Hinge vs. Bumble: Which Dating App Is Really Worth Your Energy In 2024? (2024)

While dating apps are nothing new—believe it or not, some of the most popular ones have been around for over a decade—over the last few years, they’ve seemingly become the default way to meet a potential S.O.

These apps, like Hinge and Bumble, are great for a number of reasons. For one thing, it can be scary to meet new people, but these platforms “give a little bit of a safety net” since you get to talk to a match for as long as you want before moving to a date, says Adelle Kelleher, a certified dating and relationship coach and the founder of Coaching Hearts Consulting based in Los Angeles.

Another bonus? You can meet tons of people from the comfort of your own couch, adds Morgan Anderson, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist, attachment theory expert, relationship coach, and author of Love Magnet based in Bozeman, Montana.

However, deciding which dating app to use can be hard. After all, there are tons of options out there, and they all have pros and cons. The decision should ultimately boil down to your goals, adds Carla Marie Manly, PhD, a clinical psychologist, the host of the Imperfect Love podcast, and the author of Date Smart based in Sonoma County, California. And if you’re looking for a relationship, Hinge and Bumble might be the most well-known options to choose from.

So…which one is the way to go? Here, experts dive into everything to know about these apps, including cost, features, and more.

Hinge vs. Bumble: An Overview

From the outside, these two apps may seem pretty similar—and Manly says they’re both awesome if you’re more interested in dating than hooking up—so, let’s get granular for a sec. The first thing to know: Both apps have free versions with membership options, which makes them pretty accessible for the most part.

Hinge

Hinge is set up with visual and auditory senses in mind: Users need to include photos and written or recorded prompts on profiles. Plus, it’s slower and more mindfulness-based than Bumble, Manly says. “It focuses on the quality of matches more than the quantity,” she says, based on feedback from her clients. That’s because of their unique algorithm, which filters people who could work well together (kind of like digital matchmaking).

Also, with Hinge, you have to make an effort to like a photo or comment on someone’s profile (instead of just swiping on Bumble), which Anderson loves. “You're going to look at this person's profile and actually get to know them before you're interacting,” she says.

Among heterosexual relationships, this app might feel more accessible for male-identifying people, since guys are able to make the first move (in comparison to Bumble, which requires that women message men first). However, since any gender can make the first move, women might feel bombarded by unwanted messages. The upside? There’s less of a chance of a conversation feeling one-sided, since anyone is allowed to message at any time, she adds.

Bumble

Bumble puts the power into women’s hands—in the context of heterosexual relationships, that is—since it lets them message matches first. (In queer relationships, any gender can send the first message.) This is great because it “empowers women on making that first move,” Anderson says.

It offers a bit more control of the situation, in comparison with other apps, since you can be selective about which conversations you really want to pursue. As a result, with Bumble, you won’t be “inundated with people reaching out to you,” says Kelleher.

Features

Here are some of the main features both apps offer through their free versions.

Hinge

Profile

To design your profile, you’ll answer Hinge’s three written prompts (short questions), or one of their video, poll, or voice prompts. Anderson particularly loves their voice prompts because “you can't really get a feel for someone just over a message—you have to be able to hear their voice,” which Hinge solves with this feature. Then, you’re required to upload six of your own photos from your camera roll, Instagram, or Facebook.

Here’s some other info you can add to your profile (and view on potential matches’):

• Name
• Gender
• Pronouns
• Sexuality
• Age
• Height
• Location
• Ethnicity
• Work
• Job title
• School
• Education level
• Religious beliefs
• Hometown
• Politics
• Languages spoken
• Dating intentions
• Relationship type
• Children
• Family plans
• Covid vaccine
• Pets
• Zodiac sign
• Drinking
• Smoking
• Marijuana
• Drugs

Likes

You can reach out to potential matches by sending a like or commenting on one of their prompts or photos. Hinge also gives you the ability to see who likes you (viewing one like at a time), which Bumble doesn’t allow. Plus, you can mark down when you met someone or give a reason as to why you want to unmatch (like“no reason” or “I’m not interested in this person”), so Hinge can learn more about your preferences.

