Written By: Matt Seymour
Last Updated:
- Dating
While Match.com and Bumble may seem like very similar dating apps on the surface, there are actually quite a few major differences worth noting if you’re trying to decide which is the best for you. In this guide, we’re going to help you compare Match vs. Bumble across all important categories to give you the information you need to make an informed decision about where your best chances of finding love online might be.
Here’s what we found when comparing and testing these two apps.
The matchmaking process is quite different.
Bumble uses swiping to make connections where you’re shown one match at a time and a mutual match (both people indicate interest) is required before a conversation can happen. Match uses more of a profile-based approach where you can see all your matches at one time, and you can message anyone you want regardless of whether or not they indicated interest (assuming you have a premium account).
Bumble gives the power and the lead to women.
On Bumble, a mutual match is required for a conversation to start. However, once a conversation starts, the first message can only be sent by a woman. If she doesn’t send a message, there is nothing the man can do to start the conversation and the match goes away (Learn more in our Bumble Review). On Match.com, there are no gender restrictions on who can send the first message.
Match.com has a bit worse of a track record.
Both Match and Bumble have pretty decent track records of success with making matches. However, when it comes to company integrity, Bumble does have a bit of a leg up. This isn’t so much based on anything Bumble has done but more on something that they didn’t do. A few years ago, Match.com was sued by the FTC for misleading customers to try and get them to purchase memberships. If you’d like to read more about this, check out our detailed Match.com review with all of the information. In contrast, we’re not aware of Bumble having any legal issues of this sort.
Both dating apps cater to serious and casual dating app.
While Match started out focused on serious relationships, they’ve morphed into a catch-all for relationship goals over the years. Bumble, on the other hand, started out servicing both relationship goals. One thing that is different about Bumble is that they offer options to meet friends and even business partners within the app. Also, recent data from a Bumble survey shows that 85% of people on the app at least say they are looking for something steady.
Overall winner is a draw, depending on what’s most important to you
If you’re set on either Match.com or Bumble, let’s talk about which option we think reigns supreme. Not to be a buzzkill for those of you looking for a definitive answer, it’s a bit of a toss up for us based on a few things. Overall, we like Bumble a lot more as a company, particularly based on their track record of not getting in trouble for misleading customers.
However, Bumble is based on swipe-technology, which a lot of research is starting to show may be causing a lot of issues for people’s mental health. Not great, right? So, you’re a bit stuck between a dating site that got in trouble for misleading customers and one that’s using technology that may not be healthy for you.
For us, we think there are better options.
Ultimately, we’re probably going to rule this one a draw with maybe a slight bias toward Bumble.
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Written By: Matthew J. Seymour, MSF
Matthew J. Seymour is a dating industry expert with over a decade of experience coaching singles, reviewing dating apps, and analyzing trends within the industry. Matt is a published author with his most recent work “Get More Dates: How to Master Online Dating Apps” that hit shelves in 2023. With a Masters of Science in Finance (MSF) degree from the University of Florida and extensive knowledge of the innerworkings of the online dating industry, Matt frequently serves in an advisory role to some of the largest dating apps on the market. In Matt’s current role with Healthy Framework, he leads the interview team that regularly interviews key dating industry leaders, and leverages his financial knowledge and dating app experience to review and share what singles need to know to get the most out of dating online.
