Bumble’s paid – Bumble is set to launch a paid group-dating feature called “Plans” this week, starting in New York. Users pay an RSVP fee, can bring a paid plus-one, and only then see the meet-up location—after which Bumble prompts them to rate attendees and match with people
Bumble is about to turn a familiar swipe into something more expensive—and more scheduled.
This week, the dating app is rolling out a new group-dating feature called “Plans,” a paid pilot that brings small gatherings of Bumble users together in person. The trial launches in New York, and it costs money to participate.
To join a Plan, Bumble users must pay a flat fee to RSVP. After signing up, they can also invite a plus-one to tag along. That friend has to pay the RSVP fee as well. Daters will see the meet-up location only after payment.
Once the Plan happens, Bumble asks users about their experience—whether they liked the experience and whether they liked specific attendees. From there, users can match with the crushes they selected and continue messaging on the app.
The launch is coming with a visible brand push inside the app ecosystem. In a Slack message sent to employees this week, Bumble announced the launch of the “Plans” social handle, @plansbybumble. The account is currently private, though its profile logo matches images Business Insider viewed. While this first “Plans” pilot is limited to New York. Bumble plans to roll out the feature nationally based on performance.
The timing lands at a sensitive moment for the company. Bumble has faced declining revenue. with full-year total revenue decreasing by 9.9% between 2025 and 2024. and down 14.1% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2026. The feature also feeds into broader industry worries about “swipe fatigue,” as dating apps increasingly lean on in-person experiences.
Bumble is not new to the concept. In 2022, the company launched Bumble IRL, a series of local events meant to “meet cool people in your city.” Bumble is also hosting bar events in New York this summer.
Competition has been moving in the same direction. Tinder—one of Bumble’s primary competitors—rolled out “Double Date” in June. a social dating feature that lets users swipe and meet up with their friends. Earlier. in March. Tinder announced a new “Events” tab that connects users to in-person dating experiences. with the feature still testing in Los Angeles. Tinder CEO Spencer Rascoff told Business Insider in March. “Events are fun. they’re low-pressure. they’re social. they’re safe. ” adding. “They’re bringing Tinder into the physical world in a way that is consistent with our users’ lifestyles.”.
Bumble stock, like much of the dating app category, has taken a hit. The stock is down around 45% year over year.
The move also arrives as new dating startups promise more face-to-face connections, including Court IRL, First Round’s on Me, and 222.
A private @plansbybumble handle and a New York-only pilot may sound small. But for Bumble, “Plans” is a bet that people will pay for structure—and for a path from meeting in the real world back into the app.
Bumble Plans group dating paid RSVP New York dating app in-person dating swipe fatigue Tinder Double Date Tinder Events Spencer Rascoff @plansbybumble revenue decline
So you pay to see where you’re going… wow.
This feels kinda scummy honestly. Like dating wasn’t expensive enough, now it’s like an event ticket? I guess the location after you pay is the whole trick.
Wait, I thought Bumble already did groups like forever ago. If they make you RSVP and then “rate attendees” it sounds like school cafeteria points or something. Also how do they even “match” you if you already paid? Feels like they’re trying to turn swiping into like concerts or whatever.
New York first, of course. Of all places. Next they’ll be charging a fee to talk to somebody without embarrassment. And the revenue drop part… like yeah, maybe because people don’t want to pay for a date, shocking. Don’t they already know the meet-up spot anyway??