Standouts

There’s an area on Hinge with a selection of potential matches called “Standouts” who you can give a “rose” to, which is a way of showing someone you’re *really* interested in them. The people in this section refresh once a week, and you only give out one rose in that time period. (But you can pay for more.) And JSYK, according to some WH editors (and social media), you can usually find top-notch hotties in this section.

Connected Accounts

Another fun feature? You can connect your Instagram to your Hinge account so potential matches can see more photos of you. But don’t worry, other info about your account, like your bio and follower count, isn’t visible.

Bumble

Profile

Bumble’s profile layout is a little different from Hinge. For instance, you only need to upload one photo of yourself, although you can add up to six, plus, there’s a whole section just for your interests, where you can write about concerts, dancing, working out, etc. You can also add up to three written prompts on your profile (similar to Hinge) as well as an “opening question,” which can jumpstart your conversation. Lastly, there’s a space for a personal bio, which is a fun, punchy intro describing yourself.

Here is some other info you can add to your profile:

• Name
• Work
• Education
• Gender
• Location
• Hometown
• Ethnicity
• Height
• Exercise
• Star sign
• Education level
• Drinking
• Smoking
• Looking for
• Kids
• Religion
• Politics
• Pronouns
• Languages I know

Swipes

Unlike Hinge, you don’t have the ability to see who has swiped on you without swiping on them first (unless you pay for that feature). Plus, you have to message someone in 24 hours or else they’ll disappear from your matches. However, you do get one chance to extend a match for free every day. Also, if you unmatch someone, you can’t select a reason why—a feature that Hinge has—you’re simply given the opportunity to block and report them.

Best Bees

Like Hinge, Bumble has a “Best Bees” section, where you can swipe on a “super compatible” potential match once a week for free. They refresh each week.

Connected Accounts

Not only can you connect your Instagram, but also your Spotify, so you can put your top artists on display (and see potential matches’ faves!). This way, you can see if you’re on the same page, musically.

Cost

Both apps have free versions with membership-based options.

Hinge

Hinge has two additional subscription tiers: Hinge+ and HingeX.

Hinge+

Features:

• Unlimited likes each day
• You can see everyone who’s liked your profile at the same time
• Access to advanced preferences
• Allows you to browse different categories, like: who is nearby, new to Hinge, most compatible, and has been active today

Cost:

• $29.99 per month
• $59.99 for a three-month subscription
• $89.99 for a six-month subscription

HingeX

Features:

• Offers a profile boost so you can be seen sooner by other potential matches
• Your likes are seen sooner by other users
• Priority likes (you can consistently stay at the top of someone’s feed)
• Enhanced match recommendations
• Unlimited likes each day
• You can see everyone who’s liked your profile at once
• Access to advanced preferences
• Allows you to browse who is nearby, new to Hinge, most compatible, and has been active today

Cost:

• $49.99 per month
• $99.99 for a three-month subscription
• $149.99 for a six-month subscription

Bumble

Hinge also has two additional subscription tiers: Bumble Boost and Bumble Premium.

Bumble Boost

Features:

• The ability to backtrack, or go back to a profile you’ve previously swiped left (no) on
• Can extend time on current matches
• Receive unlimited swipes
• One Spotlight a week, which advances your profile to the top of peoples’ stacks so you’re viewed faster by others
• Five SuperSwipes a week, which let someone know you’re extra interested in them

Cost:

• $14.99 for one week
• $29.99 for one month
• $49.99 for three months

Bumble Premium

Features:

• Access to unlimited advanced filters
• Ability to view your Beeline, which is filled with users who have swiped yes on you—but who you haven’t swiped on yet
• Gives you Travel Mode, where you can select the city your profile will appear in for seven days
• Can rematch with expired users
• Can use Incognito Mode, where you can swipe privately by initially hiding your profile and only appearing for those who you’ve swiped yes on
• Backtrack
• Extend time on current matches
• Unlimited swipes
• One spotlight a week
• Five SuperSwipes a week

Cost:

• $27.99 for one week
• $54.99 for one month
• $109.99 for three months

Who is on Hinge vs. Bumble?

