How To Develop a Dating App Like Bumble: Cost & Features

Mobile apps have become more powerful and valuable than ever. From ordering your favorite food to booking a taxi or even learning a new language, these apps help us do everything. And now, these apps can even help to find the perfect partner. 

Dating apps have ascended in popularity. These apps help you find the most compatible people and date them in real life. Due to the hectic lifestyle, most people don’t have the time to physically look for a compatible match. Consequently, they turn to online dating apps to come across various profiles and find the right person to fall in love with. 

An increasing number of millennials are using these apps to find their best match. And so, many entrepreneurs are investing in developing dating apps that help users find their mate with just a tap. If you are one of them, this blog is for you. Here, we will look at the various aspects of developing a fully-functional online dating app such as Bumble. 

Dating Mobile Apps – Introduction

A social dating mobile app enables the users to find a match for themselves and then set up a date with them through the chat feature. Most apps require the users to enter their location, interests, and preferences to find the ideal match. 

Nowadays, there are several dating apps available to users. The most popular ones include Bumble. The two apps have witnessed a significant spike in usage, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. The newer dating apps are now coming with innovative features like video calls and audio messages. 

Dating Mobile App Market Size & Statistics

The online dating industry has shown tremendous growth in terms of sales in the past couple of years. It has been constantly rising in popularity. And this is primarily due to the increase in the number of singles around the globe, especially in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America. 

As per Statista, the online dating segment’s revenue is expected to reach $3,601m by the end of 2021. Furthermore, this revenue is expected to reach $4,744m by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 7.13%. 

Few other essential statistics that show the dominance of online dating apps is as follows:

• By 2025, the total number of online dating app users is expected to reach 489.9m. 
• The average revenue from each user will amount to 9.18 USD. 
• In 2022, the online dating scene had a user base of over 366 million. This number is predicted to rise to 440 million by 2027 as more individuals turn to digital platforms for romance.
• In 2022, online dating brought in a revenue of 2.86 billion U.S. dollars.
• The revenue for the Online Dating sector is anticipated to hit US$70.84 million in 2023.
• From 2023 to 2027, the industry’s revenue is forecasted to grow at a compound annual rate of 3.28%, leading to an estimated market size of US$3.39 billion by 2027.
• When viewed globally, the United States is set to dominate the market, with projected earnings of US$1,347.00 million in 2023.

Millennials have become very specific about what they want in their partner. They take every little thing into account, such as their perspective on life, opinions, likes, dislikes, etc. This prompts the service providers to build dating apps with newer and improved features to entice the users. For instance, some apps have started using AI to offer relevant matches to users and provide appropriate guidance. 

Let us look at one of the most popular dating apps on the market today- Bumble. An overview of the app will help you understand what users expect from a good online dating app. 

Bumble Mobile App- Overview 

Bumble is one of the leading online dating apps available nowadays. It provides a straightforward way for users to identify a compatible match. 

One of the best things about the app is that it only allows women to make the first move. Thus, women feel not only empowered but also much more comfortable using the platform. Besides, it also supports same-sex relationships. If a user is matched with another user of the same sex.

Thus, the intuitive interface and unique features of Bumble have made it extremely popular, especially among the younger demographic.

Moving on, there are a few highly distinguishing characteristics of Bumble that makes it stand out. They are as follows:

• Bumble BFF: The Bumble BFF feature makes it possible for users to meet new friends on the platform. The name suggests that users can swipe profiles to find their BFF rather than a dating partner. 
• Bumble Bizz: Bumble Bizz is another part of the app that enables users to add their verified photographs, skills, services, as well as their resume. It helps users network with other like-minded individuals and grow professionally. 
• Web: The Bumble mobile app also has a website where the users can log in through their browser. This offers augmented ease and another simplified way to connect. 

Bumble is free to download. However, it also offers a premium version that offers additional and unique features. 

Useful Bumble App statistics

Last year, Bumble reached 100 million users. Bumble positions itself as a women-first dating app and ranks among the most downloaded online dating apps worldwide.

