Hinge suits people who want a relationship and like getting to know someone through prompts before a first date. Tinder suits people who are open to anything from casual to serious and want a wide pool, nearby or around the world. If you know you want something long-term, Hinge is built for it; if you're still working out what you want, Tinder gives you more room.
Tinder and Hinge sit at opposite ends of the dating app world. One describes itself as an app designed to be deleted once you've found someone; the other as the place to meet someone new and see where a spark might lead. I read Hinge's mission page, Tinder's site and both App Store listings.
Hinge and Tinder compared
| Hinge | Tinder | |
|---|---|---|
| Free to use | Hinge is free to use | Yes, you can keep using it for free |
| Built for | Relationships, designed to be deleted | Casual, serious or somewhere in between |
| How a match starts | Like or comment on one part of a profile | Send Likes and match |
| Bring a friend | Not stated | Double Date |
| Verification | Selfie Verification | Several ways to verify profiles |
| Upgrades | Hinge+ and HingeX | Tinder Plus, Gold and Platinum |
What Hinge asks of you
Hinge wants to know you before it shows you to anyone. Profiles mix text, photos, video and voice, with prompts to answer, and you can share details like religion, height, politics, dating intentions and the type of relationship you're after. Convo Starters suggest an opener based on someone's prompts and photos, so you're not stuck on a blank message. Selfie Verification makes it easier for people on Hinge to check that matches are who they say they are.
Every match begins with someone liking or commenting on one specific part of your profile, which gives you something to talk about straight away. Hinge also sends Reply Reminders when it's your turn, a small nudge that it says limits accidental ghosting.
How Tinder keeps it open
Tinder casts the wider net. Its listing talks about millions of people nearby and around the world, and you can match close to home or further away. Profiles now carry prompts and interests too, so it's not only photos.
Its newer social features are the ones to notice. Double Date lets you bring a friend along, and you can let a friend know when you're meeting someone so you feel safer going out. Tinder also offers several ways to verify profiles.
The free versions compared
On Tinder, you can send Likes, match and chat without upgrading, and its listing says you can simply carry on using it for free if you don't choose Tinder Plus, Gold or Platinum. On Hinge, the free app gives everyone eight likes, a number Hinge says it picked after research showed that more free likes led to worse matches. Hinge also says you're eight times more likely to have a great date with your Most Compatible picks, so those are worth checking first. Neither app makes you upgrade before you can start a conversation, which makes a few weeks on the free version an easy way to judge it.
Matching people to the right app
Hinge suits people who are ready for a relationship, who like writing and reading profiles, and who'd rather have fewer, better conversations. Tinder suits people who've just come out of something, newcomers to a city, and anyone who wants to keep their options open for now. Dating can bring up nerves, so these journal prompts for anxiety are a kind way to settle before a first date, and it helps to know what ghosting is so it doesn't knock you when it happens.
My advice on Hinge or Tinder
Be honest with yourself about what you want right now, then pick the app built for it. If it's a relationship, use Hinge, answer your prompts with real detail and use your likes on people you'd want to meet. If you're not sure yet, Tinder's free version lets you see who's out there without any pressure. Either way, tell a friend before you meet anyone new.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Tinder free?
Yes. Tinder's App Store listing says you can send Likes, match and chat for free, and keep using it free if you don't upgrade.
What is Double Date on Tinder?
It's a Tinder feature that lets you go on a Double Date and bring a friend along.
What are Most Compatible picks on Hinge?
They're Hinge's suggestions of the people you're most likely to have mutual chemistry with, chosen by its matchmaking algorithm.
Can Tinder match me with people abroad?
Yes. Tinder says you can match with people nearby or around the world.
What's the difference between Hinge+ and HingeX?
Hinge+ lets you see everyone who likes you and send unlimited likes; HingeX adds enhanced recommendations and priority likes.
