Bumble Reports High Q1, But Paying Users Drop 21%

Bumble Inc. posted first-quarter 2026 revenue of $212.4 million on May 5, slightly exceeding analyst expectations of around $211–212 million. However, the results highlighted ongoing challenges in the online dating sector, with total paying users falling 21.1% year-over-year to 3.2 million.

Bumble App revenue declined 14.4% to $172.7 million, while the Badoo and Other segment fell 12.4% to $39.7 million. The drop in users was partially offset by stronger monetization: average revenue per paying user (ARPPU) rose 8.9% to $22.04. On the Bumble App specifically, paying users dropped 23% to 2.1 million, though ARPPU grew 11% to $27.65.

Profitability improved significantly despite lower revenue. Net earnings jumped 165.4% to $52.6 million, and adjusted EBITDA increased 28.3% to $82.6 million, reflecting cost discipline and reduced marketing spend. The company also completed a $475 million debt refinancing in late April.

CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd described the user decline as a deliberate “reset” to prioritize higher-quality, more engaged members over quantity. The company is preparing a major product overhaul, including a new cloud-native, AI-enabled tech platform. A “fully reimagined” Bumble experience with updated interaction models, better personalization, and an AI assistant called “Bee” is expected to launch in select markets in Q4 2026.

For Q2, Bumble guided revenue between $205 million and $213 million, below some analyst estimates. This outlook reflects continued pressure in a market where users, particularly Gen Z, report fatigue with swipe-based models and disappointing match quality.