Name: Hinge
Brand: Hinge
SKU: https://www.datingscout.nz/hinge/review
Price: 4.99 USD
Availability: OnlineOnly

Better than Hinge

Last updated: October 2020

Our Review

Hinge is not your regular dating app. Founded in 2012, Hinge has undergone a major rebranding in 2015. Instead of spending time mindlessly swiping users based on appearance, Hinge switched its mission in becoming a platform that is rooted in finding relationships.

The site promotes that its users delete the app once they find their rightful match. After its acquisition by the Match Group (same owner of Match.com) early in 2019, it underwent again a redesign to further advocate that it is an app for relationships, not just casual hookups.

Hinge has a promising commitment to singles who are tired of mindless swiping, and who actually want to have decent conversations. Find out in our full review below how Hinge works toward this idea and if it truly works in real-life dating.

Why Is It "Designed to be Deleted"?

Hinge wants their members to delete their app once they find a date they really connected with. Hinge believes that in today's modern times, most singles rely on dating apps to find someone they can be with. However, most popular dating apps don't exactly provide a platform conducive for finding serious relationships. These apps advocate for mindless swiping, which are all based on appearance.

Hinge redesigned their dating app to support singles who are looking for something more serious than a casual affair. They want their users to not spend too much time on their app.

New members at Hinge in November 2020 in comparison

Here you can see how membership figures at Hinge are developing compared to others

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Member activity at Hinge in November 2020 in comparison

This is how active Hinge members are compared to others

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Hinge Member Structure

Members

10,000 from New Zealand

Members activity

3,000 active weekly

Gender Proportion

45 %

55 %

Has over 5 million users worldwide
Users are mostly within the age range of 24-32
Majority of the member base comes from the United States
Member activity is high and active

The member base of Hinge is highly composed of singles residing in the United States; more than half, to be exact. Jean-Marie McGrath, the spokeswoman of Hinge, reports that Hinge has a 50-50 gender ratio.

Members of Hinge are mostly young professionals within the age range of 24 to 32, who are looking for serious relationships. This particular age range most probably witnessed and experienced the booming of Tinder and the rise of the hookup culture. Hence, they are now trying to find more meaningful connections with other singles through other dating apps.

A lot of members are active in the app—sending likes, commenting on photos, and sending messages to other members they are interested in.

We didn’t come across fake profiles on the app. Most members seem to be authentic and genuine in finding real dates.

If there are fake accounts on the app, nonetheless, they were probably made out of boredom and curiosity of what the app is all about. They just don’t want to put their face on a dating app, that's why they used fake photos.

18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55+

Signing Up at Hinge

You need to sign up using your Facebook account or your mobile number
The sign-up process is guided by a step-by-step procedure
Phone verification is required
Uploading 6 photos is obligatory
You can choose which information will show up in your profile

Signing up for an account on Hinge is considerably longer than most dating apps. This is because Hinge was made to match people who are looking for serious relationships.

The process is a per-page procedure. After choosing whether to sign up using your Facebook account or mobile number, you have to provide a valid email address.

Though there is no email verification required, if you choose to sign up using your mobile number, you have to provide the code that will be sent to it.

Afterward, the process includes filling out the different sections of your profile, which are as follows:

My Vitals
This section asks you to provide your basic information. First, you need to pin your exact location on the map. It has to be your neighborhood, not just your country or state. You can choose to use your phone’s GPS to determine your current location or manually enter where you are located.

Next is you need to enter your gender and gender preference. If you are bisexual, there is an option that profiles of both men and women will be recommended to you.

You also need to disclose your height, ethnicity, work, education, religion, if you have kids, and your hometown. You can choose which of this information will show up on your profile.

My Virtues
After providing some of your basic personal information, the sign-up process will now ask you questions about your perspective on somewhat controversial topics. Such matters are your views on politics, drinking, smoking, marijuana, and drugs.

Again, you have the liberty to choose which of your answers will show up on your profile.

My Profile
The last step of the sign-up process is uploading photos that will show up on your profile. You won’t be able to proceed to the next step if you fail to upload six photos.

If you choose to import photos from your Facebook account, the site will automatically get your six most recent profile photos. If you choose to delete one of them, it is mandatory to replace it with a different one.

Another part of this step is choosing at least one writing prompt to answer. These prompts are either questions you need to answer or incomplete sentences you need to finish. Your answers will show up on your profile.

Providing all information asked by Hinge and answering creatively to the writing prompts can help your profile stand out from other profiles. The details found on your profile are essential to getting more likes and finding real matches.

Making Contact on Hinge

Roulette-type display of matches
You need to choose a specific part of a profile when sending likes
Giving likes and sending comments are free
You can only send a message to mutual matches
You can visit the profiles of everyone liked you

As a member of the dating app, you are free to use all of its contacting features. Sending likes, comments, and messages are all without charge.

Preferred Members—those that avail a premium subscription—get an unlimited number of likes, as opposed to standard members who have a daily limit of sending 10 likes only. This daily limit shouldn't concern you, nevertheless, as likes on Hinge value quality over quantity.

Sending Likes

Sending likes is more than just a tap of the heart button. If you want to send a 'like' to another Hinge user, you have to choose a particular part of his or her profile that you like. It can be a photo or any of his or her written answers.

You can add a comment with your like, too, to start a conversation. The users you send a like to will see which part of their profile you liked the most.

Matchmaking

Hinge displays the profiles of your match recommendations through a roulette type style. If you opt to click the 'x' button instead of giving a like, Hinge automatically shows your next profile recommendation. If the instance that the other member you sent a like to also sent you a like, Hinge will notify that you both like each other.

