Tinder Review: Should you Swipe Right or Swipe Left on this dating app?
It’s safe to say that Tinder has revolutionized modern dating, so much so that terms like “Swipe Left” and “Matched With” have become grandfathered into the modern western lexicon. Since launching in 2012, Tinder has easily topped the list as the most popular dating app in the world. While competitors such as Bumble, Plenty of Fish, Hinge, and OkCupid have also emerged and cornered large sections of the market, Tinder has consistently dominated with its intuitive interface and massive user base.
But is Tinder still the thriving dating powerhouse it often gets touted as? Is it worth parting with your money and upgrading to the Plus, Gold, or Platinum options? Below we’re going to review the world’s most popular dating app in detail to help answer these questions and decide if smoke, a spark, and some Tinder really means there’s fire.
Pros and Cons of using Tinder
Tinder’s popularity is largely a result of its extremely intuitive functionality and premise – swipe right on a photo if you’re interested, left if you’re not.
If both people swipe right, a match is made and you can start communicating. If no match occurs, nothing happens. But for all its simplicity, Tinder has a number of pro and cons that should be examined to determine if this is the dating app for you:
Pros
- The app interface is simple, modern, and intuitive.
- It has a massive user pool so you can always find potential matches.
- It’s LGBT-friendly with 50 gender identities and 9 sexual orientations.
- The free-to-use basic app is really good and you can start dating straight away.
- It attracts people looking for all kinds of relationships.
- Tinder has a video calling feature called Face To Face.
- Tinder has on-demand safety features via Noonlight that lets users secretly contact emergency services if they feel unsafe.
Cons
- Tinder only really works in large cities.
- You’re limited to 100 swipes every 12 hours unless you upgrade to a premium membership.
- It can become very expensive to use if you decide to use all additional features.
- There is limited information available about the profiles you’re swiping.
Who is Tinder best for?
While Tinder used to be touted as a hook-up app, its offerings have diversified quite a lot in the years since its inception. One study found that 60% of women use Tinder to find something more meaningful than a hookup, while another found that 15% of women were looking for a one-night stand. In between those two statistics are people looking for serious relationships, friends with benefits, marriage, and even just friend dates. So it’s safe to say that Tinder is a good all-rounder that caters to needs and expectations of all kinds.
Why is Tinder better than Hinge?
It’s difficult to say definitively whether Tinder is actually better than a competitor like Hinge. Both apps target different audiences. Tinder is definitely more geared towards casual dating and hook-ups while Hinge takes a more earnest approach to getting you into a serious relationship. Tinder, however, has the numbers on its side. With an undeniably huge user base, you’re going to be exposed to more people, and therefore have a greater chance of forming a real connection. An app like Hinge demands a slower, more considered, and more curated approach to dating.
How much does Tinder cost?
All the essential functions of Tinder – swiping, matching, and messaging, are free.
Tinder has three different subscription options: Tinder Plus, Tinder Gold, and Tinder Platinum. Tinder Plus and Gold are available everywhere, but Tinder Platinum is a recent upgrade that's only available in select markets for now.
Let’s take a look at what premium features you get at each level, and how much it will cost you per month:
Tinder Plus - $2.33 - $4.99 (Depending on the length of your subscription)
- Unlimited likes
- One free Tinder boost monthly
- Control your profiles:
- Hide your age
- Hide your distance
- Option to show your profile to only people who have liked you
- Passport allows you to change your location to anywhere
- Five extra super likes per day
- Rewind (Undo) your last swipe
- See recently active people first
- Hide ads
Tinder Gold - $6.92 - $14.99 (Depending on the length of your subscription)
- Every feature included in Tinder Plus
- Match with people instantly
- Full access to top picks and people who like you
Tinder Platinum is only available as an upgrade for Tinder Plus and Tinder Gold subscribers. There is no official price yet, and the price varies on which country you live in, but on average it costs about $6 more than a Tinder Gold subscription. Features include:
- Every feature included in Tinder Gold
- Message Before Match
- Prioritized Likes
- See The Likes You Sent in the Last 7 Days
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I too old for Tinder?
Probably not. While the majority of Tinder users (50%) are aged between 18 and 15, there’s still a significant number of older users in their 40s, 50s, and even 60s. If you’re unsure, simply log in and see who’s around you.
Does Tinder have a web version?
Yes, you can use Tinder on your laptop or PC by heading to their website and using your profile details to log into their web application.
How many people use Tinder?
Tinder has around 50 million registered users worldwide.
What's the main difference between Tinder Plus and Tinder Gold?
While both accounts offer features like Boost, Superlike, and Rewind, Tinder Gold allows users to see who liked them first and send messages right away.
Final Thoughts
After all these years, Tinder is still the undisputed champion of the swiping game. They’ve made it incredibly easy to create a profile and start searching through your local singles. They’ve also continued to innovate and improve the online dating experience, providing users with various subscription options while still offering a free version of the app that helps generate millions of new dates and relationships. No matter what your age or what you’re looking for, you can probably find it on Tinder.