Score dating app returns with new verification tiers

On Friday, the dating app Score officially returned, introducing a new two-tier system designed to make the platform more inclusive than its previous iteration:

• Basic Tier: A general tier where no identity or credit verification is required, allowing anyone to browse and connect.
• Verified Tier: A tier where members must verify their identity and credit score to unlock premium features.

To verify users in the premium tier, the app uses Equifax to confirm both identity and credit scores. This verification process performs a soft pull—which is a credit check that does not impact the user’s credit score. According to founder Luke Bailey, the platform does not store full credit reports or sensitive personal and financial data. “We don’t store full credit reports or sensitive personal and financial data. We simply receive confirmation that someone meets the Verified criteria,” Bailey said.

The relaunch follows the original app’s run. Two years ago, Bailey had the original idea for the app, which initially required users to have a credit score of at least 675 to register. Although originally planned for a 90 days availability, the app remained active for six months and amassed 50,000 users. During this initial run, the app faced criticism and allegations of being “classist” due to its financial requirements.

Bailey addressed these criticisms by highlighting the role of personal finance in long-term relationships. He noted that financial compatibility is quietly one of the most important relationship factors, yet no dating platform addresses it directly. According to Bailey, 54% of people say a partner’s debt is a reason to consider divorce. He explained that they originally released Score to integrate financial responsibility into love.

While the original iteration of the app was a U.S.-only experiment, Bailey stated that the company plans a global expansion, starting with Canada. As the platform expands, it will continue to monitor how socioeconomic data trends evolve across generations. Data from the app’s previous run showed that millennial men had credit scores about 11% higher than women, whereas the gap for Gen Z users narrowed, with men having a credit score only 3% higher.

Why it matters

Score’s return highlights the growing intersection of financial transparency and personal relationships, moving from a niche U.S. experiment to a broader, tiered model that attempts to address financial compatibility directly.