How to Use the Coffee Meets Bagel Dating App

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How to use CMB to find your perfect match

Co-authored by John Keegan and Emily Schmitt

Last Updated: December 12, 2024 References

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Best App Features

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Who Is Coffee Meets Bagel For?

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What Are Beans?

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Subscription Features

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Getting Started

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Pros & Cons

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Expert Interview

Coffee Meets Bagel is a dating app for people looking for long-term, meaningful connections, but who are tired of the typical swiping most dating apps use. Instead of endless swiping, CMB uses a smart algorithm to find and present you with potential matches based on your dating preferences! This wikiHow article will give you an overview of Coffee Meets Bagel's best features, teach you how to create an account, and list some pros and cons of the app.

How Coffee Meets Bagel Works

Set up your CMB account by adding photos and filling out profile prompts. Like any profiles you’re interested in talking to, and if it’s a match, send them a message. Purchase beans (CMB’s in-app currency) to gain access to special features, such as liking people on the Discover page and turning on read receipts.

Question 1 of 6:

What Are Coffee Meets Bagel's Best Features?

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1
The Suggested Section. This section is the heart of CMB's platform.^{[1]
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Research source} Every day the smart algorithm will present you with potential matches, which CMB calls "bagels."
- You can choose to “Like,” “Pass,” or “Priority Like” any of these matches.^{[2]
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- You can send messages with your likes to help you stand out if you really like a certain profile.
- If a match likes you back, your messages will show up in your Chat section.
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Icebreakers & Chats. Once you and a bagel have liked each other, it’s time to get chatting. In order to chat, both parties must confirm interest in each other by liking the other’s profile.
- Chats will expire after seven days to encourage you to get face-to-face with your match.
- If you don’t feel comfortable meeting up so soon, ask for their contact information over chat.
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The Discover Section. While CMB will present you with matches every day, if you want to find other people, check out the Discover section. This page allows you to explore profiles that might not have been presented to you in your Suggested section.
- Use the Advanced Filters feature to filter profiles based on location, age, sex, or similar interests.
- You can try to connect with these people using beans (the in-app currency) or by becoming a subscriber.

Question 2 of 6:

Who Is Coffee Meets Bagel For?

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Coffee Meets Bagel is for young people looking for committed relationships. Every dating app has a certain crowd it's intended for, whether that's based on age, location, or gender. CMB's typical crowd includes:
- Singles looking for committed relationships.
- A slightly younger group. CMB’s most prominent age range is 25 - 39 years old.
- Anyone who enjoys free dating apps and an easy-to-use interface.

Question 3 of 6:

What Are Beans?

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Beans are CMB’s in-app currency.^{[3]
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Research source} Like we mentioned earlier, purchasing beans allows you certain special privileges in the CMB app.
- With beans, you can pay to Like in the Discover page, turn on Read Receipts in your chats, and more.
- You can earn beans by creating an account, referring friends, following CMB on social media, or you can buy them from the Bean Shop.

Question 4 of 6:

What Comes With a Coffee Meets Bagel Subscription?^{[4]
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If you are constantly buying Beans to gain access to special features, subscribing to CMB might be right for you. A premium subscription costs $34.99 a month with options for auto-renewal and other longer-lasting packages to reduce the monthly cost.^{[5]
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- With a subscription using the iOS app, you'll:^{[6]
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  - Gain access to which users have liked you and match instantly.
  - Have the ability to send eight likes from the Discover page each month.
  - Get a monthly profile boost, to magnify your profile for up to five times more views in 48 hours.
  - Receive an activity report on other bagels to see their activity on CMB.
- With a subscription using the Android app, you'll ^{[7]
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  - Gain access to which users have liked you and match instantly.
  - Receive 6,000 beans per month to use on special features.
  - Get a monthly profile boost, to magnify your profile for up to five times more views in 48 hours.
  - Receive activity reports on other bagels to see their activity on CMB
  - Be able to turn on Read Receipts in chats to see which users have read your messages.

Question 5 of 6:

How Do I Get Started?

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Create an Account.
- Download the CMB app, which is available for iOS or Android.
- When you first open the app, you’ll be prompted to create a new account.
  - You have the option to link a pre-existing Facebook account which will save you time by pulling all your photos and personal information.
  - You can also create an account from scratch via a phone login process.
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Choose Your Photos. Upload at least three photos to your profile, the more the better. Select photos that show off your personality and your interests. Here are some good examples:
- A photo of you and your pet
- A photo of you smiling
- A photo of you doing a hobby you enjoy, like hiking, reading, etc…
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Fill Out Your Profile Prompts. Make sure you are detailed and specific in your description so potential matches get a sense of the real you. Coffee Meets Bagel will provide you with some prompts for filling out the details:
- “I am…”
- “I like…”
- “I appreciate when my partner…”
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Create Icebreakers. CMB will ask you to provide three fun facts about yourself, which won’t be displayed on your profile, but might be used later as icebreakers between you and bagels.
- These can spark conversations and might be the difference between connecting with others or not, so pay special attention to these facts.

Question 6 of 6:

Pros & Cons of CMB

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Pros
- Most features can be used from the free version of the app.
- Because messaging requires both parties to like and match, there is no unwanted contacting or solicitation.
- CMB's chill atmosphere with intuitive and easy-to-use features creates a truly kind community of people.
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Cons
- You can only match up to 5 times a day, which may make the dating process feel a little slow.
- Some advanced features require payment or subscription.
- The gender ratio is uneven, with the split being about 60% women and 40% men.^{[8]
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