Bumble focuses on quality over quantity as paying user numbers decline ahead of platform overhaul

Wed, 06 May 2026 03:34:00 +0200

Bumble, the dating app, reported a continued decline in paying users during the first quarter of 2026, with numbers falling 21.1% from last year to 3.2 million. Revenue dropped 14.1% to $212.4 million, though it exceeded analyst expectations. Despite fewer paying users, average revenue per user rose nearly 9%, and net earnings increased significantly to $52.6 million due to reduced sales and marketing costs. CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd described the decline as a deliberate reset, emphasizing that the company is prioritizing well-intentioned, engaged users over sheer scale. Bumble is now focusing on a major platform overhaul aimed at attracting Gen Z users and improving real-life dating outcomes. This involves transitioning to a cloud-native, AI-powered platform, redesigning profiles, and introducing features like the AI matchmaker 'Bee' to suggest compatible matches. The full revamped experience is expected to launch in Q4 2026 with a phased rollout continuing into early 2027. Outside of da