Build a dating app in Bubble with user profiles, swipe/like/pass mechanics using Custom States and workflows, a matching algorithm that detects mutual likes, real-time chat between matched users, and location-based discovery. The core mechanic: when User A likes User B and User B has already liked User A, create a Match record and notify both users.
Build a Dating App in Bubble
This tutorial guides you through building the core features of a dating app: profiles, swiping, matching, and messaging.
Prerequisites
- A Bubble account with user authentication
- User profiles with photos, bio, and preferences
- Basic understanding of workflows and Custom States
Step-by-step guide
Create Dating Data Types
Create Dating Data Types
Create 'UserProfile' (extend User): bio, photos (list of images), age, gender, looking_for, location (geographic address), interests (list of texts). Create 'Swipe': swiper (User), swiped_on (User), direction (text: like/pass), timestamp. Create 'Match': user1 (User), user2 (User), matched_date, last_message_date. Create 'Message': match (Match), sender (User), content (text), sent_date.
Expected result: Data types for the dating app are created.
Build the Discovery/Swipe Interface
Build the Discovery/Swipe Interface
Create a page showing one profile card at a time. Search for Users matching preferences (gender, age range, within distance). Exclude users already swiped on. Display: main photo, name, age, bio. Add Like (heart) and Pass (X) buttons.
Expected result: Users see potential matches one at a time.
Implement the Matching Algorithm
Implement the Matching Algorithm
When Like button clicked: Create Swipe (direction='like'). Then search for Swipes where swiper = swiped_on_user AND swiped_on = Current User AND direction = 'like'. If found (mutual like): Create Match with both users, send notifications. Load next profile.
Expected result: Mutual likes automatically create matches.
Build the Chat System
Build the Chat System
Create a matches page with a RG of Matches involving Current User. Each row shows the other user's photo and name. Clicking opens a chat view: RG of Messages for this Match sorted by sent_date. Add input and send button. Create Message on send, update Match's last_message_date.
Expected result: Matched users can exchange messages.
Add Location-Based Discovery
Add Location-Based Discovery
Use geographic address fields and the ':distance from' operator. Filter discovery to users within a configurable radius. Show distance on profile cards.
Expected result: Users discover nearby matches based on location.
Complete working example
1DATA TYPES:2- User (extended): bio, photos, age, gender, looking_for, location, interests3- Swipe: swiper, swiped_on, direction (like/pass), timestamp4- Match: user1, user2, matched_date, last_message_date, is_active5- Message: match, sender, content, sent_date, is_read67DISCOVERY ALGORITHM:8Search for Users where:9 - gender matches Current User's looking_for10 - age between Current User's min_age and max_age11 - location within Current User's max_distance12 - NOT in (Search for Swipes where swiper=Current User):each item's swiped_on13 - is not Current User1415MATCHING WORKFLOW:161. Like clicked → Create Swipe (like)172. Search for reverse Swipe (them → me, like)183. If found → Create Match → Notify both users194. Load next profile card2021CHAT:22- Messages RG: Search for Messages (match = current match, sorted by sent_date)23- Send: Create Message → Update Match last_message_dateCommon mistakes when making a dating app in Bubble.io: Step-by-Step Guide
Why it's a problem: Not excluding already-swiped users from discovery
How to avoid: Exclude users who appear in Current User's Swipe records from the discovery search.
Why it's a problem: Creating duplicate matches
How to avoid: Before creating a Match, check if one already exists between the two users.
Why it's a problem: Loading all potential matches at once
How to avoid: Load one profile at a time, or batch 5-10 profiles into a Custom State list.
Best practices
- Load profiles one at a time or in small batches for performance.
- Exclude already-swiped users from discovery searches.
- Check for duplicate matches before creating.
- Use location-based filtering to reduce the candidate pool.
- Add photo verification for safety.
- Implement reporting and blocking features.
Still stuck?
Copy one of these prompts to get a personalized, step-by-step explanation.
I want to build a dating app in Bubble.io with swipe cards, matching on mutual likes, chat between matches, and location-based discovery. How do I structure the data and implement the matching algorithm?
Create a dating app with profile cards, like/pass swiping, mutual match detection, a matches list page, and real-time chat between matched users.
Frequently asked questions
How do I handle the swipe animation?
Use CSS transitions or a swipe plugin for card animations. The Draggable plugin can enable actual swipe gestures on mobile.
Can I add video profiles?
Yes. Add a video field to User and embed it using Bubble's Video element on the profile card.
How do I prevent fake profiles?
Implement photo verification (compare selfie to profile photo), email verification, and phone verification. Add reporting features for users.
How do I scale beyond a few thousand users?
Optimize discovery queries with geographic constraints first, then age/gender filters. Cache discovery results. For large-scale dating apps, RapidDev can architect optimized matching systems.
Can I add premium features (super likes, boost)?
Yes. Create a premium plan with Stripe, add a 'super_like' direction to Swipe, and prioritize boosted users in discovery results.
How does real-time chat work in Bubble?
Bubble auto-updates Repeating Groups via WebSocket. New messages appear instantly without refresh.
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