Bumble vs Tinder: 15 Signs, Pros & Cons to Know Which Works Better for You

If you’re looking for love, dating apps can be the perfect way to find The One. But which hot app is best for you? Let’s compare Bumble vs. Tinder!

For the past two decades, dating sites have been the best way to meet new people and find love. We’ve long relied on desktop sites to connect with potential partners, but now, apps have taken over. Match.com vs. eHarmony has become Bumble vs. Tinder – an equally tight competition to corner the dating market!

There’s no denying dating apps are the best places to meet new people nowadays. Different apps will give you different results. Some are more casual, some are niche, and some are more popular than others. But the most popular of all are the most mainstream: Bumble and Tinder.

So, with so many different dating apps out there, how do you know which is best for you? This feature will break down all the differences between Bumble vs. Tinder so you can find the best hot dating app for you.

We’ll show you what to expect from each app, what kind of person suits each one, and what you can expect to achieve when using Bumble vs Tinder. Let’s get started!

[Read: The biggest lies about online dating, and why they aren’t true]

Bumble vs. Tinder and the dating app market

Before we get into the battle of Bumble vs. Tinder, let’s get a quick overview of the online dating app market. What types of apps are available, and where do Bumble and Tinder fit in?

If all dating apps and websites were the same, there would be no point in having so many! There are currently over 1500 dating apps available worldwide, each with its own spin on finding love.

The fact is, dating apps are all different, and different types of people will gravitate toward each one depending on their love needs. [Read: The hottest alternative dating apps you’ve never even heard of]

Hookup apps

Some apps focus on finding hookups. These apps allow you to meet up with good-looking strangers for no-frills sex, with no obligation to form a long-term relationship.

They’ll usually find you partners based on looks or a brief profile – all you need is sexual attraction, and it’s a match! Both Tinder and Bumble offer this, but Tinder is best known for its hookup culture.

Relationship apps

Alongside these, there are apps based on finding true love. These apps aim to match couples based on personality and conversations.

Apps like these usually target people who are looking for a long-term monogamous relationship, not just a casual fling. Between Bumble vs. Tinder, Bumble is more popular with long-term love seekers.

Niche apps

Lastly, there are niche dating apps. These match people based on quirky, unique interests or features. There are apps for goths, people with food allergies, The Walking Dead fans, and even people with beards *and beard lovers!* If you can name it, there’s an app for it.

But if you’re looking for niche dating, neither Bumble nor Tinder will work for you.

Before you start your online dating journey, make sure you know what type of relationship you’re seeking. This will help you pick the right app. Also, it’ll save you the heartbreak if you meet somebody with different plans! [Read: Casual or serious? How to work out your dating speed]

Bumble vs. Tinder – which app will help you find The One

Even though we’re comparing Bumble vs. Tinder, they have a lot of similarities. Both allow you an allotted amount of profile photos, let you write a bio, and require you to swipe left or right depending on who you find attractive or interesting.

Although some people criticize swipe-based dating apps, they can create an instant, powerful connection between two people. People say that first impressions are the most important part of dating, so why not make them the focus? [Read: Has technology killed romance? Why some people hate online dating apps]

Swiping aside, Tinder and Bumble have a lot of differences. Let’s break down the differences between Bumble vs. Tinder, and find out how each one can help you meet the lover of your dreams. It’s time to find out which is best by comparing Bumble vs. Tinder!

Everything you need to know about Tinder

Tinder is probably the best-known online dating platform in the world. It is the most installed dating app worldwide, with almost 70 million downloads annually. That’s hundreds of millions of people looking for love!

Tinder was invented in 2012 as a platform for college students to make casual connections. By this, we mean to hook up! This focus on flings has given it a rep as a quick, easy way to meet people for casual sex, but it has recently become popular with those seeking long-term relationships too.

This is because, during the pandemic, Tinder caught fire with lovers in lockdown. Without the opportunity to meet up for casual sex, users became more focused on the app’s chat function. Online-only communication made messaging more important and started to break down the app’s reputation for no-strings sex.

