Bumble BFF vs DayOfUs

Pricing

Bumble BFF is priced at Free (Completely free — no paywalls, no premium tier), while DayOfUs comes in at $ ($12.99/single dinner or $15.99/month unlimited + cost of your meal).

Format & matching

Bumble BFF uses groups of 1:1 and groups, compared to DayOfUs’s 4-6 per table, and Bumble BFF relies on interest-based matching while DayOfUs uses algorithm-based matching.

How they work

Bumble BFF: Download the standalone BFF app (separate from the Bumble dating app) and create a profile with your interests, a bio, and photo prompts that show your personality. Verify your identity with a selfie. Browse profiles of people nearby and swipe right on anyone you'd want to be friends with. If you both swipe right, you're matched and can start chatting. Beyond 1:1 matches, you can join or create Groups based on shared interests — think book clubs, running groups, or brunch crews. Groups have their own chat, posts, and even video calls to help you plan IRL hangouts.

DayOfUs: Download the app and take a personality quiz that covers your interests, conversation style, and what you're looking for in a dinner companion. Pick your city and a date that works. DayOfUs's algorithm assembles a table of four to six people with complementary personalities and handles the restaurant reservation. On the day of your dinner, you'll get the venue details. Show up, sit down, and meet your group. The app also includes icebreaker prompts if the table needs a nudge.

What to love

Bumble BFF: Completely free with no paywalls — every feature is accessible without paying. Massive user base from Bumble's brand recognition means more potential matches nearby. Groups and community features go beyond 1:1 matching into real friend circles. Photo verification on every profile reduces catfishing and spam. Interest tags and photo prompts make profiles feel more personal than a generic bio.

DayOfUs: Available in 13+ cities across four continents — significantly wider reach than most dinner-matching apps. Personality-based matching creates genuinely compatible tables. The app handles the entire reservation so there's zero logistics on your end. Affordable entry point at ~$13 per dinner. Smaller group sizes (4-6) keep conversations intimate.

Reality check

Bumble BFF: The swiping mechanic still feels borrowed from dating — some people find it awkward for friendship. Conversations can fizzle fast since there's no built-in reason to actually meet up. The 2025 relaunch is still relatively new, so Groups can feel empty in smaller cities. No structured events or activities — you have to organize meetups yourself.

DayOfUs: Still relatively new — no public ratings yet on the App Store. iOS only, no Android app. No structured post-dinner community or follow-up features. Restaurant selection may be limited in newer cities.

Søren's take

On Bumble BFF: Bumble BFF has the biggest advantage any friendship app can have: name recognition. Almost everyone has heard of Bumble, which means the user base is enormous. The 2025 relaunch with Groups is a smart move — pure 1:1 swiping for friends always felt slightly off, and the community layer gives you a reason to keep coming back. The fact that it's entirely free is remarkable. The catch? It still lacks the structured, get-you-out-of-the-house push that apps like Timeleft provide. You'll need to be proactive about turning matches into real-life hangouts.

On DayOfUs: DayOfUs is essentially Timeleft's younger sibling with a wider passport. The core mechanic is identical — personality quiz, algorithm-matched dinner group, restaurant booked for you — but it's already live in cities across Asia, Australia, and Europe that Timeleft hasn't fully penetrated. The lack of ratings suggests it's early days, which means smaller user pools in some cities. But the price is right, the model is proven, and if it's available where you live, it's worth a shot.