Tinder Review, Is Tinder Worth It? Tinder Alternatives

Tinder App Review: Is Tinder Any Good? What Is Tinder, Tinder Worth It, Tinder Alternatives, Is Tinder Free? Is Tinder Bad For Guys? Is Tinder Worth It?

It took some additional time, but it allowed one to think a bit more carefully about each and every profile they came across.

As a dating consultant I am familiar with most major dating apps out there on the market and have worked with countless guys and girls with respect to strategy, app choice, photos, profiles, conversations skills and more.

Below is an exhaustive Tinder app review for you to become familiar with the ins and outs and see if it’s right for you.

Tinder App Review: Criticism Of Tinder, Pros And Cons Of Tinder, Is Tinder Any Good?

Swipe profiles can be created in moments and the review process can take a split second vs 5-10 seconds or more like before. The swiping action has made the review process quicker but not more efficient.

There are plenty of good apps that use the swipe mechanism but Tinder seems to be the shallowest as it doesn’t have prompts or as many biographical fields compared to Hinge or Bumble.

The speed of swiping often results in accidental swipes and the double opt-in of mutual swiping right has led to a sense of insecurity, doubt and impatience as users try to figure out if feelings are mutual or if the profile was left-swiped on.

One should approach Tinder as the modern day HotOrNot especially if you are a guy using that app as gender ratios are not in your favor.

This addictive behaviors lead to a gamification approach to dating, where people take dating less seriously than otherwise would.

The introduction of premium features such as ‘Like You’ and ‘(Super) Boost’ have led to intended or unintended consequences where people seek out who likes them, how many people like them and how many matches can be captured via screenshots.

By doing so ‘dating’ apps have started to be referred to as introduction apps – introductions to Instagram accounts, introductions to websites, introductions to pen-pals (via Snapchat or What’sApp), introduction to scammers, introductions to hookups, introductions to tour guides (via Passport) and occasional introductions to those who seek someone to go on a date with.

The ambiguity a swipe vs a super like or a regular profile vs a top pick is enough to prey on people’s curiosity, fears, insecurity and FOMO. Here is my take on all the Tinder.com premium features and how the rank from worst to not as bad.

Is Tinder Free? How Does It Work? Is Tinder Worth It?

Tinder is free, but there are numerous upgrades you can pay an extra fee for (not necessary if you have a good profile). Basically, swipe left on people you don’t like and right on those you do like. Simple as that.

Mutual matches are alerted, and you can initiate conversation from there. Tinder app download is available on Google Play and Apple Store. You need a phone number to use Tinder, you don’t need a Facebook account.

It the most widely use dating app out there, but it may not be the best for you. It’s also an introduction app, friend app and hookup app. It’s mostly a blue-collared dating app used in suburbs and smaller towns where Hinge and Bumble don’t have enough users.

Do Users Get Notified on Tinder If You Screenshot Their Profile, Messages? 

No, they do not. There are no Tinder screenshot notifications. Don’t write or post anything you do not want made public as screenshots are common on sites like Reddit i.e. r/Tinder.

Tinder Likes You, See Who Liked You On Tinder Free – Tinder For Dummies

This feature (part of Tinder Gold) allows you to see who likes you before making a decision to swipe. Could be used for vanity reasons, could be used by those who are insecure about swiping right and getting rejected.

Occasionally there are free/trial promotions available, but they typically renew at full price subscriptions. It’s not necessary nor worth it to see who likes you.

Dating requires risk and a leap of faith, trying to reduce exposure of putting yourself out there can be viewed as a red flag for some. Offline approaches are what makes dating great – putting yourself out there and trying your best. Don’t deprive yourself by playing it safe.

What is Tinder Passport? Tinder Passport Feature: How To Use Tinder Passport

The feature allows you to change your current city. Very popular for those seeking a tour guide, meeting locals, seeking recommendations or looking for a hookup while traveling. This should be assumed if you encounter someone who is from elsewhere.

Tinder Plus or Tinder Gold is needed to use this feature. Just edit your location in your settings and swipe away. People can see your profile up to 24 hours after updating your location, fyi.

Why Is Tinder Showing Me People Far Away

During normal times, you will get a few people using Tinder Passport feature while traveling or looking to meet other far away. During the coronavirus, there has been a spike of users using this feature.

UPDATE: Tinder Passport Free During Coronavirus, Covid-19 (April 30th)

The Tinder Passport Feature is free for users for the time being. Swipe away!

What is Tinder Rewind?

When you swipe too quickly and want to undo that last swipe left to right or vice versa. Not needed if you actually take the time to review profiles instead of trying to set a world record for swiping. Available on Tinder Plus/Gold..

