Honest Bumble Review

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Bumble App at a Glance

Is Bumble Right for Me?

Bumble has something for almost everyone. Bumble Date is great for men and women looking to date either casually or seriously. Bumble Bizz is perfect for anyone wanting to casually network with other professionals. Bumble BFF is for people who want a new way to make new friends and socialize.

Bumble Dating App Alternatives for Finding Serious Romance

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• What is Bumble?
• How Does Bumble Work?
• Free vs. Paid Memberships
• How Much Does Bumble Cost?
• What Kind of Relationships is Bumble For?
• Is Bumble Worth It?
• User Reviews of Bumble
• Bumble vs. The Other Guys
• Bumble FAQ

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What is Bumble?

Bumble is a dating platform that empowers women to take back the power in dating. Since its launch in 2014, the app has grown into a complex platform with lots of ways to meet people and make new friends. 

You can even use Bumble on a computer now, which is a feature old users never had access to. 

To help you get acquainted with Bumble, let’s take a look at its history and features.

Bumble History

Bumble was launched by Whitney Wolfe Herd, a former member of the Tinder team. After leaving Tinder for sexual discrimination, Wolfe Herd used her experience to create a dating app that catered to women. 

In 2018 Bumble came under fire for forcing users to sign up with Facebook when Facebook was under scrutiny for selling user data. After this, the app began letting users create accounts with their phone number or Apple login instead of their Facebook login. 

What Makes Bumble Different?

Bumble is intended to be a safe space for female singles. The app manages this by making it so men cannot message women unless a woman has shown interest in them first. This essentially elements the creepy opening lines, unsolicited nudes, and aggressive negging that women find on traditional dating apps. 

Pros and Cons of Bumble

How Does Bumble Work? – Features Overview

For first-time users, Bumble can feel a little complicated. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the idea of trying Bumble, take a look through this guide for signing up, meeting matches, and using the top features. 

Signup process

The signup process is one of the easier parts about Bumble. To begin, you will need to either go to Bumble’s website or download their app. 

Once you are ready to begin signing up for Bumble, you can choose to connect either your Facebook, Apple login, or phone number. 

The most secure method is your phone number. 

For this method, you type in your phone number and wait to receive a confirmation text. Then, you will enter the code from the text into the spaces on Bumble. 

After this, you will need to choose a username, gender, dating preference, and profile picture. 

Finally, you will be asked to take a spur-of-the-moment selfie in a certain pose to verify your identity. 

Those signing up with Facebook or Apple will be asked to confirm their login and agree to the terms of using the app. Then, they will need to pick a username, gender, dating preference, and confirm identity. 

Matchmaking Process

Bumble is a swipe app, meaning there isn’t a lot involved in the matchmaking process. You will go through photos and like users that interest you and pass on those who don’t. If you like someone who likes you back, a match is made. 

If you are a man, you have to wait for the woman you’ve matched with to message you. She will have 24 hours to do so. 

If you are a woman, you will need to initiate a message with your match within 24 hours. 

Unique Features

If you don’t want to pay for premium, the free version of Bumble is fine for making connections. If you want all the bells and whistles during your dating journey, Bumble Boost or Bumble Premium may be more your speed. Here are some of the features you’ll get with these upgrades. 

Match Extension

When a match is made, the woman has 24 hours to initiate a message with her match. Sometimes, that window is missed, which can lead to disappointment on both sides. With match extension, an expired connection can be extended for a period of time. 

Spotlight

Spotlight is a premium feature that pushes your profile to the top of the match stack. According to Bumble, this one bump can gain you dozens of new matches. 

Backtrack

Being a swipe app, it is easy to get into a rhythm while looking through profiles. Once you hit high speeds, the likelihood of passing on a profile you like is very high. That’s why backtrack is handy. Premium users can undo their last profile decision and choose again. 

Travel Mode

Want to take your dating fun on the go? The Travel Mode feature allows users to change their location and meet singles from all over the world. 

Free vs. Paid Memberships

Free Membership Features:

• Create a profile that covers all sects of Bumble.
• Access Bumble Date, BFF, and Bizz.
• Verify your identity.
• Upload multiple profile photos.
• Use the swipe matching system.
• Respond to matches within 24 hours of matching.
• Use Video Chat and Voice Chat

Paid Membership Features:

• User spotlight
• Extend Matches beyond 24 hours
• Rematch with users
• See who liked your profile
• Go into travel mode
• Use SuperSwipes

How Much Does Bumble Cost?

