Bumble is a mobile app and website for both dating and social networking. The app allows users to match with other people in their area, whether it be for a potential date, a friendly hangout, or a professional meetup. The app has three modes:
- Date
- BFF
- Bizz
Bumble Date
Bumble Date is the primary component of Bumble: its dating platform. This is where users match with potential romantic partners in the hopes of going on a date, and where women make the first move.
Bumble BFF
Bumble BFF is Bumble’s platform for finding and matching with other users in their area to become friends with. This mode was created for people who are new in the area or are simply finding difficulty meeting new people and making friends. There are no rules about who approaches who first.
Bumble Bizz
Finally, this component allows people to network for business purposes, such as finding mentors within their field, chatting with potential interns, and kick starting new career opportunities.
How it works
Bumble works like a typical dating app, with a few distinct differences.
Users match with one another by viewing profiles of people in their area and swiping right on someone’s profile if they want to match with them. If that user also swipes right, a match is created.
When two people have matched, the woman (or man in a same-sex couple) has 24 hours to reach out to the other person before the match expires (expired matches will still reappear in the app).
The recipient then has 24 hours to respond, or again, the connection will expire. This rule emboldens users to immediately make a connection.
As a result, a higher rate of post-match conversations (over 3 billion messages on the app to date) occur.
Bumble’s distinctive feature
The primary distinction is that when a heterosexual couple matches on the site, the woman must message the man first within 24 hours. Men cannot message a woman that they’ve matched with until she’s messaged them.
With same-sex matches, or in the BFF and Bizz modes, either person can make the first move.
This requirement not only challenges antiquated dating norms and empowers women, but also cuts down on the amount of harassment and abuse that plagues many online dating sites.
Bumble takes its commitment to create a safe and respectful platform even further with technology that can identify whether or not a photo sent on the app may contain a lewd image.
Users are given a warning if they have been sent a potentially lewd photo and can choose whether to see it or not.
Furthermore, its partnership with Vital Voices means that for every first move made on the app, the company donates to a woman-focused nonprofit. Users can choose which cause their first move will support within the app.
Lastly, Bumble is not only a platform for dating, but also for socializing and networking. In fact, it is the first app of its kind to combine dating, finding friends, and career-building into one single platform.
Multiple modes
You aren’t restricted to just one mode. You can use all three modes at once, even with a separate profile for each one or switch between modes inside the app using the mode-switching menu.
Bumble Coins
Bumble also comes with an in-app currency called Bumble Coins that can be used to purchase the app’s premium features.
How does it make money
- Freemium model
- Optional in-app purchases for advanced features
- Subscription model
The app is free to download and use for its primary features. However, the app generates revenue from special premium features, bought in either one-time purchases or through a subscription.
Premium features
Bumble offers several special features that can enhance your experience on the app, including SuperSwipe and Spotlight. SuperSwiping on someone’s profile lets them know that you’re extra interested in them.
The Spotlight feature allows you to put your profile at the top of the stack of profiles, so more people will view it that instant.
Users also have the option to extend a match by 24 hours, on top of the default 24 hours. This feature signifies that you’re especially interested in the other person.
Non-Bumble Boost members can only buy this feature once per day, and no users can extend the same match more than once.
Bumble Coins can be used to purchase any of these features, either for one or multiple uses. Or, you can gain access to these features through a Bumble Boost subscription.
Bumble Boost
A Bumble Boost membership entails the following advanced features:
- See all of the users who have swiped right on your profile
- Rematch with expired connections
- Extend an unlimited number of matches by 24 hours
You can choose among a variety of subscription options, including weekly, monthly, three months and six months, to become a Bumble Boost member for up to $25 a month.
With Bumble Coins, you can send Super Swipes to make a bold first impression and activate Spotlight to maximize your profile views.
