Last Updated on March 13, 2023
Bumble emerged in 2014 as one of many location-based dating apps with the unique factor of putting the ladies in charge of making the first move. Like other apps, Bumble uses the swipe feature where users swipe left or right on a profile to reject or accept a potential match. In addition, when two users swipe right on each other, a match is made, forming a “connection.”
The Basics
Unlike other apps, when two users make a connection, only the female can send the first message. If she does not initiate by sending a message within 24 hours of the match, the connection is lost, and the match disappears, so you’re on a time limit. The first contact can be a written message or an in-app voice or video call.
The app was founded by a woman who co-founded Tinder, then left after being sexually harassed on the other dating app. When launching Bumble, the creator aimed to eliminate, or at least cut back on, some of the gross and sleazy one-liners sent by men looking for a hookup. Since the app puts women in the driver’s seat and gives them the power to make the first move, Bumble has become a “feminist’s dating app” throughout the online dating community.
After creating an account, Bumble users are asked to add six pictures to their profile. The app keeps track of which photos get the most right swipes and puts that photo first for potential matches later. You can also connect your Instagram account, and Bumble will include 24 random Instagram photos on your dating app. However, there is no way to choose which images are added.
After adding photos, users are asked to include a brief “About Me” bio that is only 300 characters or less, with the optional addition to answer three “Mood Maker” questions to provide potential matches with more info. Additionally, users can include up to three pronouns they prefer, including ze/zer, they/them, and ve/ver, among others. To make profile tagging and searching easier, users can add up to 5 preselected “interest badges” from the list of 150 options and a few basic information badges, such as your height, star sign, religion, or others.
After creating your profile, users select search criteria that include things like distance, gender, and basic age ranges, and they have the option, later, to narrow it down further with categories like smoking or drinking habits, political views, religion, and more.
What to know about the dating community on the site.
Since Bumble has given women more choice and power in dating options, it’s unsurprising that the male-to-female ratio is more balanced here. With over 100 million current users, males make up about 55% of users, with females making up 45%. The average age range of most Bumble users is 25 to 35 years old.
Most Bumble users are not looking for a hookup like other major dating apps, so most are seeking a relationship. Bumble also has a feature for users seeking friendships rather than romantic relationships. Since women must make the first move on Bumble, you will find more empowered and motivated females on this app than others. This also means the women reaching out are interested, so you’re more likely to get a date.
Since Bumble has an in-app video and voice calling feature, users are more likely to see or speak with matches before meeting in person, so many users feel safer since they don’t have to give out their personal phone number to someone they haven’t met in person. The app also does not allow Snapchat filters or modified photos, so you know the person you’re matching looks like their photo.
Pricing Information
Bumble has three different membership levels. The most basic level is the free membership. This membership allows users to make matches and send messages. However, there is a limit on how many swipes you can make daily. Free users are also granted one Extend per day, where they can extend the 24-hour time window for an additional 24 hours if they are hoping for a message from the match or if they ran out of time before messaging someone. Additionally, all users can play the Question Game, where you can get talking points with matches if you get stuck during the conversation.
Bumble’s first paid subscription level is called Bumble Boost and provides unlimited swipes per day and unlimited Extends. Boost members can also backtrack or undo a match rejection and receive five SuperSwipes each week, which lets a potential match you are eager to meet, or you like them. In addition, you are allowed one Spotlight per week, where the user’s profile is featured first for possible matches.
Bumble Premium includes the same features as Bumble Boost and a few others. In addition, premium allows users to use more advanced filters, such as filtering based on interests or physical traits, travel mode so you can match with people while traveling the world, the ability to see anyone who liked you first, unlimited chances to rematch with any expired matches, and incognito mode so users can stay anonymous.
For any users who want the Spotlight feature or SuperSwipes without the subscriptions, these can be purchased individually or in a pack without a monthly subscription.
Are there bonus features?
Bumble’s verification process helps weed out any bots, so you’re unlikely to get those fraudulent accounts. Additionally, Bumble makes it easier to safely chat through the app without providing your phone number first, this way you can tell if you want to give your contact number to a potential match before deciding to meet in person.
The 24-hour timer will also help eliminate the extended wait times, so you know when you’re being ghosted right away and are less likely to be stood up.
The bottom line.
Overall, Bumble is better for women than many other dating apps, but it takes much of the power away from men. Unfortunately, this means that shy women may miss out on matches because they need to learn how to make the first move, or you may not get to meet your perfect match because the 24-hour time limit ran out before they could contact you.
The free account features are great for the price, but the 300-character limit in the About Me section means you have yet to learn what someone is like unless you are both physically appealing to each other, you match, and she sends a message within 24 hours. Many factors go into finding and getting a date, and you’re unlikely to make it to first base as quickly as hookup-based apps.
Since the app is primarily location-based with limited filters, you may also end up with many potential matches that are not physically appealing to you, personally, so be prepared to read the quick bios and hope that you’ll find a good match for your personality!