2024 Bumble Review: Why It's Such a Popular Dating App
I review a lot of dating apps and websites at Heart Insider, and unfortunately, most of them are filled with fake profiles, making genuine reviews all the more valuable. This Bumble review was a rare pleasure because the platform has a practical approach to managing the “Bumble like limit,” which I found to be quite effective.
Bumble is one of the biggest names in dating apps. Even if you’ve never tried online dating before, you’ve likely heard of it for a good reason. It’s easily in my top three, thanks to various features I’ll discuss in this review.
If you haven’t tried Bumble yet, you might not know about its browser-based version, accessible from any internet-enabled device. Since this is recent knowledge for me, too, I’ll outline the key differences and whether it’s worthwhile.
First, let’s talk about the process I use for these reviews before diving into why I’m such an advocate for Bumble (no, they haven’t paid us—it’s just genuinely good).
Dating Apps Experts Recommend to Find a Girlfriend
(Aside from Bumble)
Most singles are wasting their time on the wrong apps. There are really only a handful (aside from Bumble) that most people need to use (especially normal guys). These are apps where you can meet great girls that want something long-term as well as those just looking to keep it casual:
The best reviews remain objective, so I strive to keep personal preferences out of the evaluation process. I follow the same approach for every dating app and website to ensure consistency.
Initially, I create a basic profile with minimal information. If it doesn’t ask for a photo or age, I leave those fields blank. I leave the empty profile to sit for a couple of days to see if any spam messages come through, a common tactic on fake dating sites.
After that, I fully complete my profile and use it to set up as many dates as possible. I typically spend one to two weeks testing the app as a free user to gauge the “Bumble likes per day” feature and overall user experience.
Afterward, I upgrade to a paid account to see what all the fuss is about. Sometimes paid perks are exceptional, while other times they’re a gimmick. Occasionally, the free version is so good that I recommend paying for premium just to support the developers.
As for when you get more likes on Bumble, let’s explore what I discovered in my couple of weeks using it. Shall we?
Bumble Review: Worth the Buzz?
Hype doesn’t always mean a product is high quality. I think we’ve all been duped by marketers at some point or another. In the case of Bumble, it’s not a new app by any means and there are a bunch of reasons why it’s still so popular.
First, a comparison against eHarmony. Since Bumble leans (very) slightly more toward relationships than hookups, it makes for a great source of comparison. eHarmony is undeniably the biggest name for online daters looking for love.
With 2.3 million messages being sent on the site every week, I guess they’re doing something right, huh? So, let’s see how Bumble stacks up against this giant of a brand.
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Our team rates each site objectively based on many hours of independent research, the features each site offers, and how it compares with other sites. The ratings are the opinion of our editors and their extensive experience. |
8 | 9.5 |
| Quality of Women Our opinion of how attractive the typical woman is that uses this site and how easy they are to connect with compared to other sites. |
8 | 9 |
| Popular How many people are using this site to actually meet people compared to other sites. |
8 | 9 |
| Usability How easy is this site to use and how quickly can an average person begin meeting people compared to other sites. |
10 | 10 |
| Privacy & Safety Does this site take proper precautions to safeguard its members, their identity, and their data. |
10 | 10 |
| Effective Our opinion of how easily an average person will be able to achieve their dating goals with this site compared to other sites. |
8 | 9 |
| Value Will the time and money spent using this site pay off for an average person based on the opinions and experience of our editors. |
9 | 10 |
Like I said, this app makes it into my personal top three so it’s hardly shocking to see it score so well. Now that we have an overview of how the app stands up, let’s talk about why it scores so well. More importantly, why I think you should try it if you haven’t already.
A great twist on the Tinder experience
The app that started it all, Tinder needs no introduction and has seen a lot of imitators over the years. With a very similar layout and the same left and right swiping on profiles, there’s one major difference that sets it apart.
While it’s almost mandatory on Tinder that the guy starts the conversation, that’s impossible on Bumble. The reason I think this is such a fantastic twist is that it cuts down on women who are just there for attention.
They still exist on Bumble, don’t get me wrong, just in far smaller volumes. On Tinder, it’s perfectly normal to initiate a conversation with 10 women and get four or five responses. The other accounts might be inactive or owned by women who just want Instagram or Snapchat followers. In some cases, they just use their number of matches as a vanity metric to feel better. Yes, I personally know several women who do this. How sad.
