Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, Boo vs Celsius
Online dating is huge in Belgium. About 16% of Belgians now use dating apps. The big names (Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, etc.) dominate, but each has its own style. Here we compare Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, Boo and Celsius: Next Degree Dating on features, cost and who they’re for.
Tinder
Tinder is the worldwide leader, famous for its simple swipe-left/swipe-right interface. It’s hugely popular in Belgium and beyond (around 60 million active users globally as of 2025) and roughly 185K weekly active users in Belgium in late 2023. It’s free to swipe, match and chat, with optional paid tiers (Tinder Plus, Gold, Platinum) that give perks like unlimited likes, rewind swipes, and seeing who liked you. Because of its size and reach, Tinder attracts a broad crowd of young singles, mostly in their late teens and 20s, and is commonly used for casual dating (though many do find serious relationships on it). Its advantages are sheer numbers and simplicity. The downside is a lot of choice and often more casual vibes.
Key features:
Swipe-based matching with quick profiles (name, photos, short bio). Free users get a limited number of likes per day. Paid users get extras like no ads, unlimited likes, and boosts. In Belgium it leads the market, thanks to its massive user base.
Target audience: Wide-ranging singles (mostly 18 to 30), open to hookups or dating.
Bumble
Bumble is similar to Tinder in style (swipe cards), but it puts women in charge. In straight matches, women must send the first message within 24 hours or the match expires. (Bumble also has BFF and Bumble Bizz modes for friends and networking.) Like Tinder, basic Bumble is free, but Boost and Premium subscriptions add perks like rematches of expired matches or seeing everyone who liked you. Globally it has about 50 million users, and in Belgium it has around 50K to 60K weekly actives.
Bumble’s brand is female-friendly dating. Many women prefer it because it reduces unwanted messages. Its user base skews similar to Tinder’s, with a slight emphasis on relationships over one-night stands. In short, Bumble is still swipe-and-match but with women initiating contact.
Key features:
Women-must-message-first rule. Swipe cards like Tinder. Free users swipe and chat. Paid “Bumble Boost or Premium” adds Beeline (see who’s already liked you), rematch, travel mode and more.
Audience: Singles who like swipe apps but want a little more structure. Mostly young adults (18 to 35).
Celsius: Next Degree Dating
Celsius is a brand-new app built for the college and graduate crowd. The big idea: everyone on Celsius is verified as either a current college student, or a college graduate: by uploading their actual degree credentials. In other words, you know every match has a similar education level. This creates a simple, like-minded dating pool: no more scrolling past profiles below your academic level. Celsius is free to use (no paid tiers announced yet) and focuses on straightforward matching among educated singles.
Celsius’ user base is exclusively those with higher education. This appeals to busy students and grads who want to date peers. By confirming degree status at signup, Celsius eliminates one big filter: you won’t see people without college on the app. In style it’s as easy as swipe apps, but the messaging and interface are kept basic and student-friendly. The result is a community of ambitious, educated daters meeting people on the same level.
Building an app for verified college singles answers a real need. Some research finds that highly educated daters can struggle on general apps to find compatible partners. Celsius sidesteps that by starting everyone on equal footing: your date will at least match your education. In a friendly, casual environment, Celsius lets you focus on things in common (classes, majors, grad school life) without worrying about educational mismatch.
Key features:
Strict degree verification (college student or graduate). Free membership (no subscription needed). Simple swipe or match interface for educated singles only.
Unique selling point: A community of verified, educated people so you can date classmates or degree-holders. All profiles meet the “college graduate” bar. It’s designed to be easy and real. By requiring degrees, Celsius reduces fake accounts and keeps the level of conversation consistent.
Hinge
Hinge markets itself as “designed to be deleted,” focusing on serious dating. It differs by requiring more information on your profile (prompts and detailed answers) and by emphasizing connections over simple swiping. In practice, Hinge still has you “like” specific pictures or answers rather than just swiping. Hinge is free with a paid “Hinge Preferred” tier (features include unlimited likes, seeing all your likes at once, and advanced filters).
Hinge has tens of millions of users worldwide (estimates around 23 million as of 2023). It’s especially popular among 25 to 34 year olds looking for relationships. In Belgium it’s smaller (typically not in the top 5 apps by downloads) so you’ll see fewer people than on Tinder or Bumble. Its community is a bit older and more relationship-oriented.
Key features:
Profile-centric (fill in bio answers and questions). Likes are targeted to specific parts of the profile. Free matches and chatting. Hinge Preferred adds more visibility and filters.
Audience: Singles tired of endless swiping, more interested in compatibility and conversation.
Boo
Boo is a newer app built around personality compatibility. It already has millions of global users (over 10M installs) and markets itself in Belgium as “for deep, authentic connections”. Instead of just looks, Boo uses personality quizzes and interest communities to match people who are “compatible and like-minded”. Every user is encouraged to verify their profile (to cut out bots and catfish). Boo also offers features like community posts, language translation, and even dating tips based on personality analysis.
Boo is mostly free. The core personality matching is free, with optional paid features for more visibility. It’s smaller than the giant players. For example, in mid-2024 Boo had about 1.3 million global downloads in a month (vs 5.5M for Tinder). But its community prides itself on quality. Boo’s users are typically those who want something more thoughtful than just swiping, and it explicitly welcomes all types (including LGBTQ+). In Belgium, Boo is a niche choice but stands out for its focus on verified, personality-based matches.
Key features:
Personality-based matching instead of random swipes. Verified profiles only (no catfish). Free matching and chatting, plus optional in-app purchases. Community boards and language tools for making deeper connections.
Audience: Anyone interested in meaningful matches and intellectual or psychological compatibility rather than just looks.
Summary
In Belgium and worldwide, Tinder and Bumble dominate by headcount. They’re free, swipe-driven, and attract broad young crowds (with optional paid boosts). Hinge is a smaller, more relationship-focused swipe app with slightly older users. Boo is niche but growing. It emphasizes personality tests and verification for deeper matches. Across all these apps, free use is standard, with premium subscriptions for extra perks. By contrast, Celsius is a new kind of dating app for the highly educated: simple, free, and with everyone verified by college degree. You also don't need to "pay to win". This means you can meet people on the same academic page without wasting time swiping on profiles that don’t match your education level.
You can download Celsius today!
