Name: Tinder
Rating: 3.5

LAST UPDATED: March 1st, 2025

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
Email
Phone number or Facebook verification

report_problem

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.

Next, as with all dating apps, you need to provide more information about yourself and who you want to meet: men, women, or everyone. There are over 30 pre-set, inclusive options to identify your gender.

Examples include the following:

Man
Woman
Agender
Androgyne
Androgynous
Bigender
Female to male
FTM
Gender fluid
Gender nonconforming
Gender questioning
Gender variant
Genderqueer
Male to female
MTF
Neither
Neutrois
Non-binary
Other
Pangender

Trans
Trans man
Trans person
Trans woman
Transfeminine
Transgender
Transgender female
Transgender male
Transgender man
Transgender person
Transgender woman
Transmasculine
Transsexual
Transsexual female
Transsexual male
Transsexual man
Transsexual person
Transexual woman
Two-spirit

You have the option to choose up to three sexual orientations to express your interests:

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:

Facebook
Google
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.

Free Tinder

Tinder Plus

Tinder Gold

Ads

Ads

Ad-Free

Likes

100 per 12 Hours

Unlimited

Rewind

✔

Super Like

5 per Day

Boost

1 per Month

Passport

✔

Likes You

✔

Top Picks

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.

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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."

gavel

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.

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User Reviews

Star Rating

3.5

343 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

25%

4 grade

29%

3 grade

24%

2 grade

12%

1 grade

10%

Sentiment Criteria

Value

Quality

Service

Trustworthiness

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L. Jones11 Philadelphia, MS

I like the overall setup of Tinder but there need to be thorough reviews of the pictures on profiles before they are posted because I have come across multiple accounts with explicit photos in the profiles. It’s also very easy to lie about age I’ve come to notice because there were children on the app as well. I also think some of the premium features are not worth the way they are priced. I overall think it’s a decent app but things can definitely be approved.

2 years ago

Shaina Cohen Tallahassee, FL

Tinder is really easy to use and feels like a game when you're swiping left and right. They should review what people say before the message is sent because I've received inappropriate messages that should have been blocked before I got them. I know you can pay for extra services but I would not recommend that since it is expensive and I know from others that it is not worth it.

5 years ago Edited September 14, 2021

Abril Hunter Tallahassee, FL

as a college student, tinder is a great way to meet new people, however the application is constantly full of glitches. Often times the application will automatically shut or not allow me to swipe and then come with an update a couple days later. It makes it really hard to try and meet people whenever application are constantly broken. However I do think that tinder focuses a lot on individuals appearance and less on an individuals personality which can be both good and bad. Overall my experience with the app has been mostly negative And the way that it handles glitches, but positive in the aspect of meeting new singles.

3 years ago

Theodore Niemann Boulder, CO

Tinder is a good place to meet new people, but if you're looking for an actual relationship, then you should probably just try to meet people in person somewhere else. Most people are just looking to hook up or just use the app when they're bored.

5 years ago

Pete Centerville, UT

Tinder is fun to meet new people. I've never had anything serious come from it, just new friends. The biggest complaint i have is that there are a lot of fake accounts on there trying to get you to go to random websites and stuff. If that was fixed it would be a lot better.

7 years ago

Kimberly LeBaron Delta, UT

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.

Emily Crawfordville, FL

It is easy to use, and it's nice to get a little attention but if you actually want to meet people I don't recommend it. It's mostly used for hookups rather than real relationships.

Hyrum Sandy, UT

I used Tinder a little bit before I got married. I ended up only meeting up with one person. While it's a potentially a good way to meet people, I don't think it's a good time investment. There are a lot of weirdos on it.

Hijah Smith Tallahassee, FL

What I like best about Tinder is that it is very interactive and you can start a conversation with people who interest you very quickly. I mainly dislike that you don't have access to all of the features unless you pay for Tinder Gold, but even as a free app you can still communicate with a lot of people.

Amber David Tallahassee, FL

When I downloaded Tinder, it was very easy to use--the different buttons and functions. However, I did not like seeing mens' penises on their profiles before being able to see their face. If there was a way Tinder can resolve that that would be perfect.

The Bean Spiller Provo, UT

The general feeling of the app is more geared towards hook-ups, rather than actual relationships which differs slightly from the point of a dating app. So if you're looking for something more long-lasting, don't go with Tinder. That being said, the overall design of the app is pretty good and it's easy to use

Madisen Cluff Los Angeles, CA

Although Tinder has a wide variety of people on their app, the quality of those people is severely lacking. During my time on the app I found nobody looking for a relationship but rather I found a lot of people looking for hookups. Unfortunately, Tinder seems to be a favorite channel for these types of people.

Taylor Hall Los Angeles, CA

Tinder is well known to be a hook up app. If you are looking for quick dates based on looks, that’s exactly what you get. It is very easy to use and very simple. The users can express themselves easily, and are able to communicate with each other without difficulty. I have spent some time on it for a friend and never had any issues.

4 years ago

Samoya Calvin Tallahassee, FL

Honestly not the best app if your are trying to find a serious relationship. I kept seeing the same people over and over. However I do like the feature that was introduced over quarantine where you can switch your locations. So you could see other people from different cities and even countries.

Ryan Harpenau Fayetteville, AR

The best part about Tinder is meeting new people. I have met a lot of people through the app and it is always fun to see who I match with. My least favorite part is the amount of notifications it sends me although they do hype me up with phrases like "Hey handsome..." which is always nice.

perscilla Tallahassee, FL

What I like about the app is that I am able to meet a lot of people on the app. What I dislike about the app is that they should have a different feature for those who want to try and find a serious relationship rather then a fling. The app could use updating.

