Wondering if TInder is still good in 2022? In this complete review, we’ll give you the verdict.
In 2022, Tinder is still one of the top dogs when it comes to dating apps, especially if you’re looking for partners in the 18-30 age group. Its focus on simplicity and its generous free edition has helped to make it one of the most widely-used dating apps.
Below, you’ll find a detailed review explaining why Tinder is still rated so highly in 2022.
Is Tinder Still A Thing?
Tinder is not only still a thing, it’s one of the most commonly-used dating apps in the world. Stats suggest it averages 75 million monthly active users. It is the most downloaded dating app in the world by some distance. According to Statista, Tinder was downloaded 6.5 million times in May 2021. Its nearest rival Badoo was downloaded 3.5 million times.
How Does Tinder Work In 2022?
Tinder doesn’t ask for much information before its users are ready to get started. Once you’ve entered your name, age, gender, the gender you want to meet and you’ve uploaded at least one photo, you’re ready to start swiping on other users.
In the Tinder pack, you’ll be presented with the profiles of potential partners one-by-one, based on the age and proximity filters you determine. For each user, you’ll need to swipe right for ‘Yes’ and left for ‘No’. Tinder was the first ever dating app to implement this swiping system, which has been copied by countless dating apps since.
With the free version of the app, you’re limited to 100 right swipes per day. That’s extremely generous compared to the free editions of other dating apps, which limit users far more.
The premium editions of Tinder, available for a monthly fee, give you unlimited right swipes. With Tinder Gold and Tinder Platinum, you can also see who has swiped right on you already and decide whether to match with them, thus avoiding the monotony of having to swipe through each individual user in the pack.
You can only send messages to users once a mutual interest has been declared by both people swiping right on each other.
From there, the idea is to get to know each other through messages – or the newly introduced video chat service – and ultimately meet for a date.
Is It Any Good?
A key advantage of Tinder is its huge user base all over the world. Create a profile and it’s probably going to be seen by LOADS of people. Just by the law of averages, you’re therefore likely to get more matches on this app compared to others in most parts of the world.
Tinder has received criticism for not putting enough focus on personality. Its algorithm would appear to put no emphasis on this when selecting who you match up with (unless you use the Top Picks feature). Meanwhile, you’re not forced to enter any information in your bio other than your age and gender. Because it’s so easy to create an account and get started, you do tend to find a lot of time-wasters and catfish on this app compared to others
Should You Pay For Tinder?
Provided you have an attractive profile, it’s absolutely possible to land lots of dates on Tinder without ever upgrading to a paid subscription. However, the premium editions of the app will do a lot to increase your reach and therefore increase your odds of landing even more dates.
Here is a brief summary of the three paid subscriptions and what they have to offer.
Tinder Plus
Tinder Plus is the cheapest paid subscription. With it, you’ll get:
- Unlimited right swipes.
- Tinder Passport. Change your location and swipe on Tinder users in other parts of the world.
- Rewind. Undo your last swipe if you made a mistake.
- No adverts.
Tinder Gold
With Tinder Gold, you’ll get:
- All Tinder Plus features.
- See who has already liked your profile.
- Top Picks. A selection of the most suitable users for you based on your profile.
- One free Boost per month. This boosts your visibility by up to 10x for 30 minutes.
- Five daily Super Likes. When you super-like someone, it sends them a notification and puts you towards the top of their pack.
Tinder Platinum
Tinder Platinum is the most expensive subscription. With it, you’ll get:
- All Tinder Gold features.
- A place at the top of everyone’s Tinder pack. That’s provided you meet their age and proximity criteria.
- The ability to send a message with your Super Like. They’ll see the message before they swipe on you.
The price of these subscriptions is dependent on your age and the country you’re based in. You can also get a cheaper deal if you pay for several months at a time.
Still, to give you a rough idea of how much you might expect to pay, here are the prices for a Tinder user aged under 30 buying a one-month subscription.
- Tinder Plus. $9.99 per month.
- Tinder Gold. $29.99 per month.
- Tinder Platinum. $39.99 per month.
These prices are reasonably competitive compared to similar premium subscriptions offered by other mainstream dating apps. Considering the huge user base you’re exposing yourself to, I’d say it’s well worth the money.
Tinder Pros and Cons
Pros
- Quick to get started.
- Easy to use on mobile and desktop.
- Huge user base.
- Generous free edition.
- The premium subscriptions offer good value.
Cons
- The algorithm has no focus on personality.
- A lot of users are putting no little to no information in their bio.
- More time-wasters and catfish on this app compared to others.
Alternatives To Tinder: How Do They Compare?
- Badoo. Badoo uses a similar ‘swipe right, swipe left’ structure to Tinder, with similar features and price points for its premium subscriptions too. The age range of its target audience is slightly higher and there is more focus on bios. It is particularly popular in Europe and South America, although you won’t find anywhere near as many people on it in North America, Asia or Australia.
- Bumble. The unique selling point of Bumble is that it’s the “feminist dating app”. It forces women to send the first message before a conversation can start. It puts more focus on verified profiles and bios than Tinder does. Other than that, the experience is more or less than the same, albeit with a smaller user base and a higher likelihood of matching with feminists.
- Hinge. Hinge is owned by the same company as Tinder, The Match Group. The main difference between Hinge and Tinder is that there is a much bigger emphasis on personality. You’ll be asked to fill in a lot more information on your bio and these can be used as prompts to start a conversation. Hinge uses the ‘swipe right, swipe left’ system too. It’s one of the fastest-growing dating apps, but it’s still got a long way to go to catch Tinder.
- eHarmony. eHarmony is one of the OG dating websites, having launched in the 2000s. It is believed to be the most responsible for marriages. In many ways, it’s the polar opposite to Tinder. You can’t send messages without paying for an (expensive) monthly subscription. You’ll have to fill out a 40-45 minute personality test when you sign up. The data from this test is used to recommend people to talk to. You can’t message anyone outside those recommendations. These restrictions, along with the high price point, means your dream partner is more likely to read your message and respond with a quality message.
Final Thoughts
A lot of people have bad things to say about Tinder. That’s what happens when you’re at the top, I suppose. The fact is: all the criticism it gets can be aimed at the other dating apps too.
If you’re looking for a serious relationship, it could be argued that there are better dating apps out there.
But, if you’re looking for an app that’ll connect with your tons of potential dates, that’s also quick and easy to use, Tinder remains your best option.
Im Joe, and I travel the world working as a dating expert, confidence coach, and writer. I have written articles for the web’s most popular dating advice blogs and published two well-received books on dating and relationships. The Thrill Of The Chase is one of the books i’ve written.