Bumble fixes this problem by forcing the women to start the conversation. Until she does, there’s no way for the guy to say anything to her. This also seems to change the type of women, or at least the attitude of women, who use the app.
Have you used both Tinder and Bumble? Which one worked better for you? Let us know in the comments below!
A quick look at how it works
In case you’ve never used any of these types of apps before, I wanted to give you a very quick overview.
Once your profile is all set up, you’re prompted to set the preferred gender(s) you’re interested in. You also choose an age range and distance from your current location. It picks up your location via GPS. So if you go on vacation, you’ll automatically see people in that new area.
Once you’ve done this, you’ll see a seemingly endless stack of profiles, one at a time. Initially, you’ll just see each person’s first profile photo, their name and some where they work/study.
If you want to see more about them, you can scroll up to see more photos, likes and dislikes, their bio, etc.
Once you’ve decided if you’re interested in them or not, you either swipe to the left (no, I’m not interested) or to the right (yes, I’m interested).
While your profile is active, you’ll be shown to others in the same way. If you swipe right on someone and they do the same on your profile, you’re a match! That person will now show up in your Messages tab at the bottom of the screen. After she initiates the conversation, you’re free to chat.
So simple and that’s exactly why it’s so effective.
An engaged user base helps your chances
This change in demographic and/or attitude means you’re far more likely to have a real, engaged conversation. Now sure, some women will still just open with “hi,” ruining the whole system. Personally, I choose to ignore these.
The vast majority of the time, you’ll get quality conversation that you actually want to be part of. This makes the app more fun and gives you conversations that escalate to dates much faster. After all, that’s what we’re all doing here, right?
In my experience, women on Bumble are way more likely to be there for actual dating rather than inflating their egos.
The Bumble “like” limit
Let’s talk about the Bumble Like Limit, something every Bumble user should know about. So, here’s the deal: Bumble sets a limit on how many profiles you can like in a day, which we call the “Bumble Like Limit.” It’s like a little nudge to encourage us to be a bit picky and thoughtful with our swipes. Now, you might wonder, “How many likes do I actually get per day?” Well, that varies depending on your activity and usage. Bumble typically gives you a set number of likes per day, and once you’ve used them all up, you’ll have to wait a bit before you get more.
Now, here’s the thing about these likes: they don’t last forever. Yep, they do expire after a while. But don’t worry, they’re not gone forever! After a certain time, usually within 24 hours, you’ll start seeing your likes replenished. So, if you’re wondering, “How long does it take to get more likes on Bumble?” Well, it’s usually around a day. Just chill out, do your thing, and before you know it, you’ll be back in action with fresh likes to spare.
Should the Bumble Like Limit be higher? How will this affect your online dating experience? Let us know in the comments below!
Bumble.com vs the Bumble app
If you like the sound of Bumble but prefer dating websites, Bumble gives you the option of both. Although it’s just a web based version of the app, it’s still a nice touch.
The features and limitations are identical to the app, everything is just larger and in one place. While the app puts your swiping and conversations in different tabs, the browser version puts them all on one screen.
I prefer the portability of the app so I can use it while I’m out and about. Still, if you want a larger screen and a keyboard, head over the Bumble.com and try it for yourself!
Just a word of warning, if you’re jumping between the browser and app versions, restart the app and refresh your Bumble browser tab before you start swiping. I noticed they don’t automatically refresh. That means if you’re swiping away on your computer then go back to your phone, you’ll see a lot of the same profiles all over again.
Works great as a free user
Bumble is great in that it lets you do almost everything as a free user. Sure, it limits the number of profiles you can “like” each day and doesn’t let you backtrack (if you accidentally say “no” to a profile you can go back to it and swipe right instead).
With such a large and active user base though, I’ve had no problem finding dates as a free user over the years. In fact, this review was the first time I’ve ever used a paid account on here!
So, is a premium account worth the money?
In this case, it really depends on how you treat online dating and what you’re looking for. It’s a bit on the expensive side so the answer here is subjective.
If you’re a casual dater like me and don’t “need” anything, a free account is perfectly fine. The limit on “likes” each day just keeps you from spending too long swiping, really.
