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Whether you’re a woman drawn to the energy and playful nature of a younger man, or a man looking to meet captivating cougar singles, Cougar Life has designed a dating app to fulfill both of your desires. Rawr!
In the busy world of love-seeking platforms, Cougar Life emerges from the jungle with swagger, boasting a den where age is more than just a number, it’s an asset. This app rolls out the red carpet for older women, the cougars interested in younger men, and the “cubs” curious about dating more mature ladies. Cougar Life is here not to tiptoe around the age gap issue but to embrace and encourage it.
The design of the app reflects its bold stance with a bright and fun user interface, and we assess its usability, the match quality, and everything in between. Through unbiased glasses, we’ll see if it delivers in our complete review of the Cougar Life dating app for 2024!
| Sign-Up Time: | 5 minutes |
| Cost: | $0.15 – $0.30 per credit |
| Membership Pool: | 4.9 million (globally) |
| Overall Rating: |  |
- Cougar Life App Rating
- Overview of Cougar Life
- Cougar Life Cost
- How to Sign Up with Cougar Life
- Alternatives to Cougar Life
- Frequently Asked Questions
Our Cougar Life Overall Rating
Overall Rating
Cougar Life is coming in with an overall score of 4.0 out of 5!
Having concluded our complete review of the Cougar Life dating app, we arrived at an overall rating of 4.0/5. We strongly recommend it as a solid platform catering to both cougars and cubs. We evaluated Cougar Life across six pivotal criteria categories, assigning a score of 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest, to each. By averaging these scores, we arrived at our collective rating of 4/5.
What can we say definitively about the Cougar Life dating app based on our review? A lot, actually! Look below for a brief breakdown of each category we rated.
Ease of Use 
The Cougar Life dating app is not only easy to use, but we love its colorful and fun user interface! The fuschia-themed platform screams “playful,” and it’s a snap to navigate. Everything is easily located—no notes.
Features 
Cougar Life makes it easy for mature women and younger men to connect—users can easily find matches with simple search settings. And with a premium membership, they get unlimited messaging, chat in real time, and see private, more risqué photos. The innovative “Find a Date” feature helps plan meetups, and a blog offers dating tips for cougars and cubs. All of these features add up to make the dating experience on Cougar Life straightforward and fun.
Cost
We like the change Cougar Life made to its pricing model—instead of paying a monthly membership, users can pay as they go for just the features they want to utilize.
Oh, and cougars don’t have to pay a thing, which we always love to see—it’s always ladies night on the Cougar Life dating app, as women get all premium features for free.
Match Quality
From our time on Cougar Life, we found the women to be super attractive, and the men were nothing to sneeze at, either! Finding a match is straightforward but relies on users’ input through search preferences like age and location—there aren’t sophisticated algorithms for compatibility, so the quality of matches mostly comes down to how well users set their preferences and create their profiles. While this simplicity allows for quick and easy browsing, it may require a little more elbow grease to find a compatible match.
Safety and Security
Cougar Life provides a host of safety features to ensure a secure dating experience for its users. The platform posts a wealth of safety information on its website, guiding members on how to maintain their safety while using the app. Additionally, if users encounter suspicious members, they have the option to block and report these profiles for investigation by the platform’s team. In case of any concerns or inquiries regarding safety on Cougar Life, members are encouraged to reach out to the customer service team for help.
Customer Service
The Cougar Life dating app has a responsive customer service team ready to help with any concerns or inquiries members might have regarding the platform. Whether users have questions about how to use the app or they encounter safety concerns, they can reach out to the customer service team for help, and they’ll get a response within 24 to 48 hours. The platform facilitates communication through email, so members have a channel to address any and all concerns.
Overview
The Cougar Life dating app was created to foster connections between older women (cougars) and younger men (cubs). Despite boasting over 4.9 million users, finding real connections could be tricky, as there are some inactive profiles and user reports of fake profiles and scammers. That being said, while the app is geared towards casual and superficial relationships, that’s what users want—it provides a place for cougars and cubs to meet and explore their romantic possibilities.
Fast Facts
- Year Founded: 2006
- Cougar Life’s motto is “Compatibility has no age limit.” Its homepage states that “On Cougar Life, age is not important. Our members know, that fulfilling connections happen when both partners see eye to eye on the important things and communicate their needs honestly. Members on Cougar Life share openly about what they are truly looking for, whether it’s a fling, a casual date, or something more long term.”
- Average User Age: between 18-34 (men) and 45 + (women)
- Gender Ratio: 70% men to 30% women
The Cougar Life dating app was established in 2006 and has grown into one of the largest platforms for cougar/cub dating! The average age of women on the platform is 45 and over. As for the men, or cubs, they range in age from 18 to 34 and they outnumber the cougars– the gender ratio is 70% men to 30% women.
