- Tinder
Tinder
Tinder is an online dating app that was first introduced as a social network dating site on college campuses in 2012. The app uses location data to connect local singles who anonymously review member profiles and decide whether they are interested. Members are only connected when both parties mutually swipe right to like each other. Like several other big-name online dating sites, Tinder's parent company is Match Group, the parent company of match.com.
Typical dating sites require no introduction or approval before another member can begin messaging you. Tinder uses a double opt-in to reduce feelings of rejection, albeit digital. Before a line of communication can start between two Tinder members, both must swipe right — expressing interest in one another and giving consent for messaging.
While Tinder does not release exact statistics about its popular dating app, here are a few key points for people to know:
- 340+ million downloads
- 190 countries
- 40+ languages
- 5.9 million paid subscribers
- 50% of members are ages 18–25
- 1.5 million dates per week
- 26 million matches per day
This app caters to people who want quick, easy connections. However, you can set up your online dating profile to look for all kinds of relationships.
Keep reading to learn more about how Tinder works, view pros and cons, or skip straight to user reviews.
How do you sign up for Tinder?
You can access and sign up for Tinder either online via the Tinder for Web platform or by downloading the mobile app on Android or iOS. In less than five minutes, you can have your account set up completed and already be swiping through local singles.
To set up your Tinder account, you need to provide the following things:
- Your first name
- Birthdate
- Profile photo
- Phone number or Facebook verification
Attention: Tinder's user signup no longer requires a Facebook account.
Before August 2019, Tinder required a Facebook account to sign up. Now, you have two options when you register your new account: either associate your account with Facebook or your phone number.
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- Straight
- Gay
- Lesbian
- Bisexual
- Asexual
- Demisexual
- Pansexual
- Queer
- Questioning
Users can choose whether or not to have their orientation displayed on their Tinder bio.
That's all it takes to set up a Tinder profile. Next, you can browse through dating profiles, and change your Discovery settings to vary your deck of potential matches. Discovery settings include the following:
- Your current location
- Maximum distance radius (1–100 miles)
- Gender (seeking)
- Age range
To return to your Tinder account, you can sign in with the following credential options:
- Phone number
What can you do for FREE on Tinder?
Tinder's dating platform allows members to do quite a bit for free. On this site, you can even send and receive messages with other members for free — no credit card or free trial signup needed. You won't be able to do the same on eHarmony or match.com.
For free, you can do the following on Tinder:
- Create a dating profile (up to 6 photos and 500 characters) and connect it with social media accounts
- Browse and swipe through your daily potential match deck
- Like up to 100 profiles every 12 hours
- Send and receive text messages with matches
- One Super Like per day
- One Tinder Pick per day
How do Tinder subscriptions work?
Although you can use the free version of the Tinder app to connect and message with local singles, upgrading to a paid subscription offers additional benefits. Subscription options include:
- Two subscription levels: Plus and Gold
- 1-month, 6-month, and 12-month subscription durations
Here are a few premium features that you should know about:
- Rewind — Undo your last Like or Nope.
- Super Like — Express extra interest in someone by tapping the blue star. When you come to the top of their deck, your profile will be highlighted in blue.
- Boost — Get bumped to the top of people's Discovery queue for 30 minutes, for more immediate matches.
- Passport — Check out singles in other cities and countries.
- Likes You — See a list of other members who have Liked your profile, before you swipe yes or no on their profile.
- Top Picks — Featured member profiles that are selected for you based on occupation, education, hobbies, and other interests.
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Free Tinder |
Tinder Plus |
Tinder Gold |
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Ads |
Ads |
Ad-Free |
Ad-Free |
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Likes |
100 per 12 Hours |
Unlimited |
Unlimited |
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Rewind |
✔ |
✔ |
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Super Like |
5 per Day |
5 per Day |
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Boost |
1 per Month |
1 per Month |
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Passport |
✔ |
✔ |
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Likes You |
✔ |
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Top Picks |
1 per Day |
1 per Day |
4–10 Picks Daily |
Subscribing to Tinder Plus starts at about $9.99 per month for people under 30 and $19.99 per month for users over 30. Tinder Gold pricing starts at $14.99 per month and increases for users over 30 years old. Exact pricing for each membership varies based on your location and age. If you opt for the 6- or 12-month subscription terms, you get a per-month discount for paying up-front, so it will cost you less in the long run than a month-to-month subscription.
Keep reading for pros and cons of using this dating app or skip straight to Tinder reviews from real users.
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The Good
- Easy to Use
- Location-Based Matching
- Tinder U
- Only Message Mutual Matches
- Free Messaging
- Large Pool of Users
- Tinder Top Picks
- Safety Measures
Easy to Use
Tinder is an extremely easy-to-use dating app with a game-style approach to matching online daters.