On the other hand, if you’re really looking to put yourself out there and get aggressive with it, the premium boost is great. Not only do you get unlimited likes but you can also see who has liked you.
As in, if Molly swiped right on your profile, you’ll immediately get a notification about it. No need to match to see that she’s into you.
If you really want to cut down on the amount of time you spend on dating apps, just check this list each day. Skim through the women that have swiped right on you and choose which ones you want to talk to.
An app that just works
In my 4 years of using Bumble now, I’ve never come across a single problem. No errors, nothing that made me question their safety or security, nothing. I could count on my fingers how many fake profiles I’ve come across too. Scammers are a part of life, but Bumble works hard to remove them quickly.
In terms of keeping your credit card safe, your payments go via Apple/Google anyway for an added layer of protection. No need to manually type in your credit card details.
Bumble or eHarmony?
Both work well, so why not try both? The great thing about online dating is that you’re not limited to using just one site or app. With Bumble, you get the whole swiping experience with a few extra perks. You can match with someone based on how they look and a few details about what they’re into. It’s all up to you and that’s the fun of it, though the Bumble like limit might feel more limiting than the potentially unlimited matches you’ll get from eHarmony.
Just keep in mind that with Bumble, the target users are generally younger singles (below 35). They’re also usually the types who have more time to swipe through matches on a regular basis.
With eHarmony, however, the site does most of the work for you. You just answer their signup questions (they’re pretty thorough) and the site picks out women you’re compatible with. Instead of just photos and a few details, you get a glimpse into your potential matches’ personality, life goals, interests and more. This eliminates a lot of the guesswork that comes with apps like Tinder and Bumble.
As Matt Seymour points out, “For people looking for serious relationships, eHarmony is the clear winner. If you’re looking for something casual, Bumble is the pick, though, there are some other casual dating options we might recommend first.” So if you’re a busy guy who prefers to see a handful of curated matches each day, eHarmony might be a better choice for you.
Bumble Review: What We Liked and Didn’t Like
As you can tell, I really enjoyed my experience on Bumble. But there were a few things about the site that could have been improved.
- Lots of attractive and responsive users
- Women message first, so it encourages them to get creative with their opening message
- Both the app and browser site work well
- Has extra features for those who want to network
- A reasonable Bumble like limit
- Women only have 24 hours to send you a message before the site automatically unmatches you
Bumble has some extra non-dating features as well
While this app is known for helping people find dates and hookups, those who prefer to network can use it as well. Below are some extra features you can try on Bumble:
Bumble BFF helps you find friends too
“Bumble BFF” is a mode you can activate in your profile. It functions exactly the same as the regular dating site, the difference is you use it to find friends.
Ivan Mehta’s coverage on the standalone Bumble for Friends app highlights its unique approach. He notes, “Bumble is branching out with its new ‘Bumble for Friends’ app, designed specifically for making platonic connections.” This development represents a significant shift in Bumble’s strategy, as Mehta explains, “The new app is a testament to Bumble’s commitment to fostering non-romantic relationships and diversifying its offerings.” He emphasizes the app’s potential impact: “This could change the landscape of how we think about social and professional networking.”
Bumble Bizz means you can even do some business networking
This is an addition I actually wasn’t aware of prior to this review. Honestly, it feels a little strange but if it works, why not?
Also similar to the dating and “Bumble BFF” functions, you populate your profile with photos and a bio and network away. Some industries can gain from this more than others but really, most people could benefit from a bit of networking.
According to Dami Lee, a reporter from The Verge, Bumble Bizz is “a new mode in its app designed for professional networking and mentoring,” and it adheres to the “women make the first move” concept. This approach will, as Lee notes, “help clear up the gray areas in networking that often make women feel uncomfortable.” Although Bizz is not primarily for job searching or recruiting, it is “designed for networking and mentoring,” and Bumble’s HR team aims to hire “10 people discovered through Bizz.” Mode Switching enables users to “manage three different profiles for each of the separate features” without accidental crossovers.
As the old cliche goes, a successful career isn’t about what you know, it’s about who you know.
What Other People Think of Bumble
Bryan J – SiteJabber
There is a lot to like about Bumble, the app, the number of active users, the low cost. I tend to but a months subscription every 6 months to see how I get on, been doing that for years. Sometimes I drop off after the month, other times I keep it going.
