Zoosk vs Bumble Comparison: Find your Dating App

Published: June 20, 2022
Updated: August 21, 2023
zoosk-vs-bumble couple smiling

Finding the right app can improve your chances of meeting the right person. Zoosk and Bumble are popular dating apps. Find out which one is most suited to your relationship and dating needs and see how they compare in terms of features and pricing.

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Picking the right dating app: Zoosk vs Bumble

The right dating app will be the one that most closely matches your romantic relationship preferences. Dating apps are a bit like reality TV, everyone has an opinion and a favorite. That fave could well be Bumble, Zoosk, or something completely different.

Online dating app recommendations

Before you pick your favorite, be sure to look at our dating app recommendations

These are some of the leading dating apps in the match-making market. Sign-up today for free:

Most Popular Choice
Zoosk vs Bumble Comparison: Find your Dating App
9.9
  • Most popular dating app in US
  • 100% match assured
  • Numerous positive reviews
Zoosk vs Bumble Comparison: Find your Dating App
9.7
  • Meet real asian, european, and latino singles
  • Real-time communication with efficient tools
  • Professional dating services
Zoosk vs Bumble Comparison: Find your Dating App
9.3
Christian Filipina is perfect for people who are looking for a serious relationship.
  • 24 hrs customer service
  • One on one Romance Consultations.
  • 100% real users.
Zoosk vs Bumble Comparison: Find your Dating App
9.2
  • Large database of verified & attractive Asian and European singles
  • Efficient communication and instant messaging 
  • Top-level safety and professional support
 

Zoosk vs Bumble: where are they different? 

Here are the most important differences and similarities between Zoosk vs Bumble.

ZooskBumble
Who is it for?Singles looking for either serious relationships or casual flirting.Singles looking for a variety of relationship options, inclusive features, and swipe-based browsing.
Registration detailsFast sign-up needs only basic information to access the site.Requires a Facebook or Apple account unless you sign up with a phone number. Quick registration process.
Memberships and profilesEstimated 40+ million members worldwide. Many profiles aren’t detailed.50 million users have joined Bumble, impressive growth for this younger app.
Premium ServiceFree service available, one subscription plan with full messaging, different lengths, and coins for additional features.Free service includes messaging. Paid subscription adds more perks to improve experience on app.
ProsFlexible features for long-term dating or for casual flirting and hookups. A fun approach to a dating app with new features like video chat.Messaging and main features are free. Inclusive sign-up options. Unique “women message first” feature.
ConsYou have to pay for unlimited messaging after the trial period.Not necessarily focused on long-term relationships and older users.

How is Zoosk better than Bumble?

Zoosk is better than Bumble because it is more fun to use. The dating app takes a gamification approach that aims to make online dating less stressful. Zoosk’s layout will be familiar to anyone who has used social media sites before.

Unlike Bumble, Zoosk gives a number of ways of matching with people, as opposed to just swiping. To find compatible matches, Zoosk will only ask you a few basic questions when you use the Smart Picks feature, which is optional.

zoosk vs bumble app screenshots

With Zoosk, you have the best of both online dating approaches—browsing and swiping. You can see multiple profiles at a glance on the main screen or, alternatively, you have Carousel mode, which lets you swipe through profiles like you would on Tinder or Bumble.

How is Bumble better than Zoosk?

The feature Bumble is most known for is that “women make the first move.” When a man and a woman match, the woman has a full day to decide whether to initiate a conversation. 

The man can only message once the woman has sent the opening message within the 24-hour window. After that, there are no limits for either person in that same chat.

If the woman who matches with a man does not start a conversation within 24 hours, the match expires. This means that the potential chat between two matched users disappears after a day.

This limitation is considered a feature on Bumble. It came about as a way to challenge dating stereotypes where men are meant to “make the first move.” Another plus point is that it tackles the rampant issue of inappropriate messages on dating services.

zoosk vs bumble apps compared

Bumble isn’t just for heterosexual men and women. For same-gender matches, either person can get the conversation going. The 24-hour match expiration is still there, so if neither person writes, the match elapses after a day. 

Just like Tinder, seeing matches on Bumble involves swiping left and right to state whether you like the profile. Profiles are simply laid out with an emphasis on photos, followed by a short bio and key details. 

Bumble also lets you link up with other apps like Instagram and Spotify, which adds content to your profile with little effort. This is convenient because it allows your profile to be constantly updated with your latest music recommendations and photos from those services.

Did you know?

Bumble was founded by Whitney Wolfe Herd, who had worked at Tinder and successfully sued the company. Bumble was created with help of Andrey Andreev, founder of Badoo.

Bumble isn’t just a dating app. It can also be set to BFF or BIZZ modes for non-romantic relationships. These modes are designed to help you make new friends or network professionally.

Zoosk vs Bumble: which one is cheaper?

Zoosk’s pricing sits somewhere between Bumble’s Boost and Premium paid tiers. Its pricing is simpler with only one premium tier, while Bumble has two paid membership levels. 

