How to Build a Dating App: Tips to Create App Like Tinder and Bumble

Before getting started with the ways to build your own dating app, let’s take a look at the market trends and statistics. Online dating has long been here, but in 2023, some patterns and attitudes are beginning to change, driven by the pandemic and significant shifts in users’ mindset.

These changes are not only influencing how people meet online, but also what they expect from dating platforms. Users are becoming more selective, more honest about their intentions, and more focused on meaningful interactions. At the same time, concerns around safety, authenticity, and user experience are growing, pushing platforms to evolve and adapt. Understanding these trends is essential if you want to create a product that meets real user needs and remains competitive in a rapidly changing market.

Below are the most prominent trends on the online dating market you have to take into account before getting started with mobile dating app development, shortlisting the competitive features and designing your unique value proposition. 

This trend is easy to explain - due to ongoing health concerns, many users prefer starting with virtual communication before moving to real-life meetings. For them, it is important to feel safe and confident that their potential match shares a similar attitude toward personal safety and responsibility. As a result, a significant portion of users now choose to connect online first rather than meeting in person right away.

For example, around 46% of Bumble users prefer having a virtual date before arranging an offline meeting. This shift in behavior highlights the growing importance of digital-first interaction in modern dating. Users want to reduce risks, save time, and better understand who they are talking to before taking the next step.

From a product perspective, this makes video communication a critical feature rather than just an optional add-on. Integrating video calls into your dating app can improve user trust, increase engagement, and create a more comfortable environment for initial interaction. Even as global conditions stabilize, virtual dating is expected to remain a key part of user behavior, making it an essential component of any competitive dating platform.

The recent pandemic gave most people more opportunities to reflect on what they really need, uncovering their true desires, intentions and life goals. According to Tinder’s report, online dating has become more honest and transparent. Most users no longer hesitate to be themselves and showcase it in their profiles. The shift towards honesty is especially relevant for Gen Z who value authenticity and transparency, so take it into account as well if this group of users is your future target audience.
From the development perspective, this means that adding more features for revealing users’ personalities in their profiles can be a winning tactic, and it is better to make filling some of the lines in the profile mandatory to help users create more detailed pictures of themselves. 

This trend naturally builds on the shift toward greater honesty in online dating. When users become more transparent about who they are, they also start to approach dating with clearer intentions and expectations. Instead of casual or undefined interactions, many people now look for meaningful connections that align with their personal values, lifestyle, and long-term goals.

Being honest with oneself often leads to being honest with others, especially when it comes to defining what kind of relationship a person is seeking. As a result, dating platforms need to support this behavior by offering more structured and flexible options for users to express their intentions. This can include selecting specific dating goals, indicating preferred types of relationships, or even highlighting personal priorities and boundaries.

From a product perspective, it becomes essential to design features that reflect this intentional approach. Advanced filtering systems, detailed profile sections, and goal-based matching algorithms can significantly improve match quality. By aligning users not only by interests but also by mindset and expectations, your platform can create more meaningful interactions and increase overall user satisfaction.

The pandemic has triggered a great surge in break-ups and divorces, especially in the US and China. This means that now these singles are ready to start dating again, still, they are somewhat anxious about online dating and its risks. From the perspective of this trend, the task of your future app is to create a safe environment for everyone.
For example, consider an idea realized by Bumble. On this platform, only women are allowed to send the first message, and according to the developers, it promotes equity and respectful relations from the very beginning.

• By 2024, online dating apps are expected to attract 270 million users worldwide

• 77% of users had a date with someone they met online during the last year

• Online dating market size is projected to reach $3.592 billion by 2025

• North America is expected to hold the largest online dating market share

• According to online dating apps users feedback, 60% of them had ultimately positive experiences.

12% of adult US users got married or committed to serious relations which began on a dating platform.

Advertising and subscription remain the most straightforward and widely used monetization models in the dating app industry. Advertising plays a key role at the early stages of product development, allowing platforms to generate revenue while still offering free access to a broad audience. It helps balance the cost of maintaining users who are not yet ready to pay, while also supporting user acquisition and growth.

At the same time, subscription models provide a more stable and predictable source of income in the long term. This approach works particularly well for dating platforms, where user engagement is often continuous and cyclical. Many users return regularly in search of new connections, which makes recurring payments a natural fit for the product. By offering premium features such as enhanced visibility, advanced filters, or unlimited interactions, platforms can encourage users to upgrade while maintaining value in the free version.

In practice, the most effective strategy often combines both models. Advertising supports scalability and accessibility, while subscriptions drive sustained revenue and deeper user commitment. Together, they create a balanced monetization system that aligns with both business goals and user behavior.

Like many apps in the entertainment and dating space, Tinder follows a freemium model where the core functionality is доступна безкоштовно. Users can create profiles, browse matches, and interact at a basic level without paying, which lowers the entry barrier and helps the platform grow quickly. At the same time, even this free experience is designed to be engaging enough to demonstrate value and gradually encourage users to explore paid options.

