So you’re ready to dive back into the dating pool and you’re prepared to brave the apps. Congrats and godspeed. Obviously, you’ve got quite a few dating app options in this, the age of technology. But if you’re here, I’m gonna go ahead and assume you’ve narrowed it down to the age old question of Hinge vs. Bumble (sorry, Tinder). As far as the apps go (which can sometimes be, you know, not great), these two mainstream faves have been among the most popular in the space for quite some time. But which one is better?

Surprise: It really all depends on your personal preferences. “Choosing the right dating app involves reflecting on and knowing your relationship goals and preferences,” explains Jesse Kahn, LCSW-R, CST, director and sex therapist at the Gender & Sexuality Therapy Center in New York. “When you know what you’re looking for, you’ll be able to evaluate the apps based on their user demographics, features, and reputation for facilitating the type of connections you seek.”

And while Hinge and Bumble are similar platforms that are both popular picks among daters seeking a wide variety of different kinds of connections and relationship styles, there are some key differences that may elevate one over the other when it comes to choosing a go-to dating app.

To help make your love life a little easier, here’s an ultra-comprehensive, expert-driven breakdown of Bumble and Hinge, including pros and cons of each, what makes them different, and how they measure up in terms of user experience so you can pick the best one for your unique dating needs. Or, you know, just download them both. It’s not illegal or anything!

Bumble: The Breakdown

What You Need to Know

Bumble emerged in 2014 as a feminist alternative to Tinder and is perhaps best known for being the dating app where women have to message men first. However, that actually changed slightly as of April 2024, when the platform launched its “Opening Moves” feature, allowing female users to let male matches message first in response to a specific question. That said, Bumble is a dating app for all genders and orientations; for queer users, either match can message first.

A swipe-based app in the tradition of Tinder, users have 24 hours to message a match before the match disappears. Likewise, matches have 24 hours to respond to an initial message, or—you guessed it—the match peaces out.

It’s also worth noting that Bumble isn’t just for dating. The app also features sub-platforms for users looking for new friends (aptly named Bumble for Friends) and those trying to network (Bumble Biz).

Platform Info

  • Available on iOS and Android
  • Desktop and mobile versions

Pros

  • Women still generally have the power in messaging first
  • Take a break from the app whenever you want with Snooze Mode
  • You only have to upload four photos
  • It comes with plenty of profile prompts to help you set up your profile
  • If you want extra attention, you can get people to notice you with SuperSwipes
  • Incognito Mode (a paid feature) lets you swipe in private (and only be seen by those you swipe on)
  • Paid version gives you unlimited likes
  • Fun and helpful prompts
  • Use an opening question to jumpstart the conversation
  • You can link your Spotify (and stalk your crush's)
  • You can connect your IG to share more thirst traps

Cons

  • You may want the men to make the first move
  • Limited swipes with paid version
  • The travel mode only lets you pick one location at a time
  • Queer folks may feel a little weird about the app's supposedly subversive, ultimately heteronormative origin of women messaging first
  • If you don't message someone in 24 hours, the match disappears
  • You can’t share why you unmatch with someone
  • Apparently the paid version is way better (which could be a pro, but not if you’re trying to save money)

Hinge: The Breakdown

What You Need to Know

Hinge famously bills itself as the “dating app designed to be deleted,” with the idea being that this app is primarily for those seeking long-term relationships. Of course, you’ll find folks looking for a variety of different kinds of connections (including casual dates and hookups) on pretty much all dating apps. But theoretically, Hinge is for the relationship-minded.

Unlike Bumble, Hinge isn’t swipe-based. Rather, you need to actually interact with someone’s profile to start chatting—e.g. commenting directly on their profile. This requires a certain level of commitment and intentionality, which may be a plus for serious-minded daters in that it helps weed out folks who just came here to swipe out of boredom.

Also unlike Bumble, anyone can message first on Hinge, which is a pro if you don’t love making the first move (or having to wait around for someone else to).

“Hinge is more like a cool house party where you can let your personality shine,” says sex education expert Mariah Freya, founder of Beducated. “It offers clever features to help you find people you like supported by a large user base and a clean, glitch-free interface.”

