Should You Use Hinge or Bumble?

So, you’re ready to start online dating—how exciting! You’ve narrowed down your choices to Hinge or Bumble…which one should you choose? On the surface, they both seem good, but each has pros and cons. Each app offers a unique dating experience, and in this guide, we’ll help you discover which speaks to you most. To find the right app and start your dating journey today, keep reading!

This article is based on an interview with our professional dating coach and matchmaker, Laura Bilotta. Check out the full interview here.

Things You Should Know

On Bumble, the woman has to initiate the conversation in heterosexual pairings, and then the man has 24 hours to respond before the match expires.
On Hinge, anyone can like or comment on any part of your profile, regardless of gender or who matches with who first.
Bumble uses a swiping format to match profiles, while Hinge uses a liking method.

Section 1 of 7:

Demographics & Popularity

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Bumble and Hinge are both extremely popular dating apps. The plus side to using these dating apps is that they are widely known in the United States. Currently, Bumble has over 50 million active users.^{[1]
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Research source} Hinge, on the other hand, has over 23 million users. Here’s a quick rundown:
- Hinge is primarily used by singles between the ages of 22 and 26.^{[2]
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- Around 72% of Bumble users are under the age of 35.^{[3]
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- As of March 2021, around 67% of Bumble users were male, and 33% were female.^{[4]
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- As of March 2023, about 64% of Hinge users are male, and 36% are female.

Section 2 of 7:

Profile

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Hinge profiles ask users to answer 3 prompts. Unlike competing dating apps, Hinge segues from traditional “About Me” bios by giving you the option to choose from a list of unique open-ended questions. How you answer the question is entirely up to you, as you can stick with a typed sentence or try a video or voice response.
- Answer prompts like these to show off your personality:
  - “Two truths and a lie.”
  - “I’m looking for…”
  - “My most irrational fear.”
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Bumble profiles offer short prompts and a bio. The profiles on Bumble are short and sweet. With users having to swipe left or right, it’s easier if everything is on one screen. Along with displaying basic profile features such as age, Bumble profiles also show a basic “About Me” section and 3 short answer prompts.
- The “About Me” bio on Bumble must be 300 characters or less, while prompt answers must be 120 characters or less.
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Hinge and Bumble allow 6 profile photos. Both of these dating platforms let you upload 6 photos to your profile. However, Hinge goes a step further and allows videos.
- On Hinge, you must upload 6 photos or videos before you can start liking profiles.
- On Bumble, you don’t necessarily have to upload 6 photos, but it is encouraged.

Section 3 of 7:

Matching & Chatting

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Hinge allows users to see who’s liked their profile. Unlike other popular dating apps, Hinge has ditched the swiping format. Rather than swiping left or right on a potential partner, Hinge users like profiles. The Discover feed shows users who match your algorithm and curates a group of Standouts that Hinge thinks you're most compatible with.^{[5]
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- Regular users can like up to 8 people a day; anymore requires a premium subscription.
- A profile must be liked or passed to view the next.
- Users can comment on any part of another user’s profile, such as a photo or prompt, to initiate a conversation.
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Bumble users must swipe through profiles to find a match. If you see someone you like on your feed, swipe right or “Vote.” If you don’t like someone, you swipe left to view the next profile. This swiping method is standard for dating apps today and can give users a sense of familiarity, especially when trying a new platform.
- Regular users can “vote” or swipe right about 100 times a day; unlimited swiping requires a premium subscription.
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On Bumble, only women can message first. If you match with a woman and are a man, the woman must be the one to make the first move. This female-friendly approach sets Bumble apart from other dating apps and helps cut down unwanted advances on women.
- The woman’s first message must be sent within 24 hours of the match, or the match expires. Men also have 24 hours to respond to the first message; otherwise, the conversation expires.
- In same-gender matches, either person can start the conversation.

Section 4 of 7:

Filter Options

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Hinge lets you change your location for free, but that’s it. Compared to competitors, Hinge allows users to change their location for free. However, anything outside basic match preferences (age, gender, maximum distance) is a premium feature and costs extra.
- Premium or Hinge+ members can set Advanced Preferences to filter through height, children and family plans, educational background, politics, and vices.
- Users that pay for this feature can specify things as “Dealbreakers” to exclude profiles that have something undesirable.
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Bumble users can select 1 filter from the Advanced Filters menu. Unlike other dating apps, Bumble lets all users choose a single Advanced Filter they’d like to include in their personalized algorithm. Bumble Premium members can use all of these features when looking for a match:
- Height
- Education
- Pets
- Kids
- Religion
- Politics
- Star sign
- Drinking and smoking
- Verified profiles only
- Exercise frequency
- Types of dates they’re open to
- Type of relationship sought

Quiz

wikiHow Quiz: Which Dating App Should I Use?