The transition to subscription happens when users want more control, visibility, and efficiency in their search. Premium features unlock additional capabilities that enhance the overall experience, making it easier and faster to find suitable matches. This creates a natural upgrade path without forcing users into payment from the very beginning.

As a result, Tinder generates the majority of its revenue through subscriptions, complemented by advertising. The platform offers several pricing tiers - Tinder Plus, Tinder Gold, and Tinder Platinum - each providing a different set of features and benefits. The subscription cost typically ranges from $2 to $15 per month, depending on the selected plan and billing conditions, allowing users to choose the level of access that best fits their needs.

Interesting fact! The fees for users over 30 are a little higher. And the reason for this pricing policy is a little cynical – the creators of the application guess that if you are 30 and you are looking for something in Tinder, then you still have not managed to create a happy relationship in the first place, but you most likely have more money in second.

In general, Bumble follows a monetization approach that is quite similar to Tinder’s model. The platform relies on a freemium structure, where basic functionality is доступна безкоштовно, while more advanced features are unlocked through paid subscriptions. This allows users to explore the app and understand its value before deciding to upgrade.

Bumble offers two main subscription plans - Bumble Boost and Bumble Premium - each designed to enhance the user experience in different ways. These plans include a variety of features aimed at improving visibility, increasing match opportunities, and giving users more control over their interactions. For example, users can access advanced filters, see who liked them, or extend matches that would otherwise expire.

By structuring its pricing this way, Bumble creates a balanced ecosystem where free users can still actively participate, while paid users gain additional advantages that make the process of meeting new people more efficient and personalized.

How to create a new Tinder? A better approach is to focus on building something more advanced and user-focused instead of replicating what already exists. The goal is not to copy successful products, but to understand their strengths, identify their weaknesses, and improve the overall experience.

Below, we outline a practical step-by-step strategy filled with actionable tips and insights to help you design, develop, and launch a competitive dating app that stands out in a crowded market.

The online dating market is on the rise, which means that now is the right time to build dating apps like Bumble and Tinder. Still, copying the leading solutions had never been the right strategy. Instead, you should come up with something unique and outstanding. What’s more, there is no need to reinvent the wheel but there is a clear need for suggesting a more advanced way of solving the users’ problem. 

Below are some of the online dating pain points shared by users you may proceed from when developing an idea for your dating app.

• Using several dating apps takes too much time. The reason for this pain point is obvious – none of the apps is tailored to the specific preference, goal, or expectation. Make sure your future app is specific enough.

• Mismatching. It may seem that the reasons for this pain point hide in machine learning-powered matching algorithms but psychologists say that the problem may be related to the way the user portrays himself/herself in their profile. In this case, you are welcome to develop such a kind of user profile that will allow them to either find the suggestions to fill it or better reveal their personalities. Hint! Badoo’s profiles are great; you are welcome to take a look. 

• Sexually explicit messages or images. This is quite a common situation on online dating platforms, and on some of them, this is just what the users expect. But if your initial idea implies matching users with more serious intentions, consider adding an ML algorithm with image recognition and text analysis capabilities. P.S. Don’t forget to tell your users about it as well. 

• The users have run out of suitable matches. This is one more typical situation for those in the never-ending search. To deal with it, you have to develop creative marketing tactics to constantly attract new visitors and keep the male-female balance equal or almost equal.

So, how to create a successful dating app? The answer is simple. Your solution has to match not only people that are potentially suitable for each other. You should also match the pain points, concerns, and preferences of your future users with the functionality your app is going to provide them with.

The world of online dating is quite diverse, and there are a lot of solutions in different categories you can get inspired by, use their best practices as the foundation to develop your unique value proposition and make a dating app. Below are some outstanding online dating solutions, and each of them comes with unique features and offerings.

• Tinder. Tinder is the leading solution in the online dating market since this is an all-in-one platform. You never know what kind of person you can meet here. It can be your future soulmate, best friend, business partner, or neighbor, and this is what makes Tinder popular and engaging.

• Bumble. Bumble decided to segment their potential users by purpose and created several apps for love dating, friendship, and expanding a business network (Bumble Date, Bumble BFF, and Bumble Biz). As for Bumble Date, its unique feature is a female-only opportunity to make the first step. 

• Elite Singles. This is an online dating platform for those with serious intentions only. 80% of its users are over 30 years old, have high education, plus each profile is carefully verified.

• Adult Friend Finder. Unlike the previous solution, the goal of the users of this app is just the opposite. The platform is designed to quickly find opportunities for one-night stays and casual dating. 

• Seeking. This is a sugar dating platform, that is, it offers opportunities for eligible men in search of relations on their terms.