[Read: How to use Tinder – 28 Tinder tips and tricks to get you all the matches]

Who should use Tinder?

All types of people have used Tinder to find love, friends, and even just random hookups. Find out if this is the dating app you should be using. However, considering Bumble vs. Tinder, Tinder targets a slightly different user base. [Read: Top Tinder tips you can NOT ignore if you actually want a date]

1. Female singles who’ve been burned before

Tinder is great for female singles who’ve had bad experiences on other dating sites. It’s incredibly simple to use and doesn’t require you to put a lot of yourself out there, just your first name, photos, and a brief bio.

If you’ve been burned in the past by sharing too much, Tinder can make you feel more protected than other apps.

The swiping mechanism makes it easy to avoid the creeps, too. You won’t get messages from anybody unless you’ve both swiped right. This means you’re in control of who has access to you and who gets to be the focus of your attention.

Also, Tinder was created for low-maintenance connections. Conversations between matched couples stay open forever – some other apps *Bumble* automatically close them after a certain time limit, to put pressure on you to keep messaging. Tinder doesn’t do this, so you can communicate at your own pace.

[Read: 38 great icebreakers to get the convo going on Tinder]

2. People who don’t want to pay

Tinder is fundamentally a free app. You don’t have to pay to use its basic service, so you can swipe and match to your heart’s content without paying a single cent.

This means, when comparing Bumble vs. Tinder, Tinder wins out for users who like a freebie. Even Tinder’s Premium service is cheaper than a lot of its competitors.

3. People looking for friends, lovers, or long-term partners

As we’ve said before, Tinder isn’t just about hookups anymore. It can be used to find long-term lovers, and there are even stories of people meeting their husbands or wives on the app! Most famously, Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte met his model wife Kayla Rae Reid on Tinder, and they’ve been going strong ever since.

However, when it comes to meeting people for non-sexual relationships, Tinder is still catching up with competitors. Tinder has only recently begun to market itself as a platform for meeting friends, and it would feel a little strange creating a Tinder profile to swipe right on a new bestie!

However, even though the Bumble vs. Tinder win goes Bumble this time, you can still find friends on Tinder.

Tinder: the pros and cons

Now, let’s look at the pros and cons of Tinder. Here are its top five features, and what they might mean for you:

1. There are a LOT of people on there

Tinder is the most downloaded app worldwide and has the most users by several million. Since so many people know about Tinder, it’s usually the first stop on their online dating journey. This means there are just a LOT more people on the app in general.

On one hand, the huge population means you have a larger pool of people to choose from. There will be more options, and that means more variety – you’ll have more chances of finding that dream partner you’re imagining, or even somebody you never considered!

On the other hand, more people means more competition. Your potential partner has to swipe through hundreds of people before meeting you, and you’ll have hundreds of other suitors vying for your attention. All those profiles can blur into one, making it impossible for you *or The One* to stand out. [Read: The most important must-follow rules to get laid on Tinder]

2. Both parties can message first

So if you’re shy, no worries! There are no rules on Tinder. As long as you’ve both swiped right, either of you can message first and get the conversation going. Not only is this great for actually engaging with each other, but you’ll also get to know a lot more people this way.

Also, conversations can end differently on Bumble vs. Tinder. On Bumble, if you don’t message your match in the first 24 hours, you lose that match forever. Tinder allows you to remain connected until you unmatch someone yourself.

3. It’s great for hooking up

Sometimes you just want a one-night stand, and there’s definitely more of a hookup culture on Tinder than there is on Bumble. That’s because there are more people who can connect with each other instantly.

So if you’re looking for a hot hookup for the night, Tinder is a better option than Bumble. There are more people looking for some sexy fun on Tinder than there are elsewhere, and it’s much easier to ghost them with an unmatch if it doesn’t work out! [Read: Ghosting – why it happens, what it means, and how to ghost someone safely]

4. There are twice as many men as women

Ladies, if you want to find the best of the best, there will be far more options to choose from on Tinder! With so many men on Tinder, you’ll get a huge scope of different men, all competing to get the favor of a limited number of girls. Tinder is your best bet if you’re looking to take your pick of the lot for a fun night.

