Bumble For Friends in London: what it costs and how it works
Bumble For Friends is a free friendship app from Bumble. You build a profile, swipe through people near you and chat with your matches, then arrange to meet. On the UK App Store, BFF Premium costs £2.49 a week to £12.99 for 6 months (checked 14 October 2026). It has no events of its own, so you plan the first meeting yourself.
By the Siena team, who run a dinner with strangers in London every Thursday. Updated .
We run Siena, a dinner with strangers in London every Thursday, so we compete with some of the services we review. We say where each one does better than us. Every fact about Bumble For Friends below comes from its own website or store listing, checked on the date shown and linked in the sources. If something has changed, tell us at hi@sienasociety.com and we will fix it.
Bumble For Friends is an app, not an event. That is the main difference from a dinner club: the app finds people, and the two of you decide where and when to meet.
How Bumble For Friends works
- Make a profile. The app uses profile prompts and lifestyle badges so people can see what you are into.
- Swipe on people near you. You see profiles in your area and swipe on the ones you want to meet. SuperSwipes and Spotlights are paid extras that help people notice you.
- Chat, then meet. You message the people you connect with and agree a plan.
Bumble For Friends started as the BFF mode inside the Bumble dating app. It is now a separate app made only for friendship. Its App Store listing names account verification, reporting and blocking as its safety features.
What Bumble For Friends costs in the UK
The app is free to download and use. You can pay for BFF Premium or for single extras. These are the in-app prices on the UK App Store:
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| BFF Premium, 7 days | £2.49 (other 7-day prices listed: £5.99 and £6.99) |
| BFF Premium, 1 month | £4.99 |
| BFF Premium, 3 months | £8.99 |
| BFF Premium, 6 months | £12.99 |
| BFF Spotlight | £0.99 for 1, £2.49 for 5, £7.99 for 30 |
| BFF SuperSwipes | £0.99 for 2 |
Subscriptions renew automatically unless you turn auto-renewal off at least 24 hours before the period ends. You manage them in your Apple or Google account.
Ratings
On the UK App Store, Bumble For Friends has an average of 4.3 out of 5 from 2,084 ratings, and an age rating of 16+ (checked on 14 October 2026).
Who it suits, and who it does not
A good fit if you
- like to chat first and meet one person at a time
- want to find people near your flat for coffee, the gym or a walk
- are happy to plan the first meeting yourself
Not a good fit if you
- are tired of swiping and messaging that never turns into a plan
- want someone else to choose the venue and the group
- would rather meet several new people at once
Where Bumble For Friends beats Siena
- It is free. You can use it without paying anything. A Siena seat costs £12.99.
- It works any day. You meet when it suits the two of you. Siena runs on Thursdays only.
- It works outside London. Siena is London only.
- You pick the person. You see a profile before you meet. At Siena you meet your table on the night.
Bumble For Friends or Siena
| Bumble For Friends | Siena | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Anywhere the app works, London included | London only |
| When | Whenever you and your match agree | Thursday, 7:30pm |
| Group | Usually one to one, as you arrange it | Usually 6 (tables of 5 to 8), matched |
| Price | Free. BFF Premium from £2.49 a week | £12.99 a dinner, or Premium from £21.99 a month with dinners included |
| Food and drinks | Whatever you plan together | Paid at the restaurant |
| Cancellation | Nothing to cancel. Subscriptions renew automatically | Full refund if you cancel 24 hours before |
| Age | 16+ on the UK App Store | 18 and over, similar age at each table |
| App | iOS and Android app | Web, no download |
The two work well together. Use the app to find people near you, and a dinner when you want a plan with no chat first.
Skip the chat. Book a Siena Thursday: £12.99, five to eight people, and we pick the restaurant.
Questions people ask
Is Bumble For Friends free?
Yes. You can download and use it for free. BFF Premium and extras such as Spotlights and SuperSwipes cost money: on the UK App Store, Premium runs from £2.49 for 7 days to £12.99 for 6 months (checked 14 October 2026).
Does Bumble For Friends work in London?
Yes. The app shows people near your location, so it works anywhere in London. It does not run events of its own, so you arrange where to meet.
Is Bumble For Friends a dating app?
No. Bumble For Friends is a separate app from Bumble, made only for friendship. The dating app is a different product.
How old do you have to be?
The UK App Store gives Bumble For Friends an age rating of 16+.
What is an alternative to Bumble For Friends in London?
If you want a plan instead of a chat, try a hosted dinner. Siena seats five to eight strangers at a London restaurant every Thursday at 7:30pm for £12.99 a seat. Our London Social Dining Finder lists more options.