Here’s how long it takes to get a match on Bumble:
Most Bumble users see multiple matches per week, so you can expect it to take 72 hours or less for a match.
But, this is based on a large average, and any one user can have a wildly different experience.
Your preferences, profile, and location will all heavily impact how long it takes you to get a match.
So if you want to learn all about how long it exactly takes to get matches on Bumble, then this is the right article for you.
Let’s go!
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What Is Bumble?
If you haven’t used Bumble before, you might want to know more about it.
On the surface, it’s another dating app.
You can use it to find potential romantic partners.
Using a swiping system, you can match with people and potentially hit it off.
Upon deeper inspection, Bumble is just another dating app.
Jokes aside, there are a few things that make Bumble somewhat different from the countless other apps you could try.
The first is that Bumble puts a lot of effort into catering to non-romantic relationships.
You can use the app to try to make friends or even focus on professional networking.
Even with those features, dating is the most popular function, and as I explain matches on Bumble, I’ll be referring to romantic matches.
Aside from that, Bumble has another peculiar feature.
When a heterosexual couple matches (yes, Bumble does support non-hetero matching too), then the female has to send the first message.
This rule was instituted to try to mitigate spam and harassment on the site, and Bumble has stuck with this rule for a while now.
That’s really it. If you use a lot of dating apps, you might find other subtle differences, but these are the main points.
How Does Matching Work on Bumble?
Now that we’re all caught up, let’s talk about matching on Bumble.
You’re wondering how long it takes, but as you can imagine, that answer is highly variable.
The amount of time it takes to match depends on lots of different things.
So, let’s explore Bumble matching a little bit to shed some light on the whole thing.
First off, Bumble looks a lot like any other dating app.
You can browse profiles and swipe on the ones you like.
If you and the other person mutually swipe, then that is a match.
As mentioned before, women have to make the first move (when applicable).
Beyond that, Bumble does not publicize its matchmaking algorithm.
So, I can’t tell you exactly how matching works.
But, the site does prioritize location and any preferences you set.
That means you have some control over who can potentially see your profile when they use the app.
More than anything else, your settings are going to influence how long it takes to get a match.
How Long Does Matching Takes on Bumble? (3 Factors)
Now you have some information.
Let’s revisit the original question: How long does it take to get a match?
This still depends on a lot of things, but one you might not know about is the age of your account.
If you just made the account, you’re going to have a different experience compared to after you’ve been on Bumble for a year.
So, let’s start there.
#1 When You First Make an Account
In my research, I found no formal statement from Bumble that suggests they boost new accounts.
I did, however, find multiple third-party verifiers, and they all saw a noticeable difference.
To keep this short and sweet, Bumble appears to boost accounts for the first 72 hours after they are created.
If you delete and create your account, you will get mixed results.
Why do dating apps do this?
They want you to enjoy the experience so you stick around.
It’s the whole business model, and it’s not surprising.
So, how long does it take to get a match for a new account?
That still depends.
If you don’t get any matches in the first 72 hours, then that’s abnormal.
Either your profile has serious problems or there’s an issue with your account.
This could also be tied to population density, but I’ll talk more about that later.
#2 After the Initial Period
When the 72-hour boost is over, things slow down for everyone.
Whatever your rate was during that boost, you can expect the average match to take longer moving forward.
But, there’s still a ton of variability from one user to the next, and even from one week to the next.
Some users have multiple matches a day.
Others see multiple matches a week.
Some don’t see a single match every week.
On top of that, you’re likely to match less frequently over time.
That’s because as you use the app, you will match with accounts that have potential.
As those fail to work out, the pool of remaining potential matches shrinks.
So, if you’re looking for an average, the expectation is that an average person will match with about 3% of their available pool.
You should get a match in the time period it takes you to go through about 3%, so that depends on how you use the app.
And, that translates to an average match rate of every few days, or multiple matches per week.
Keep in mind that this is an average. Your results will vary.