Austin Stelmach Boulder, CO

Tinder is a useful app, especially if you are new to an area and are looking to meet new people your age. I used this app extensively when I moved to Spain and it massively helped me to meet new people from all over the world, friends that I still have to this day. I highly recommend!

Stephanie Love Herriman, UT

I’ve used tinder off and on over the years. I really do like how easy and self explanatory the app is. It’s very user friendly. I didn’t have a lot of success on the app, I think I was just looking for different things than the majority of the people on the app, but it was a very easy app to use.

Michelle W Coraopolis, PA

My really good friend met her boyfriend of 3 years on this site. While I've heard some stories of people not using it to find forever love, it seems like it is still possible to find someone you could build a life with. Just be aware of the trolls on here.

Anne Sainsbury Payson, UT

Beware of Tinder! If you're up for a one night get together, it's great, but overall I've only met creepers on this! I wanted to meet some really nice men, but instead got men who didn't want to live the standards I do! Overall, not the app I'd recommend if you're looking for a legitimate relationship.

Brooke Herbon Kaysville, UT

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.

Abigail scoville American Fork, UT

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.

6 years ago

Cayla Koga Fremont, CA

Tinder is cool if you're just looking for a hookup. I have yet to meet someone on there that is looking to actually go on dates and get to know someone. Pretty self guided when it comes to set up and deletion of your account though.

Sinister Babe Kyle, TX

It was a nice app to use just hate that it’s used for mostly hookups. But if you’re lucky you may find something serious. Definitely one of the more simpler apps to use

1 year ago Edited January 15, 2024

Seth Schellenberg Lehi, UT

Tinder is a fun way to meet new people and try things that you wouldn’t have normally tried. The gold version didn’t necessarily boost my experience with the app.

Brianna Sutherland Tallahassee, FL

I like the concept of Tinder as an app however there are certain features that I wish could be unlocked without having to pay such as going back on a swipe if you accidentally swiped a way you did not mean to.

Vy Ha Birmingham, AL

I liked the format with the swiping and pictures set up for the customer but I did not like the promotional ads that would block you in the app every time you swipe a certain amount of times

Gabe Burton Riverton, UT

Pretty good, it's a little buggy, once locked me out of my account for almost 3 weeks because of a "server issue" no one got back to me about it, so I gave up and moved to Bumble.

Kelly Stanley Orem, UT

It really depends what you’re looking for. I was young and excited to date, so it was perfect for meeting new people. However, I wanted to meet more people in a safer feeling situation, so I didn’t use it for very long.

Mark Benson Nakhon Sawan, 60

I used tinder for awhile in the past to try and find someone to date but nobody on Tinder seems to be there for that reason. The app itself is easy to use but being on the app does not yield the results that were promised.

Rachel Butler Provo, UT

Features were nice, didn’t do a lot to facilitate meaningful connections or go beyond hook ups. Would be better to have a dating app that made DATING possible not just hook ups.

Karson Greenburg Salt Lake City, UT

I value the ease in which I can connect with other people with similar interests. I recognize that compared to other dating apps, Tinder keeps spam and fake accounts to a minimum.

Paige Baldwin Wellsville, UT

I don’t really enjoy Tinder. It’s full of fake profiles and guys with bad intentions. I have not enjoyed any dates I’ve been on through it and have discontinued using it.

Haley Baldwin

Tinder is just a place for creeps. I haven’t really been on a Tinder date that I’ve enjoyed. The app itself is set up pretty decent but could be improved. There’s tons of fake profiles which is annoying.

Sherry Walbrecht Provo, UT

This app is very interesting. It gets the job done but can also be sketchy. However, at the same time, I feel like most people know what they’re getting when they sign up for it.

Jeremy Mesa, AZ

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”.

Brandy Pleasant Grove, UT

Besides the face that 90% of the people on tinder are just looking for a hook up. I haven’t been dissatisfied with their service or set up of the app. They provide what is needed and asked for.

Francisco Silva Chicago, IL

Mostly positive, however a high percentage of matches never answer or goes anywhere. I think is very biased towards women.

2 years ago Edited May 20, 2022

Jim Bullhead City, AZ

It is advertised mainly as hardcore. But when you use it. It is mainly the same as other dating sites. Very few members that are x rated.

Ashlie Lara Salt Lake City, UT

Fine, nothing to write home about. Users can be weird. I'm not sure if I can report a profile but I'd like to be able to

Keiana Knowles Tallahassee, FL

I’ve had an okay experience with tinder. I don’t think it has the type of relationship goals I was looking for. Nice app if you don’t want anything serious

Simone Tallahassee, FL

I like the simple layout of the application. However, I found that it crashed quite often. Overall very user friendly but the technical glitches were off-putting.

Erna Valcin Tallahassee, FL

I used the app to find more friends in college but people had other intentions. It is a good app for knowing who's around you but not for my age group.

Inara Jivanee Katy, TX

I enjoyed using it, however, it was not as helpful as it was advertised to be. However, the profile was easy to set up which is a good aspect of the app.

4 years ago Edited September 14, 2021

Amanda Montebello, CA

I didn’t have a great experience with Tinder because the people I matched with were a bit too old although in my preferences I chose a different age range.

Marissa Redwood Falls, MN

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.

Nicole LeBaron Provo, UT

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.

Sarah Kaysville, UT

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.

Candice Allen Houston, TX

A good site to find friends not sure if the profiles I was reading were true or made up but met a few nice people

2 years ago Edited October 5, 2022

Brittany Gould Augusta, ME

I feel like Tinder is more of a hook up place rather than people who are looking for actual relationships.