Guide to Bumble: subscriptions, pricing, payment methods
Last updated: 26/10/2023
Online dating has exploded in recent years. When asked, many couples will tell you they met through a dating app like Tinder, eHarmony, Hinge, or Bumble.
Bumble is one of the most popular dating apps, with more than 100 million users. While it is a completely free dating app, 2.2 million of these users choose to pay for additional features.
If you’re thinking about paying for a Bumble Boost or Bumble Premium subscription, you might find it helpful to read this guide first. In it, we’ll explain what Bumble is and how it works, the benefits you get with a premium subscription, and which payment methods are accepted.
Jump to:
▸ How much does Bumble Boost cost?
▸ How much does Bumble Premium cost?
▸ Is it cheaper to pay for a Bumble Premium subscription on the web?
▸ How much do Spotlights, Superswipes and Compliments cost?
▸ What payment methods are accepted on Bumble?
▸ Will a Bumble subscription show up on a bank statement?
What is Bumble?
Bumble is a dating app that was launched in 2014 by the co-founder of Tinder, Whitney Wolfe Herd.
What sets the Bumble app apart from others is that unless it’s a same-sex connection, only female users can start a conversation with someone new. The thinking behind this is to give female users more control and prevent them from being inundated with unwanted messages from male users — which can happen with other dating apps.
Continue reading to find out more about how Bumble works.
How does Bumble work?
Like most dating apps, Bumble works by allowing users to match with one another based on their profiles. If you’re interested in a potential match, you swipe right, and if you’re not, you swipe left. If both users swipe right, a match is made, and communication can begin. As mentioned above, on Bumble, only female users can send the first message — unless it’s a same-sex connection, in which case either user can start the conversation.
As well as messages, Bumble allows users to make video and voice calls, which female users can do instead of sending the first message. Users can even add a “Virtual Date Badge” to their profile to let matches know they are interested in communicating via video or voice call.
There’s also a “Compliments” feature, which allows Bumble users to send messages before they’ve matched. Doing this is the same as swiping right and it also counts as an opening message for female users.
If an opening message isn’t sent within the first 24 hours or if the recipient of a message doesn’t respond within 24 hours, the connection will expire.
The Bumble app may not be as popular as Tinder, and your options may be limited if you are not in a big city, but it is a good choice for singles who are concerned about safety. Many of Bumble’s features are focused on keeping users safe, for example, profile verification and inappropriate message flagging, as well as the requirement that females must initiate conversations.
Is Bumble free to use?
Bumble is free to download and use, meaning you can swipe through user profiles, make matches, send messages, and make video and voice calls without spending a penny.
However, if you want to enhance your experience, you can pay for additional features. You can upgrade your subscription to Bumble Boost or Bumble Premium to unlock extra perks. Plus, there’s the option to buy Spotlights and SuperSwipes without upgrading.
What is Bumble Boost?
Bumble Boost is a paid-for subscription service that allows you to do more than regular users. Some of the main features of Bumble Boost are as follows:
Rematch
If one of your connections has expired, the Bumble Boost Rematch feature enables you to match with them again. So, whether you were busy doing something else or you just needed some more time to think of a witty opener, you’ll get another chance to chat with expired matches.
Extend multiple matches
With a free Bumble account, you can extend one of your matches each day. This gives you another 24 hours before they expire and the connection disappears. Upgrading to Bumble Boost allows you to extend as many matches as you like.
Backtrack
Until 2020, free users could undo left swipes, but now, you can only do this by paying for a subscription. This means that if you accidentally swiped left or you’ve had second thoughts, all is not lost.
Unlimited right swipes
Free Bumble users have a limited number of right swipes per day. But with a Bumble Boost subscription, you can swipe as many profiles as you like to increase your chances of finding that special someone.
Spotlight
This feature puts your profile in front of more users for 30 minutes without them knowing. You can pay for Spotlight separately, but with Bumble Boost, it’s included once a week.
SuperSwipes
If you particularly like someone’s profile, you can use the SuperSwipe feature to let them know. Again, you can buy this feature separately, but you can use it five times a week with Bumble Boost.
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How much does Bumble Boost cost?
Like most subscriptions, the longer you sign up for Bumble Boost, the cheaper it will be. Here are the costs* (note that prices differ across iOS, Android or web):
| Period | iOS | Android | Web |
|---|---|---|---|
| Period1 day | iOS N/A | N/A | Android N/A | N/A | Web N/A | £ 1.99 |
| Period1 week | iOS€ 6.99 | £ 9.99 | Android€ 7.99 | £ 7.99 | Web€ 6.99 | £ 6.99 |
| Period1 month | iOS€ 19.99 | £ 19.99 | Android€ 14.99 | £ 16.99 | Web€ 14.99 | £ 14.99 |
| Period3 months | iOS€ 39.99 | £ 39.99 | Android€ 29.99 | £ 35.99 | Web€ 29.99 | £ 29.99 |
| Period6 months | iOS€ 59.99 | £ 59.99 | Android€ 49.99 | £ 56.99 | Web€ 49.99 | £ 47.99 |
| PeriodLifetime | iOS€ 49.99 | £ 56.99 | Android N/A | N/A | Web N/A | £ 56.99 |
*Source: Bumble website and apps, October 2023.