#3 Males vs Females
Generally speaking, females can expect to find matches much faster, on average, than men.
There are two reasons for this, and they aren’t likely to change anytime soon.
The first is behavior.
In heterosexual matching, men tend to be more aggressive on dating apps.
While Bumble hasn’t released statistics to confirm this idea, studies into multiple dating apps show a consistent trend.
Men are more likely to swipe on women than the reverse, which ultimately makes it a lot easier for women to find matches.
This is exacerbated by the gender gap on Bumble.
According to Statista, there are twice as many males as females on Bumble.
By sheer statistics, women are twice as likely to match as men (for heterosexual matches at least).
Multiply that by the behavior statistics, and you’ll find that women will match in half as much time as men or less.
What Factors Speed Up or Slow Down Matching in Bumble? (3 Things)
With that in mind, what really determines the match rate?
Is there anything you can do to influence the outcome?
The short answer is yes.
In fact, you have more control than anyone over how often you match with people.
That might sound counterintuitive, but between how you use the app, how you set up your profile, and the preferences you choose, you can increase your matching considerably.
Let’s talk about how you use the app first.
You don’t need to just blindly swipe on everyone you see.
That’s not the point.
The point is that engagement is useful, so when you do match, try to have a useful conversation.
Make the most of the moment, even if it doesn’t lead to anything romantic.
Also, if you only open the app once a month, you’re going to minimize your engagement, and that will slow down matching.
Figure out how much time you want to spend with the app, and then try to keep your use consistent.
That’s the best for good matching.
#1 Your Profile
More important than engagement is your profile.
Like it or not, this is what other users utilize in order to judge you.
Yes, they’re judging you.
If you want to use a dating app, you’re going to have to make peace with that fact.
The simple fact is that people will swipe when they like what they see.
If you aren’t getting swipes, then people don’t like your profile.
That’s a hard pill to swallow if you take it as an attack, but you can also view it as constructive feedback.
They aren’t necessarily opposed to the person you are—only the presentation you have on the app.
So, punch up your profile if you want more matches.
First, get a better profile picture.
Better yet, link to your Instagram account (if you actually take care of it).
This isn’t about trying to trick people or being dishonest about who you are.
But, it’s ok to use a flattering picture.
Similarly, you can focus on the things you like that you really think people will find interesting.
In fact, you can even put conversation prompts in your profile.
Especially for heterosexual men on the app, this can help foster conversations after a match, which is good for engagement.
Even if you’re not a hetero male on the app, putting conversation starters on your profile can still help people find things to talk about, and that helps the whole process.
#2 Your Preferences
When your profile is nice and shiny, then it’s time to go over your preferences.
Bumble doesn’t exactly track your “type.”
Instead, the app lets you control your own search filters, and the options get pretty advanced.
I’m not going to take you through every search filter.
That would be an ordeal.
Instead, I want to break down the basic principle that Bumble uses.
You can only filter searches according to the information that you have on your profile.
Here’s the example that Bumble uses when explaining this mechanism.
If you don’t fill out whether or not you smoke, then you can’t filter potential matches according to whether or not they smoke.
So, be thorough with your profile, and then you can tweak your filters as you see fit.
If you want more matches, go a little lighter on the filters.
If you’re trying to improve quality even at the cost of quantity, then you can tighten the screws on those filters.
#3 Your Location
This is the last major factor.
Where you live matters with every dating app.
If you’re in downtown Manhattan, then there are a lot of potential matches living within walking distance.
That population density is working in your favor.
If you live in Carrizozo, New Mexico, then you might be the only Bumble user within 30 miles.
The app can’t magically put people next to you.
That’s not how it works, and most users filter strictly according to location.
Who really wants to strike up a match with someone halfway around the world?
The only thing you can really do to try to help in this case is to widen the geographic filter on your preferences.
But, you should understand that it will only do so much.
These apps work better when you live near a whole lot of people.