Rater
In short: Rater is a US dating app that markets itself as anti-catfishing. It uses AI and human profile checks, user ratings of matches and in-person Radar by Rater events. It is run by Rater Date Inc. and led by founder and CEO Nicole Drew. A 2024 press release put it in Carlsbad, California. It matters as a trust and safety positioned niche app.
Key facts
| Type | Dating app |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Carlsbad, California, United States |
| Status | Active (website and App Store listing online; no closure reports found) |
| Website | rater.world |
| Founder and CEO | Nicole Drew [Rater, the Anti-Catfishing Social App, Announces Launch Acro, 25 April 2024] |
| Location | Carlsbad, California (press release dateline and SoCalTech description) [Rater Expands Dating App Beyond California, 25 April 2024] |
| Nationwide US launch | Announced nationwide launch after a soft launch on the west coast; available on App Store and Google Play [Rater, the Anti-Catfishing Social App, Announces Launch Acro, 25 April 2024] |
| Launch | Company press materials say it launched in early 2023; its website says Nicole Drew launched it in 2022 [BrightCheck Partners with Rater Dating App to Enhance Safety, 14 May 2024] |
| Product positioning | Anti-catfishing dating app with AI and human verification, community ratings and Radar by Rater IRL events [Rater Date App - App Store] |
| Verification partners | BrightCheck (partnership announced May 2024) and IDMerit [BrightCheck Partners with Rater Dating App to Enhance Safety, 14 May 2024] |
| Corporate entity | Rater Date Inc. named as source of press release [Rater Singles App Hires Head of Growth and Brand Marketing t, 27 August 2024] |
| Leadership hire | Lee-Michael Pronko of HeresMe Agency joined as Head of Growth and Brand Marketing; target of 100,000 users by mid to end 2025 [Rater Singles App Hires Head of Growth and Brand Marketing t, 27 August 2024] |
| Rewards partnership | Partnership with Paylode for Rater Perks [Rater Launches Dating Perks With Paylode to Bring Rewards to, 16 May 2024] |
About Rater
Rater is a dating app that describes itself as an anti-catfishing singles app with in-person events. According to its website and App Store listing, it combines AI-powered identity checks, ID and selfie verification, human vetting and a community feedback system in which members rate their experiences. Verified users get priority in its matching algorithm. Its press materials name identity verification partners IDMerit and BrightCheck. The app is listed on the App Store and Google Play.
The company says it was founded by Nicole Drew, who is Founder and CEO, after she was the victim of a dating app romance scam. Sources differ slightly on timing: the website says she launched Rater in 2022, while company press releases say it launched in early 2023. A April 2024 press release, datelined Carlsbad, California, announced a nationwide launch after a soft launch on the US west coast. Press releases name Rater Date Inc. as the source. The app has a Go Premium tier, and the company runs Radar by Rater pop-up mixers for verified singles.
In August 2024 Rater announced that Lee-Michael Pronko, founder of HeresMe Agency, had joined as Head of Growth and Brand Marketing. The company said it was aiming for 100,000 users by mid to end 2025. The company has not published user figures in the sources reviewed, so that target has not been confirmed as met.
Stories about Rater
- Rater's Growth Gamble: Can Anti-Catfishing Sell an App?
Rater has hired Lee-Michael Pronko of HeresMe Agency as Head of Growth, aiming for 100,000 users by mid-2025 with an anti-catfishing pitch.
Questions about Rater
What is Rater?
Rater is a dating app that positions itself as anti-catfishing, using AI and human verification, member ratings and in-person Radar by Rater events.
Who founded Rater?
Nicole Drew is the Founder and CEO, according to the company's website and press releases.
Where is Rater based?
A 2024 press release was datelined Carlsbad, California, and SoCalTech described it as Carlsbad-based.
Who handles Rater's growth?
In August 2024 Rater announced Lee-Michael Pronko of HeresMe Agency as Head of Growth and Brand Marketing.
Also known as: Rater Date, Rater Date App, Rater World.
Sources
- Rater, the Anti-Catfishing Social App, Announces Launch Across the Nation
- Rater Expands Dating App Beyond California
- BrightCheck Partners with Rater Dating App to Enhance Safety
- Rater Date App - App Store
- Rater Singles App Hires Head of Growth and Brand Marketing to Scale to 100,000 Users
- Rater Singles App Hires Head of Growth and Brand Marketing to Scale to 100,000 Users
- Rater Launches Dating Perks With Paylode to Bring Rewards to Dating App Users