It helps to sign up for the free versions to see if there are any deals. When it comes to Zoosk vs Bumble subscription lengths there are significant differences. See what the price differences are for Zoosk vs Bumble:

Zoosk UpgradeBumble BoostBumble Premium
1 month$29.95 per month$16.99 per month$39.99 per month
3 months$19.98 per month$11.33 per month$25.66 per month
6 months$11.00 per month$9.17 per monthn/a
12 months$8.33 per monthn/an/a
Lifetimen/an/a$229.99 one-time fee

*Pricing provided for illustrative purposes based on available information at the time of writing.

Bumble has the cheapest paid subscriptions when compared to what Zoosk offers. If you are just looking to save money, then Bumble is clearly the more affordable choice. However, price isn’t the only deciding factor. 

Is Bumble Premium Lifetime for real?

Bumble Premium Lifetime lets you access all the features available on the Premium tier for one flat fee. The Lifetime subscription makes sense if you plan on using Bumble for more than two years.

Free vs paid features: how do these apps stack up?

Bumble and Zoosk bring different approaches to their dating app services. Let’s take a closer look at what each one offers to its free and premium users.

Zoosk features: free vs paid options

Check out all the Zoosk features and compare the free and paid versions side-by-side.

Zoosk free featuresZoosk premium features
✅ Create a full dating profile✅ Create a full dating profile
✅ Access the Carousel✅ Access the Carousel
✅ Send smiles and hearts✅ Send smiles and hearts
✅ Watch Zoosk video streams✅ Watch Zoosk video streams
✅ Send messages
✅ See who likes you
✅ Chat with your SmartPicks

Zoosk offers some differentiation between its free and premium features because of its SmartPicks Chat feature. In order to best use the app, you have to pay for the premium features otherwise you miss out on unlimited messaging.

Bumble features compared

Compare features side by side to see which Bumble option is a better fit for you.

Bumble Free FeaturesBumble Boost FeaturesBumble Premium Features
✅ Create a profile✅ Create a profile✅ Create a profile
✅ Add photos✅ Add photos✅ Add photos
✅ View main profiles✅ View main profiles✅ View main profiles
✅ Send and receive messages with matches*✅ Send and receive messages with matches*✅ Send and receive messages with matches*
✅ Link up to Spotify and Instagram to fill your profile✅ Link up to Spotify and Instagram to fill your profile✅ Link up to Spotify and Instagram to fill your profile
✅ Extend unlimited matches for an extra 24 hours✅ Extend unlimited matches for an extra 24 hours
✅ Unlimited swipes✅ Unlimited swipes
✅ Undo swipes✅ Undo swipes
✅ One Spotlight per week✅ One Spotlight per week
✅ Five SuperSwipes a week✅ Five SuperSwipes a week
✅ See who likes you (Beeline)
✅ Incognito mode
✅ Match again with expired matches
Travel mode

* Unlimited messaging with matches. If the match is between a man and woman, the woman has to message within 24 hours for free unlimited messaging to be available.

The main decision to make between the different paid plans is whether you want to see who likes you. On Bumble, this feature is called “Beeline” and it’s only available on the more expensive Premium membership. POF has a related feature in its one-size-fits-all paid plan where you can see who has viewed your profile.

If you’re someone who travels a lot, “Travel mode” on Bumble could also be very practical. It lets you select different locations, view profiles at your destination, and crucially match with them ahead of your trip. This means that when you arrive, you will already have someone to meet up with.

Which dating app is better for you? Zoosk vs Bumble

Take a look at what each dating app has going for it as well as areas where they could do better.

Zoosk pros and cons

These are the benefits and drawbacks of using the Zoosk dating app.

ProsCons
✅ Streamlined and convenient sign-up process❌ Messaging isn’t free after the trial period
✅ Special features like Zoosk Carousel and Smart Picks❌ Virtual gifts and Zoosk Coin offers can be confusing to understand
✅ Familiar, user-friendly dating app design

Bumble pros and cons

These are the advantages and disadvantages of the Bumble dating app.

ProsCons
✅ Fully operational for free users❌ Less focused on serious relationships and compatibility
✅ Bumble Boost is good value for money❌ Users have to swipe through a lot of profiles and do most of the selection work
✅ 4.2 out of 5 review score and Editor’s Choice award on Apple App store.

Zoosk vs Bumble: final thoughts

Both Zoosk and Bumble are good options for meeting someone online. Which one you choose depends on whether you like swiping through profiles as a way to match with people. If you do, then Bumble is a better option. If you want to focus more on finding compatible profiles, then Zoosk is better suited to your needs.

Both dating apps have everything you need to view profiles and match with people, but only Bumble offers completely free messaging. If you’re undecided, why not try both?

Zoosk vs Bumble FAQ

You can find answers to common questions below.

Is Bumble better than Zoosk?

Bumble is better than Zoosk if you don’t want to pay for messaging. If you don’t mind paying, then Zoosk offers a more varied dating app experience.

Is Zoosk legit?

Zoosk is definitely a legitimate dating app. The dating service has been around for many years and is backed by serious investors. Zoosk has robust online security policies to make sure user profiles are valid.

Which is cheaper: Bumble vs Zoosk?

Bumble is cheaper than Zoosk. While both are reasonably priced, only Bumble offers all the basic features you need for free online dating. It’s worth signing up for both (using the buttons above) to see if they have any deals you can take advantage of.