How does Hinge dating app work? (Everything you need to know!)
There are so many dating sites and apps to choose from that it can be difficult to know which ones to use and which to avoid.
Before you know it, you've signed up for 10+ dating apps at the same time, with your phone buzzing with new messages from people looking for their soulmate, people looking for something casual – and even people looking for something kinky.
To ensure you get exactly what you're looking for on a dating app, it's critical that you understand what you're getting into.
1. What is Hinge?
Hinge is a location-based dating app that is "designed to be deleted" and is quickly gaining traction. Hinge is very successful at what they are attempting to accomplish, as three out of every four Hinge members want to go on a second date. It's only been around since 2012, but it's already on par with Tinder in terms of usage. So, if you're looking for an online dating app that doesn't use such, give Hinge a shot.
In this article, I'll go over how Hinge works in detail. I'll also look at who it's for, what its distinguishing features are, and what alternatives are available. By the end of this article, you should have a better idea of whether Hinge is the dating app for you.
2. How does the Hinge work?
The Hinge algorithm works in the same way that today's most popular dating apps do. It employs swipe technology, similar to Tinder. Hinge queues profiles for you based on your preferences once your profile is up and running. If you're interested in someone, you can express your feelings by "liking" one of their photos or prompts, or by leaving a comment on one of their prompt responses. The Hinge dating app will then notify them, and it is up to them whether or notto match with you.
3. How your Hinge profile works?
The first step is to decide whether you want to sign up using your mobile phone number or your Facebook profile. Then, in order to set up your hinge account, you will be asked for basic information such as your location, gender, height, education, and employment.
4. Set Your Preferences
After that, Hinge will ask you for your thoughts on topics such as politics, drugs, and smoking. You have the option of keeping your answers hidden from your profile. In the preferred preferences section, it also asks you about your preferences such as age range, maximum distance, ethnicity, religious beliefs, height, and children.
5. Pick Your Photos
Tinder and other similar apps only require a few photos, but Hinge requires at least six. If you need them quickly, you can import them from Facebook, a few images.
6. Answer the Hinge Prompts
Prompts are provided for free. They're essentially questioning that Hinge displays on your profile, along with your response.
One of the prompts, for example, is "Biggest risk I've taken." You only need to fill in the blanks (whilst keeping it short).
They're a simple way for people to add something interesting or amusing to their profile, to which other users can respond. Above all, they highlight your interests and serve as conversation starters.
7. Start Liking People
There is no search feature, as there is on other dating apps. Instead, you can swipe through profiles that are waiting for you or use the "Discover" feature to see who Hinge thinks is most compatible with you. Hinge will also send you an email whenever they have a potential new match for you.
All of this being said, Hinge only curates ten possible matches for you per day, and you can only "like" ten profiles per day if you use the free version. However, messaging other users is free, and you can also receive messages for free. You can also use the Hinge app to set up a video call with someone you've been chatting with (and getting along with).
8. Hinge Features: Free Vs Preferred
Hinge is a free online dating app, but there is a premium membership available called hinge preferred membership. Hinge preferred membership costs $29.99 per month, but if you subscribe for three or six months, the price drops to $19.99 and $14.99, respectively.
• We Met (Free)
We Met is a feature that you can use after your first date with someone. The idea is that Hinge will ask you how your date went, and you will respond.
Why?
Because Hinge then uses your responses to assist its matchmaking algorithm in providing you with better matches in the future. It's a unique feature that no other dating site currently provides.
• Who Liked Me (Paid)
A heart tab can be found at the bottom of your profile. As a free member, when you click on this heart tab, Hinge displays blurred images of the people who "like" your profile.
If you receive a lot of "likes," you might not always know who liked you until you've swiped endlessly to find them. And, because Hinge only allows you 10 "likes" per day, this will irritate you.
The Who Liked Me feature is only available to premium members and displays every single person who has liked you. It is then up to you whether or not you want to like them back.
• Send Unlimited Likes (Paid)
As previously stated, free members only receive 10 "likes" per day. That's not much if you're looking for romance as soon as possible. You can like as many people as you want if you upgrade to a premium account.
• Advanced Preferences (Paid)
As a free member, you can only change your match preferences based on basic information like height, gender, and age.