When it comes to dating apps, the problem is that most people are on the wrong platform. Looking for a thrilling fling? Then you probably shouldn’t be swiping through serious daters. Searching for your soulmate? That’s great—just be sure that your app is for hopeless romantics, not hookups. Take our quiz to find the perfect dating app for you!

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Which answer best describes what you’re looking for right now?

A serious, loyal partner.

Interesting & cool people who I can vibe with.

I’m open to anything, but honestly, I’m mainly looking for hookups.

I want to meet someone, but I wish I could skip the ghosting and rude messages first.

Section 5 of 7:

Premium Costs & Paid Features

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Hinge offers 2 premium subscriptions starting at $30. Currently, Hinge+ costs around $30 a month, $60 for 3 months, and $90 for 6 months. HingeX (a more supreme, all-inclusive version of Hinge+) is around $50 a month or $600 annually.^{[6]
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- Hinge+ includes:
  - Unlimited likes
  - See all your likes at once
  - Advanced filters
  - Enhanced browsing
- HingeX includes the same features as Hinge+, along with the following:
  - Priority likes
  - Enhanced recommendations
  - “Skip the Line”
- Profile Boosts ($10) and Superboosts ($20) can also be purchased in 1-hour increments to improve your profile’s chance of being seen.^{[7]
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- Roses can be bought in packs of 3 for $10 and are amplified likes.^{[8]
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Bumble has 2 premium subscriptions between $12 and $250. Bumble Boost costs around $12 weekly or $70 for 6 months. A more premium version of the app, Bumble Premium, can be purchased for around $22 a week or $250 for lifetime access.
- Bumble Boost includes:^{[9]
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  - Rematching with expired matches
  - Extending match deadline
  - Undo last swipe
  - 1 weekly Spotlight
  - 5 weekly SuperSwipes
  - Unlimited right swipes
- Bumble Premium includes the Bumble Boost perks plus:^{[10]
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  - Seeing who’s liked your profile
  - Only being visible to those you’ve swiped right on
  - Changing your location
  - Using all match filters

Section 6 of 7:

The Purpose

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Hinge is designed to be deleted. Hinge’s mission is to make dating effective, not addictive. The creators behind this dating app want you to find your forever partner and delete their app entirely. With this in mind, they’ve cultivated a dating platform that encourages people to share stories and interesting things about themselves (hence the engaging and innovative prompts).^{[11]
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- All in all, Hinge wants you to show your authentic self so you can find your true love.
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Bumble has 3 Modes: dating, friendship, and business. Unlike other dating apps, Bumble has 3 ways to connect with others. Bumble Date is what we’ve described above—a chance for women to make the first move and level the playing field. Bumble BFF lets you find friends in your neighborhood by connecting you with people with similar interests. Bumble Bizz allows you to expand your job network by meeting like-minded individuals in your field.^{[12]
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- In other words, Bumble forms an algorithm based on your likes, dislikes, and interests to find like-minded people to connect with romantically or platonically.

Section 7 of 7:

So, which app is better?

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Choosing between Hinge and Bumble is entirely up to you. Both dating apps have pros and cons, and which app you use depends on your specific needs and what you’re looking for in a dating experience. For instance, if you’re a woman, you may find Bumble’s female-friendly approach comforting. If you’re looking for your soulmate, Hinge’s detailed profile may help you find common interests faster. Here’s a summary of the pros and cons to help you make your final decision:^{[13]
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- Hinge
  - Pros:
    - Extensive profile that allows you to show multiple assets of yourself
    - Anyone can like or comment on a profile’s image or prompts
    - No swiping
    - Can change your location for free
  - Cons:
    - Minimal daily likes
    - Not as many users
    - Used primarily by those in their 20s
- Bumble
  - Pros:
    - Lets women control what comes into their inbox
    - Lots of users
    - Free users can choose 1 advanced filter
  - Cons:
    - Women can only message first (may be a disadvantage for men in heterosexual relationships)
    - Matches expire after 24 hours
    - Limited to 100 swipes a day