What is Tinder Super Like? Do Super Likes Work?

Possibly the worst feature of them all (so bad I wrote about this here in a separate post). A super like is the equivalent of an overly aggressive person trying to get your attention at a bar.

There is no way to know if you like someone or really like someone until you talk and meet up so suggesting you can infer a deeper level of interest based on photos and a few characters seems a bit thirsty.

What is Tinder Boost? Is Tinder Boost Worth It?

Like the name suggests, it gives you up to 10x more views for 30 minutes in your area. I view this as the equivalent of paid ads on Google.

You are better off investing in the product (yourself – photos, mental health, appearance, personality etc.) than trying the volume approach of getting more eyeballs.

If you can’t get enough likes or matches without boost, assume your profile is to blame. Focus on getting unbiased feedback on your bio, photos, and profile. These boosts tend to have a fairly generous radius, so not necessarily targeted to those close to you.

When Is The Best Time To Use Tinder Boost? What Are The Peak Times For Tinder?

Like most apps, 9PM Sunday is the one of the busiest times for most apps, but that also means most competition, most likely to hear a pickup line for the Nth time, and most likely to get bombarded by unwanted messages.

With that said, Tinder Boost is rather ineffective if you have a poor profile, sub-par photos. Better to use the service after you have optimized your profile. Don’t rely on biased advice from friends, family etc. Get independent help from trusted professionals.

What Is The Tinder Character Limit On Bios?

500 characters. Good Tinder bios include references, insight, writing skills, timeliness and confidence.

What is Tinder Super Boost? Does Super Boost Work On Tinder?

Available as a separate feature or Tinder Gold and Plus users. Ideal for wannabe influencers or those trying to throw up a Hail Mary before giving up on dating apps. Available in select markets.

If you use Boost or Super Boost and get no matches or few matches, first look at your location and demographics and see if there are enough people around you. Also, get some unbiased feedback on your profile.

Tinder Like vs Match

A like is one-sided. A match occurs when two people like each other.

Tinder Boost, No Likes, No Matches

Tinder Boost cannot make you look more appealing, nor can it change your location, age or expectations. It can only multiply your current success or lack thereof. If you are getting zero matches before boost, you will likely get zero matches after.

Don’t rely on biased feedback from friends and family who are unwilling to be honest with your dating profile. Similarly, relying on Reddit can be ineffective, as most people on their struggle with dating apps themselves and are not the best sources for feedback.

FOCUS ON IMPROVING YOUR PHOTOS, BIO TO GET MORE MATCHES ON DATING APP!

How Old Should Tinder Photos Be?

Ideally 2-3 years old or at least similar to what you would look like on a first date including: hair color, hairstyle, facial hair, fashion sense, weight etc.

Tinder Read Receipts

Just like annoying Microsoft Office emails, these are used to identify who has read your message. Definitely not needed in my opinion.

Some folks use it to see how quickly matches respond, to see if they are responding in time or are interested in you.  You should not dwell on any person if you have not heard from them one way or another.

Tinder Video Chat, Calls: Face To Face

Tinder recently launched face to face video calls so you can chat with matches.

How To Share Your Tinder Web Profile

Settings > Scroll Down > Web Profile > Select Username > Save It > Share My Url

What Does 99+ Likes Mean On Tinder

It means over 99 likes have been accumulated. Tinder stops showing actual count beyond 99.

How Much is Tinder Plus? Tinder Plus Features: How Much Does Tinder Cost?

Unlimited Likes, Rewind your last swipe, 5 Super Likes a day, 1 Boost a month, Passport to swipe around the world, No ads.

Tinder Plus costs $8.33 to $19.99 per month, depending on if you sign up for monthly or annual billing.

What is Tinder Gold? How To Upgrade? How Much is Tinder Gold? Is Tinder Gold Worth It? 

Same as Tinder Plus but with See who Likes You before you swipe, New Top Picks every day.

These features seem to prey on middle school and high school tendencies – who likes you before you can make a move. I guess this makes senses given the demographics of the users on the site.

Some people view it as a gaming app vs a dating app and that is unfortunate for those that don’t have other options for dating apps in their area.

Tinder Gold costs $12.49 to $29.99 per month, depending on if you sign up for monthly or annual billing. You can sometimes get a 25% discount if you delete the app, take a break and then re-install the app after a period.

Tinder Gold Review, Tinder Plus Review, Tinder Platinum Review: Should You Pay For Tinder? 

Tinder Gold review: https://eddie-hernandez.com/tinder-premium-vs-tinder-plus-vs-tinder-gold-subscription-tiers/

Tinder Platinum: What Is Tinder Platinum, Does It Work?

