Dating certainly was a very different scene a couple of decades ago. Ask the present generation to take a look back at the popular methods then. It’s almost certain they will laugh and poke fun at all of them. Going on blind dates, attending speed dating events, and even posting messages in the personals column of your local newspaper are examples of such. One can safely say that those ways are now considered older than old-fashioned.
Ironically mocked at its inception, online dating is the norm today. And as technology is continuously evolving, its ripple effects also reach these channels for finding love. Camera phones are dating arenas and photo-taking and sharing is the game now. The number of dating apps available in the market today has multiplied so much that choosing what to use gets hard. However, there are two apps now vying for your attention: Bumble vs Tinder.
Tinder and Bumble are at the top of the online dating food chain at the moment. Their system and features may look similar, but they rightfully deserve the spotlight. And yes, the dating scene often seems like a male-dominated arena for reasons both good and bad. With that, we’ll look at how these two apps work. We’ll also give our verdict at the end on which one is better for men like you.
Bumble vs Tinder: Tale of the Tape
Let’s start with a background check for each. First, Tinder is widely considered the precursor for all swipe-based dating apps. It was launched in September 2012. Tinder is one of the most famous and has the highest following and usage rate among all dating apps. This is in fact due to its wide availability outside the United States, in turn making it an international success.
On the other side, Bumble was founded by Whitney Wolfe Herd, co-founder and a former employee of Tinder. She left the company due to growing tensions with other executives. Wolfe Herd sued Tinder for sexual discrimination and harassment and then settled for over $1 million. Bumble was then launched in December 2014. It now serves a reported 22 million users. This number is dwarfed by Tinder but still makes Bumble a major player in the online dating game.
Key Difference Between Bumble vs Tinder
Is Bumble the new Tinder? This line sums up the current battle between Bumble vs Tinder. The two dating app giants are very much the same when it comes to functionality. Their basic mechanic revolves around swiping through a slew of user’s profile photos. Swiping right shows you’re interested while swiping left indicates you’ll pass. A match is made only when both users have swiped right on each other. Both will be notified and given the chance to chat with each other.
Here comes the biggest difference between the two. On Bumble, women are required to make the first move and initiate the conversation. Whereas either party can message first on Tinder. This contrast clearly explains why Bumble is often considered as a “feminist Tinder.”
On what app will you have a higher success rate? They may mirror each other but experiencing both will also help you choose between the two. It also depends on what you’re looking for and what your preferences are. So, let’s get it on with the Bumble vs Tinder fight!
Round 1: Features
Tinder’s success shortly after its launch is based on its three distinct features. First is its geolocation capability where it only shows user results within a specific radius from you. Next is the action of swiping through profile photos, which indicates your interest. Last but not least is the requirement that you couldn’t message anyone unless you’ve “matched.”
These three features applied by Tinder made groundbreaking effects in the whole online dating community. The process used to be very tedious and reading-heavy. Tinder made it just like a mobile game by injecting fun and lightness to it. All dating apps followed suit, and Bumble is included. It adopted the geolocation aspect and swiping mechanism as well.
Since launching, both apps have enabled new options. You can link your Spotify and Instagram accounts to your profile so potential partners can see your musical tastes and other photos. Bumble also allows users to undo an unintentional left-swipe for three times a day. Tinder requires you to upgrade first to enjoy the same feature.
With the precedents it established, Tinder wins this round.
Round 2: Sign-up Process
For the sign-up, this is where the Bumble vs Tinder competition briefly changes into cooperation. Both apps utilize faster and straightforward processes. They require you to use identity verifiers when signing up to negate fake accounts. Tinder will ask for your phone number, while you could use the same or your Facebook for Bumble.
Building your profile comes next. Bumble lets you “fill from Facebook” or manually add photos. It then asks for your gender from an expansive list of options. You also have to choose which gender you want to show your profile to. Adding your first name, birthday, recovery email, and password are the last fields to fill in before you can swipe away. Tinder offers a much shorter process. You just have to fill in your name, birthday, gender, and school attended. Swiping starts right after you upload your photos.
Both allow you to fill in more personal data later on. But with its more engaging and secure process that reduces catfishing, Bumble wins this round.
Round 3: Paid Upgrades
Almost all apps today are free to download and use. Enjoying their bonus features comes with extra charges. Tinder Plus is priced at $9.99 per month for users aged 18-29 and $19.99 for 30 and up. It provides unlimited swipes, the action to undo accidental left-swipes, five super-likes per day, and one free “boost” per month. Using the boost sends your profile straight to the front when users are swiping within your area. Tinder Gold costs another $4.99 on top of Tinder Plus. It enables you to see the users that have swiped right on your profile. Gold also offers a curated list of top picks you might like.
On the other hand, Bumble Boost is priced at $9.99 per month. It gives users a shelf-life extension for matches that have already passed the 24-hour cutoff period. It enables you to see the users who have liked you as well.
With more benefits from its premium features, Tinder wins this round.
Round 4: User Base
The number of men present on Tinder is twice the number of women. Tinder also represents a more varied spread of people, which includes blue-collar workers and service-industry employees.
Bumble has an almost equal distribution of men and women, albeit the scales tip a bit to the latter. Its user base tends to fall in the college-educated and career-oriented demography. This points to Bumble’s pioneering way of bringing three modes in one platform: Date (dating), BFF (friend-finding), and Bizz (career-building).
Women’s profiles are seen more quickly on Tinder since there are fewer of them present. Tinder also has had a reputation lately being a channel for casual hookups and one-night stands. Over on Bumble, men’s profiles are seen twice as fast for the same reason mentioned above. As a slightly less popular app, Bumble is focused on a specific population. This means that while you have fewer options, you’ll also spend less time left-swiping users you’re not interested in.
With those points, Bumble wins this round.
Round 5: Design and Interface
This is the last round for Bumble vs Tinder. Both dating apps use a similar interface comprised of two modes. The image-centered swiping mode is one and the text-based chat mode where you converse with your matches is another.
There are also differences between the two’s swiping mechanisms. Tinder also enables you to do the swipes by using buttons at the bottom of the screen. Bumble remains exclusive with the normal swiping action. Swiping upwards on Tinder means a super-like. Bumble’s upward swipe lets you see more photos of a user. Finally, Tinder requires you to use a yellow arrow icon to undo a left-swipe. You just simply shake your phone for Bumble.
When it comes to design and functionality, both apps are well-thought-out. They are updated regularly and very user-friendly. So, this round is a tie.
Bumble vs Tinder: The Decision
So, here we are at the bell. The current tally for Bumble vs Tinder is a draw. But before you react violently, let us explain.
Both apps employ the swipe action as their basic mechanic for liking or not. When you think of it, users swipe based on how their potential matches look and not about who they are. Dating almost always stands first on the grounds of base physical attraction. You learn all those deeper relational stuff upon interaction and conversation, which takes patience.
As mentioned earlier, Tinder has a vaguely shady yet famous reputation as the go-to dating app for hookups. It also seems to be regarded as less serious. On the other hand, Bumble is seen as a very progressive and female-forward alternative. It can offer something a little more steady.
So this is our verdict on Bumble vs Tinder:
If you’re a dude exclusively looking for a no-strings-attached one-night stand, then light a fire on Tinder.
But if you’re a guy searching for someone you can realistically date and eventually build a genuine relationship with, then find your honey on Bumble.
Finding love takes time, and a lot of swipes too.
