Bumble vs. Tinder: comparing the leading online dating apps

Someone comparing bumble and tinder on a tablet device

When it comes to online dating via android or iOS, Tinder and Bumble are undoubtedly two of the largest contenders for most popular dating apps. A lot of people enjoy using both as a way to meet people, but what if you just want one?

That’s why we’re comparing these giants to find one that is best for you. Read on to find how these two match up to give you top match-making services!

illustration of two intertwined arms holding phones

Table of contents [ Show Hide ]

Bumble and Tinder
Bumble vs. Tinder FAQ
Pick the right dating app: Bumble vs Tinder
Sign up and general use
Messaging other users
Overall quality of profiles
What to (broadly) expect from the quality of users
Security for men and women
Attractiveness of premium memberships and paid special features
LGBTQ+-friendliness
Male to female ratios
Which one is better for relationships, hookups, and friendships?
Conclusion
Alternatives to try

Bumble and Tinder

Before we begin on comparing these dating services, here’s a rundown on what they are most known for.

Tinder

Tinder is one of the original hookup apps to become popular around the world for its ability to swipe right on users. It revolutionized how the industry approaches user-friendly services and ultimately gave people a new standard for how quickly they match.

Tinder is best used in urban areas like New York City, London or Berlin, as it is a location-based service. However, with more features added to expand how users connect, Tinder remains a go-to for people anywhere

Bumble

Bumble grew as a response to how men would initiate dating on apps like Tinder. It features many characteristics as its competitor, but here women make the first move with potential matches.

This has pushed men to work harder for dates, and means that it works better as a service for long-term relationships. They also aren’t being outdone for innovation, as they are constantly launching new features and events to go with their app.

That even includes opening the first ever dating app-owned restaurant exclusive for daters!

vector art of someone flirting on their smartphone with a women

Bumble vs. Tinder FAQ

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, here are some frequently asked questions about the two:

Is Bumble better than Tinder?

It depends on what you are looking for. If you just want casual sex, Tinder is better. If you want the option for casual sex or something better, or even just friendship, Bumble is better.

Is Bumble a hookup app?

Not really. There’s potential to hookup with Bumble, but generally it isn’t used for this.

Is Tinder or Bumble better for guys?

That really depends on what you want. Overall, we think Bumble is better just because the quality of your dating will be that much higher. If you just want no-strings attached sex, Tinder will suit you better.

Is Bumble good for guys?

Yes, but you are going to need some good looks and a decent profile to have a better time at success here, since women are initiating contact. Some guys do very well here, in fact.

Bumble counts as a feminist dating app. But is it really safer for women? We’ve made the test!

Pick the right dating app: Bumble vs Tinder

The dating apps you are on have an impact on your relationship goals. You’re more likely to find profiles that you like when you’re on a dating app that is suited to your romantic interests.

What app you go with is a very personal choice, like your favorite movie. That’s why it’s a good idea to check out more than one so you can make a better choice.

Online dating app recommendations

Look at our dating app recommendations to find the one that best suits you.

Messaging other users

Messaging is what is on dating apps: a mixed-bag. You will get the good, the bad, and the ugly.

To mitigate that, Bumble only let’s women message men first. The result is that users tend to be slightly more educated and even career-oriented. Additionally, men put in more effort because it isn’t as easy for men to match with women.

With Tinder either men or women can message first. That opens the floodgates for any and all kinds of messaging, from short, offensive sexts to full conversations. It’s really a gamble.

illustration of hand holding a phone and a heart message coming in

Overall quality of profiles

In a nutshell, Tinder has a wide range of users with both good and bad, while Bumble is generally of a higher quality. Profile pictures are typically similar, although you may run into more adult-themed pics on Tinder than you would Bumble.

It should be noted that Bumble allows you to “fill from Facebook” if you don’t want to put in your data and photos manually. This can mean that the overall quality of profiles can be automatically higher since it is just taking info from social media.

Tinder doesn’t really ask for much more than your basic sign-up and pictures, so you can really just get into it from there. That works if you want to just start, but your profile quality will suffer. In the end you can add to either app’s profile later, if you want, although few do.

What to (broadly) expect from the quality of users

When you have a service that is as quick and easy to start using as Tinder’s is, coupled with the sheer number of users active on there (the site suggests some 2 billion views a day), it is inevitable that the quality of users will be less than ideal in the sum total.

That’s especially true when the amount of work required to initiate and get a match started is next to nothing. The algorithm for connecting you is largely left to the user, after all. This can mean a lot of time swiping through crummy users.