Michael Munro – TrustPilot
Finding a lot of the reviews here are not true for me. The app clearly says it is a subscription. Though it is expensive the shorter the duration you choose too. the ladies I know are genuine. I have met some, and I know others on there (one even was family- awkward!). Have managed to cancel my subscription with no problem and purchase/cancel when I like.
I do get frustrated though as a lot of my matches don’t ever make the contact, even with extending the window for them, and I believe the women making the 1st move is a selling point, as prevents random pervy guys from sending unsolicited pics of their genitalia. Even women that do chat do so for a few days and then just block/unmatch for no reason.
Kirsten – Consumer Affairs
The service was valuable because I was looking for a match for a friend of mine and even though no match was found I would try again. It needed to be more detailed because and have more options to contact them and have more free options. The matches were good. I think there should be more perimeters for it so people will get what they are really looking for and make sure that both people are safe – that they are not meeting someone dangerous. I think the privacy setting were okay. I think all privacy settings should be as secure as they can be but I know they can’t because there is always a hacker out there who is smarter.
Bumble Review: Frequently Asked Questions
As always, we’re going to finish up by running through the most frequently asked questions. Bumble is a great app with a very intuitive interface but if you have a question I haven’t already covered, let us know. We’d love to update the review to include it!
What is Bumble?
Bumble is a dating app that’s very similar to Tinder. The key difference (which I love) is that once you’ve matched, only the woman can start the conversation.
In my experience, this seems to attract a different type of user and a far better attitude.
Who actually owns Bumble?
Bumble is owned by The Blackstone Group.
How can I contact Bumble?
You can contact Bumble via their Contact Us page: https://bumble.com/en/contact-us
Is Bumble real?
Yes, Bumble is a real site that’s incredibly popular in many countries.
Is Bumble legit?
It absolutely is. I’ve used Bumble on and off for four years now and had countless successful dates from it. As I mentioned in the review, I’ve never had an instance where I felt like Bumble was untrustworthy.
Is Bumble a scam or fake?
No, Bumble is not a scam. However, as with any dating app, be careful when talking to people who may be out to scam you.
Is Bumble safe?
Yes, Bumble is safe. After years of using the app, we’ve never felt unsafe while using the app.
How long does it take for Bumble likes to reset?
You should know, Bumble sort of resets your likes on its own schedule. Some folks are puzzled about how many swipes they actually get. Here’s the deal: each right swipe gets topped up individually, exactly 24 hours after you use it. So, let’s say you use half your swipes at 1 pm and the rest at 8 pm. You’ll see half your likes come back at 1 pm the next day, and the rest at 8 pm.
Just a heads up, Bumble might not always bump you back up to the full 25, depending on your usage. But, if you wait 24 hours after your last swipe, you’ll be back to 25 likes again.
When do likes refresh on Bumble?
Each like refreshes roughly every 24 hours. So let’s say you’ve used five likes at 3 pm, five likes at 7 pm, and 15 likes at 9 pm. By the same time tomorrow, you’ll get your first five likes by 3 pm, your other five likes at 7 pm, and another 15 likes at 9 pm.
Of course, you don’t need to be super meticulous about this. Some people who want to swipe right on Bumble a lot tend to use up all 25 likes within a 2-hour window. If you schedule your Bumble time for that 2-hour window the next day, you can be sure you’ll have all 25 likes again.
Do Bumble likes expire?
If you’re talking about a like that led to a match, this match will expire in exactly one week unless she reaches out to you. When she messages you before the week is up, you can start chatting. However, if she doesn’t message you one week after your initial match, you will simply unmatch.
Now if you’re talking about unused right swipes, then yes, they do expire. You get 25 right swipes (likes) every 24 hours. If they remain unused, they will disappear. So it’s a good idea to use up all your right swipes each day!
How many likes do you get per day on Bumble, and how does this affect matching?
Free users receive a limited number of likes per day. The goal is to ensure that users engage with the platform more consistently. Jedidajah Otte advises to “be strategic and engaged, and…that way all the time.” If you run out of likes, consider upgrading to Bumble Boost or Bumble Premium for unlimited swipes.
