Read our full breakdown of Tinder vs. Bumble.
Who it’s for:
Craving a quick hookup, a no-strings-attached fling, or a way to kill some time? Download Tinder. This app is the digital equivalent of that slightly sketchy dive bar down the street: a little rough around the edges, always open, and full of people looking for a good time (or at least a temporary escape from reality).
With a massive and active user base, you’ll find matches anywhere, from the busiest cities to the smallest towns. So, if you’re not looking for anything serious and want to have some fun without breaking the bank (or your heart), Tinder’s probably your best bet.
Why we picked this:
You can’t talk about online dating without talking about Tinder: most people you know have downloaded it at least once, everyone has an opinion on it, and it’s just too damn popular to ignore. We all love to hate on the swipe-happy hookup app, but it’s undeniably effective, and, most importantly for our purposes, it’s got a killer free version.
Tinder isn’t perfect, but it’s incredibly user-friendly, instantly connects you with potential partners, and has a huge pool of singles just waiting to mingle (or whatever). It’s no wonder it’s the first app most people download when they need a quick ego boost or a no-strings-attached fling.
If you want to level up your Tinder game, they offer paid options like Tinder Plus, Gold, and Platinum. (Gold and Platinum include everything in Tinder Plus and then some.) These premium subscriptions auto-renew, but cancellation is easy enough — just go into the app and change your preferences.
To help you get more matches, Tinder introduced a Photo Selector feature that uses AI to pick your best pics. (We’re not sure how safe this is, even if they say they delete your data.) They’ve also added a verification feature that requires ID or passport photos to help weed out the fakes and catfishers. That said, each time you open the app is a gamble. Your next Tinder match could be your future spouse, or it might just be some rando asking if you’re DTF. That’s just the unpredictable nature of modern love, especially when it’s free and readily available at your fingertips.