However, you do want to be careful because not all guys on Tinder want something real. Tinder’s hookup culture can discourage guys from creating a deeper emotional connection. [Read: How to survive hookup culture with your heart intact]

5. People are more casual

Because there’s a huge hookup culture on Tinder, people tend to be more casual. They don’t really push a first date or meeting, so you can be chatting *or sexting* for a long time without anybody taking things offline.

Sure, if your intentions are just to hook up with somebody, you may end up meeting more quicker. But if you’re looking for real dates, this could easily get frustrating.

Despite this, the nice thing about Tinder is that you can take it easy. You can keep the conversation going for as long as you want without feeling pushed to take things further too quickly.

[Read: The pros and cons of using dating apps to find love]

Everything you need to know about Bumble

If you haven’t heard of Bumble, you’re sorely missing out! Bumble is a new, alternative dating app that has burst onto the scene very recently, offering users the opportunity to date, meet friends, and even build work connections!

This app was created in 2014, by ex-Tinder employees who wanted to change the online dating culture. Bumble is currently the second most popular dating app worldwide, but only has around as many total users as Tinder gains per year! On popularity, Bumble vs. Tinder definitely goes to Tinder.

Although Bumble is much like Tinder, it differs in many ways. Bumble is female-focused, women always have to message first. [Read: How does Bumble work? What to expect from the hottest dating app]

Who should use Bumble?

As its website states, Bumble is “not just for dating anymore.” Alongside allowing users to form long-lasting romantic connections, arrange hookups, and start flirty conversations, Bumble also allows you to connect with others on a non-sexual basis. Let’s take a look at who Bumble targets.

1. Singles of all genders and orientations

Although it markets itself as female-focused, this feminist dating app can work for anybody. Bumble simply offers a way to do modern dating that doesn’t follow the traditional, sexist script. By this we mean the guy doesn’t have to make the first move, and the woman is in control.

If you’re a more traditional guy and like being able to message first, Bumble won’t be the right app for you.

However, it is a great choice if you’re a girl who wants to be independent and break the rules. [Read: The biggest misconceptions about dating a feminist]

As for gay users, Bumble does support dating between individuals of any gender or orientation. You can choose whether you’re interested in guys, girls, or both. However, if you’re a same-sex couple, the female-first messaging rule doesn’t apply, and either of you can start the convo. Lucky you!

2. People seeking friends or long-term partners

Bumble is better known as a long-term relationship app and is overwhelmingly used by people seeking long-term relationships. Bumble’s own surveys show that less than 4% of men and less than 1% of women on the app are only looking for a hookup, so Bumble is the perfect place to look for true love.

Bumble has also become extremely popular for making friends. The app features a ‘BFF’ setting, which allows you to match with other lonely people looking for friendship. Even if you don’t find love, you could use Bumble to find a best friend for life! [Read: Friend crush – what it means when you have a platonic crush]

Bumble: the pros and cons

Now, let’s look at the pros and cons of Bumble. Here are its top five features, and what they might mean for you:

1. Creeps won’t message you first

Ladies, if you’re looking for a dating app that’ll allow you the freedom of messaging a guy first without the irritation of persistent messages, Bumble is for you!

When it comes to Bumble vs. Tinder, the feature that allows women to message first really gives Bumble an edge for female users.

Not only can you set the tone for the conversation, but you’ll be able to think about each person fully before reaching out. This means less time wasted on unsuitable guys and more time for sizzling romance!

2. More people looking for real love use it

Since the messaging portion of the app is restricted, there are far more people on Bumble looking for real love. That means if you’re looking to have a real relationship, Bumble might be your best bet.

Plus, when guys give up control and allow women to make the first move, it means they’re ready for something more than just dropping a naughty pick-up line.

They want to engage with women who are comfortable talking to them and they feel secure enough in their masculinity to open up and let the girl take charge. [Read: The genuine signs a man wants a real relationship]

3. More women use it

Fellas, one of the main differences between Bumble vs. Tinder is the number of women. There are about equal amounts of men and women on Bumble – Bumble’s surveys put the numbers at around 46% female, and 54% male. However, Tinder has about twice as many men as women. Talk about a sausage party!

