In the current Internet era, dating sites are an essential tool in finding love. They have been successful in shrinking the world and bringing people together. For the foreseeable future, their function in the world is only about getting more sophisticated. In such a scenario, it is only prudent that we do our best to find the perfect online dating platform that fits our needs. So, in this OkCupid vs. Bumble debate, we hope to provide you with a detailed assessment that will help you make an informed choice.
OkCupid has been around for as long as some of the most prominent social media players like Facebook. Founded by four Harvard students in 2004, this platform was one of the many organizations that carried the social media boom into the 21st century. Initially, what started as a social media networking site has now been turned into messaging and dating profiles. In 2007, OkCupid was listed amongst Time magazine’s top 10 dating websites. Later, in 2011, it was acquired by IAC’s Match.com division.
Bumble is, in comparison to OkCupid, a youngling of sorts. The co-founder of Tinder, Whitney Wolfe Herd, started Bumble after breaking away from the former in 2014. Amongst the many dating sites on the internet, Bumble is one of the few that focuses on creating a women-friendly space online. Although it is relatively young, it still has much to offer to its users, especially if you are a single woman.
Regarding their design and ease of use, it is hard to deem only one winner in the OkCupid vs. Bumble discussion. As far as dating websites go, they are both equally easy to navigate and use. However, if you find sober colors too dull, then you may not enjoy the color themes of Bumble. Although the colors on a honey-bee inspire it, it fails to catch the eye as well as one would hope. Nevertheless, it is not entirely displeasing to look at.
OkCupid, on the other hand, has a brighter color scheme. It is more joyful and exciting how it portrays itself, which makes it more attractive to the average user. This platform also has subtle interactions that make it far more delightful and easier to use.
There are many things to weigh in on before choosing an online dating platform. It is never an easy task, especially when there are so many different options to choose from. And so, in this guide, we have put together a set of criteria that will help you choose the right one for you.
There are a few things you must decide for yourself before you choose a dating site. To make the process easy for you, we have put down a set of questions that you can ask yourself:
You need first to decide if you are on the lookout for a serious relationship, a casual one, or just friendships. Once you have decided on these, you can find the platform that best suits your needs.
Next, you must determine your willingness to pay for an online dating service. If you do not wish to pay, you can choose a free dating platform.
The popularity of a dating platform can determine how varied its users will be. If it is accessible in most countries, it is likely to have a more extensive user base. It then means that you have a higher chance of finding a match.
Most dating platforms operate on a freemium model that lets you access their better features for a price. The more you pay them, the better your features shall be. Very often, you also get discounts and other rewards for choosing a longer subscription plan. Below, we have listed out their prices and benefits:
Bumble Premium Prices | |
---|---|
Duration | Prices |
1 Week | $17.99 |
1 Month | $32.99 |
3 Month | $66.99 |
Lifetime Subscription | $199.99 |
Bumble Boost Prices | |
---|---|
Duration | Prices |
1 Week | $7.99 |
1 Month | $14.99 |
3 Month | $29.99 |
6 Month | $47.99 |
OkCupid Premium | ||
---|---|---|
Duration | Prices/Month | Prices (Total) |
1 Month | $19.95 | $19.95 |
3 Month | $14.95 | $44.85 |
6 Month | $9.95 | $59.7 |
As we can see, Bumble does seem to run slightly more expensive than OkCupid. Nevertheless, they both offer great features for free. But if you want to access features like seeing who viewed your profile or browse in private, you will need a premium membership.
Like most dating platforms, OkCupid and Bumble do not restrict the type of relationships a member can have. It limits the age of users to be from above 18 only, however. So, anyone who is above 18 and single can use these platforms to find their life partners. The average age of users on Bumble is 26, while for OkCupid, it is 32, and the quality of matches on both the sites is equally good.
On Bumble, there is a slight advantage to women in how conversations can go. They have more power to control the messages they receive. Women have to be the ones to initiate the conversation after they have matched with someone. It has to be done within twenty-four hours of reaching with them.
Regardless of your sexual orientation, location, educational background, and so on, you can sign up and use their features. Therefore, both platforms have a lot of variety in terms of their user pool.
For serious and casual relationships, both platforms are lovely starting places. It lets you answer a series of questions that determine the kind of matches you receive. Your dating preferences and choices are taken into proper consideration here.
However, with Bumble being a closer-knit community than OkCupid, there are more chances of finding a seriously interested party on Bumble.
On Bumble, the Bee Theme is alive and thriving in all its features. Keeping with this trend, they offer a lot of Bee-related features, as we shall see below.
Numerous features make Bumble one of the most popular dating platforms today. Let’s take a look at them:
The Beehive is where all users get to use the infamous swiping feature. Being a sister-company to Tinder, this is one of the features that sets Bumble apart from OkCupid. Users can swipe right on a profile that they like or swipe left on ones they do not. If you accidentally swipe right or left on a profile, you can hit the undo option as well. For premium users, there are also features like the Super Like that lets you tell another user how serious your interest is.