On the other hand there’s Bumble, which enjoys being slightly less popular and geared toward a specific group. On average, most users here tend to be college educated, attractive and polite. You will have fewer options, but they will be of a higher-quality.

That means less time swiping. Plus, with their approach to women messaging first, fewer scammers can utilize it over their less scrupulous competition.

vector art of someone flirting with a guy via their phone

Security for men and women

No service is going to be completely secure for its users. However, both have made efforts to improve how they filter out scammers and dangerous daters. Tinder is even in the works for developing a background check feature for you to see if your match is a safe one.

In the end Bumble wins this, though. It is generally safer for women to use due to how it operates with women initiating contact. On top of this they have made efforts to ban body-shaming and ensure a safer environment for their users.

Attractiveness of premium memberships and paid special features

You are going to get what you pay for when it comes to these apps, even if their free services are already excellent.

Tinder

There are two premium subscription services to offer, the Tinder Plus and Tinder Gold services.

Plus gets you:

Unlimited likes (these are limited for free users)
Unlimited rewinds (undo that swipe, if you want)
One free Boost each month so you can show your profile to more users
No ads
Change your location
Full access to Tinder Picks
Swipe with anyone around the world
Video functionality

Gold adds:

See who already likes you
Access to a curated list of Top Picks

Plus and Gold cost around $19.99 per month and $29.99 per month, respectively. You can save money with longer commitments though. You can also buy Boosts for $3.99 and Super Likes at $4.99 for a pack of five. Both get cheaper the more you buy.

Bumble Boost

There’s only one premium subscription here, starting at $24.99 and getting cheaper the longer you stay.

Boost offers:

BeeLine limits your feed to just the women who have already liked you
Rematch reconnects with past matches for an extra 24 hours
Busybee extends the 24-hour match window
Access to all filters
Bumble BFF, for friendship instead of dating.
Video features
Spotlight, to get your profile features in your area for 30 min
SuperSwipe

A one-week trial costs $8.99, although it makes more sense to try the 1 month plan. You can also buy Bumble Coins for $1.99, which let you SuperSwipe profiles so you can immediately tell them you are interested in them.

Bumble also has a special option for those who love traveling. Read all about their Travel Mode in our article!

vector art of someone looking at a woman on their smartphone screen

LGBTQ+-friendliness

Tinder has been the subject of many complaints from the LGBTQ+ community for their lack of inclusive dating options and difficulty matching. With Bumble, there is much more variety for the gender you identify as and would like to date.

This includes options like trans identities, gender-fluid, gender-non-conforming, gender-questioning, Hijra, and two-spirit to name a few. You can also state your intentions for using the service, whether it is to date, make friends, or meet people in a community.

Male to female ratios

Tinder has an incredible amount of users around the world, but nevertheless men outnumber women 2 to 1 on the app. This is fairly standard for most dating services, but when it comes to Bumble the ratio is closer to equal.

Which one is better for relationships, hookups, and friendships?

If you are looking for casual, no-strings attached sex, then Tinder is going to be your better bet.

Part of the reason for this is simply a law of numbers. The user base here is so large and the service so easy to use that it works in your favor. Couple that with people looking for the rush of matching and the surface-level approach of hookups and you are bound to match.

These are all great qualities for a service that sells itself as being casual-friendly. After all, you are swiping based on looks and a glance rather than anything deeper. It’s a mentality that syncs up neatly with how hooking up just works.

When it comes to better odds at a lasting relationship or even friendship, Bumble wins, hand’s down. You can date casually here too, but there’s more flexibility. After all, it isn’t enough to just send that first message as matches are deleted after 24 hours if no one speaks up.

Potential partners are going to inevitably require a bit more work, and everyone knows that. More effort means a deeper level of interest and, if you want a real relationship, a better shot at something that is more than just a one-night stand.

Conclusion

If you are just looking for quick and easy sex, Tinder will probably land you more success in the long run. However, the quality of your matches and your options for dating are just going to be of a higher caliber with Bumble users.

It does come down to preference though, and the amount of work you are willing to put into trying to meet someone new. Our vote in the end goes to Bumble, due to their better matches, better LGBTQ+ approaches, and for their overall cleaner experience.

Alternatives to try

If you aren’t satisfied with either option, then we can recommend some alternatives. The first is the up and coming hinge, which is an app that sells itself as a service that it wants you to delete as soon as possible, meaning they really want you to match up with a soulmate!

Of course, that also means they are geared only for serious relationships, so don’t expect to meet anyone for a quickie.

If you are more open to dating sites, then okcupid is also an excellent service to try. They are also more focused on meaningful relationships, so you will have to keep that in mind as you try them out. They do offer services for mobile, though.