Tinder has been one of the most popular dating apps since its launch in 2012, and it has changed how singles experience and view online dating. What was once just a tool for swiping on photos became a versatile resource where people now can find love, friendship, and even casual flings from all over the world.
DatingNews conducted a survey of 1,055 people to better understand their online dating habits and preferences. Here are some of the results:
Based on the survey, millennials (people between the ages of 25 to 34) make up 22.1% of Tinder, while 16.2% of members are over the age of 65. Even though Tinder’s prime age group (18-24) made up only 11.7% of the survey respondents, the Tinder app still ranked as the most popular dating app of choice for all respondents.
This survey shows that Tinder isn’t just effective for one particular age group. The platform provides unique and easy-to-use features that help people of all ages take things slow and date casually. Singles may think Tinder is just for youngsters in college looking for a Friday night hookup, but that’s not true. Anyone over the age of 18 can join the app and download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
23% Said They Have Used Tinder to Meet People
Tinder brings the fun back to dating. Often, dating apps fail to create a fun dating experience for users with features that can leave a bad taste in their mouths. Daters may feel burnt out at times and need support along the way. Tinder shows that people don’t have to go bankrupt by using professional matchmakers to find the right relationship.
“We believe everyone deserves the right to be seen and make the first move no matter how they identify. On our app, we put everyone in front of you and let you choose who you want to chat with,” said the Tinder team.
Out of eight dating apps (Tinder, Bumble, Match, Grindr, eharmony, Hinge, Raya, and Seeking), our survey revealed that Tinder is the most favorable, with 23% of singles using its services to find dates. Match came in second place on the survey, with 17% of singles saying they have a membership on the dating site or app. Bumble and eharmony also ranked highly among survey respondents.
The dating apps Raya and Seeking are more expensive, but still have good followings. Unlike Tinder, these apps are exclusively designed for celebrities and highly successful singles who would prefer to date out of the spotlight. On Tinder, singles don’t have to hold a certain status to join, which could be another reasonable theory why Tinder is becoming the go-to app.
Tinder also is an inclusive and diverse dating app. It offers 80 gender identity options, and makes more singles feel safe and welcome to join. While Grindr does pave the way for gay singles to find love, it doesn’t have as many users among the survey respondents. Perhaps that’s because many mainstream apps have pivoted to welcome LGBTQ+ dating — including Tinder.
Why Is Tinder So Popular?
Tinder is popular for a variety of reasons. It’s simple, fast, and swiping can become an addictive game that you can play at any time. A lot of my friends use Tinder because swiping sometimes feels faster than having to wait on matches. Other dating apps that require members to take a personality quiz for matches can sometimes feel time-consuming. With swipes, members not only feel like they’re in control of their dating experience, but they also never have to wait to browse through the profiles of possible matches.
Dating can certainly turn into a stressful situation if all you focus on is one failed date after another. The team shared that their goal is to help singles go beyond distance and provide users with an engaging space where they can make connections with people they may not have made without the app’s help.
Just like a party, sometimes singles don’t want to join a dating app if they don’t see a lot of people have joined. Why use a dating app if there are no members to date? But singles don’t have to worry about that with Tinder. The platform has a large dating pool with 530 million downloads and 75 billion swipes and counting. Tinder also has few paywalls or limitations, which a lot of singles enjoy.
“Tinder is the most unique and straightforward app, allowing you to meet others with very little effort,” said Brian Keith, a Tinder user, in a testimonial. “If you no longer wish to speak to a person you have matched with, then you can simply be unmatched, and they have no way of continuing to try to contact you. It’s simple and elegant. It’s the best app for the purpose of meeting others that I have found.”
Is Tinder the Best App to Find a Real Relationship?
Tinder may not be the best way to find a real relationship. It’s not your first pick for when you’re looking for your soulmate but it can help daters out in other ways. While it’s still certainly possible to find love, Tinder is more of a fast, casual dating app than a place for meaningful connections. Members have found love on Tinder before, but it’s a rare occasion that may have taken some time to find.
“Tinder is definitely not for everyone. However it is the go-to app for social connections and ‘beyond.’ Definitely takes some effort as well and it has great ease of access,” shared a Tinder user in a review.
Singles who are hoping to say “I do,” anytime soon, may not want to bet on Tinder to make that happen for them so quickly. We would advise that singles turn to eharmony or Match if they’re serious about settling down. Both dating apps are among the most popular platforms. In the survey, 14% of singles said they used eharmony to meet people while 17% used Match. It’s also important to note that both apps are slightly more popular if you’re over 30.
Tinder Remains Top Dog — But It’s Not Your Only Option
As you can see, Tinder is one of the best online dating apps. Tinder has practically endless possibilities to explore. If you’re someone who’s trying to have fun without being tied down, Tinder is an ideal dating app. You may wish for a fun hookup and end up finding a long-lasting partner.
Tinder is an app where you can explore your passions with no regrets and discover new things about yourself as a partner and person. And the best part is that it’s free! People can join Tinder at no charge, but the app does offer a premium subscription that grants members access to better features. Free features include swiping right or left to express interest or dislike on other profiles. Paid subscriptions such as Tinder Plus include Super Likes and Boosts, which get your profiles recognized by others you’re interested in.
Tinder is great for general dating, but not great at helping specific types of daters. If you’re looking to use a dating app to find love, then dating apps similar to Hinge may be right for you. Hinge was designed to be deleted and strives to help singles go on their last first date. Tinder is the opposite; it’s all about having a good time and using the app as long as you want to find fun dates along the way.
We can expect even greater things from Tinder in the near future. The team is always actively looking for new ways to serve members and create worthwhile experiences.
“I honestly had been on many Tinder dates and was absolutely sure I was meeting a fling to get a free meal and have some fun … 3 years and sooo many dates and memories later. I am married to my Tinder guy, Kenny!” exclaimed Elliot, a Tinder user, in a testimonial on the homepage.