What does “Bumble out of likes” mean, and how can I maximize my matches afterward?
When you receive the “out of likes” message, it indicates that you’ve reached the daily swipe limit. If this happens, patience is key—Jedidajah Otte emphasizes the importance of swiping “strategically” on high-quality profiles to improve your matching prospects.
When will I get more likes on Bumble after hitting the limit?
Once you’ve hit your daily like limit, you can wait 24 hours to receive additional likes. Being active and consistent will also help you gain more likes and higher-quality matches.
How does Bumble’s new algorithm affect likes and matches?
Sherin Shibu points out that “Bumble is implementing a more advanced algorithm as part of its redesign, which can lead to higher-quality matches based on your profile and behavior.”
What are Bumble alternatives?
Even though Bumble makes it to my top three dating apps, that doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone. If you want to see what else is out there, we already reviewed the best hookup apps and websites out there right now.
Take a look through that review, see which ones seem like the best fit for you and go test them out.
How does Bumble work?
Bumble is an app that shows you a stream of users. You can swipe right if you want to match with them and swipe left if you don’t want to match with them. However, if you do match, it’s up to the woman to start the conversation.
How many swipes can you do on Bumble per day?
You can swipe right on up to 25 Bumble profiles a day before it resets after 24 hours.
Does Bumble offer any features to increase likes or make matching easier?
Yes, Bumble has features like “Opening Moves,” where women can choose a conversation starter to ease the pressure of sending the first message. As Sherin Shibu mentions, “Opening Moves increased the number of chats started, how many people replied to them, and the overall time spent in the conversation.”
How often do you get likes on Bumble, and can the algorithm help increase them?
The frequency of likes received depends on factors like your profile quality, engagement, and activity on the platform. Otte notes that being disciplined and engaged “worked” for her, helping her get “much more attractive prospects.”
Is there a Bumble app?
Yes, Bumble is exclusively an app.
How much does Bumble cost?
Like most dating apps, Bumble works on a recurring subscription basis. Ranging from $10.99 per week to $24.99 per month, it gets slightly cheaper the longer you sign up for.
You can also pay $149.99 for a lifetime membership if you plan to use it for a while, too.
By upgrading your account, you’ll get all the free features as well as unlocking:
- Access to unlimited Advanced filters
- Access to your Beeline so you can see your admirers
- Travel mode
- Backtrack
- Ability to extend time on your current matches
- Rematch with users who have expired
- Unlimited ‘Yes’ votes
- One Spotlight per week
- Five SuperSwipes per week
How can you use Bumble for free?
Yes, you can use all the features of Bumble for free. However, with a paid account, you can access more features.
How do you send messages on Bumble?
To send a message on Bumble, you first need to match with them. If you swipe right (to say ‘yes’, I want to talk to her) and she swipes right on your profile too, that’s a match.
Once that happens, you’ll appear in each other’s Messages tab. Note that Bumble forces women to start the conversation — as a man, you cannot chat until she initiates the chat.
How do you search on Bumble?
Rather than a traditional “search” function, you’re shown a stack of user profiles. Shown one at a time, you can swipe their photo to the left if you don’t want to chat. If you do, swipe right.
To narrow down the profiles that you’ll see, there are a number of filters available. Even as a free user you can decide the gender, age range and distance to suit your preferences.
Can you send messages for free on Bumble?
Yes. However, on Bumble, women need to send the first message to open the chat.
How do you cancel your Bumble account?
If you’ve signed up for a paid Bumble account and want to cancel your subscription, it’s a simple process. Just follow the steps below for your device.
iOS
- Open the Settings app
- Tap your name
- Tap Subscriptions
- Tap the Bumble subscription
- Tap Cancel Subscription
Android
- Open the Google Play Store
- Tap Menu
- Tap Subscriptions
- Tap the Bumble subscription
What is the Bumble like limit, and how does it affect my daily use?
Bumble imposes a daily limit on how many profiles you can like if you’re using the free version of the app. This limit encourages users to be selective and strategic with their swipes, making each like count.
Do Bumble likes expire, and how long do they last?
Bumble likes don’t last indefinitely. If your like is not reciprocated within a specific time frame (usually 24 hours), it expires. As Sherin Shibu explains, “Bumble women have 24 hours to make their move once a match is made.”
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