Bumble Spotlight Explained [Cost, How It Works & When To Use It!]

Bumble Spotlight highlights your profile for 30 minutes, placing it at the front of other users' discovery queues. The best time to use it is Monday evening between 7-8pm—Bumble's peak activity period. One Spotlight per week is included with paid subscriptions, or you can purchase them individually starting at $11.99 each (as low as $2.50 when buying in bulk).

Key Insights

• What it does: Highlights your profile for 30 minutes, placing you at the front of local users' queues
• Optimal timing: Monday 7-8pm is peak activity; also effective during rain or snowstorms (20-40% activity surge)
• Cost: $11.99 for one, down to $2.50 each when buying 30; one weekly Spotlight included with Boost/Premium subscriptions
• Weekly Spotlight doesn't roll over: Use it or lose it—subscription Spotlights expire and reset each week
• Invisible to others: Users can't tell you've activated Spotlight; they just see your profile more often
• Won't fix a weak profile: Extra visibility only helps if your photos and bio are already compelling

As dating experts who've logged hundreds of thousands of hours managing Bumble profiles, we've identified precisely when to use this premium feature for maximum results—and how to make sure your profile converts those extra views into quality matches.

Similar to how a Hinge or Tinder Boost works, Bumble’s Spotlight feature highlights your profile for a full 30 minutes. So when singles in your area fire up Bumble, they’ll find your profile front and center.

You’ll know Spotlight is activated because you’ll see stars across the top of the app, but other users won’t know you’ve paid to promote your profile.

To activate the Spotlight feature, simply tap the yellow “Spotlight” icon at the bottom of the profile editing screen.

One 30-minute Spotlight per week is included with a Bumble Boost, Premium, and Premium+ subscription. You can combine it with the purchase of a second Spotlight to net a total of 150 minutes.

However, the weekly Spotlight included in your paid subscription does not carry over the following week. So if you purchase a subscription on a Wednesday, that week’s Spotlight expires the following Wednesday and a new one replaces it.

But if you're using Bumble for free or you want to spotlight your profile more often, you can buy them in quantities ranging from 1 to 30.

2026 Bumble Spotlight Price* List
1 for $11.99
5 for $5/each
15 for $3.34/each
30 for $2.50/each
*Prices could vary by market

Bumble Spotlight is a premium feature you can purchase to highlight your profile for a half hour at a time. 

On the other hand, Bumble Boost is a paid subscription that includes access to Bumble’s additional features such as unlimited extends, rematches, backtracks, 5 weekly SuperSwipes, limitless right swipes, and even a weekly Bumble Spotlight. 

Go here for a full rundown on Bumble Boost!

Bumble broke down the best times to be on the app based on their peak activity times:

• Mondays between 7 & 8 pm
• Tuesdays between 8 & 9 pm
• Wednesdays between 5 & 6 pm
• Thursdays between 9 & 10 pm
• Fridays between 6 & 7 pm
• Weekends between 3 & 5 pm

Monday evening between 7 & 8 pm is a prime time to activate Bumble Spotlight if you want maximum exposure for your money. According to Bumble, it's the most popular day & time to use the app.

Users also tend to flock to Bumble during terrible weather. So if a bad rain or snowstorm hits your area, consider Spotlighting your profile. An activity surge of 20-40% during large storms is common, so you’ll get even more profile exposure.

If your Bumble bio and photos aren’t camera ready, it doesn’t matter how many extra eyes see it. Spotlight isn’t a magical fix - your profile still needs to compel her to swipe right!

#1: Make Your Profile Picture Perfect

Specifically, your primary one. Everybody knows photos can (and will) make/break your chances on dating apps, and yet a lot of guys still don’t put much thought into which photo they’re leading with.

If you want dates with your best Bumble matches, don’t be that guy.

Keep these “perfect dating photo” traits in mind when choosing your primary Bumble photo:

This list was developed by neuroscientists, so you know it’s legit. They were studying Tinder photos, but an attractive photo is attractive no matter what dating app you’re using, right?

#2: Start The Conversation - With Your Bio

It’s true that guys can’t send the first message, outside of responding to her Opening Move or paying to send a Compliment.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t get the conversation started! It’s simple - include an icebreaker type question at the very end of your Bumble profile, like this:

Thanks to the first Bumble tip she’s going to love your photo, and now your Bumble bio is handing her a ready-made message to send you. She doesn’t have to figure out what to say, she just has to answer your question and you can take it from there.

Want more examples? Check out these 12 great Bumble profiles for men!

#3: Answer Prompts To Get More Matches

Bumble prompts present the perfect opportunity for you to share a few attractive tidbits about yourself, in a natural way that doesn’t sound like bragging.

But if you use up that valuable real estate with an answer that doesn't tell her anything interesting about you, you're wasting an opportunity to inspire her. And that's crucial, because she's the one who has to start the conversation.

So don't go for the same obvious jokes or one-lines she's seen a thousand times. Include specific, interesting details in your answers that give her a peek at your personality and lifestyle.

Check out our Bumble Guide - it’s packed with profile and message examples, expert tips, and strategies you can implement right now to maximize your online dating experience - and get more dates!