Here are some Bumble key statistics: 

• In 2022, revenues generated by the Bumble app amounted to approximately 694 million U.S. dollars.
• In the first quarter of 2023, the number of paying Bumble Inc. users amounted to roughly 3.46 million worldwide.
• In the first quarter of 2023, Bumble Inc. generated 242.9 million U.S. dollars in revenue.
• In 2023, Bumble boasted 2.4 million users who opted for its premium services.
• Bumble has a 19% market share among the various US online dating apps.
• On average, Bumble brings in annual revenue of $27.75 per paying user.
• Currently, Bumble has 42 million active users. Out of these, 1.2 million have subscribed to the app’s premium version. 
• In 2020, Bumble generated $337 million in revenue, marking a 40% increase y-o-y

Top Competitors to Dating Mobile App Bumble 

There are several dating applications available on the market. And most of these apps are quite popular among millennials as they do a great job of bringing people together. Here, we will look at these popular apps that are also the most significant competitors to Bumble. 

1. Hinge (Android; iOS) 

Currently, Hinge is the fastest-growing dating app in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Also launched in 2012, the app focuses on meaningful connections rather than one-night stands or friendships. It comes with an intuitive and sleek UI/UX design. 

2. OkCupid (Android; iOS) 

OkCupid is another dating app that the Match Group manages. The app has a growing customer base built around an algorithm that analyzes the answers to over 3000 questions to match the most compatible people. 

3. Match.com (Android; iOS) 

Launched in 1995, Match.com is among the pioneers of online dating sites. The platform enables users to find incredible matches and get to know each other well. Apart from the typical messenger conversations and emails, the app lets members play various online games with each other to spark a relationship. 

4. Happn (Android, iOS)

Happn is a big competitor of Bumble that comes with a range of unique features. It enables the users to find and connect with someone that they have already crossed paths. Happn uses GPS technology to track every move. 

How Bumble App Makes Money – Business & Revenue Model 

In a short period, Bumble has been able to generate a hefty amount of revenue. Essentially, the app follows three monetization techniques:

• Advertisement s

Bumble mobile app places advertisements inside the app to encourage users to engage with different brands. When the user clicks on these ads, the app generates revenue. 

• Premium Subscriptions 

Bumble offers premium subscription plans for a certain amount of fee. Once the user purchases the subscription, he gains unrestricted access to special app features otherwise not available in the free version. 

• In-App Purchases

The in-app purchase integration is another excellent way to monetize the app. For instance, Bumble offers Bumble Coins, a type of in-app currency that can be used to avail special features like Super Swipes or Spotlight. Other than this, many different items can also be incorporated within the app to purchase. 

Key Features to Include while Developing Dating App Like Bumble 

If you plan to develop a dating app that stands out, you must integrate unique and compelling features. But at the same time, there are some specific features in Bumble mobile app that you must include to ensure to fulfill the market standards. Now, let’s look at those features. 

• User Onboarding & Authorization 

Once the user logs in with their mobile number or Facebook account, he is presented with an onboarding experience. This feature introduces the users to the platform and helps them get comfortable with it. Furthermore, the authorization feature authenticates the identity of the new user before he begins the profile setup. 

• Profile Setting & Editing 

Having a detailed and intuitive user profile section is a necessity for an online dating app. Here, the user can input all his essential details such as his likings, preferences, hobbies, interests, etc., along with a bio. 

To make it easy for the new users, the app must come with an option to directly integrate relevant data from other social media networks such as Instagram or Facebook. This will save the user’s time and provide them with augmented ease. 

• Left-Right Swipe 

If you want to build a dating app similar to Bumble, then having a swiping feature is a must. With this feature, the users can swipe right for the profiles they are interested in and swipe left for those they don’t want to pursue. Overall, it’s a great feature that makes matching profiles extremely easy. 

• Push Notifications 

Push notifications are an essential feature that helps to boost user engagement. Whenever there is a new match or a message from someone, the user receives a notification about it. 

• Private Chat

Quick and easy-to-use chat functionality is essential for building a good dating application. It helps the users to connect and grow their relationships. Make sure that the chat option in your app also comes with an option to add stickers and GIFs. This will help to make the conversation much more enjoyable. 

