Hinge vs Bumble – it’s a clash of the dating app maestros! For those who’re ‘happily’ single, kudos. But others, who’ve been struggling to get out of their singledom in this ever-evolving virtual dating landscape – you’ve landed at the right place. At a time when finding love or a casual fling is just an app away, you shouldn’t have to struggle so much. While your wit, charm and humour help you entice potential partners, if you really want to ace the online dating game, you have to start by downloading the app which suits your needs and wants. Both Hinge and Bumble are the leading platforms to help you forge an actual relationship. But which one is right for you? Keep reading to know more.
Did you know that the online dating audience is expected to grow to 53.3 million by 2025, according to Statista. This is a huge leap from 44.2 million users in 2020. Ditching the hookup scene, many people are now inclined towards meeting serious, long-term partners on apps. If you’re new to the dating game, it’s only normal to get confused or overwhelmed by the options. So between Hinge and Bumble, which takes the top spot in the dating apps battle in 2024? Let’s find out.
Hinge vs Bumble: Which dating app should you pick in 2024?
Understanding the matchmaking process
Bumble
Bumble‘s functionality is very similar to Tinder – you swipe through profiles, right for the ones you like, and left for the ones you don’t. Bumble is the app Tinder users have shifted to after being tired of one-night stands. The only major difference between the two is Bumble’s USP – ‘Women make the first move’. Once you match with someone and the conversation opens, only a woman can initiate the first message and that too within 24 hours. Or else, the connection expires. Apart from the dating vertical, Bumble alsohas modes for finding friends and for business networking.
Hinge
Hinge has abandoned the swiping system, allowing users to ‘like’ certain aspects of other users’ profiles or just cross them out if they don’t catch your fancy. The app presents potential matches in three separate feeds. While one vertical allows you to see who has liked your profile already (a feature most dating apps charge money for), the second option is the ‘Discover’ feed, displaying potential matches who are most suited to fit your criteria. The last feed is the ‘Standout’ feed, showcasing a bunch of excellent profiles who you can interact with in exchange for a rose. Moreover, Hinge focuses on quality over quantity, which is why you can like a maximum of 8 people each day rather than endlessly swiping right on a pool of people. In case you want to increase the limit, you must opt for a paid version.
The matchmaking processes on both Hinge and Bumble are very different. While both are relatively simple to use, they work very differently.
The types of relationships each app works best for
Bumble
While both Bumble and Hinge cater to all types of daters, from serious to casual, the former’s swipe mode shifts it to a more casual side. The app’s Bumble BFF and Bumble Bizz features allow you to take a break from dating to match with potential friends or career mentors, which other apps haven’t rolled out yet. To put it simply, Bumble falls in the ‘casual dating’ bracket. It’s not as hookup-oriented as Tinder and not as serious as eHarmony or Hinge.
Hinge
Marketed as the app ‘designed to be deleted’, Hinge means serious business. Whether it’s limiting the number of daily likes to foster quality connections, displaying matches you’re most compatible with, or urging you to create detailed profiles displaying unique prompts about personality traits, beliefs, hobbies and more – Hinge is ideal for younger singles who want to cut the BS and find a meaningful connection. It offers fun and quirky ways to showcase your personality, including voice prompts, photos, and icebreakers. Unlike Bumble, Hinge is only for dating. This works as a pro for some people as the focus isn’t spread across three areas.
If you’re unsure about your relationship needs at this point or want to hit off on a casual note and go with the flow, choose Bumble. But if you’re in it for a long-term commitment, Hinge has to be your pick.
Messaging and chatting
Bumble
A huge proponent of female empowerment, Bumble sets itself apart from rival dating apps with one huge twist when it comes to messaging. On Bumble, only women can message first. While this female-friendly approach is great, especially to steer clear of lewd or obscene messages from men, it can be overwhelming for some– considering Bumble doesnt require users to fill in questions, answers, or even a bio for interaction. This often ends up in exchange of sloppy ‘Hey’ and ‘What’s up’ messages. Thankfully, in same-gender matches, either person can start the conversation.
Hinge
Hinge opens a broad road to communication, allowing you to message even before matching. Users can always include a comment with their likes. You can comment on anything on the profile, such as a photo or prompt, to initiate a conversation. So if you think your opening messages are where you shine, this could be an advantage for you.
In terms of messaging, Hinge offers a more interactive format than Bumble. However, Bumble’s approach also helps foster online safety for women and empowers them.
Hinge profile Vs Bumble profile
Bumble
Bumble allows users to upload a maximum of six photos, but doesnt make it mandatory. There’s also a basic ‘About Me’ section and 3 short answer prompts, further allowing users to express their likes and preferences. You can display details like exercise habits, education level, height, exercise habits and more in addition to linking your Spotify and Instagram handles.
Hinge
On Hinge, you HAVE to upload six photos, but they can be substituted for videos as well to make it more interactive. All six spots must be filled in order to start liking. Hinge also allows you to upload video prompts and voice prompts to work your magic. What makes Hinge stand out is their ‘Prompts’ section. Ditching the traditional ‘About me’ approach like Bumble, Hinge offers a list of unique open-ended questions like ‘Two truths and a lie,’ ‘I’m looking for…’, ‘My most irrational fear’ and more to show off your personality. You can include additional info like occupation, school, education level, political and religious affiliation as well as link your Instagram feed to your Hinge profile.
Overall, Hinge has a better profile curation system that helps you understand the user’s personality with just one screening. Meanwhile, Bumble’s short prompts and bio don’t really solve the purpose of getting a gist of your potential match’s lifestyle.
Bumble vs Hinge: Premium and paid features
Bumble
The app has two premium subscription options: Boost and Premium. Boost includes rematching with expired matches, extending the match deadline, undoing the last swipe, one weekly Spotlight, five weekly SuperSwipes and unlimited right swipes. On the other hand, Premium includes all the Boost perks as well as seeing who’s liked your profile, only being visible to those you’ve swiped right on, changing your location and using all match filters. The app’s subscriptions start at around USD 29.99 per month.
Hinge
Hinge also has two premium subscriptions: Hinge+ and HingeX. In Hinge+, you can get unlimited likes, see all your likes at once, and try advanced filters and enhanced browsing. Meanwhile, HingeX offers all the features of Hinge+ in addition to priority likes, enhanced recommendations and ‘Skip the Line’. You can also purchase Profile Boosts and Superboosts to improve your profile’s chance of being seen. Hinge subscriptions are slightly less expensive, starting at around USD 16.66 per month.
Our verdict
In the battle of Hinge vs Bumble, it really boils down to what you’re looking for. While Bumble is ideal for those looking for multiple matches and instant gratification, Hinge suits picky daters who are done meandering around and want commitment. The bottom line is, that each app requires hard work. You can’t be resting on your couch and wishing you could magically meet the right person without putting in time and effort. Find your soulmate connection on Hinge, or spice your love life with flirty chats on Bumble – both are great for meeting incredible people.
(Hero image credit: Josh Willink/ Pexels)
(Feature image credit: Pixabay)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Should I useHingeor Bumble?
It really depends on what you’re looking for. While Bumble helps you attract both casual and serious daters, Hinge focuses on forging long-term partnerships.
- Is Hingebetter for men?
For both men and women looking for quality relationships, Hinge is a good option.
- Is Bumble better than Tinder?
If you’re looking for only casual encounters, Tinder is your best fit. However, if you’re unsure about what you want and take things as they come, try out Bumble.
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
