Tinder Review

expert
Reviewed by
Fiona Eckersley
Reviewed on
21:55
Editor Rating
Membership Base
Profile
Match & Search
Cost & Prices
Safety

Pros and Cons

Tinder is an extremely popular hookup & dating app, but the detail it provides on its members is somewhat lacking.
Easy-to-use system
Location-based matches
Profiles lack details
Looks are everything

About Tinder

Originally released back in 2012, Tinder has since exploded in popularity and can be found pretty much everywhere from movie references to most people’s phones. Created to make matching feel more like a game (and less like a chat), it is one of the dating sites with high female to male ratio that helped popularize the swipe left/swipe right interface that you either love or hate with a passion. Popular among both straight people & the LBGT community, Tinder is one of the gay dating sites for women hoping to easily find a local hookup.

Membership Base

Tinder.com may not be the most popular dating service around, but it’s certainly up there, and it’s probably one of the most well-known ones. With over eight million members from the United States alone, its large user base ensures that you can find multiple matches pretty much anywhere in the world with an internet connection.
The service is used by people of all ages, sexual orientations, and gender identities, although it’s particularly popular with users under the age of 35. While not perfect, the two main genders (male and female) are fairly evenly balanced, allowing most people to be matched quite quickly.

Tinder App

Although this service can be used via a desktop browser, the vast majority of people will use it through the mobile app. In our Tinder app review, we tried out both versions of the app (it’s available on iOS and Android devices). They both worked equally well, so no matter what type of device you have, finding a local match should be a cakewalk.
. That said, we do think the mobile experience is superior since you can swipe left/swipe right faster. However, it is important to note that free users don’t get an unlimited amount of swipes per day, so it may be worth your while to take more than two seconds on each person before deciding to pass them by.

Costs and Prices

Unlike many other services, Tinder actually offers different pricing depending on your age. Pricing changes at age 28. However, people in both age groups are still offered the same plans: Gold, Plus, or Platinum. Prices for each plan start at:
Plans Starts At (Under 28) Starts At (Over 28)
Gold $14.99/month $29.99/month
Plus $9.99/month $19.99/month
One Month $19.29 $19.29
Platinum $14.32/month $17.99

Tinder Special Features

Tinder allows premium users to use the “Boost” and “Super Boost” features. For people who are having trouble finding matches and need maximum exposure, these features are especially useful since they ensure that their profile will show up in front of more people. Of course, the boost feature does have practical limitations (in the sense that the app will not force anyone to like you!).

Safety

Despite being used by millions of singles around the world, Tinder.com as a whole is a very safe dating app. New accounts must be created using a Google account, a Facebook account, or a phone number, but even if you use a social media account to join the service, you’ll still need to verify your phone number via a code. While annoying, this effectively reduces the number of fake accounts present on Tinder.

What It’s Like to Use Tinder

Sign Up Process

Sign Up
Like most dating services, Tinder is very easy to join. You can create an account using either a desktop device or a mobile one, although you will need a phone either way. To begin, you simply select to create an account using your Google account, Facebook account, or phone number.
Once you’ve provided your phone number, you will be sent a verification code, which must be entered in order to continue. After your account has been verified, you can fill out your name, gender, and date of birth.

Profile Creation

Surprisingly, new accounts are not required to upload a photo, so that’s the first thing you’ll want to do. You can choose to upload only a single photo, but we highly recommend uploading multiple photos if you want to make the most matches in the shortest period of time.
Currently. it allows users to upload up to nine photos, but that’s as far as the customization goes. The platform doesn’t have statuses, “Looking for,” or any other additional fields for you to fill in.

Searching and Matchmaking

Searching
If you were hoping for a customizable search feature, you’re using the wrong app. Although it does allow you to set some basic parameters (such as distance, gender, and age range), this is the maximum extent of control for free users. Premium users can use the “Passport” feature, which allows them to match by a location of their choice, but standard users can only match with other users near their current location.

Contacting Other Members

Contacting Members
Since Tinder.com is a matchmaking service, both users will need to “Like” each other before the messaging can commence. However, once the “Likes” are mutual, it’s easy enough to send the other person a message (and the app will prompt you to do so!).
Naturally, this essential limitation applies only to standard, Gold, and Plus members—Platinum members have the ability to message before matching!

Experts Conclusion

Tinder has become extremely popular, and for a good reason—it works! The goal of this Tinder dating review was to find out if the app is a good option for dating. Ultimately, we have to say no (at least for finding a serious relationship!). While you can certainly find a partner who may be interested in casually dating, most people here want to have fun, not make a commitment or fall in love with your personality.

FAQ

Is Tinder legit?

Yes! Tinder is safe, popular, and effective.

How do I start chatting on Tinder?

You can’t! Unless you’re a premium member, you’ll need to match with someone here before you can start messaging them.

Is Tinder safe?

Overall, the app is very safe to use. However, we always recommend taking basic precautions when online dating!