Since there are more women, you have more to choose from. Many women prefer to use Bumble because they’re allowed to message first, and those same women don’t use Tinder. So if you’re looking for higher quality interactions AND more women, Bumble beats out Tinder.

Fewer guys also means there is a higher chance your profile will be noticed! [Read: What not to say – the 30 best and worst words to use in your dating app profile]

4. The men are more confident

On Bumble, men have to sit and wait for the women to reach out to them first. This means a guy has to be pretty confident in his photos and bio. He knows he has to have enough to offer so that a woman will reach out and message him.

It takes a lot of confidence to do this, so men on Bumble are always very secure in themselves. Why do you want a confident guy? Because they’re happier with who they are, think more positively, and will be far less jealous or possessive. [Read: The big but subtle differences between a confident and an arrogant man]

5. Excellent privacy and safety features

Bumble also has excellent safety features, with a team of moderators working around the clock to respond to reports of unacceptable behavior. They also have strict community guidelines, banning users from featuring firearms, drugs, or threatening imagery in their profile pictures.

You can also put filters on your profile to screen out things that make you uncomfortable, including political views, alcohol/smoking/cannabis use, pets, kids, and more.

Between Bumble vs. Tinder, Bumble has a much better record of responding to user reports. They also give in-app advice on how to date safely – whether that’s how to have a risk-free one-night stand, or how to make sure your profile doesn’t accidentally reveal your whereabouts.

Should I get Premium?

Both Bumble and Tinder are fundamentally free. You don’t have to pay to use their basic services, so you can swipe and match to your heart’s content without paying a single penny. However, both also offer paid Premium plans with extra features. Let’s see what they cost and if they’re worth it.

Tinder Premium

Tinder has three paid tiers: Tinder Plus, Tinder Gold, and Tinder Platinum. These vary in price from $10 to $50 and offer you a range of extra features.

All plans allow you unlimited likes and Super Likes *boosted matches that show you’re extra interested*, control of who sees your profile, and the ability to take back accidental swipes. Gold and Platinum also allow you to see who likes you, and Platinum even allows you to message before you like!

Uniquely, the price of Tinder Premium changes according to how old you are. Users over 30 pay twice as much as those under 30.

Bumble Boost

Bumble only has one paid premium tier, called Bumble Boost. This costs either $28 a month, or $120 for a lifetime membership. It offers you a wider range of filters and allows you to extend a match by 24 hours, or rematch after it expires.

When comparing Bumble vs. Tinder, Bumble wins out for users who don’t want to spend too much money. Bumble’s plan works out as overwhelmingly cheaper than Tinder’s, but probably doesn’t have enough features to be worth the price.

Although Tinder has more features, many of these aren’t too useful. Super Likes don’t actually give you an advantage in securing a match, for example. So, it’s most likely not worth paying for the premium – stick to the free version, and save your cash for some fancy dates!

Is Bumble better than Tinder?

Being the newer app, Bumble often gets called “the new Tinder”. This can lead people to believe that Bumble is a new, improved version of its competitor. In the iOS App store, Bumble has a 4.2 star user rating, and Tinder has 3.8 – but this might be swayed by Bumble having 3x as many reviews.

However, the question of which is better entirely depends on your love needs. If you want a casual relationship or hookup, you’re more likely to find it on Tinder.

But if you’re looking for long-term love or even a new BFF then Bumble is the dating app for you.

The winner of the Bumble vs. Tinder fight has no objective answer- make your decision based on your own life, values, and dating goals.

There’s also always the possibility that online dating doesn’t work for you. You could spend months on either Bumble or Tinder, and still not find The One. Just remember that there’s a world outside of dating apps, too. Sometimes, the best connections are made IRL. [Read: I can’t find love online! – why dating apps don’t work for you]

The trick to finding love through dating apps is finding the one that fits your needs. We’ve broken down the differences between Bumble vs. Tinder, so you can find the perfect dating app for you.