Customer Review: Seth from Dallas, Texas
"Great way to meet new people, make some friends, and help you get back in the dating life. Very easy to use and great for you to get back in the social life."
Each member sets their interests (in men or women) then swipes (scrolling left to right) through local Tinder member profiles. Profiles display multiple photos and a brief introduction or pick-up lines. Users swipe right to like another user's profile and swipe left to reject profiles.
Tinder U
If you are a college student in the United States, Tinder U can help you connect with other single students at your school. It's available at four-year accredited college and university campuses.
You must log in to Tinder while you are on campus and verify your profile with your .edu email address, for an added level of security.
Location-Based Matching
Tinder helps you quickly contact local users. Matches are based on your location and GPS data. This helps to combat one of the most significant issues that users have with online dating sites: long-distance connections. If you want more than a pen pal, Tinder helps users find someone that they could reasonably connect with IRL.
Adding GPS location data to Tinder's emphasis on profile pics adds to its reputation as a hookup app. However, users state what type of relationship they are looking for. While it is useful for local hookups, you can also find a large pool of local daters looking for all kinds of relationships.
If you travel a lot, the new Tinder Passport feature lets members get access to more singles.
Only Message Mutual Matches
Tinder keeps things fair for daters by only allowing communication to members who have already "swiped" or shared an interest in each other. This is helpful for people that don't want to be harassed or approached by every member of the site. Basically, swiping right on someone gives your consent for them to message you.
The double-opt-in saves you from rejection. You only connect after mutual interest is expressed.
Free Messaging
Most online dating sites require you to be a paid member to send and receive text messages. Though you can only message people that you have matched with, this is one of the online dating options that allows you to interact with other people without paying for a subscription.
Large Pool of Users
Tinder is the most popular online dating app in the United States, with an audience of more than 7 million users, varying across several age groups. Additionally, it is the most popular dating app in 27 states. A 2020 survey found that the dating platform is popular among city and country-dwellers. Six percent of rural adults, seventeen percent of suburban adults, and eleven percent of urban adults were currently using Tinder.
Many people view the popular dating app as a hookup app, but Tinder's website displays stories of relationships and marriages coming from the online dating social network. Tinder can be used for whatever type of romantic relationship you're looking for: "Friends, dates, relationships, and everything in between."
Tinder Top Picks
Tinder's newest update offers improved recommendations. Now, instead of users coming up randomly in your area, Tinder will try to show you matches that they think you will like (based on previous swiping history and what you have in common).
Safety Measures
When it comes to dating online, many services leave safety to the individual user. However, Tinder has a few safety features that users can take advantage of, including the following:
- Photo Verification — Verify your profile by copying a selfie pose. The photo is verified by human and facial recognition technology. Verified profiles are confirmed with a checkmark. This new feature is being rolled in stages and isn't available to all users yet.
- Noonlight — In the United States, Tinder has partnered with Noonlight, a personal safety/panic-button app. When you plan to meet someone IRL, you can add details about your date to your Timeline. If you don't feel safe, you can discreetly request emergency services to your location.
The Bad
- No Phone Support
- Gender Disparity
- Refund Policy
- No Matching Algorithm
- Swipe Limits
- Age-Based Pay Scale
- User Motives
No Phone Support
You can't call Tinder customer support on the phone. Requests can be submitted online or through your account. This is certainly not unique when it comes to online dating sites, but it can still be inconvenient for some users who prefer to call and speak to someone for assistance.
Gender Disparity
In the United States, 32 percent of men and 28 percent of women have ever used a dating site or app; however, male Tinder users make up the majority — over 75 percent are men. People seeking to match with women may find it a bit more competitive than other online dating sites.
Refund Policy
In-app purchases are nonrefundable. If your subscription auto-renews, you have 14 days from the transaction date to request a refund.
No Matching Algorithm
This dating service can seem exceptionally superficial. Members rate other daters purely on their photos and a short one-liner. There's not much depth in actually getting to know the daters until both members have matched, where they may have a conversation. This may leave out potential matches that could work out for a long-term relationship.
Generally, personalities can be easily overlooked because this app focuses on an all or nothing approach to rating each new person's profile pictures.
Swipe Limits
Without a paid membership, users are limited to 100 Likes (right swipes) every 12 hours. Upgraded users on either subscription get access to unlimited Likes.
Age-Based Pay Scale and Issues
Tinder has an age-based pay scale, so if you’re over thirty years old, upgrading will cost you more. Younger (under 30ish) users can subscribe starting at $9.99 per month; it can be up to double for people over 30.
Pricing is based on your location and age. The exception is the state of California, where the company agreed to a 2019 settlement.