FWIW, Hinge is part of Match Group, the online dating powerhouse that also owns Tinder, OkCupid, Plenty of Fish, Match, Archer, and many more.

Platform Info

  • Available on iOS and Android
  • Mobile only

Pros

  • Built on a Nobel-Prize-winning algorithm
  • You can see who likes you
  • Hinge is created by matchmakers, researchers, and a team of behavior analysis who study dating and compatibility
  • The NFAQ (not-so-frequently asked questions) section for LGBTQIA+ daters makes it super queer-friendly
  • Profiles are epically detailed, featuring at least six photos and/or videos plus three prompt answers
  • Videos let you show off your personality (and vet others)
  • With selfie verification, everyone is who they say they are
  • You can keep track of who you've met
  • You can give feedback as to why you unmatch someone
  • One free rose a week
  • Not swipe-based
  • You can also add polls to your profile

Cons

  • Not swipe-based, if you prefer that
  • Some folks may feel exhausted by having to upload six photos
  • You really need the Standouts section to see the hot people, and this requires sending roses
  • You need to buy additional roses after you use your free weekly one
  • You can’t connect your Spotify, limiting Spotify stalking abilities

Setting Up Profiles

Hi, your time is valuable. Which means that while you don’t want to have to waste too much of it setting up a dating app profile, you’re also going to want to make sure that profile is complete and up to date so the time you do spend on the app is actually worth it. Hence why comprehensive, easy to set up profiles are key.

Hinge and Bumble have some differences in terms of profile setup (and what you can expect from your matches’ profiles), which we’ll go over. But first, a quick reminder that regardless of what platform you’re using, you’ll want to represent yourself properly in your profile to get the best experience.

“When choosing pictures to use, think about how you want to come across and what impression you want to give to the person viewing your profile,” says psychologist Rachel Needle, PsyD, co-director of Modern Sex Therapy Institutes. “Don’t try to alter your photos or try to be someone you are not. Be honest and be yourself from the start.”

Now, on to the nuances of Hinge vs. Bumble profiles.

The Hinge Profile

Hinge helps you out with three written prompts, aka, short little questions all about you that you can answer and display on your profile. While it may be a bit time-consuming, it takes a lot of pressure off of trying to come up with a catchy bio from scratch. It also helps your matches actually tell you about themselves rather than writing some boring cop-out bio. Hinge also features (somewhat divisive) voice prompts, which yield the fairly intimate experience of actually hearing your match talk—if that’s something you’re willing to brave.

You have to upload six photos either from IG, your camera roll, or Facebook, as do your matches, so you truly get a sense of not only what someone looks like but their entire vibe. And, if that’s not enough, you can also link to your IG.

What’s Included

  • Name
  • Gender
  • Pronouns
  • Orientation
  • Age
  • Height
  • Education level
  • Religious beliefs
  • Hometown
  • Location
  • Ethnicity
  • Work
  • Job title
  • Intentions
  • Languages you speak
  • Kids
  • Family plans, aka whether you want kids
  • Politics
  • Zodiac sign
  • Pets
  • How you feel about drinking, drugs, cannabis, and smoking

The Bumble Profile

Compared to Hinge, Bumble is a little more straightforward. You only need to upload four photo of yourself (but you can add up to six). Bumble also lets you add three written prompts, not unlike Hinge, along with an “opening question” to help break the ice. Your interests get an entire section, letting you brag as much as you want about how much you adore traveling, your job, your friends, partying, enjoying lazy Sundays while someone cooks for you, etc.

What’s Included

  • Name
  • Pronouns
  • Education
  • Work
  • Location
  • Looking for
  • Hometown
  • Height
  • Exercise
  • Ethnicity
  • Religion
  • Languages you speak
  • Zodiac sign
  • Kids
  • Drinking
  • Smoking

Hinge vs. Bumble: The Overall Experience, Compared

Honestly, both Bumble and Hinge are great options and both can help you find whatever kind of relationship you’re looking for. Overall, the biggest differences between Bumble and Hinge come down to how you physically use them (swiping vs. not-swiping) and who and what they’re for.

