Love it or hate it, you have probably heard of Tinder. In fact, Tinder has become synonymous with online dating. Most people who decide to throw their hat in the world of dating apps will think of downloading Tinder first.
But is Tinder still worth trying in 2024, or has its golden age faded away? If you’re wondering whether Tinder is still worth the hype and what its users are saying about it, you’re not alone. There’s so much information about Tinder out there, it can be hard to sort through. We took the time to gather everything you need to know about the world’s most downloaded dating app and put it all in one place.
If you’re wondering whether Tinder is right for you, read on.
If you haven’t heard of Tinder, you should check your surroundings—you might be living under a rock. Since it debuted in 2012, Tinder has swiftly become the world’s most popular and notorious dating app. It introduced the general public to the idea of swiping on potential matches, and with its low barrier to entry, it’s a melting pot of every type of person you could possibly imagine.
Tinder is very much still a thing. In fact, it’s the world’s most dominant dating app. Tinder has over 75 million monthly active users and earned $1.91 billion in revenue in 2023. It’s been downloaded over 400 million times and in spite of many people’s gripes with it, it doesn’t look like Tinder is going anywhere fast. It’s still the go-to for most people who want to try a dating app.
With millions of users worldwide, reviews of Tinder get at the good, the bad, and the ugly. Read on to see what users are saying about the world’s most downloaded dating app.
Tinder is such a behemoth in the world of dating apps that there is an entire subreddit dedicated to it. Unsurprisingly, a lot of people on Reddit are talking trash about Tinder and the woes of dating apps, pointing out things like casual racism, terrible profiles, and oversexualized opening lines. But let’s be honest: most people don’t come to Reddit to share their success stories, they come to commiserate with others or wallow in defeat.
Yikes. Tinder has been reviewed 3,451 times on Trustpilot with a walloping 1.2 stars. A few recurring themes stood out, namely accusations that the app is a scam (or full of scammers) and complaints from people who were banned and could not reinstate their accounts.
Tinder did a little bit better on the App Store, with 1.1 million ratings and an average of 4.1 stars. Positive reviews thanked Tinder for connecting them with their current partner. Negative reviews called out bots, glitches, and bad customer service. One person titled their review “Playing with people’s lives and hearts.” Ouch.
TInder’s reviews on Google Play are middling: 7.3 million people have given it 3.6 average stars. Some users complain that the app is glitchy and overpriced for its Gold and Platinum options. Others blamed bots for why Tinder isn’t great. Overall, it’s not a happy crowd.
Forbes published a Tinder review in January 2024 that asked the question on everyone’s minds: “Is It Worth Using?” They don’t really answer that question, however. Their review focuses more on the facts of Tinder: how much its premium plans cost, how many users it has worldwide, and what kinds of security measures it’s rolling out.
PCMag gave Tinder an “excellent” score of 4.0 stars. They write that the app is fun and easy to use, and call attention to the ways that Tinder helped people date during the pandemic.
A writer for mindbodygreen, a wellness brand, gave a thorough review of Tinder that considered its pros and cons. While noting that most Tinder users are looking for something casual, they still wrote that Tinder remains one of their favorite dating apps. One of its perks they point out is how easy it is to use when traveling, whether you want to go on dates or just make friends with locals.
Tinder Dating App Reviews on Sitejabber
Sitejabber is a graveyard of bad Tinder reviews, with only 1.5 stars earned from 543 users. From positive reviews reading “Found my husband” to negative ones calling it a “Sleazy Company,” it’s quite a mixed bag. Many people used the word “scam” to describe their experience on the app.
While you won’t find much information about Tinder on the Better Business Bureau’s website, you will if you look at their owner: Match Group Americas, LLC. With 512 reviews averaging a total of 1.08 stars and a whopping 1,468 complaints closed in the last 12 months, there are a lot of folks taking to BBB with their woes. Many of them are former Tinder users trying to get their banned accounts reinstated.
Not only does Tinder have its share of scandals, one of them was recently made into a Netflix documentary. The Tinder Swindler tells the story of an Israeli con man who used the popular dating app to trick women into giving him money. This might be the most famous case of “romance fraud” the world has seen.
In addition, Tinder’s owner, Match Group, is currently being sued for allegedly creating addictive dating apps. The suit calls out their apps’ predatory algorithms and gamification of dating that keep users hooked and wanting more.
Tinder may have its flaws, but it is a legitimate dating app. That said, its huge user base and worldwide popularity mean that it also has its fair share of catfish, bots, and scammers, so you’ll have to use discretion and street smarts as you swipe.