The Beeline is part of the Bumble boost subscription. If you pay for a boost, the Beeline feature lets you view users who have liked your profile, even if you have not picked them back. These profiles are termed your admirers, and if you swipe on one of them, you shall have a match instantly. Boost users can also apply filters to curate their Beeline to their tastes.
Bumble has a desktop version that is termed the Bumble Web. If you do not want to use the mobile application, you can use the website to sign up and log in to their platform. The website offers the same features as the app, such as profile editing, verification, adding new pictures, connecting with your matches, paid features, and more.
8The Bumble Boost is a monthly subscription that unlocks some additional features for users. Once you sign up for this feature, you can see who has viewed your profile; extend the match time by 24 hours, or rematch with an expired connection.
If you do not want a longer premium subscription, you can purchase Bumble coins to spend on Super Likes, Super Swipe, Spotlight, and more. You can buy coins beginning at $7.99.
Bumble, like Tinder, has an ambassadorship program. It lets users become promoters of the company and its products. You can sign up for two programs – if you are a student, you can use the Honey program, and if you are a single working woman, you can opt for the Queen Bee program. Your job will be to promote and organize events for the brand in return for some perks.
The Bumble app is available for both Android and iOS users and can be easily downloaded. They also have a desktop version that you can use instead of the apps. The app and website features are quite similar, and you can access the premium and accessible features on both versions.
Bumble has a smaller community when compared to OkCupid. It could mean that you have a higher chance of making a successful match. Moreover, since women have complete control over the conversation, it is easier to weed out the less severe users.
Bumble wants to get you into their platform as quickly as possible. The sign-up process is straightforward and takes less than 2 minutes. You can sign in using a Facebook account. They will then need you to answer a few questions about yourself to find your matches.
The accounts on OkCupid are free, and your membership shall not end in this case. But with a premium account, you are offered more features. Let’s take a look at some of these options.
The free features include things like a free account, seeing your matches, connecting with them, receiving likes, and so on. Even without a paid membership, you can use these features to find your life partners.
You can purchase the boosts in individual packages or as discounted packages. It lets you get a higher number of views by making your profile more visible to other users.
With this feature, you will be notified if someone has seen your message.
The premium membership removes all ads on the platform for a less distracting experience.
With the Incognito Mode, you can browse through the users without alerting them that you have viewed their profiles. It is a separate subscription from the standard premium account subscription.
The Bumble app is available for both Android and iOS users and can be easily downloaded. They also have a desktop version that you can use instead of the apps. The app and website features are quite similar, and you can access the premium and accessible features on both versions.
Bumble has a smaller community when compared to OkCupid. It could mean that you have a higher chance of making a successful match. Moreover, since women have complete control over the conversation, it is easier to weed out the less severe users.
Bumble wants to get you into their platform as quickly as possible. The sign-up process is straightforward and takes less than 2 minutes. You can sign in using a Facebook account. They will then need you to answer a few questions about yourself to find your matches.
The accounts on OkCupid are free, and your membership shall not end in this case. But with a premium account, you are offered more features. Let’s take a look at some of these options.
The free features include things like a free account, seeing your matches, connecting with them, receiving likes, and so on. Even without a paid membership, you can use these features to find your life partners.
You can purchase the boosts in individual packages or as discounted packages. It lets you get a higher number of views by making your profile more visible to other users.
With this feature, you will be notified if someone has seen your message.
The premium membership removes all ads on the platform for a less distracting experience.
With the Incognito Mode, you can browse through the users without alerting them that you have viewed their profiles. It is a separate subscription from the standard premium account subscription.
The OkCupid website and app have been around a lot longer than Bumbles. Their apps have excellent accessibility and are available on iOS and Android for downloading. If you prefer a more engaging and colorful experience on the app and website, OkCupid fares better in this regard over Bumble.
OkCupid has similar success rates as Bumble in serious relationships, casual dating, and friendships. However, OkCupid asks more in-depth personality questions that make the matches a lot more refined. Therefore, OkCupid does fare slightly better in this regard.
OkCupid prefers to have a more detailed sign-up process. The more questions you can answer for them, the better your chances of finding a match. You need at least 5 to 10 minutes to sign-up to OkCupid, and you can choose to sign in with your Facebook account.
Having considered all the variables and features, our experts have concluded that, in this Bumble vs. OkCupid comparison, Bumble is the winner. Now, we’ll tell you why!
Bumble is relatively new, but it has many features that let women have an equal footing in the online dating world. Even though most dating sites take precautions against the harassment of users, women tend to be at a disadvantage with receiving unwanted attention. With Bumble’s messaging features favoring women, this issue is circumvented.
However, OkCupid is not too far behind in its features. It has a broader user base, which translates into better chances of finding a match. Also, its free features are outstanding, even without the additional premium features.
Therefore, if you are a single woman who wants a woman-centric dating experience, Bumble would be the better choice. For everyone else, OkCupid and Bumble are pretty much on par with each other.