The Dating Apocalypse vs Tao of Badass: Modern Course or Proven Classic?

The Dating Apocalypse and Tao of Badass both promise to help men build dating confidence and get better results — but they come from different eras, use different language, and offer different kinds of support. The one that fits you depends less on which cover looks better and more on what you actually need at the price you want to pay. Our The Dating Apocalypse review has the full breakdown.

The Dating Apocalypse is a 2025-era video course: six modules, a PDF script manual, and an active Facebook coaching group, all for $65 one-time. Tao of Badass is a proven long-running classic: a 200-page PDF guide, a video companion series, and two bonus reports for $41 one-time. It has been on the market since the early 2010s and carries gravity of 7.27 — meaning a meaningful number of buyers have tested it and stuck with the purchase. The Dating Apocalypse has gravity of 0.11, which is very low — far fewer buyers have tested it, though the commission per sale ($832.31 EPS) is extraordinarily high.

If you want the cheapest structured starting point with the most market-tested material — Tao of Badass. If you want modern, coaching-group-backed material without 2010-era pickup framing — The Dating Apocalypse, with the caveat that its low gravity means fewer buyers have stress-tested it.

Quick Comparison

	The Dating Apocalypse	Tao of Badass
Best For	Beginners who want a modern video course with a coaching group to ask questions	Beginners who want a budget-priced, market-proven PDF system with video backup
Core Format	6-module video course (~4 hours) + PDF script manual + coaching group	~200-page PDF guide + video companion series (7-10 videos) + 2 bonus reports
Price	$65 one-time	$41 one-time
Optional Extras	$47 texting course (one-time) + $29/mo coaching membership (7-day trial)	$27/mo “Advanced” membership — easy to opt into by accident at checkout
Refund	60 days, ClickBank-honored	60 days, ClickBank-honored
Language Style	Modern framing — avoids 2010-era pickup terminology	Uses some older pickup terms (“negs,” “social proof”) that feel dated to some readers
Coaching Group	Yes — active Facebook group with coaches responding	No — self-study only
Gravity	0.11 (low — fewer buyers tested)	7.27 (higher — more market-proven)
EPS	$832.31	$440.12

The Dating Apocalypse: Best if you want modern framing and a coaching group

Use this if:

• You want a video-forward course with clear, in-order modules rather than a 200-page PDF to read through
• The idea of an active coaching group where you can ask questions as you practice matters to you
• You are put off by older pickup-culture language and want something that sounds like modern relationship advice
• $65 is comfortable, and the idea of a printable script manual to carry with you appeals
• You are completely new to dating advice and want a structured plan with someone to answer your questions

The method: Six video modules walk you from mindset to real-world practice — approach anxiety, daytime and nighttime meeting, texting, and follow-up. A 40-page PDF Field Manual gives you openers, routines, and text templates you can print and use. The Facebook coaching group is staffed by coaches and has several thousand members. The teaching is beginner-level but practical and sequenced.

Strength: The coaching group is the clearest differentiator. If you get stuck on a module, have a specific question, or want feedback on something you tried, the group gives you a place to ask. The Field Manual is genuinely handy — a printable script reference is something Tao of Badass does not match. The modern language avoids the dated “game” framing that makes some readers disengage from Tao of Badass.

Weakness: Gravity of 0.11 is very low. This means far fewer buyers have purchased and tested The Dating Apocalypse compared to Tao of Badass. Low gravity does not mean the product is bad — it means there is less market feedback to draw on. The scripts in the Field Manual assume a bar-and-club scene that does not fit everyone. The $29/month coaching subscription starts after a 7-day trial and requires an email to cancel — not a one-click toggle — so set a reminder if you try it.

Cost reality: $65 one-time for all six modules, the Field Manual, and group access. After checkout: a $47 “Text Apocalypse” texting course (optional, one-time) and a $29/month coaching subscription with a 7-day trial starting on day 8. Skip both to stay at $65 flat.

