Key facts
- Bumble is reportedly exploring a sale and is working with Morgan Stanley.
- The company has seen a decline in total paying users and annual revenue.
- Bumble's shares have fallen 48% in the past year, with a market value of $388 million.
- Blackstone, which owns about 22% of Bumble, declined to comment.
- Analysts cite mounting competition, shifting user preferences, and dating app fatigue.
Dating app Bumble is reportedly exploring a sale amid a slowdown in the online dating industry, according to sources close to the matter. The company, known for its women-first approach to initiating contact, is reportedly working with investment bankers at Morgan Stanley on a potential sale process.
However, sources cautioned that no deal is guaranteed and Bumble may opt to remain an independent entity. Representatives for Bumble did not immediately respond to requests for comment, while Morgan Stanley and Blackstone, which holds a significant stake in Bumble, declined to comment.
Bumble, based in Austin, Texas, has faced considerable challenges, including a 48% drop in its share price over the last year, leaving it with a market valuation of $388 million. The company, founded by Whitney Wolfe Herd, who also co-founded Tinder, went public in 2021 with a valuation exceeding $7 billion.
Financial performance has been a key concern, with total paying users declining by over 11% in 2025 to approximately 3.7 million, and annual revenue falling by nearly 10% to about $966 million. The first quarter of 2026 saw a further 20% year-on-year decrease in paying users as the company pruned lower-engagement accounts.
While Bumble has attempted to boost revenue through price increases and improved monetization, analysts point to intense competition, evolving user preferences, and general fatigue with dating apps as significant headwinds. Its once-distinctive "women-first" branding is increasingly seen as less of a competitive advantage in a shifting market. The company has also expanded into social networking and professional connections with Bumble For Friends and Bumble Bizz, but these ventures remain minor components of its overall business.