These days, Bumble is practically a household name. It’s certainly a popular dating app, as it doesn’t have any qualifications or requirements to join, unlike many other dating apps on the market. 

But is it worth the hype? 

We cover everything you need to know about Bumble, from the concept of women reaching out first to the costs associated with advanced features. Follow along to see what all the buzz is about. 

Bumble Dating App: Reviews, Pros, Cons, and Premium vs. Free (2024)

What is Bumble?

Bumble is a dating app that started as an alternative to Tinder. Referred to as “the feminist dating app,” Bumble is unique in that for heterosexual matches, the woman must initiate a conversation with a match—the man can’t reach out first. 

However, if the woman doesn’t reach out within 24 hours of matching, the match expires, and they can no longer have a conversation. 

It’s important to note that while this app was originally designed for heterosexual women to make the first move, anyone who is part of the LGBTQIA+ community can make the first move. 

What are Bumble’s Reviews like? 

Bumble’s reviews are a mixed bag. Some reviewers raved about finding their partner on the app, while others were adamantly against the platform due to issues with customer services and spammy profiles. 

Bumble Reviews on Reddit

Many Bumble reviews compared the dating app to Tinder in terms of the quality of candidates. While some commenters did say they had success with the app, others complained about their matches expiring without communication from the woman or going on dates with people who weren’t really interested in dating. 

Bumble Reviews on Publishers:

Here’s how several online publishers have covered Bumble.

Mind Body Green Review:

The Mind Body Green reviewer offered a positive review of the Bumble app, but it mostly focused on her experience with the app’s lifetime premium Bumble subscription. 

The reviewer liked that the membership option gave an unlimited number of swipes, backtrack options, the ability to video chat and share photos, and a weekly profile boost, which helped get her profile in front of more eyes. That said, she didn’t like that these perks were limited to the subscription option and not available on the free version. 

Forbes Review: 

Forbes’ most recent review of Bubble listed some pros and cons of the swipe-based app. 

Some of the pros included that the app is inclusive to the LGBTQIA+ community, empowers women to make the first move, and offers a robust free version. 

As for the cons, it listed that heterosexual men can’t initiate conversation, matches expire within 24 hours, and unlimited swipes are only available to paid subscribers. 

Bumble Reviews on App Store

Bumble currently has 1,541,190 reviews on the App Store, earning it 4.3 stars. 

Overall, that’s a pretty positive score. However, the majority of the most recent reviews gave the platform one star due to issues with customer service, unfair banning and blocking, and expensive subscription prices. 

Bumble Reviews on Android 

Bumble Reviews on Sitejabber

Bumble has received 1.2 stars out of 127 reviews on Sitejabber. 

Similar to many of the other reviews we came across, Sitejabber reviews reported unfair account bans, poor customer service, and issues with fake profiles and scams. 

Bumble Reviews on Trustpilot

Bumble has 1,571 reviews on Trustpilot, earning it a 1.3-star review. 

Most of the negative reviews mentioned issues with bots and scams, users being blocked and banned without reason, and discontent with the subscription services and fees. 

As for the handful of positive reviews, the majority raved about meeting their partner or spouse on the app.   

Does Bumble have any complaints, lawsuits, or scandals? 

Yes, some class-action lawsuits have been filed against the dating app. 

One case was based on gender and sex-based discrimination due to the app’s requirement that females initiate conversations. Another alleged that the app violated the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act (CFA) and the Internet Dating Safety Act (IDSA). 

So, is Bumble Legit or a Scam? 

The Bumble dating app is legit. However, many reviewers warn of fake profiles and potential scams, so use caution when interacting with other users. 

How does Bumble Work?

Bumble is a swipe-based app where you can browse through profiles. Swiping right means you like what you see on their profile, and swiping right means you don’t. 

If you and another user mutually swipe right, you’ll become a match. In heterosexual relationships, the woman then has 24 hours to message the man before the match expires. In same-sex relationships, either user has 24 hours to initiate a conversation. This creates a sense of urgency, which is different from other dating apps. 

Do women message first on Bumble? 

Yes, heterosexual women are required to message men first, but anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community can initiate contact first. 

Does Bumble have boosts? 

Yes, Bumble Boost is a subscription feature that lets you extend your matches by an additional 24 hours, rematch with expired connections, receive unlimited swipes, and backtrack on accidental left swipes. This feature will also put your profile at the top of users’ stacks for 30 minutes and give you five SuperSwipes a week, so you can show certain users you really like their profiles. 

What is speed dating on Bumble, and how does it work? 

You can play Bumble’s speed dating game every Thursday from 7-8 pm in your time zone, 

This game pairs you up with another user, giving you three minutes to chat. However, you won’t have access to each other’s photos or profiles. After the three minutes is up, the chat expires, and the app will show you their photo and ask if you enjoyed the conversation. Then, the app will send you a new user to have another conversation with, and so on for an hour. 

If you and another user mutually enjoyed your conversation, their profile will appear in the app’s match section at the end of the game, and you can continue your conversation there.  

Is Bumble better for hookups or serious relationships? 

While Bumble does have a hook-up culture, lots of users say the dating app is a viable source for finding serious relationships. In fact, there have been many success stories of users finding their partners on the app. 

Is Bumble the best dating app? 

Bumble certainly has some positive reviews, and many users have met their partners through the app. That said, it’s hard to say whether this app is the best dating app of all, as there are so many different ones available. 

What is Bumble BFF?

Bumble BFF is an app mode that lets users swipe through profiles to find platonic friends in their area. It’s similar to the dating mode, but once matched, either person can initiate the conversation. 

How much does Bumble Cost? 

Bumble has a free version, but it does offer a few paid subscription options. Bumble Boost is $29.99 for one month, $49.99 for three months, and $79.99 for six months. Meanwhile, Bumble Premium costs $39.99 for one month, $76.99 for three months, and $229.99 for a lifetime subscription.

What’s the benefit of Bumble Premium? 

Bumble Premium unlocks special features, such as the option to swipe on an unlimited number of profiles, backtrack on swipes you accidentally swiped left on, and extend the time limit on matches. It also gives you extra SuperSwipers, the option to show up in the Spotlight once a week, and the ability to see who has liked you first. 

These advanced features provide you with more opportunities to interact with other users.

Is Bumble Worth the Money?

Although some users have expressed frustrations with the subscription services, many reviewers actually praise the app for its advanced features. 

If you’re not interested in paying subscription fees, you can always use the free version. 

What is Bumble’s success rate? 

Studies suggest that Bumbles’ success rate is 5.75%.