Young and Looking for Love? Try Hinge!

Whether you love it or hate it, online dating is redefining how people find relationships in the 21st century. As of 2019, 30% of U.S. adults say they have used a dating site or app, and this number spikes up to 48% for people aged 18-29. Young people seem to be leading the charge for online companionship, and the coronavirus pandemic has heightened this urge for virtual connection. Match Group, a technology company that controls over 60% of the dating app market, saw a 15% increase in new subscribers over the second quarter of 2020 through their 45 dating brands. One of these brands, Hinge, has done particularly well. Since 2019, downloads of the app have increased by 63% worldwide. Additionally, Hinge’s growth during this time has exceeded many other top rated dating apps, including Tinder, Bumble, and Plenty of Fish. 

So what has made Hinge so appealing? Well, as the company says, the app is “designed to be deleted.” This mission was in response to a dating app culture that focuses on casual hookups and impersonal interactions. For the user who seeks this type of connection with others, great! There are many dating apps that cater to what you’re looking for. But Hinge is hoping to separate from this type of mentality by marketing itself as an app designed for long-term relationships. The platform was created with the goal of fostering meaningful connections, and it has definitely been successful, with 3 out of 4 first dates leading to a second date. 

There are many ways that Hinge differentiates itself from other dating apps; however, it all boils down to two main reasons: the platform allows for unique profile designs and innovative engagement with potential matches. I’m going to explore these aspects of the app in detail, as well as compare these features to that of the two most popular dating apps, Tinder and Bumble. This will provide a better understanding of how Hinge truly stands out from its counterparts. It is still certainly possible to develop a serious relationship on apps like Tinder and Bumble; in fact, my cousin met her boyfriend of 5 years on Tinder and my sister met her ex-girlfriend on the app. Despite this reality, however, I believe Hinge is the best platform for those users hoping to find a long-term partner (I also recently asked my cousin and sister if they would use Tinder again to find a partner if they were single and they both gave me a resounding “No”). I will also only describe the features for the free versions of these platforms instead of the paid subscription options in order to make the information more applicable to a wider range of users. 

So let's start with the designs of the profiles. Most dating apps have a very standard profile set up, including some photos and basic information, such as name, age, and location. Hinge still includes all of these aspects of the profile, but the app adds a couple points of differentiation. When you begin creating your profile on Hinge, you have to answer at least three prompts. These prompts are fun, lighthearted statements that you fill out to give potential matches insights regarding your personality, interests, and character. Some of these prompts include statements like “The hallmark of a good relationship is…” and “A shower thought I recently had was…” There are many prompts to choose from when setting up your profile, and Hinge updates the prompts monthly to give you more options to express yourself to other users (side note: there is an Instagram account called “unhinged” that posts the most funny/strange/outrageous prompt answers users have given!). 

This prompt feature is not included in Tinder– the closest things to prompts that Tinder offers is selecting at least three interests. However, these interests are very broad and you’re unable to personalize the interests you select. You could technically add more detail about your interests within your bio, but many users tend to not put a lot of information in their Tinder bios. Bumble does have the option for prompts, and the statements are similar to Hinge. However, this feature is optional on Bumble, so there is less urgency for users to utilize it unless they want to convey more of their persona to potential matches. If you are a Tinder or Bumble user and you actively try to include a lot of information about yourself, whether it be through your bio or prompts, chances are you’re looking to form a more meaningful connection with someone. This is why Hinge is perfect for these types of users. Every profile on Hinge has to add this type of personal touch and intimate detail, which makes the app perfect for users who are serious about finding a long-term partner. 

Another aspect to the platform that encourages users to portray more of their character and personality is that the app requires six photos for each profile. This might not sound like a big deal, but I believe it makes an impact. Users on Bumble can add up to six photos, and on Tinder users can add up to nine. However, there is no minimum amount of photos required, so many users have less than six photos. By not including at least six photos in your profile, users are limiting their ability to express themselves and convey their interests to potential matches. By requiring 6 photos for each profile, Hinge makes it a priority to have users take the time to paint a detailed picture of who they are. This process of requiring six photos, along with the minimum of three prompts, relays how Hinge is geared towards those users looking to find a meaningful relationship and long-lasting connection. 

Along with the design of the profiles, the innovative engagement between users has made Hinge the best dating app for those hopeful singles looking for love. On most dating platforms, including Tinder and Bumble, once users “swipe right” on each other’s profiles, they have created a match and can begin a conversation (and on Bumble, for heterosexual matches, the female user has to message the male user first). Many of these interactions tend to start with a simple “What’s up?” or a boring “Hey.” Hinge is different. You still need to match with someone to have a conversation; however, when you interact with fellow users on Hinge, you have to begin by either liking or commenting on a photo or prompt. This is Hinge’s version of “swiping right.” For example, if you’re someone who loves to travel and you come across a user that answered the “Best travel story” prompt, then you can comment directly on their response. This type of engagement helps users facilitate interactions and meaningful conversations right off the bat, which is especially beneficial for those looking for a long-term partner. 

Another element to Hinge’s innovative engagement strategy is through the amount of likes users can send per day. On Tinder, every user can send 100 likes (right swipes) per day, and on Bumble that number goes down to 25 likes. Hinge, however, only allows for 10 likes per day. Now you might be thinking, “Well Hinge only gives you fewer likes so that you upgrade and pay for the premium version!” While that might be the case, I believe the reason is a little more nuanced than that. If you think about it, 10 likes is more than enough if you are deliberate with your likes. If you're just looking to match with anyone and want to increase your odds by liking every profile you come across, then Tinder and Bumble are much better platforms for you. But if you’re hoping to find a more meaningful connection, chances are you want to be diligent about only liking profiles that resonated with you. By limiting daily likes to 10 per day, Hinge forces you to spend more time exploring each profile to make sure you are using those likes wisely.

Hinge is able to separate itself from the seemingless endless list of online dating platforms since the app allows for unique profile designs and innovative user engagement. I believe these aspects of the platform make Hinge the go-to dating app for singles looking for a long-term relationship and meaningful connections. Of course, there can be many reasons why someone might want to download a dating app. Maybe you want to find more friends, in which case Bumble BFF would be a great platform for you. Others just want to meet someone for casual hookups, in which case Tinder tends to be the primary option. However, no matter what kind of dynamic you’re looking for, people are seeking some form of connection now more than ever. A report on Tinder’s user activity from January 2020 to February 2021 found that conversations on the app were 32% longer during the coronavirus pandemic compared to before the pandemic. Furthermore, a recent survey on Hinge users found that over a third of respondents are now more urgent about finding a long-term partner. These numbers show that there is a rejuvenated desire to form long-lasting bonds with others. If this urge resonates with you, I highly recommend trying Hinge– and who knows, maybe you’ll end up finding “the one.”