How Much Does Cougar Life Cost?
Cougar Life has recently shifted its pricing model—instead of offering paid membership plans, it now operates on a credit system where customers pay only for the features they want to use. Credits are bundled and available for purchase in packs of 100, 500, or 1,000, serving as an in-app currency for accessing features beyond what’s available in the free trial membership.
| Number of Credits | Price Per Credit | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|
1,000 | $0.15 | $149.99 |
500 | $0.20 | $99.99 |
100 | $0.30 | $29.99 |
Cougar Life Free Trial and Special Features
Yes, Cougar Life does offer free trials or a version of free membership to its users, and it’s always free for women on the prowl! However, the extent of the services available in this trial varies. Here’s a summary of the free offerings:
- Basic Membership: Cougar Life offers a free basic membership, which allows users to browse profiles and send winks. Nonetheless, to access premium features like unlimited messaging, advanced search, and profile boost, a pay-as-you-go credit system is in place.
- Trial for Newcomers: Newcomers to the app are offered a free trial, although this only grants access to a portion of the membership features available to paying members. For instance, to message other singles, access private photos, or send virtual gifts, you would need to purchase credits.
- Free Version: There’s a free version of Cougar Life where users can get a feel of the app before deciding whether to purchase a premium membership.
These free offerings provide a way for potential users to experience the platform before committing financially. However, for a more beneficial experience and access to all features, a paid membership or purchasing credits is a must.
Standard (Free) Features
- Sign up for a Cougar Life account
- Set up and fill out your dating profile
- Modify your search filter preferences
- Browse through members’ profiles and pictures
- Send out “flirts” and “winks”
- Compile a “Favorites List”
- See who has viewed your profile
- Read messages delivered to your inbox
Premium Membership Features
- Unlimited Messaging (MessageMe) – Communicate without limits with other members via private messages.
- Access to Private Photo Albums (Private Keys) – Request or grant access to private, more intimate photos.
- IM (Chat with Me) – Instantly connect and chat with other users in real time.
- Send a Gift – Show interest by sending digital gifts.
- Cougar Life Blog – Read blog posts to gain insights and tips on dating, especially in the cougar-cub dynamic.
- Find a Date – Check when other singles are available to plan dates.
- Profile Boost – An upgrade in listing ahead of free members in searches and profile listings.
Do Cougar Life Memberships Renew Automatically?
Yes, Cougar Life will automatically renew all paid subscriptions (excluding credits unless you’ve specifically opted-in) for premium memberships on the expiration date unless you provide prior notice before the renewal date. The renewal periods will be shared with you before you finalize your purchase and in your purchase confirmation.
Should You Join?
If you are a cougar or a cub or are curious about entering this niche dating scene, we think it’s a great idea to join! But don’t just take our word for it—we’ll give you both the positives and the potential negatives when it comes to signing up for Cougar Life so you can make a well-informed choice.
Reasons to Join
We found a lot of things to like about the Cougar Life dating app—keep scrolling to read them!
Sexy Yet Respectable User Base
Cougar Life presents a classier clientele compared to some, uh, less tasteful cougar dating apps. The profile photos are tame yet mildly enticing, giving it a much more refined appearance. Though there are more risqué and sexier private photo albums, they’re secured behind paywalls.
Straightforward Matching
Cougar Life doesn’t use complex matching algorithms. Users just adjust their search settings (like location, age, etc.) to find potential matches. Mostly, connections are made through appealing profile photos and physical attraction.
Discreet Photo Access
Cougar Life is a great choice if you want access to sexier photos while maintaining discretion. With a paid feature, users can request access to private photo albums using credits, allowing them to explore more provocative images in a private setting.
Pay-As-You-Go
Initially, Cougar Life offered fixed-paid-price memberships for all features, but it shifted to a pay-as-you-go model when it realized members only used certain features. Now, users buy credits for the features they want, so they only pay for what they use!
Reasons Not to Join
With every dating app, there are going to be some drawbacks that may make someone hesitant to join, and Cougar Life is no exception.
If You’re Searching for a Soulmate
Relationships on Cougar Life are often more superficial and short-lived, usually focused on sexual experiences. If you’re looking for a serious, committed relationship, this app might not be the right fit.
You’re Into Sugar Dating
Cougar dating and sugar arrangements are totally different. Cougar dating is about mutual attraction, while sugar arrangements involve financial support. If you’re looking for a sugar daddy or momma, Cougar Life probably isn’t the right choice for you.
You Aren’t a Cougar or a Cub
Cougar Life is a dedicated cougar and cub platform, so if you aren’t an older woman looking to date a younger man or a cub looking for a hot cougar, this is not the dating app for you!