What Kind of Relationships is Bumble For?

When you read through Bumble’s advertising or about the page, it seems like the app is intended for people to make nice connections that lead to serious romances. However, in practice the app is just another casual dating space where unrealistically attractive people go to hookup. 

We will say, the Bizz and BFF areas of Bumble are unique and can lead to some great, platonic relationships. But, those parts of the platform don’t seem to be nearly as popular as Bumble Dating. 

The Bottom Line – Is Bumble Worth It?

Bumble is an interesting app that is really great if you are a user in their specific target audience. That is to say, attractive heterosexual men between 20-30 and outgoing heterosexual women between 20-30 are going to really enjoy using Bumble. 

However, if you are outside these parameters, Bumble may not be worth your time. The platform gets confusing, many features are unnecessary, and a lot of the ones that are necessary are hidden behind a very expensive paywall. 

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User Reviews of Bumble

If you want to really know about Bumble, you should hear what real users have to say. We read through reviews of the app from 1-5 stars and put together a list of the most common comments from verified users. 

Positive Feedback:

• The app is nice to look at and navigate.
• The additional Bumble types (Bizz and BFF) are interesting. 
• User verification helps avoid fake profiles.
• The app can be used to find casual or serious partners.

Negative Feedback:

• The app is buggy and sometimes there are no matches available (even in large cities). 
• More and more features switch to premium only as time passes.
• The profiles are limited and makes it hard to pick the right matches. 
• You can’t delete messages.

Bumble vs. The Other Guys

Bumble is one of the more original dating apps on the market. To help you understand just how unique it is, let’s take a look at how Bumble compares to three popular dating apps. 

Bumble vs. OkCupid

Bumble and OkCupid’s users seem to have the same goals in dating, but OkCupid has a much larger user base. This is likely because LGBTQ singles have an easier time finding matches on their platform. Additionally, connections on OkCupid do not expire like they do on Bumble. 

Bumble vs. Match

Match and Bumble are both incredibly popular dating apps, but they have some major differences. Bumble sees more users seeking casual romances whereas Match is much more suited to those looking for long-term partnerships. Additionally, Match lets both men and women initiate messaging. 

Bumble vs. Hinge

Hinge has an intense focus on matching compatible singles. This means the sign-up process is more intricate and asks for more information from users. Bumble’s sign-up is faster, but matches are based on location and search filters, not on compatibility. 

Bumble FAQ

Are Bumble Photos Moderated?

Yes. Bumble moderates user photos to protect everyone from inappropriate content. This is a full list of what Bumble is watching out for when moderating photos:

• Erotic content
• Swimwear or underwear
  • *Exceptions made for beach and pool photos
• Photo is of a minor 
• Obscured faces
• Photos with watermarks
  • *Exceptions made for Bizz mode
• Text on photo
• Firearms in photo
• Photo is not of the user

If your photo was declined and didn’t have any of these issues, you can contact Bumble customer service to ask them to explain why your photo was removed. 

What Is Bumble Boost?

Bumble Boost is a membership level of Bumble one step below premium. It includes the following features:

• Five weekly SuperSwipes
• Backtrack
• Match Extensions
• Unlimited Swipes
• Weekly Spotlight 

Why Can’t I Message My Matches?

If you are a male user, you will never be able to initiate messages. Your match needs to see your interest and choose to message you before a conversation can take place. 

How Do I Verify My Bumble Profile?

Verification is done during the sign-up process. To verify your identity you will be asked to take a selfie of yourself in a specific pose. Your image needs to match the image in your profile photo (it needs to be apparent it is the same person). 

Do Bumble Boost and Bumble Premium Subscriptions Renew Automatically?

Yes! If you purchase a Bumble membership, you will be automatically charged for the cost of that membership at the end of each billing period. 

Can I Pay a One-Time Bumble Membership Fee?

Yes! Bumble is one of the few apps that offers a lifetime payment option. If you think you are going to be around for a while, this may be a great way to save some money.