While neither app prefers to share demographic information publicly, the experts have some thoughts on who’s using Hinge or Bumble, according to their clients’ experiences.

Gender Ratio

Manly says she believes both Hinge and Bumble have fairly even gender ratios, but that Hinge *may* seem more favorable for men, since it offers an “equal playing field,” she says, which Anderson agrees with. Relationship-oriented men might “pivot to apps that give them more ability to initiate and have a bigger role in the dating world,” Manly adds.

Another thing that comes into play here? Your location. Think of where you’re based, Kelleher says. Los Angeles’s demographics tend to be pretty evenly split between females and males—but in New York City, there are more women than men, she explains. So, that might reflect in your apps.

Queer Users

It’s hard to weigh in on app demographic information for queer users, especially because some of them might not have come out yet, Manly adds. However, through Kelleher’s own experiences, she’s found that generally, those immersed in queer culture either don’t use Hinge or Bumble, or they use apps that are specifically for queer people. “I just don't think that's the main go-to,” she continues.

Ages

Both apps are awesome for those in their twenties, thirties, forties, and even beyond, because they’re easy to use, says Manly.

Success Rates

Hinge and Bumble don’t publicly share data about success rates, either, but the experts anecdotally believe that they work. “I know people who have met really great hookups on dating apps. I know clients who have met short-term partners that really gave them what they needed in the moment,” Manly says. She’s also worked with tons of people who have found their partners from dating apps.

However, success from dating apps comes from how you use them. “You want to be really intentional about how much time you're spending because they can be addictive,” Anderson says.

Hinge vs. Bumble: Which one is better overall?

At the end of the day, the choice is up to you. But here are some pros and cons for extra measure:

Hinge

Pros:

• Add video, poll, or voice prompts in addition to their three written prompts
• Upload photos from your camera roll, Instagram, or Facebook
• You can see who likes you
• Have to like or comment on a specific prompt or photo, which can be beneficial for actually starting a conversation
• Keep track of who you’ve met through the app
• You can give reasons as to why you’ve unmatched with someone

Cons:

• It’s required to upload six of your own photos to your profile
• The hot people are usually kept in the Standouts section, which isn’t as accessible as the regular feed
• No ability to connect your Spotify to your profile for someone to see your music interests (or vice versa)

Bumble

Pros:

• Only have to upload one photo of yourself
• There’s a section for adding your interests
• You can add three written prompts
• You can add an opening question to jumpstart conversation
• You can add a bio to describe yourself
• Extend one match for free everyday (otherwise they’ll disappear after 24 hours)
• Connect your Instagram and Spotify to see matches’ top artists

Cons:

• Some profiles might only have one photo of a potential match
• You can’t see who likes you without liking them first
• You have to message someone in 24 hours or else they’ll disappear
• If you unmatch someone, there’s no option to give a reason why

Alternative Apps to Try

As I’m sure you’re well aware, there are tons of dating apps out there. If neither Hinge nor Bumble is your jam, it’s not the end of the world. If you’re looking for a hookup, try Tinder, Manly says. If you want more than that, try Match or eHarmony.

For those over 50, Our Time is also awesome, she says, and if you’re a single parent, Anderson recommends Stir. There are also apps designed to connect those of the same religion like Christian Mingle, which Manly approves of. “There's great value in looking at some of the more niche apps,” Anderson says.

Also, the experts recommend trying different apps to see which one works best for you. You’ve got this!

Meet the experts: Adelle Kelleher is a certified dating and relationship coach and the founder of Coaching Hearts Consulting based in Los Angeles. Morgan Anderson, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist, attachment theory expert, relationship coach, and author of Love Magnet based in Bozeman, Montana. Carla Marie Manly, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, the host of the Imperfect Love podcast, and the author of Date Smart based in Sonoma County, California.