating app. It creates a platform where you can seamlessly blend between the two matching methods.
Can I Message Users For Free On Kippo?
Yes! Free users can message other users, but the amount of communications and swipes are limited on free accounts. To avoid running out of communication access it is recommended to upgrade to a premium account.
Is Kippo Expensive?
Kippo is surprisingly affordable for such a modern and unique app. There is a free version of the app that has heavy limitations. The paid versions start as low as a few dollars a month!
Are Women Protected on Kippo?
The gaming community doesn’t always feel safe for female gamers. Luckily, Kippo has a team of moderators that work to keep all users safe. Inappropriate communications will often get a user instantly banned. You can also manually report any bad behavior for the mods to review.
How Do I Report a Problem to Kippo?
Kippo Customer Service can be reached through their help desk on the app. You can submit a ticket outlining your issue and receive a response within a few days. We tested out the customer service response time and heard back within 48 hours!