Bumble is rolling out a new paid group-dating feature called "Plans" that lets users pay a flat fee to join small in-person meetups with other Bumble members, in a move the company says is aimed at reducing "swipe fatigue" and making dating feel more intentional.
The feature will debut this week in New York City as a limited pilot, according to internal details reported by Business Insider and a separate company announcement.
Users will see curated "Plans" inside the app and can pay to RSVP to a specific event, which is designed to bring together a small group of daters at a set time and place, according to Business Insider.
Bumble has not disclosed exact pricing publicly, but the company describes the experience as a paid, premium-style option layered on top of its existing free and subscription services.
Once a user pays to join a "Plan," they can invite a plus-one friend to attend, though each attendee must pay the RSVP fee separately. The meet-up location is revealed only after payment is completed, a structure meant to limit no-shows and reinforce that attendees are committed to showing up.
After the event, Bumble prompts participants to give feedback on the gathering and to indicate whether they were interested in any specific people they met. Those reactions are then used to generate in-app matches, allowing participants to continue chatting on Bumble, Guru Focus reported.
"Plans" arrives as Bumble prepares to move away from the swipe-based interface that has defined modern dating apps for a decade, but has also been blamed for user burnout.
In recent weeks, the company has confirmed that it will begin phasing out its signature swipe gesture in favor of AI-driven matchmaking and more structured, intentional interactions.
Analysts say the new feature also reflects a broader push among dating platforms to diversify revenue, building on tiers like Bumble Boost, Bumble Premium, and Premium+, whose weekly pricing and perks already target users willing to pay for higher-touch experiences, as per INC.
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