• Hater. An unusual name for a dating app, isn’t it? But the idea itself sounds quite interesting  – with the help of this app, the users can find people who hate the same things as them and get in touch. Perhaps, avoiding the same things can be a good start to any relationship, and this app is also a great example of how non-patterned thinking can lead to unique and promising business ideas.

While most of the apps follow the same design and UI principles, there are still opportunities to do it better. How to build a dating app with an outstanding design and intuitive UI? Keep the following tips in mind. 

• Mobile-first design. According to the research, online dating and mobile dating aren’t the same things. Rather, they relate to each other as a whole and a part. Mobile dating is more popular because of its instant communication opportunity, and that’s why your app design should be mobile-centered. It shouldn’t be overloaded with buttons and sections but instead, it should provide instant access to the chat and search. 

• Right colors. Online dating is purely about emotional experiences, and you may enhance them with the right colors. Still, the color palette of your future app shouldn’t necessarily be pink or red. To find the right color, proceed from your initial idea and the users’ problem you intend to solve. For example, if you want to create a platform for dating with serious intentions, you may use such colors as blue and white. These are the colors of trust and credibility.

• Engaging UI writing. If you want to develop dating apps similar to Bumble and Badoo, pay attention to their UI writing approaches. Both of the apps use very simple and engaging texts, especially in the process of the new users onboarding. Keep in mind that a lot of new visitors may feel anxious about the app and about online dating as such, so the task is to create a friendly, supportive and relaxed environment, using the power of words as well.

How to Make a Tinder Style App - Advanced Features

If you want to build a new dating app like Bumble and offer your users something unique and exclusive, consider adding some of the advanced features below. 

Pay the Greatest Attention to the Matching Algorithm

How to create a dating app like Tinder, and most importantly, how to match the users in such a way that most of them find what they were looking for? The right answer is hidden deeply in the machine learning algorithm you will develop and power your future solution with. 

For example, Tinder mostly uses behavior analysis. It matches people based on their previous interactions. For example, those who get more right than left swipes are ranked better. It also suggests that if user X likes user Y, then user Y may also be suitable for user Z under the condition that X and Z have the same or almost the same characteristics and preferences. 

Badoo has the smartest matching algorithm. Firstly, it allows the users to set the matching parameters and change them at any time. Secondly, it analyses profile information and matches the users with the same preferences and interests. What’s more, the algorithm also analyses custom information provided by the users (for example, their occupation) and suggests people from the same industry as an option.

Choose the Right Technologies

The choice of the technology stack is always project-dependent. As always, the first choice factor is the mobile operating system you develop your app for. As a rule, most dating apps come as native ones and each of them is perfectly tailored to the operating system specifics and is powered by different technologies. The set of features you need to develop will also drive the technology choice. 

For example, below is the list of programming languages, tools, and platforms used by Tinder. 

At this stage, you are welcome to get in touch with an experienced development company. They will help you not only make the right choice with the technologies but also suggest the more cost-effective ways to develop your dating app, shortlist essential features for your MVP, and create design solutions that will fit your application mood and intentions. 

Make an App Like Tinder with Binerals

Binerals tech team would be happy to support you along your dating app development path. We are well-versed in the online dating market and its trends so we will be able to suggest winning ideas on how to build your solution in such a way to meet users’ expectations and market demand. Below are more benefits you can get from our collaboration. 

• Niche-tailored expertise. Developing applications for the online dating industry is our key expertise. We have a lot of hands-on practices, insights and life hacks to help you create your solution in the smartest way possible. 

• Experience in working with diverse technologies. Our tech team also handles a wide set of technologies, and they will be able to suggest the ones that will work for your project best. 

• AI and ML-savvy specialists under the roof. Since an AI-powered matching algorithm is at the heart of most dating apps, making it as smart as possible is essential. Our experience in artificial intelligence development and training will allow you to create a unique and effective algorithm to help your users achieve their goals faster and more effectively. 

• Ready-made team. You are only one step away from getting started with your project development. Our perfectly matched team is ready to help you right now.

The cost of making a dating app largely depends on the app’s specifics itself. Keep in mind that the development of the matching algorithm will take most budget and time since this is the core feature of the app that should be truly effective, scalable, and able to overdeliver. 

How much does it cost to start a dating app? The average price for creating an MVP for a mobile-native app (either iOS and Android) is $50,000-80,000. The cost of the full-fledged solution may reach $100,000-150,000 for a mobile app for one operating system, plus nearly $50,000-80,000 to develop the second native app on the basis of the first one, using Kotlin multi-platform, for example.

Making a mobile dating application is a promising business opportunity, especially if you have a unique and well-validated idea and a reliable development vendor nearby. We, at Binerals, would be happy to help you create a market-disruptive solution for online dating using top-notch technologies, saving your time and money, and following the life-proven development methodologies. Drop us a line to discuss your project and help a lot of people to become a little happier!