While Hinge’s lack of swiping may provide a more intentional, interactive experience that may appeal to serious daters seeking long-term connections, Bumble’s more straightforward swiping system might feel like a lower-pressure, more fun option for some. And while both are definitely popular picks for daters of all kinds, Hinge is really committed to providing a space for serious relationship-seekers (at least ostensibly), while Bumble offers more diversity in terms of what kinds of connections users are seeking.

Aesthetically, Bumble is what one Cosmo editor has referred to as “aggressively yellow,” while Hinge has a more minimalist, chic mood.

Bumble vs. Hinge: Comparing Price

Okay, now let’s talk money. Both Bumble and Hinge are free to download and use, but they also have paid options if you want to level up.

Bumble

Bumble offers Bumble Boost and Bumble Premium. Here’s the rundown about what those offer:

Bumble Boost

  • Unlimited swipes
  • Lets you backtrack on people you accidentally swipe left on
  • Extend matches by 24 hours
  • Rematch with expired connections
  • Put yourself in the Spotlight, which advances your profile to the top of the stack so more people can see you
  • Five SuperSwipes per week

Cost:

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

Bumble Premium

  • Access to unlimited advanced filters
  • Access to your Beeline (which lets you see who’s already liked you)
  • Travel mode, which lets you select the city your profile appears in for seven days
  • Backtrack
  • You can extend time on your current matches
  • Rematch with expired connections
  • Unlimited swipes
  • One Spotlight per week
  • Five SuperSwipes per week
  • Incognito Mode on mobile, which lets you initially hide your profile from other users only to appear for those whom you have swiped right on.

Cost:

  • One week: $27.99
  • One month: $54.99
  • Three months: $109.99

Hinge

Anyone can buy more roses for $3.99 each, and a pack of 50 costs $1.49 apiece. Additionally, Hinge offers both Hinge+ and HingeX.

Here’s a rundown on what those offer.

Hinge+

  • Unlimited likes,
  • See who likes you
  • Set additional dating preferences
  • Browse by different categories like who is newest, location

Cost:

  • One week: $14.99
  • One month: $32.99
  • Three months: $64.99

Hinge X

  • Unlimited likes
  • You can see who’s liked your profile
  • Profile boost that helps you be viewed sooner by potential matches
  • Enhanced (better curated) matches
  • Potential matches see your likes sooner
  • Priority likes let you stay on top of someone’s feed
  • Set additional dating preferences
  • Browse by different categories like who is newest, location

The Respective Dating Pools

The apps don’t openly share user information (which is great for your privacy, of course), but this means we can’t give you an exact breakdown of who’s on which app. The truth? They’re probably pretty similar. And, thanks to 2023 data from the Pew Research Center, we do have some more specific insight.

Among adults 18 to 29, Bumble is slightly more popular, with 27 percent of those surveyed having used the platform compared to 21 percent who’ve used Hinge. Of adults over 30, 4 percent have used Bumble and 2 percent have used Hinge.

Is Bumble slightly more popular because it’s less focused on serious relationships and welcomes daters seeking other kinds of connections? Maybe! But honestly, a six percent difference isn’t really big enough to make a call.

And for the record, while some queer folks may prefer apps created with queer people in mind—like Feeld, Lex, or Grindr—both Hinge and Bumble are queer-friendly and are for all genders and all orientations. (Both made our list of best bisexual dating apps, FWIW.)

Should You Just Download Both?

In the end, the decision to download either Bumble or Hinge vs. just using both really depends on how much time you want to spend on the apps.

“I think it depends, but being on a couple different apps won’t hurt you,” says Cosmo’s ‘Navigating Non-Monogamy’ columnist Zachary Zane, author of Boyslut: A Memoir and Manifesto and sex expert for Fun Factory. “You don’t want to oversaturate yourself checking six different dating apps a day, though,” he adds. ”You’ll burn out and then run into the habit of just swiping away without actually reading the profiles.” Ultimately, trying out two or three different apps can help you get a sense of different dating pools and expand your options without getting too overwhelming. And if you find you’re having more success on one app than the others, stick with that one, Zane advises.

So if you’re still not sure whether Hinge or Bumble is the move, go ahead and give them both a try. Thanks to the beauty of the delete button, if you hate it, you can remove it from your life in a fraction of a second.