Tao of Badass: Best if you want the budget-priced, market-proven option

Use this if:

• Budget is the deciding factor — $41 is $24 less than The Dating Apocalypse, and you want the savings
• You prefer reading a long, structured guide to watching video modules — the 200-page PDF is the core of Tao of Badass
• You want the material that has been around the longest and tested by the most buyers in this category
• You do not need a coaching group and are comfortable working through a system on your own
• You have not read any structured dating book before and want a single starting point

The method: A seven-step framework walks you through social dynamics, confidence, meeting people, handling conversations, and follow-up. Two bonus reports — a texting guide and a confidence audio track — add practical extras without requiring you to do much extra reading. Video lessons are screen-recorded slides with voiceover, not polished production. The tone is analytical — Josh Pellicer tries to explain why certain behaviors work socially, not just what to do.

Strength: Gravity of 7.27 is meaningful — it signals that a real number of buyers have purchased and tested this material. The $41 price is the lowest in this comparison. The core framework (lead interactions, build confidence, stop seeking approval) is sound relationship psychology even in its 2012 packaging. The analytical “why does this work” framing helps you adapt the lessons to your own personality rather than just copying lines.

Weakness: The language and examples come from the 2010-2012 pickup era. Terms like “negs,” “peacocking,” and “alpha frame” appear in the material. If that framing makes you roll your eyes, you will disengage quickly. There is no coaching group — you are on your own if you get stuck. The $27/month “Advanced” membership can appear as a pre-checked option after checkout — watch for it. Some advice in the texting section is calibrated for specific personality types and will backfire with others.

Cost reality: $41 one-time for the PDF, video series, and two bonus reports. The only recurring charge is the optional $27/month “Advanced” membership — it is presented after checkout, not during, and is easy to opt into accidentally. Skip it and your total stays $41 with no ongoing bill.

Which one should you choose?

Pick The Dating Apocalypse if:

• You learn better by watching video modules than reading a long PDF
• You want a coaching group available as you work through the material
• 2010-era pickup framing like “negs” or “peacocking” would disengage you from the content
• $65 is comfortable and the printable Field Manual appeals as a real-world reference

Pick Tao of Badass if:

• Budget is tight and $24 of savings matters — $41 is the cheaper option with more market testing
• You prefer to read a structured 200-page guide and work through a PDF-based system
• You want material that has been around a decade and tested by thousands of buyers (gravity 7.27)
• You are fine working through the course independently without a coaching group

Consider free alternatives first if:

• You have not yet read Mark Manson’s “Models” (~$15 paperback) — it covers much of the same conceptual ground at a fraction of the cost
• Free YouTube channels on dating fundamentals already give you enough to start acting on — a paid course adds value only if you want structured, sequenced material you will actually follow start to finish

Can you use both?

Probably not necessary. Both courses target the same buyer at the same stage: a beginner who wants a structured system for meeting people and dating more confidently. The overlap is substantial — mindset, approach, conversation, texting, and follow-up are covered by both. Buying both would mean spending $106 on largely duplicate beginner content.

If you want one and are unsure which, use the budget. If money is the deciding factor, Tao of Badass at $41 has more market proof. If you want a coaching group and modern language, The Dating Apocalypse at $65 offers that — but verify the Facebook group is active before buying.

Real talk

The numbers here tell an unusual story. Tao of Badass has gravity of 7.27 — more buyers have tested it and stayed with the purchase. The Dating Apocalypse has gravity of 0.11 — very few buyers have tested it at the market level. Yet The Dating Apocalypse carries an EPS of $832.31 compared to Tao of Badass’s $440.12. The EPS gap reflects commissions per completed sale, not buyer satisfaction or volume.

What this means in practice: Tao of Badass has a longer track record and more buyers who have worked through it. The Dating Apocalypse is newer, with less feedback. That does not make it worse — the material, the coaching group, and the modern framing are real differentiators. But the low gravity is worth noting when choosing between the two.

Both have 60-day ClickBank-honored refunds. If you are unsure, buy the one that fits your budget and learning style, work through it for 30 days, and use the refund window if it does not deliver. The refund policy exists precisely for this situation.

Watch the optional extras on both. Tao of Badass’s $27/month membership can appear as a pre-checked item after checkout. The Dating Apocalypse’s $29/month coaching starts automatically after a 7-day trial. Skip both optional recurring charges and your total stays flat — $41 or $65, depending on which you choose.