Is it cheaper to pay for a Bumble subscription on the web?
Based on our own research, yes! It’s worth noting that it is often cheaper to pay for Bumble Boost and Bumble Premium subscriptions on the web.
How much do Spotlight, SuperSwipes and Compliments cost?
If you have a free account, you can pay for Spotlight, SuperSwipes, and Compliments separately. Here are the costs*, based on our own research:
Spotlight
| Quantity | iOS | Android | Web |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity1 | iOS€ 4.99 | N/A | Android€ 6.99 | N/A | Web€ 5.99 | N/A |
| Quantity5 | iOS€ 14.99 | N/A | Android€ 16.99 | N/A | Web€ 13.99 | N/A |
| Quantity15 | iOS€ 29.99 | N/A | Android€ 34.99 | N/A | Web€ 29.99 | N/A |
| Quantity30 | iOS€ 49.99 | N/A | Android€ 49.99 | N/A | Web€ 49.99 | N/A |
SuperSwipes
| Quantity | iOS | Android | Web |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity2 | iOS€ 3.49 | £ 7.99 | Android€ 4.99 | £ 5.99 | Web N/A | N/A |
| Quantity5 | iOS€ 7.99 | £ 14.99 | Android€ 8.99 | £ 11.99 | Web N/A | N/A |
| Quantity15 | iOS€ 17.99 | £ 34.99 | Android€ 17.99 | £ 27.99 | Web N/A | N/A |
| Quantity30 | iOS€ 24.99 | £ 49.99 | Android€ 29.99 | £ 39.99 | Web N/A | N/A |
Compliments
| Quantity | iOS | Android | Web |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity2 | iOS€ 6.49 | £ 11.99 | Android€ 7.99 | £ 7.99 | Web N/A | N/A |
| Quantity5 | iOS€ 13.99 | £ 21.99 | Android€ 14.99 | £ 14.99 | Web N/A | N/A |
| Quantity15 | iOS€ 29.99 | £ 39.99 | Android€ 29.99 | £ 34.99 | Web N/A | N/A |
| Quantity30 | iOS€ 49.99 | £ 59.99 | Android€ 49.99 | £ 49.99 | Web N/A | N/A |
*Source: Bumble website and apps, October 2023.
What payment methods are accepted on Bumble?
You can pay for Bumble subscriptions and features using a credit card, debit card, prepaid card, or PayPal. Here’s how:
How to pay for Bumble subscriptions on an iPhone
- Go to your home screen by tapping the gray silhouette icon in the bottom left corner of your screen.
- Click on either ‘Bumble Boost’ or ‘Bumble Premium’ underneath your profile picture and select the plan you wish to subscribe to.
- Choose an existing payment method or enter your new payment details.
How to pay for Bumble subscriptions on an Android phone
- Go to your home screen by tapping the grey silhouette icon in the bottom left corner of your screen.
- Click on either ‘Bumble Boost’ or ‘Bumble Premium’ underneath your profile picture and select the plan you wish to subscribe to.
- Choose one of the payment methods linked to your Google account (if you would like to use a different payment method, you must first add it to your Google Play account. Alternatively, you can use a computer to pay using a different payment method).
How to pay for Bumble subscriptions on a computer
- Click on your name in the top left corner of your screen.
- Select ‘Upgrade to Bumble Boost’ or ‘Upgrade to Bumble Premium’.
- Enter your payment details.
Will a Bumble subscription show up on a bank statement?
If you pay for Bumble Boost or Bumble Premium using a debit or credit card, it will usually show up as ‘Bumble’ on your bank statement or credit card bill.
This can be a problem if, for example, your parents pay your credit card bill, and you feel awkward about them knowing you’re using the dating app. Or, you may not want to use your credit or debit card to pay for Bumble services because you’re worried about data breaches.
The good news is, that you can keep your Bumble purchases anonymous by paying with a prepaid card — which is both safer and more discreet. All you need to do is enter your prepaid card details where you would normally enter your credit or debit card details. Paying via prepaid card also prevents money from being taken from your account for subscriptions you no longer want.
Summary
Bumble is a completely free dating app. However, there are some additional features you may wish to pay for that allow you to find compatible matches more quickly. You can pay for Bumble’s additional services via credit card, debit card, or PayPal, but if you want to keep your purchases anonymous, using a prepaid card is the best option.