As a premium member, you can customize the advanced preferences to make it easier to find someone who shares your interests.
We like this feature because it prevents you from wasting time sifting through profiles that don't meet your standards for things like values and interests.
• Dealbreakers (Paid)
A dealbreaker prevents Hinge from showing you a match that does not match your preferences.
How does it function?
Despite your best efforts to fine-tune your user preferences, Hinge will occasionally display matches that do not meet your criteria. It's probably doing this because its algorithm believes the two of you will get along.
However, if you have a dealbreaker (for example, you wouldnever date a smoker), you can use this feature to exclude smokers entirely (or anything else that bugs you).
The Dealbreaker feature has both advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, it's a good thing you can exclude people you know will waste your time (perhaps they support a different political party than you). What if, on the other hand, by using a Dealbreaker, you miss out on someone who could have been the One? It's a puzzle.
In this way, Hinge differs from Tinder, which does not recommend additional matches based on your levels of compatibility. If they are compatible with you, you can start a conversation. That's all there is to hinge.
9. Who Is Hinge For?
If you're tired of endless swiping and talking to people on an app only to find out they're looking for a hookup, hinge is the app for you.
Hinge isn't for you if you're looking for something casual. By signing up, you will only be wasting your time, as well as the time of others who are using the app to find someone genuine.
Naturally, not every dating app is right for everyone – and Hinge is no exception. The tagline of Hinge is "designed to be deleted." This immediately tells us that the app is for those looking for a serious relationship and want someone to come along, romance them – and help them delete the app for good.
It's also worth noting that, unlike Tinder, Hinge is a matchmaking service, implying that it's aimed at people who take dating seriously. Everyone who signs up is required to upload six photos, fill out mandatory information in their bio, and respond to at least one prompt.
10. What Sucks About Hinge?
Though Hinge is one of the best dating apps due to its unique angle, it is not without flaws. I thoroughly discussed the pros and cons of Hinge in our Hinge review. Here are some of the things Hinge is bad at:
It’s free – but the free version kinda sucks.
Okay, so the free version isn't entirely useless; you can still send and receive messages. However, it has enough flaws to irritate some users.
For example, you can only use 10 "likes" per day, which is significantly less than Tinder. Hinge also suggests a maximum of ten matches per day, which means that if none of them appeal to you, you'll have to wait another 24 hours before using the app again.
Furthermore, while you can narrow down your "search" options, free filters are limited to basic information such as height, gender, location, and age. In other words, common interests cannot be filtered.
• Hinge Re-Displays Users You Already Skipped
Other swipe apps, such as Tinder and Bumble, let you "pass" on someone and they're gone forever (unless they create an entirely new profile).
On Hinge, however, they occasionally reappearance a few weeks later.
Why?
We're not entirely certain. It's either because Hinge wants to give you a second chance (perhaps you made a mistake), or because there aren't enough users in your area, with Hinge filling in the gaps by showing you profiles you've already seen.
In any case, we're not fans.
• Profiles Lack Detail
We like the idea of responding to prompts, and it's especially useful for users who don't know what to put in their profiles. However, this means that none of the profiles are detailed because there is no "About Me" section. This appears to be somewhat unusual for an app aimed at forming long-term, serious relationships.
11. What Are Best Hinge Alternatives?
• eHarmony
eHarmony, like Hinge, caters to those looking for a long-term relationship. They are looking for something serious and genuine. It's also a matchmaking service that claims to have arranged 600,000 marriages to date. It also claims to generate up to 15,000,000 matches per day and has been in operation for over two decades.
When you sign up for the first time, you must complete a lengthy personality test. Most members complete this in about ten minutes, and your answers are fed into an algorithm that uses the data to match you with compatible matches. When your profile is complete, you must upgrade your account in order to send messages. In contrast, Hinge allows you to send and receive messages for free.
• Match.com
Match is a premium dating site that offers a guarantee that if you don't find a suitable perfect partner within the first six months, you'll get your second six months free. The Match signup process is quick and simple, and no personality tests are required. The site also includes a Profile Builder tool, which makes creating a bio easier than ever.
Once your profile is live, you can use the extensive search filters to find exactly what you're looking for. However, while you can "like" other people's profiles, you won't be able to send or receive messages until you upgrade your account.