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Is Bumble Premium worth it? I tried it for 2 months to find out.

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You may balk at the concept of paying for a dating app, but others certainly don't: Daters spent $3 billion on apps in 2020, up 15 percent from the previous year. These days, singles aren't afraid to fork out cash for additional features on these apps, which were the most common way couples met each other for years before COVID.

The dating app Bumble, in particular, is one of the most popular with 42 million monthly active users in 2020, according to a spokesperson. Bumble is famous for only allowing women to message men first in the case of heterosexual matches. Here's how it works: Once a couple matches, the woman has 24 hours to message first. Then, the man has another 24 hours to message back. If one or both of these messages isn't sent, the match "expires," or disappears. (In cases with nonbinary people, they can message first).

Both Bumble and Tinder (which, by comparison, had 75 million monthly active users in 2020) utilize "hot or not"-esque swiping, but only Bumble has this restriction on who gets to message first — as well as more filters to choose from, like your astrological sign and whether you drink. The app's subscription, Premium, offers additional tools, like being able to undo a swipe and seeing who's already liked you.

But with so many dating app options out there, is Bumble Premium worth it? The app gave me a two-month trial to see. I found that Premium wasn't worth it for me due to its cost, but its features — like the ones above — could tip the scales for you.

What is Bumble Boost and Bumble Premium?

While not advertised as such, Boost is like a lower pay tier to Premium. Here are the price breakdowns for both according to in-app numbers:

Bumble Boost:

  • 1 week at $8.99

  • 1 month at $16.99

  • 3 months at 33.99

  • 6 months at $54.99

Bumble Premium:

  • 1 week at $19.99

  • 1 month at $39.99

  • 3 months at $79.99

  • Six months at $119.99

  • Lifetime for $199.99

With Bumble Boost, users can reverse a left swipe with Backtrack and extend time on matches for another day. Boost members also receive unlimited swipes; one Spotlight per week (which puts your profile at the top of the swiping "stack"); and five SuperSwipes a week (lets another user know beforehand that you want to match).

Premium members have all those features, plus unlimited Advanced Filters (whereas other users can only use two at a time); the ability to rematch with expired matches; Travel Mode (swipe anywhere you want to); the Beeline to see everyone who's already liked you; and Incognito Mode, which hides your profile and only appears for those you swiped right on. As of publication, Incognito Mode is only available on the Bumble app, not the browser version.

Bumble Premium is pricier than other dating app subscriptions. For comparison, a week's worth of Bumble Premium, $19.99, is worth a month of Tinder Platinum. Hinge, meanwhile, is in the middle at $29.99 per month.

Is Bumble Premium worth it?

This question depends on how much you like and use Bumble — and how much you plan on using its paid-only features.

As I mentioned in my Tinder Platinum review, the ability to reverse swipes (called Backtrack on Bumble) is a game-changer. Sometimes — especially if you're a longtime app user, like I was — you swipe with abandon and may end up saying "no" to someone too fast. Backtrack eliminates left-swipe regrets; it's probably the premium feature I used most often.

Premium also gives some leeway to the rigid 24-hour rule, which is one reason why Bumble wasn't my favorite app in the first place. Some days I was busy and just didn't open it, and I'm sure that's true for some of my matches as well. The ability to extend a match was pretty useful, but keep in mind you only get an additional 24 hours.


This question depends on how much you like and use Bumble — and how much you plan on using its paid-only features.

Another valuable feature was Incognito Mode. As I live in New York City, there's an abundance of users on the app, and many aren't my type. Going incognito allowed me to be seen by only my hopeful matches. I enjoyed this increase in privacy.

These three additions (Backtrack, time extension, and Incognito Mode) are the best of the bunch, in my opinion. If you see yourself taking advantage of them, Bumble Premium may be for you.

I was ambivalent, however, about some of the other features, including Advanced Filters. Here are some filters Bumble offers:

Bumble's Advanced Filters

Advanced Filters on Bumble.
Credit: Screenshot: Bumble

In some cases, filters make sense. If you only want to date someone who shares your faith, for example, a religion filter makes searching for a partner easier.

In other cases, though, I question whether filters are helpful — like Zodiac sign. Are you really not going to date someone because they're a Gemini? Even an astrologer told Vice filtering out people by sign is a bad idea.

Further, when using a filter you're also cycling out people who didn't fill out that certain trait. When I filtered by whether someone smokes, for instance, that eliminated everyone who didn't share their preference. That could leave out people who are similar to you, but didn't write-in their choice because they wanted to keep it private, or they just didn't think to put it on their profile.

I didn't use Travel Mode at all, but if you're a frequent flier, I'm sure it'll be helpful.

Finally, the Beeline piqued my interest as I could see who already liked me, but after a couple weeks of not finding many matches there, I stopped checking it.

Should I buy Bumble Premium?

If you're already an active Bumble user and enjoy the app's unique features — such as women and nonbinary folks messaging first — and it's within your means, then try Premium out. The cost is comparable to Tinder Platinum, so if you use Tinder more often you may want to check out its subscription first. It's $10 more a month than Hinge's subscription Hinge+, but $10 less a month than Hinge X.

Keep in mind that Bumble Boost is an option, and it does come with Backtrack and match extensions. Should you want Incognito Mode or other features exclusive to Premium, however, you're going to have to pay up.

Like Tinder Platinum, I didn't experience much of a difference in quality or quantity of matches with Bumble Premium. While match extension is a boon, there were still days when I didn't check my phone as much or simply wasn't active on the app, and as a result, matches disappeared. If you're not diligent, that'll happen even with Premium.