User Motives
When it comes to online dating companies, many reviews mention poor intentions of other members, scammers, fake profiles, and bots. Tinder doesn't escape this criticism.
Customer Review: Remington from Pleasant Grove, Utah
"This app is an absolute joke. Too many people don't take this seriously they don't try to match they just try to hook up. I'm honestly disappointed just a waste of my time."
However, as with many dating apps, a serious relationship is possible, but you may have to kiss a few frogs. With over 190 reviews collected, only a few people mention meeting a wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, or partner.
Customer Review: Mckinsey from Logan, Utah
"This is how I met my husband! The service and people on the app can be sketchy but that doesn’t have anything to do with the company."
The Bottom Line
Tinder is a very popular and easy to use online dating service. Interested consumers can download the app from iTunes or Google Play or access the site with their browser.
This watershed online dating app lets users swipe through photos and profiles of local singles based on your device's location data. Once a mutual match is made, members can message each other for free. Paid subscriptions are available for those who want more options, but Tinder Gold and Tinder Plus pricing is not set in stone and users in their thirties will be paying more than younger users.
Although Tinder has a reputation for facilitating hookup dates over long-term relationships, results vary based on what you are looking for and the intentions of other users. Some members have started successful relationships from the app.
User Reviews
Star Rating
225 Reviews
Review Breakdown
Sentiment Criteria
Marissa
One of my best friends met her husband through Tinder, so it must work! But I do feel like it has the reputation for hook-ups, so know that in advance before you use.
Samie Cummings
Tinder is very user friendly. It’s easy to work the app. But a lot of people on there are looking for hook ups.
susie
i have used tinder for about 2 or so years now and i like it. it’s fun to meet new people and get new friends to hang with and have people to go on dates with.
Brooke Herbon
Used this to meet new people and broaden my dating choices, but I wasn’t very impressed with the security of the website. The people I encountered weren’t anything like the profiles displayed. Cancelled my service and will not be continuing.
Christina
Seems like a trashy app and a quick way for a quick hook up. Look elsewhere to find your match
Nicole LeBaron
Tinder is hit or miss. I used it for about 6 months or so and didn’t have great luck. It definitely depends where you are, but I didn’t have the best experience with it.
Beth
Focused on looks and can be hard to get to know people. Great way to meet various people though!
Kimberly LeBaron
Tinder is great for hookups, but not much else. If that’s your goal, the accounts are easy to make and manage, but there’s lots of ads and things you won’t have access to unless you pay. And you risk talking to sketchy people, because there’s not a lot of ways to get to know someone through their profile. But tinder is pretty good about kicking people off if you report them. If you are looking to find people to date, don’t use Tinder.
Rylie Crandall
I thought tinder was over-hyped until I got it. It is a fun and easy app to use. I ended up meeting my long-term boyfriend through this app and I’ve never been happier.
Kassandra
It's actually a pretty great app. I just came to realize what I needed was a friend finding app, not a hook up app. I wasn't looking for something quite so serious quite so fast!
Sarah
I got a tinder account and have made a lot of friends though it. I also had to contact them because of a malfunction and they helped me out within 24 hours.
Camilla Lundberg
I am not a fan of tinder i never found any good guys and most of them wouldnt talk to me at all. I dont like tinder and definitely dont reccomend it
Tavian
Love this app many great things go on in the tinder atmosphere and many hook ups
Tavian
Love the app gets me to meet new people for all the good reasons! Made many friends
Sarah
Met the love of my life through this app! It was really user friendly and has many interesting people on it.
Avery Fowler
I love using this dating website! I already have dated a couple guys I met on there, and all of them have gone well. It's super easy to use and to find people with similar interests to mine. I would definitely recommend this!
Jeremy
It’s probably the best service out there but it seems like the dating app idea in general is focused around hooking up...particularly this one. Not really a “dating app”.
Katie Young
I never found any long term relationships from Tinder, but I always had fun and felt safe with everyone I met. The interface is good and has improved over the years. I never participated in the paid side and never was tempted to.
Sophie
Makes online dating fun. It is a nice way of meeting new people and finding hookups.
Lauren Jorgensen
I met my Fiance on Tinder. The app made meeting people a lot of fun. I went on a lot of dates from this site until I found the one.
Hannah Thompson
On tinder there can be several catfish so you need to be aware of who you are talking to on the internet. The app layout is great and has few glitches. The app also is great at finding people that you are interested in based on your profile. Overall is a great app to find people you are interested in.
Shaylee
Tinder is a great place where I find people with similar interests in my area. The application is easy to use. You update your profile and then are able to find the profiles of others in your area with similar interests to you.