Interested in a Bigger, More Active Member Pool
Cougar Life has around 4.9 million members, but many are inactive or from other countries. Also, there are scammers posing as real members, so you might want to try other Cougar dating apps to find genuine connections.
The Sign-up Process
Signing up and creating a dating profile on the Cougar Life dating app is easy as pie—we did the whole thing in about 5 minutes!
You can sign up on a desktop computer using the website or by downloading the designated mobile app for iOS or Android, which is how we did it! Look below for a step-by-step tutorial on how to create a Cougar Life dating app profile.
Step 1: Download and Open the Cougar Life Dating App
Go to the Cougar Life homepage and download the app.
Once installed, open the Cougar Life dating app on your device and click the bright pink “Join Free” button.
Step 2: Register Your Account
Choose a username, create a password, specify your relationship status, and select your location.
Step 3: Enter Basic Details
Write a greeting, enter your date of birth, what you’re looking for, height, weight, body type, ethnicity, email, and read and accept the terms and conditions and privacy policy.
Step 4: Enable Location Services
Allow Cougar Life to access your location so it can find you compatible matches that are close to you.
Step 5: Upload Your Profile Pic
And now for the big moment…adding a perfect profile photo! You only have to upload one, but we recommend adding more so others can see all of your sides.
Step 6: Specify What You’re Looking For
In the designated area, tell Cougar Life a little bit about yourself and what you are looking for on the platform.
Step 7: Verify Your Email
One last thing, and then you can start looking for matches—verify your email for security purposes so other Cougar Life members will know you are legit!
Step 8: Start Messaging!
Now you can start matching and reaching out to potential partners in your area. For men, you also have the option to upgrade to a premium membership, but women get all the benefits for free!
Alternatives to Cougar Life
Not ready to show your claws to the world? We get it! If you aren’t quite certain about joining a cougar and cub-only platform, no problemo. There are dozens of other top-notch dating apps you can check out to find what you’re searching for!
Elite Singles
Seeking
Sugarbook
Sugardaddie.com
SugarDaddyMeet
Tinder
Frequently Asked Questions
Our complete review of the Cougar Life dating app for 2024 covered a lot of ground, so if you want a recap of the general points or just skipped down to get the highlights we hit, here is a collection of the most frequently asked questions we’ve gotten from our readers about the platform!
Yep! The Cougar Life dating app is totally legit and is one of the few dedicated dating platforms for cougars looking for cubs and vice versa.
Cougar Life is free for women seeking men. Those interested in same-sex connections or men seeking women can register for a free Guest Membership to explore the site. When ready to begin communicating, they can choose from a range of credit and subscription packages.
Full membership on Cougar Life is complimentary for women seeking men. Everyone else* can sign up to browse profiles, share photos, and send winks at no cost. When Guest Members wish to initiate communication with others, a variety of credit packages are available for purchase.
*Full membership status on Cougar Life requires a credit package purchase for men seeking women, men seeking men, and women seeking women.
Being a Premium Member entails maintaining a positive credit balance or having an active subscription. This status allows members to interact with others on the site by sending personalized messages, opening collect messages, and sending priority messages.
When you send a message, you have the option to mark it as ‘Priority’, making it appear highlighted at the top of the recipient’s mailbox.
For members using the credit-based system, sending a priority message will incur an additional credit charge. On the other hand, subscription users have the option to buy certain subscription packages that come with the priority messaging feature.
• 5 credits are required to send a message to a female member for the first time.
• For a more notable first impression, 10 credits enable you to send a priority, highlighted message to a female member.
• Opening collect messages cost 5 credits.
• After making the initial contact, all subsequent messages to the same member are free of charge!
By becoming a Cougar Life Priority Man, your profile will be highlighted in search results within your area, helping you to stand out among the competition.
• Priority Man Subscriptions: If you are on a credit-based service with a Priority Man subscription, navigate to the Purchases page within your Account settings and select the subscription package you wish to cancel.
• Subscription-Based Membership: To cancel a subscription, proceed to the Purchases page located in your Account settings and choose the subscription package you want to cancel.
FYI: Canceling a subscription before its renewal date will not get you a refund but will simply stop the subscription from renewing automatically. You may continue to use your canceled subscription until it reaches its expiration date.
You have two choices: Deactivation or Full Deletion.
Deactivation:
• Your profile being removed from search results
• Your profile being hidden on the site
• The possibility to reactivate your account by reaching out to customer service, provided your account remains in the system.
Full Deletion:
• Your profile being removed from search results
• Your profile being eradicated from the site
• Both sent and received messages being deleted
• Messages, including Winks & Gifts, being removed from recipient’s mailboxes
• Your app usage history and personally identifiable information being cleared from the site
• Photos being deleted
To either deactivate or delete your account, simply select the ‘Delete Profile’ option from your Manage Profile page in the mobile app or on a Desktop computer.
