If you have looked into dating apps recently, Hinge may be a familiar name. It’s become increasingly popular over the last few years, and looks like a worthy adversary to the much bigger platforms like Bumble and Hinge.
However, not everyone is a massive Hinge fan. And although there are a lot of benefits to using the service, it’s definitely not perfect. If you’re on the fence about downloading Hinge, here’s what you need to know about the platform.
Who are Hinge?
Hinge is a pretty traditional dating app. This company began operations in the year 2012, and from then it’s been one of the most popular options across the globe.
The good thing about Hinge is that it won’t let users browse the profiles with no intent.
Hinge has a purpose in allowing its users to build relationships with people they meet on the dating site, meaning most of your matches actually end up going somewhere.
Hitch was eventually acquired by the Match group. Match Group operates popular dating websites such as OkCupid, Tinder, Match.com and many more.
Their acquisition of Hinge began in 2017 with an initial investment of 80% of the business. And since then, the app has changed somewhat.
Is registration really easy?
It is easy to register for Hinge, as the sign up process is relatively short and you only need to enter a few personal details.
Phone confirmations are required for signing up and you must add six photos – uploading photos should only take a few minutes, and Hinge lets you upload more than one at the same time.
If your phone number is not available for registration, you will need to log into Hinge.com and use the desktop version temporarily.
After a spree of fake accounts joined the platform a few years ago, the verification process has been improved and now profiles are carefully reviewed when signing up.
In the profile you have the freedom to decide what information you will reveal or that you’re going to secretly disclose. It’s a good idea to make member profiles comprehensive, and try to make your profile stand out.
Hinge is taking time on the app more than most of its competitors, meaning that the user experience is pretty solid too.
What about design?
Over the years, the interface of Hinge has become much more clean, which was intended to make the application attractive to younger users.
The vibrant color of the application, along with the easy navigation, make browsing through the application easy – it allows users to meet their ultimate objective in finding an ideal partner.
The Hinge app has some great features which makes the user use the features. Similar to the Hinge, the app uses brightly illustrated illustrations and no actual people in the advertising.
Hinge will show you relevant profiles, just like most other dating apps. Though, it’s implemented well with a spinning wheel style scroll that makes it pretty easy to use.
Once you match someone, you are then capable of sending messages to the mutual match. Plus, there is no restriction on browsing profiles either, which means you can keep searching until you find the right person without paying for Hinge Preferred.
The app is pretty easy to use, and their app works well on both iPhone and Android devices.
Safety & security
Hinge can be safely used, with a stricter moderation process applied in recent years to avoid scammers joining the platform.
To be fair, Hinge’s registration process makes creating false accounts easier, as most users stick with a free account.
However, members have the ability to block abusive members from popping up in their DMs. So, if you do get any strange messages, it’s very easy to block them before things go too far.
Plus, the technical support team are good at Hinge and if you need any help, you can get in touch with them in your account settings.
Profile quality
Profile quality on Hinge is overall pretty good, with most Hinge members filling out their dating profile completely to attract potential matches.
When searching, you can easily enter the age range that you wish your preferred matches to be in, as well as other advanced preferences in your Hinge account.
In the past, Hinge was based on your mutual friends on Facebook, which would obviously be based on your Facebook friends.
However, with the acquisition a few years ago, this mutual friends element was scratched completely, which many users prefer.
Pricing and benefits
Though a lot of Hinge is free, you can opt for the paid subscription if you want to. This will give you the ability to add more filters into your searches, which can make it easier to find quality matches.
The main reason that users go from a free membership to a premium subscription though is that they then get unlimited likes. This is the main benefit of being a paid member, as you’ll be able to get more mutual matches quickly.
Preferred members also get roses, and profile boosts that can make your Hinge profile more visible to other members.
How Hinge works: Features & Matching
Hinge’s smartphone app provides good functionality – you can easily add your comments to other uses pictures, which is one of the best ways to get in touch with other member aside from matching them.
Free members have an average daily rate of only ten likes of posts, which is it may be worth become a Hinge member – you get more matches to connect with.
It is extremely simple to start conversations with your matches – you can tap on the heart icon for more information about the user profile.
Hinge allows comments or “liked” images, photos or profiles – it’s one of the only dating apps to do this, but it seems to work well.
It is also possible to send roses in response to interest. If you respond or like someone else, a connection will start and you can have a chat.
Hinge Review: Pros & Cons
There are some definitive positives to Hinge – there’s a different group of people on the platform, and if you’re eventually looking for something serious and in real life, this can help you get there.
Hinge’s video chat elements are also pretty excellent. This is probably best for those that have to confidence to jump onto a call with their future husband, but the Hinge app is definitely the best when it comes to video chat.
Singing up for a premium membership with Hinge isn’t too expensive, and there’s a lot of benefits to being part of being a Hinge Preferred member.
The app is generally low maintenance, meaning you don’t need to put a ton of effort into the platform to get somewhere.
Hinge is designed specifically for young millennial users. Many Hinge users are below 30, with most users being under 40 – this means that it’s not the best option for those older than this.
And, although the app does have millions of active users, this is still nothing compared to the user base of other dating apps like Bumble and Tinder.
Though, the app is currently ranked 3rd among dating apps in this country, and should be tried if you live in a fairly large city.
Conclusion – Is Hinge Worth Checking Out?
Hinge can help you find your perfect relationship, but it’s not the perfect app. This app focuses on millennials who seek relationships rather than simply dating and hookups, which does make it a little different to Tinder and other dating apps.
However, the user base of Hinge is much lower than other major competitors, which means you’re basically fishing in a smaller pond with less matches. If you’re looking for a long term relationship, then there’s no harm in seeing what Hinge offers.
It’s a dating app designed for serious relationships and decent conversations, so if that sounds good to you, give it a download.