Tinder Platinum provides the same features as Plus and Gold, plus Priority Likes and Message Before Match. Available in select markets only.

-Message before matching by attaching a message to your Super Like
-Have your Like prioritized over others with Priority Likes
-See the Likes you’ve sent in the last 7 days

What is Tinder Secret Crush? Secret Admirer Card? Secret Admirer On Tinder

It’s merely a way for Tinder to get you to open the app. Assume it is someone that swiped right on you. Nothing more, nothing less. Could be a bot, spammer, etc.

How Does Tinder Verify Work? How To Get Verified On Tinder? 

Released on January 23, 2020, Tinder users can now self-authenticate their profiles through a series of real-time posed (directed) selfies, which are compared to existing profile photos using human-assisted Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.

Tinder Verified accounts will possess a blue check mark. You can contact Tinder directly to get verified. verified@tinder.com

At the end of the day, if you want a better ROI on your dating profile invest in your wardrobe, appearance, mental health, physical health, photos, bio, photo order, location etc. There is no need to buy any of these unnecessary bells and whistles.

If you focus on quality and not quantity, you can have more success that way than from additional meaningless right swipes. At the very least, you can know whether the iterations made were helpful or where you stand in the eyes of others.

Tinder Verify Scam 

With the launch of Tinder Verified has come many verified scams from individual users and matches. Don’t fall for this. Tinder is the only source for verification and one should not click on links from matches as they can be phishing attempts.

More on dating scams and safety here: https://eddie-hernandez.com/online-dating-safety-tips-dating-app-dangers/

Tinder Height Verification, Tinder Weight Verification, Tinder Filter By Height

Tinder posted an April Fool’s post on social media about a height verification feature being rolled out to users. This caused an uproar by guys on the internet requesting weight verification features. Needless to say, this was an April Fool’s prank that rubbed guys the wrong way.

Use good judgment when analyzing photos. Look for height of others, markers in backgrounds, angles of photos, use reverse-image search to find dates of photos online on the internet, social media like Instagram, Facebook or Yelp listings. No need for a Tinder height filter if you know what to look for.

Tinder Festival Mode

Tinder introduced Festival Mode, so users can claim match card badges on their profile, see who is going where and facilitating meetups in person at major festivals and chats as well.

Tinder Web aka Tinder Desktop Mode

Tinder Web

Tinder Swipe Night – How Does It Work?

Tinder has a few feature called ‘Swipe Night’ that is like a virtual choose your own adventure game in the app. Each episode is a weekly series about 5 minutes long. These decisions are then applied to your profile so others can see your choices, serving as potential conversation starters with matches.

What Are Top Picks On Tinder? Tinder Top Picks Meaning

Available on Tinder Gold, Tinder Top Picks (according to Tinder) is: “a more limited set of potential matches it thinks users will like based on information in users’ profiles like education, type of job, hobbies and interests.” These suggestions will have titles life Scholar, Surfer etc.

I don’t necessarily think these are more compatible than other people given the bare minimum info collected by the app in terms of lifestyle, religion, politics, height etc. so take it with a grain of salt.

It’s common to never match with a top pick from Tinder, especially if your photos are awful, or you have a poor profile, bio etc. Most would argue that Tinder Top Picks are useless, or Tinder Top Picks Are Out Of My League.

Even if you have 100% matches in interests, that doesn’t mean there will be sparks. Don’t rely on Tinder to do all the guesswork for you – learn to be patient, ask questions, analyze profiles and use good judgment. Top Picks is definitely not a screening alternative.

Tinder Green Dot, Tinder Recently Active, What Does Green Dot On Tinder Mean?

What does the green dot on Tinder mean? For those with Tinder Gold or Platinum, you can see if a match is active within 24 hours if there is a green next to their name.

Can I Turn Off Green Dot On Tinder? Tinder Recently Active Not Working, Glitch

Yes, you can disable the green dot and no, there is not a glitch.

Go to settings > scroll down to recently active status > select toggle off to show activity status.

What is Tinder Noonlight?

Noonlight is a feature that has been added so that Tinder users can be a little safer while online dating. It allows you to share when, where and with whom you meet as well as adding functionality to discreetly trigger emergency alerts.

Tinder Share To Matches (aka Tinder Feed), What Are Tinder Loops?

Tinder launched a new test feature to allow users to send photos and loops that only matches can see. It was quietly removed early in 2020, but users can still create loops and display them in their profile.

Tinder video loops allow users to add or record 2-second videos to their profiles. Tinder claimed at one point that users who added loops saw a 20% increase in conversation lengths. In Japan, users saw 10% more right swipes when they added a video loop to their profile.

