Match Group Q1 2026 Results Show Tinder Momentum

Match Group reported Q1 2026 results on May 5, with revenue and adjusted EBITDA rising as Tinder regained registration growth and Hinge posted double-digit direct-revenue gains. The company guided Q2 toward a modest revenue pullback to fund AI testing.

Quarter Results and Cash Flow

The company said in a press release on May 5 that Q1 revenue reached $864 million, up 4% year over year. Revenue per payer rose 10% to $20.90, offsetting a 5% decline in payers to 13.5 million. Adjusted EBITDA increased 25% to $343 million, representing a 40% margin. Net income was $167 million, or 19% of revenue. Operating cash flow totaled $194 million, and free cash flow was $174 million. Management noted that Canada’s rescission of a Digital Services Tax added about $11 million to adjusted EBITDA for the quarter.

Tinder and Hinge Momentum

On the earnings call, management reported Tinder’s direct revenue at $455 million, up 2% year over year but down 3% on a constant-currency basis. Tinder had 8.6 million payers, a 5% decline, with revenue per payer rising 7% to $17.56. Adjusted EBITDA for Tinder was $237 million, a 51% margin. Global monthly active user (MAU) retention and registrations returned to year-over-year growth in March, each increasing about 1%. MAU declined 7% year over year in March—the slowest drop in 31 months—and 6.6% in April. Management described AI feature tests at Tinder, including an Astrology Mode with 19% adoption among Gen Z testers and a Music Mode with 8% adoption, aimed at addressing swipe fatigue.

The investor-relations release showed Hinge direct revenue of $194 million, up 28% year over year and 24% on a constant-currency basis. Hinge had 2.0 million payers, up 15%, with revenue per payer rising 11% to $33.13. Management highlighted product momentum and international expansion as growth drivers. Hinge trials included a Date Ideas feature with 9% adoption, a Signals badge, and redesigned onboarding. The company also said Face Check rollouts across multiple markets reduced bad actors by about 20% to 30%.

Guidance and Restructuring

The press release guided Q2 revenue to $850 million to $860 million, implying a 2% decline to flat year over year. This outlook includes a $10 million headwind from Tinder user-experience tests and about $20 million from lower Azar revenue. Adjusted EBITDA guidance for Q2 was $325 million to $330 million, roughly a 38% margin at the midpoint.

Management said MG Asia posted $60 million in direct revenue, down 6% year over year and 7% on a constant-currency basis. The unit will be folded into the company’s E&E segment in Q2, with expected annualized savings near $15 million. Azar was temporarily removed from the Apple App Store, causing an estimated $3 million revenue hit and $25 million in intangible-asset impairments. The company plans to wind down the Archer app, generating about $10 million in annualized savings, while maintaining investment in Sniffies, which has about 3 million monthly active users. Hiring and headcount growth will slow to fund AI and software initiatives, keeping 2026 cost effects broadly neutral.

Management aims to reestablish Tinder as a growth business by the end of 2027.

Quote

"In Q1, Tinder demonstrated measurable progress across key metrics and strengthened user trends, with global MAU retention and registrations returning to year-over-year growth in March," the company said in its May 5 press release.