• Geo Locations Tracking 

Meeting people that belong to faraway countries is tough. With geolocation tracking, the users can narrow down their options by only seeing user profiles that belong to the exact location. Thus, the users can choose the location they like to explore new connections. 

Bumble Profile Match Algorithm 

Bumble leverages an AI-based algorithm that is highly intuitive. The algorithm suggests profiles that are matched based on people’s interests, location, hobbies, preferences, and much more. Most of the profiles that are suggested to the users are highly relevant to their liking. Thus, this improves user engagement and also boosts the efficiency of the dating application. 

It t is essential to note that the matching is not random at all. As mentioned above, the AI-based algorithm analyzes the user’s choices based on the profiles they swipe left and swipe right. Over time, the algorithm learns more about the user’s choice and only suggests profiles that they will surely like. 

What are the Challenges in Developing Bumble Dating App? 

• Cyber Bullying 

Cyberbullying is a major issue in online dating. Typically, this kind of bullying is aimed at shaming or angering those who are targeted. In the case of online dating apps, gays are mostly targeted and bullied. 

Cyberbullying involves sending resentful messages or threats to the user. It also involves impersonating someone or spreading rumors about them. 

If you plan to develop a dating app like Bumble, make sure to provide an option where the users can immediately report any instances of cyberbullying. This will make sure to win the user’s trust and retain them in the longer run. 

• Personal Data Security 

Online data apps require users to enter their personal data. This is sensitive data, and it is the responsibility of the dating app company to ensure that this data remains safe and secure. However, cyber-attacks are pretty common. In fact, in 2019, most user accounts of OkCupid got hacked, leading to a lot of trouble. 

So, if you plan to develop a dating app, you must take proper measures to ensure the safety of users’ personal data. If any security barrier is penetrated, the users will never return to using your app. 

• Robust User Verification

To ensure the quality and security of the app, robust user verification is essential. Each user must be thoroughly verified via their personal contact number, email, etc. to ensure authenticity. This will help to evade malpractices on the platform to a huge extent. 

These are the most common challenges involved in building an app for online dating. However, effective policies and best practices can help tackle these challenges and create a future-ready app. 

What Team Structure is Required To Develop a Dating App Like Bumble? 

Developing a dating application can be a long and complex process. Thus, you need a development team that not only hires the right professionals, and has substantial experience in the domain. 

Now, let us look at the different professionals that are a must in your chosen development team. 

• Project Manager
• Product Owner
• Frontend and Backend Developers
• UI/UX Designers
• Analyst
• Tester and QA Lead

How Much Does it Cost to Develop an App like Bumble?

The development cost of every app depends on a range of factors. For instance, the complexity level of the app or the type of features integrated largely determines the overall cost. 

If you plan to build just an MVP, you can wrap up the development process between $30k and $40k. But it is important to note that the hourly rates of the developers you choose also play a crucial role in regulating the total cost. 

Different countries charge differently for mobile app development. Typically, the charges of developers based in North America and Western Europe are the highest. On the contrary, developers in Asia, especially India, charge decently while ensuring top-notch results. 

Lastly, the development cost will also depend on whether you choose a customized solution or build your dating app from scratch. 

Moving on, let us have a more detailed look at the timeline and costing involved:

• App designing: 50 – 70 hours
• App development: 150 – 200 hours for each platform, i.e., Android and iOS
• Backend design and development: 150 – 200 hours
• API creation and integration: 75 – 150 hours
• Testing and bug fixing: 20 – 25 hours
• Final deployment: 15 – 25 hours 

Based on the above calculation, the cost of developing a fully-functional dating app like Bumble can range from $50k to $80k. 

Final Words

The online dating industry is riding a growth wave. And this is primarily because such apps make it very easy for users to build relationships on the go. Even in their hectic lifestyles, dating app users find it likely to meet people with similar choices and get to know them better. 

Also, with advanced features like location tracking, matching algorithms, safe chat options, etc., dating apps are becoming increasingly popular. Hence, it is pretty evident that investing in a good dating app like Bumble is a lucrative business opportunity. You must get in touch with a reputed app development company to discuss your idea.