Two years ago, Luke Bailey introduced a controversial dating app idea called Score, designed for people with good to excellent credit. Launched just before Valentine’s Day, the app required a minimum credit score of 675 to register. Bailey explained that his goal was to encourage open conversations about personal finance, a topic many couples find uncomfortable. He cited research showing that a partner’s debt is a leading factor in divorce considerations, arguing that financial compatibility is a critical yet overlooked aspect of relationships.
The app faced criticism for being classist, focusing exclusively on those who manage money well. Despite the backlash, Score proved unexpectedly popular. Originally planned as a 90-day experiment, it remained active for six months, attracting 50,000 users and generating global headlines. Then, it quietly shut down, and the dating world moved on.
Until now. Bailey recently announced that Score is returning for good. He stated that the original launch aimed to integrate financial responsibility into the search for love, but after shutting down, he realized the conversation about money and dating did not continue without the app. He noted that academics and users continued to reach out, indicating the app addressed an unresolved need in modern relationship culture.
This new version of Score will be available on the iOS App Store and is designed to be more inclusive. Anyone can now join. The app will feature two tiers: a basic tier with no identity or credit verification required for browsing and connecting, and a verified tier. For the verified tier, members must consent to identity and credit score checks via Equifax, which performs a soft pull that does not affect credit scores. The app does not store full credit reports or sensitive financial data, only confirmation that a user meets the verified criteria.
Verified members gain access to premium features like seeing nearby members, viewing who saved their profile, sending video introductions, and messaging users before a mutual match. Bailey remains a strong advocate for using credit scores, describing them not as a measure of wealth, but of consistency and reliability. He compares it to what banks seek in customers and believes dating apps should measure both attrition and accountability.
Bailey emphasized that the app does not sell personal data and uses encrypted infrastructure for security. The previous iteration of Score collected interesting data on generational trends, such as millennial men having credit scores about 11% higher than women, while for Gen Z the gap narrowed to just 3%. The team plans to observe how these patterns evolve.
Originally a U.S.-only experiment, Score now plans for global expansion, beginning with Canada, and is exploring partnerships. Bailey concluded by reiterating his belief that financial behavior is a strong predictor of life stability, and that dating compatibility algorithms should reflect that reality.