If you are unable to add new media, you may have to check your phone permissions to allow Tinder to access your camera, gallery etc.

Tinder Passions: How Do You Add, Change Passions On Tinder?

Tinder let’s you add things you are passionate about so that you can keep your bio free for other items.

Passions include: outdoors, Netflix, climate change, black lives matter, yoga, craft beer, tea, brunch, wine, vegetarian, golf, baking, soccer, surfing, museum, activism, feminism, climbing, karaoke, picnicking and more. Select profile, interests to select up to 5 passions.

Does Tinder Charge Higher Prices for Older People?

They allegedly (folks 30+) did, but not explicitly anymore. Apps conduct price tests, discounts but cannot discriminate on age alone.

Banned From Tinder, Unbanned – What Is A Tinder Shadowban?

I wrote more about shadowbans and fewer/no matches here so users can understand how to accounts work: https://eddie-hernandez.com/shadowbans-hinge-bumble-tinder/

It’s a high volume swiping app so incredible patience is needed as well as the ability to screen people effectively. Remember, Tinder is an introduction app, not a dating app. Dating is just one type of introduction but there are others as well.

What Is Tinder Quick Chat?

Quick chat is a new feature (not available to everyone) where users get matched with others randomly for 30 second chats. At the end it will ask if you want to continue to chat (swipe left or right).

Tinder Reddit: r/Tinder

There is a major subreddit with all things Tinder including a profile critique but keep in mind most people struggle, are super young, are looking for something casual or are looking to post screenshots of matches. r/Tinder

Tinder Filters: Does Tinder Have An Ethnicity Filter?

No, Tinder has no ethnicity filter on the app.

Can You Send Photos On Tinder? How To Send Pictures, Memes On Tinder

Not directly but you can upload photos and share a link via a shared folder or site like Google Drive, Imgur, Instagram etc.

How To Find Someone On Tinder, Has A Tinder Account

Ask them.

Does Tinder Have A Desktop Site?

Yes, there is a desktop mode for Tinder.

Tinder Says I Have Likes But No Matches

Chances are someone liked you but you did not like them or you have not seen their profile yet.

How To Find Someone On Tinder Again?

Keep swiping, Tinder repeats profiles.

For additional Tinder related advice, tips regarding swipe strategy, photos, profile bios and more, check out my other posts: https://eddie-hernandez.com/category/dating-apps/tinder/

Tinder For Friends: How To Make Friends On Tinder

Although Tinder is known as a dating app, it’s used beyond dating. It’s official tagline is:

Tinder | Dating, Make Friends & Meet New People

So while most people use it for romantic interests, people use it to network, find tour guides, meets friends while traveling or use it for pen pals. Stating your purpose is important to getting most out of the app.

Can I Browse Tinder Without Joining?

Yes, just grab a friend’s phone who has an account otherwise just create a dummy account to see what it’s like, see if there are enough people in your area but be cautious, if you do, you might get banned from the app.

How Old Is Too Old For Tinder? Is Tinder For Hookups? Who Uses Tinder?

Many would argue 30 is too old but it depends on your location and what you seek. Most people try Hinge, Bumble, CMB, Match.com, The League for dating and relationships depending on their demographics, lifestyle.

Is Tinder Bad For Your Reputation? Why Is Using Tinder Bad?

Many would argue yes the older you are. It’s viewed as a sleazy, self-absorbed, narcissistic app full of thirsty guys, IG models and scammers. There are a few people on there for dating and relationships but not everyone is good at reading people and screening profiles.

Not everyone lives in a big city or nearby suburbs, where other apps are more popular for dating and relationships.

Why Is Tinder Bad For Guys?

Mostly it’s the gender ratios but also the eagerness and thirsty guys on the app. These are ideal targets for scammers, influencers and manipulators.

Is There A Free Tinder?

Yes, it’s called Tinder. Tinder is free to use. No need to pay for the app to be successful, get likes and matches (assuming you work on yourself, have decent photos, don’t have a terrible personality, have interesting hobbies, have basic hygiene and know how to dress, pose etc.).

Tinder Swipe Surge: What Is Swipe Surge?

It’s a time when there is an above average number of users. It’s a marketing term to lure more people to open the app. Just because there are lots of users doesn’t mean it’s a good time to open the app from an odds perspective.

Tinder Matches Disappeared

It happens: by accident, intentionally, because they lost interest of they were banned from the app.

What Are Swipe Notes On Tinder, How To Send Swipe Notes On Tinder

This feature requires Tinder Platinum.

