Bumble APK

Pros

• A dating app that's friendlier to women
• Sleek and easy-to-use interface
• Strong video chat functionality

Cons

• Aggressive about its Facebook integration
• Free plan has daily limits on swipes

Bumble looks to create a more equitable and comfortable approach to dating apps by putting more control in the hands of women. While it employs the ubiquitous model of swiping yes or no that was popularized by Tinder, it only lets men reach out to women that have already liked them back. It's a double blind system that hypothetically allows women to more comfortably engage in the dating pool, and it's transformed Bumble into one of the most successful dating apps on the market. According to the founders, it's an approach where over half of matches result in a conversation.

There's a few other changes that Bumble has made to make the experience more fun and inclusive. Whenever two people match, there's a short 24 hour window before one of them can send a message to the other. It's an approach that encourages daters to take the initiative, though users can set to delay the timer on one match a day. And while a lot of dating apps take the approach that more is better, Bumble profiles have to be a lean 150 words or less. Bumble puts the pressure on people to not just put their best foot forward but to also take a risk and reach out. That said, a range of prompts and questions allow you to add some more personality to your slim profile.

That leads to what may be Bumble's best contribution to the world of online dating: its chat and video call tools. The ability to blur your background can offer an added level of security to prevent your place from being identified, and you can also apply Snapchat filters in your call. In fact, social media integration is pretty strong across the board. Connecting your Spotify allows other users to see what you've been listening to, or you can browse the Instagram feed of prospective dates to get a better feel for what they're like out in the real world.

Bumble does offer a paid subscription, but most users should be comfortable using the features that come with the free version. The most tantalizing lure for signing up for a subscription is the ability to see everyone who's already liked you, but Bumble premium users can also extend their matches more times if they're waiting for a reply from their partner. Bumble further incentivizes users to pay for a premium subscription by limiting free users to a given amount of swipes a day. But these numbers are rather generous and should be more than enough for the average user. In addition to serving as a dating app, Bumble also offers variations on their interface that can be used for professional networking or finding friends. Both are interesting premises that come across as a little thin in execution.

Pros

• A dating app that's friendlier to women
• Sleek and easy-to-use interface
• Strong video chat functionality

Cons

• Aggressive about its Facebook integration
• Free plan has daily limits on swipes