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Credit: Bumble

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Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 12, 2025

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Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A migrant.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…

Today's Wordle starts with the letter N.

The Wordle answer today is…

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is…

NOMAD.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

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Truth Socials new AI search is woke enough to disagree with Trump

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Less than a week after announcing a new Perplexity-powered AI search engine with reportedly tight reins on its sources, Truth Social's AI tool is already contradicting its most famous co-founder.

Truth Search AI, a new platform-based answer bot built on Perplexity Sonar API, was launched by Trump Media and Technology Group to "increase the amount of information" available to users and offer "direct, contextually accurate answers with transparent citations." Despite the commitment to a broader information environment, Perplexity representatives explained the search tool's sources could be customized by its overseers (known as source selection). In early tests by Axios, Truth Search AI's answers appeared to be limited to sourcing from traditionally conservative outlets, including FoxNews.com and FoxBusiness.com, compared to Perplexity's standard engine.

But, even with this curation, Truth Search AI isn't easily falling in line with the Trump Administration's standard talking points. In an analysis by the Washington Post, the AI tool repeatedly countered claims made by the President rather than reaffirming statements he has previously posted on Truth Social as factually correct, including the impact of international tariffs on American consumers and the need for federal intervention in what Trump has claimed is a crime-riddled national capital.

“Their own AI is now being too ‘woke’ for them,” David Karpf, a George Washington University professor, told the publication. The tool still cited primarily conservative entertainment and news sources in its citations, but its conclusions might not be as cut and dry as expected. Trump Media declined to provide comment to the Washington Post, calling their findings "transparently asinine" reporting by "irrelevant partisan hacks."

Part of what he claims to be a government-wide "truth-seeking" mission, Trump has recently attacked what he calls "Woke AI," or Large Language Models that are, in his eyes, "ideologically biased" and driven by diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Last month, Trump issued an Executive Order intended to promote "unbiased AI" in federal contracting and national security. Meanwhile, the administration has brokered several deals with top AI companies to provide services to the federal government, including $200 million Pentagon contracts with OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Elon Musk-owned xAI.

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Who is Ashby? The hilarious, viral TikTok creator dressing up as the Lorax and Hamilton

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screenshots of @_ashbyflorence_ dressed as the lorax and hamilton

Sometime this week, a TikTok star was born — and she wore an orange, spandex jumpsuit and an oversized fake, yellow mustache. I'm talking, of course, about @_ashbyflorence_.

You've likely seen Ashby if you've logged onto TikTok in the last week or so. Maybe you've seen her on a live stream, or you've seen the viral clips, or you've seen people reacting to the clips, or you've seen others talking about how funny she is. Regardless, she's recently become a fixture on FYPs everywhere, mine included.

Perhaps you're like me, randomly spouting quotes from a woman on TikTok dressed as the Lorax or Alexander Hamilton. Things like, "I'm baaaashful" in a vaguely Midwest accent, or "I'm joooking," or sticking out your tongue, lizard-like, as a punchline. I can't imagine I'm alone in this experience, the strange, viral comedy of Ashby worming into your daily life.

So…who is Ashby?

Best I can tell, Ashby's real name is Ashby Florence and she works a real job doing PR for an entertainment company. (Mashable has reached out to Florence and will update if we receive a response)

But we're not talking Ashby the IRL person, we're talking the suddenly viral comedian. Like others on TikTok recently, she gained some traction recently dressing up as Alexander Hamilton, which somehow became a trend. This lip sync post, for instance, racked up nearly 12 million views.

In general, Ashby channels a version of Hamilton that was fed up and pressed for time. It's pretty funny.

But the best stuff, the funniest stuff — in my opinion — is Ashby's livestreams. They've created an entire ecosystem of clips, especially the ones with Ashby dressed up as the Lorax. Now…why the Lorax? Well, visually, it's funny, and others have dressed like the Lorax on TikTok before. But you haven't really seen it until you see Ashby do it. Her comedic timing, plus the vaguely Midwest accent, plus the big mustache, the big feet, the belly, it's just…perfect. I mean, just watch this post from Ashby that is part Lorax, part Norm from Cheers, part Andrew Dice Clay, part Tim Robinson… part…I don't know.

Why does she stick her tongue out for a punchline? Who knows, but I love it. Why the rough edits? Again, ditto. Why pronounce squirrels like that? Again, love it. People on TikTok have taken to clipping her live streams, pouring over their favorite moments. It's pretty hilarious stuff, and totally strange, and has taken my FYP hostage.

Ashby is a perfect creator for 2025. She's admitted she hasn't seen The Lorax and openly says "give me money" followed with a ITYSL-esque "I'm jokinnnn." She literally talks (in Lorax voice) about milking her viral moment. She re-treads catchphrases like "I'm baaaashful" and makes crass, silly jokes. Not to read too much into a funny person dressing up as the Lorax, but Ashby openly mocks the idea of creators acting like they don't post for the cash. And people really love it. The reaction online has been nearly universally positive, as far as I can tell.

So, what now?

As far as I can tell, the world of Ashby's content is vast. There are videos of her as the Lorax and Hamilton, of course, but also Pitbull (of course) and, well, herself. There are lots of clips to peruse through because livestreams obviously last longer than the typical TikTok.

And Ashby also has another livestream planned for Tuesday around 9 p.m. ET. It's only listed as a surprise character with the description, "I hope I don’t get too bashful." My personal hope is we get more of the Lorax. But whatever it is, we can rest assured it'll be funny and truly strange.

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