Sarah
I was always skeptical about tinder until I finally matched with a guy that has turned out to be my boyfriend! This service has been so great as we were able to get to know each other through the tinder messages! Once we got a feel for each other and became a little interested we were able to go out and meet! It was all because of tinder and how the app is set up! love it!
Katie Marz
I really liked using this dating site since there is such a wide variety of people that use this. However it still isn't my favorite because a lot of the people on here aren't necessarily looking for long term relationships.
Tyree Newkirk
I have a love hate relationship for this because it’s addicting but at the same time it’s also nice to meet new people!
Alain
Tinder is a good way to meet new people and make new friends. Possibly make a spouse, a lot of the times I found that most girls were bots.
Madalyn Johnson
Tinder is a great way to meet singles in your area for dating. I also love the functionality of the app itself, very easy and straight forward.
Hailey Nilson
I've used Tinder for years, and I absolutely love it. The layout of the app is simple and easy to use, and I really like how you are able to see the people's Instagram profiles along with their bios before connecting with them.
McKenzie Christiansen
Tinder is great. It’s so hard to meet people in today’s society but Tinder makes it easy. Really polished platform, and really knows how to find people that tinder thinks will work well with you.
Annie Orr
I think tinder has innocent motives but there are some creeps! I think if you’re looking to seriously date someone tinder is not your friend.
Chloe Magleby
Tinder is for sketchy people to meet other sketchy people. I have had way too many encounters with people who are not on the app for the right reasons. I would not recommend this dating app to anyone!
Kymberlee Yack
tinder has been a HUGE help to me. dating has always been so hard because i’m so introverted, but tinder made it so easy because all I have to do is swipe and start a conversation! definitely had good luck with this!
Autumn Kallunki
It seems like each time I've met with people from Tinder I've had a bad experience and they are creeps. I don't usually recommend
Magaly De Avila
I downloaded this once just to see who I'd match with and it showed a lot of people that I know and that live around my area, they do a very good job with that. Probably won't use it personally/
Dasha Directo
Tinder honestly scares me a little. It's fun at first looking at people's profiles, but after a while, it gets weird. I've never met someone from Tinder in real life and I don't know if I ever will because it sketches me out, but I know a lot of people who have been on decent dates through Tinder.
MaKayla Christiansen
For the most part I had a great experience on tinder. I like how you can see people’s profiles which gives you more information than just a picture of who you want to connect with. The only thing I didn’t necessarily enjoy about this site, was the fact that you had to pay money to “super like” someone as well as “rewind” if you accidentally swipe no on someone you wanted to swipe yes on. But over all it was a nice place to meet new people.
Tanner Cook
Tinder isn’t really the place that you go to if you’re looking for a meaningful, committed relationship. I didn’t find a huge use for this app, but some people may.
Darius Williams
very easy app to use and it works without any problems. always able to find a quick date
Erin
very easy app to use. it doesn’t take too much of your time, to find a great date, a great app for someone in need of love
TyGuy
It's easy to use and there are lots of users. Probably one of the best sites to use to meet people at the moment.
Matthew Carbaugh
I get it, if Tinder didn't lead the way for these instant gratification dating apps someone else would. But I absolutely hate what Tinder represents and has done for dating culture in my age range (26). I'm sure they have helped the spread of STDs by making quick mindless hookups so effortless. All that being said I do know some mutual friends who have been in a long term relation ship from tinder so not all bad I guess.
Dru Scott
I found smoking hot wife on this site. She is the love of my life and we just made a baby.
Shawn
Friendly app easy to navigate personally. And I have had so many good friends and acquaintances use this app to find their loved one. Nothing but positive things to say about it.
Spencer Scoville
If you are looking for a long term partner this app is not for you. You will hardly find the one swiping back and forth basing each person only on their looks.
Eric
Tinder Tinder Tinder. I'll make this short and sweet. Tinder you rule. Keep doing what you do. Great for hook ups and more. I actually have two friends who met on Tinder and actually are married as of last year!
Kathie Bowman
when i was single i had tinder. i didn't use it much but when i did i felt like most of the guys were catfish and just wanted to get it
Mitch Krull
Fun fun fun. It's a fun app too pass time. Meet some good friends, don't know if I'd get anything serious tho.
Cody Enslow
Tinder is the most popular and therefore the most viable option as a guy. I think that they’ve continually improved. Still not the ideal place to meet someone new.
Abigail scoville
Honestly, If you are looking to just meet people in your area this isn't the app for you. There can be a few awesome people among the swiping but the majority of people on the site are there for hookups. If you are looking for a long term relationship this could work for you but I wouldn't count on it personally.
Mckinsey Harward
This is how I met my husband! The service and people on the app can be sketchy but that doesn’t have anything to do with the company.