Tinder FAQ: How To Change Your Name On Tinder

Age and name are two things you cannot change. Create a new profile but delete your existing one first as having two accounts can get you banned.

Who Can See Me On Tinder?

Assume anyone can. People screenshot profiles all the time. If you don’t want to be seen, don’t use the Tinder nor any other dating app.

Tinder Unmatched, Reappear

Some people will reappear in your deck even if you blocked them as some guys create new profiles with different phone numbers.

Does Tinder Show The Same Person Twice?

It’s possible but don’t count on it.

Tinder Search Without Registering

Browse your friend’s account.

Tinder Vibes: What Are Tinder Vibes?

48-hour, time sensitive, in-app event ranging of questions spanning pop culture, personality and recent events. Responses will be displayed on the profile to show recent activity.

Tinder Hot Takes: What Is Tinder Hot Takes?

Feature within Swipe Night (under explore tab) where users can talk before matching from 6pm-12am local time. Users have 30 seconds to answer questions back and forth and can match from this screen.

How Many Matches On Tinder Is Normal? Average Match Rate On Tinder?

That depends on your age, location, gender, orientation, height, looks, photos, preferences, realistic expectations, deal-breakers etc. If you are getting mostly bots, spammers, few matches, it’s time to get independent  feedback on your profile. It could be 1-3 matches a day or more for many people.

Tinder Message Failed To Send: Why Are My Tinder Messages Not Sending

Could be a bug in the app or an older version of the app that needs updating. Delete the app and reinstall once. If that doesn’t work, contact Tinder with your account info/login, device type/operating system and screenshots.

Tinder Select, Tinder Private Invite

It’s a secret version of the app for models, CEO’s and other in demand folks. It’s private invite only. The quality of profiles is not great. Think of Safeway Select (quality is lower with a failed attempt of a premium product).

Tinder Photo Unavailable

We are currently experiencing some temporary issues with messaging on iOS. In the meantime, you may log in via Tinder Web (Tinder.com in your web browser), and you shouldn’t experience any issues viewing or sending messages here.

Tinder Fast Chat

This was a trial product in which Tinder would show you a few random questions to answer to help match you with similar people.

Tinder Work Mode – Tinder Web, Desktop Mode

It’s a quick toggle button that looks like a spreadsheet, aimed to hide the swiping and message pages. It’s like Excel or Google sheets with Tinder color theme.

Tinder Insights

A tool to help you understand conversions (swipes, conversations etc.). Not really helpful as one can adjust these rates with self-awareness, realistic expectations, not swiping outside their league, improving their photos and writing skills.

It’s an independent company (not associated with Tinder nor Match group). Beware of handing over your data.

Tinder Like Limit – How Many Likes Do You Get On Tinder?

It varies by demographics, users in your area, swiping etiquette etc. but the number of likes (right swipes) has been reduced over time from 100 to 50 to about 25.

How To See Who Likes You On Tinder, How To See Who Liked You On Tinder Without Gold

Swipe right on everyone. All matches mean they swiped right on you.

If You Delete Tinder, Does It Delete Your Profile? Does It Delete Your Account?

No it doesn’t.

Tinder: What Are You Looking For? What Brings You On Tinder?

Given the ambiguity and immaturity on Tinder, it’s not uncommon for people ask what you are looking for on the app. Some people are direct, some are coy, some are ambiguous.

Honesty is the best policy but don’t assume people are truthful in what they say (some are there to tell you what you want to hear). This can be frustrating, given that people are on Tinder for all sorts of reasons.

Deleted Matches, Why Did Tinder Delete All My Matches?

Could be that you matched with bots and spammers who were kicked off the site.

Can You Search People On Tinder?

No, but you can send profiles to other to people to share.

Tinder Like vs Match

Tinder like means you sent a like or received a like. If both parties send likes to each other, a match is created.

Tinder Reviews From A Woman, Tinder Honest Review, Tinder Complaints

It’s a numbers game. Lots of creepy men but sometimes the only option in some parts of the world. Being patient, having thick skin and knowing how to screen profiles and read people is important. The gender ratios are out of control, effort is non-existent.

You can meet a partner, spouse but you will have to put in work and know what you are doing. Not recommended for those with low self-esteem or are super picky.

How Long Does It Take To Get A Match On Tinder?

That depends on your profile, appearance, locations, settings (age/distance), realistic expectations, swiping etiquette and volume. It could be seconds, months or never.

Tinder Alternatives, Tinder App Alternatives, Better Than Tinder? Dating Apps Like Tinder

For Tinder alternatives, read this.

How To Rearrange Photos On Tinder, How To Change Tinder Photo Order

Touch and drag photos.