It’s not hard to get started with Tinder. Create an account by using your email phone number or linking a Facebook profile, upload at least one photo, set your filters, and voila: you can start your swiping journey. Tinder stands out from other dating apps because of how little info they require from users. If you want, you can add a short bio, link your Instagram, or pick a few interests that show up on your profile, but you can also take the barebones approach. Whatever you decide, once you’re up and running you can start swiping on matches.
When you open Tinder, you’ll be shown a profile of people who fall under your specified filters. For example, maybe you’re looking for men between the ages of 25 and 35 who live within a 5-mile radius of you. If so, those are the only profiles you’ll see. You can tap through someone’s photos and read through their profile to learn more about them or you can make a knee-jerk decision based on their first photo. Once you’ve made up your mind, you can swipe left to move on to the next person or swipe right to show you’re interested. If that person also swipes right on you, you’ll be matched, and you can then chat or make plans to meet up IRL.
As the popularity of dating apps like The League and Raya proves, exclusivity is all the rage. But what does that mean for Tinder, which has always been the people’s app, with an easy application process, no waitlist, and a free plan? Enter Tinder Select.
True to form, you’ll have to apply and be accepted to a Tinder Select membership—not to mention pay a $499 monthly fee. If accepted, you’ll have access to a new range of perks, like the ability to message someone without matching first and getting a SELECT badge on your profile.
Tinder is normally a location-bound app, meaning you can only match with people in close proximity. Their Passport feature allows users to “be” in another city, swiping with users in that location and chatting with folks you match with there. It’s a great feature for if you’re moving soon, splitting your time between two locations, or planning a trip. It’s not free, however—you’ll need a Tinder Plus, Gold, or Platinum membership to access Passport unless you want to purchase it as a standalone feature.
If you stumble across a Tinder profile that makes a strong impression on you, you can let them know it by giving them a Super Like. You simply tap the blue star on someone’s profile, and when they see you in their stack, they’ll be notified that you super liked them.
Every so often, Tinder will let you know that you have a Secret Admirer, which is code for a user who has swiped right on you. They’ll show you a grid of four cards, each of which contains a person who likes you. You can click on any of the four cards and it will reveal that person’s profile. You can then decide whether to swipe left or right on them. If you swipe right, it’ll be an automatic match.
Tinder has a “Recently Active” feature that will let you know which of your potential matches were using the app in the last 24 hours. Unfortunately, there’s no way to tell who’s currently on the app. That kind of feature was left in the golden days of AOL Instant Messenger.
When it comes to safety, dating apps are tricky. Their developers can work hard to make the app as safe as possible, but as soon as two people meet up in real life, there’s no one stepping in if something goes wrong. Tinder users should exercise caution and common sense when using the app. Don’t reveal personal information like your address, and plan for meet-ups in public places. Always let a friend know your plan for the night.
Tinder has several paid plans as well as a free option. Tinder Plus will run you $24.99 a month and gives you features such as unlimited likes and the ability to go incognito. Tinder Gold is $39.99 per month and will give you daily Top Picks, a monthly profile boost, and more. Tinder Platinum costs $49.99 monthly and is the most comprehensive plan. It includes all the Tinder Plus and Tinder Gold perks, plus the ability to message someone before matching and more.
Many people online will claim that Tinder Gold is not worth the money, but if you’re struggling to match with people on the app, it could be fruitful to try it out for a month or two.
If you’re going to spend money on a Tinder plan, it may be worth shelling out the extra $10 a month to get Tinder Platinum. It comes with a slew of additional features, like being able to see all the profiles you’ve liked in the last week. Plus, if it’s true that apps like Tinder use algorithms to keep your best matches behind a paywall, you might as well make sure you’re ponying up the full amount.
Whether or not it’s worth paying for Tinder depends on your budget and your dating goals. Because Tinder is known as more of a hookup app, it might not be the best move to pay for a membership if you’re looking for a more serious relationship. But if your hope is to be visible to as many profiles as possible, then a paid Tinder plan could be a good move.
Bumble is one of Tinder’s main competitors and is one of the few popular dating apps not owned by Match Group. While Bumble also is a swiping app, it’s known for being more relationship-forward and less focused on hookups. In addition, Bumble has the unique feature of only allowing women to message men first when those two genders match. Tinder’s huge user base means you might have more volume of potential matches, but Bumble’s thoughtful interface means you might have a better chance of finding someone right for you.
While internet speculation abounds, there is no definitive success rate for Tinder—in part because it may be hard to define what success means. Millions of people have used Tinder, gone on dates, fallen in love, broken up, become friends only to get together later…every permutation of every type of romantic relationship has happened with Tinder.
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