Sending Messages

Sending messages is free of charge, and there is no daily limit. However, you can only send a message to your mutual matches.

Once you and another Hinge user successfully matched, you can begin conversing through the messaging tab. You cannot send photos through Hinge; only text messages.

Hinge's free contacting features allow all users to find and form a connection with potential dates. It's matching feature also condemn mindless swiping, which makes the dating app a good place for finding relationships.

Hinge Profile Quality

Member profiles are completely filled out
Answers to written prompts are largely displayed
There is a quick 'about me' section
Photos are scattered throughout the profile
Photo captions are hidden but can be viewed by a tap of a button

Hinge profiles show the information you agreed to show up on your profile during the sign-up process. Personal details, written answers, and photos are alternately presented on each member's profile.

You have to scroll down to the bottom to view every photo and information the Hinge member decided to share.

Each profile section has a heart which you can tap to send that particular member a 'like.' A hovering 'X' icon is present at all times on the bottom left side of each profile, which you can tap if you want to browse the next member.

Most member profiles on Hinge are full of information. Answers from the written prompts are insightful and truly show the personality of a member. It seems that Hinge members take the time to create and complete their profiles. This could be because they are serious in looking for dates through the app.

Hinge App

The app is free to download
The app is available on Android and Apple devices
You can only use the service on the app
The app has a modern design
You can only create an account using the app

Hinge's app is easy to use with a modern and trendy design. It has a website but you can only use the service through its mobile app.

The app is free to download on you Apple and Android devices. It has a modern and trendy design which fits the membership structure of the app.

Hinge Real Life Review

"To be honest, I was getting really tired of using dating apps. I no longer want to participate in today's hook-up culture. I was ready to find a relationship. I wanted to have a date where it wasn't expected that the date would end up in bed. I wanted something real. And so I was recommended to download Hinge. I downloaded it, completed my profile, and started sending genuine likes to other members. I didn't get many matches, but the matches I got, I've had decent and interesting conversations with. I've met up with three different girls until I met the one that made an impression. We've gone on three dates already, and I know that this could lead to something more than just a date." - Marco, NY, 26

Design and Usability

Hinge underwent a major app redesign after it has been acquired by the Match Group. Its design aesthetic became cleaner, leaning toward making it more appealing to the younger generation of users. The use of vibrant colours and a clean interface aims to remind users that the end goal is to meet up with their matches.

The design highly promotes the basic contacting features to encourage users to use them. Instead of using photos of real-life people for Hinge’s advertisements and in-app tutorials, they now use lively illustrations.

Using Hinge is easy and straightforward. All features are accessible through the app’s main interface. There are four tabs at the bottom, with numbers indicated in a bubble that notifies you of new interactions.

Hinge Costs and Prices

View members’ complete profiles
Send messages to mutual matches
See who sent you likes

Send unlimited likes
See everyone who likes you in one place
Set advanced preferences

Duration / Credits / Coins	Costs	Total
Preferred Member
1 Month	9.99 USD / Month	9.99 USD
3 Months	6.99 USD / Month	20.97 USD
6 Months	4.99 USD / Month	29.94 USD

Is Hinge expensive or cheap?

In comparison to other providers Hinge is average.

Credit Card
Via Mobile Phone

Hinge offers an affordable premium subscription to its members, which they call “Preferred Member.” The prices are relatively low compared to other dating apps as Hinge doesn't offer that many additional benefits.

Membership is offered in three package durations of 1, 3, and 6 months. The longer your subscription is, the cheaper the deal you get.

Hinge's premium membership is automatically renewed for the same price and package, but you could turn this function off in your Account Settings if you wish to. By doing so, you are also cancelling your membership as it will no longer renew your subscription. You can, of course, enjoy the benefits of being a Preferred Member until the last day of your billing cycle

A premium subscription on Hinge has its perks such as sending unlimited likes and viewing all the users who sent you likes in a grid-view. Yet, you can make do without it. Even if you're a free member, you can still see all the other members who sent you likes. The only difference is that you would have to swipe on the profiles one-by-one.

For active users, Hinge offers a whole month of free membership upgrade. This is so you can fully experience how the app works.

Special Features

Hinge advocates for safe dating, which is why they want to make sure that you are safe and comfortable when you use the app to go on a date with someone. Through Hinge's special features, you can report a member who was disrespectful and uncourteous.

Who Liked Me

You can view the members who sent you likes in the heart tab below. If you are a free member, the faces of the members who sent you likes are blurred. You have to browse each profile starting with the most recent one to view all members who liked you.

If you are a premium member, you can view your likes in a grid. You will be able to see their main profile pictures, so you can interact with the members who attract you the most.

We Met

We Met is a new feature of Hinge wherein you privately provide feedback to the Hinge team about your date with a particular match. You can find this feature under the three dots located on any of your matches’ conversation window.

When you choose the We Met option, Hinge will ask if you and that particular match met in real life and how the date went. This helps Hinge recommend better matches and to also encourage you to get off the app.

Our rating

Signing Up:	3.0 / 5
Making Contact:	3.0 / 5
Profile Quality:	3.0 / 5
App:	3.0 / 5
Real Life Review:	3.0 / 5

Editors Conclusion

Overall, Hinge is a good place for singles who are looking into finding something more from a normal dating app. It is built to match like-minded people who are seeking serious dates and relationships. With the app’s common but helpful matching features, the chances are high that you could find a good date through this app. However, if you’re not looking for anything serious just yet, you can browse our dating apps category to find another app that might suit your taste better.

Hinge FAQ

Facts

Who owns Hinge?

Hinge is owned and operated by Match Group—the same owner of Match.com, Tinder, and Twoo.

When was Hinge founded?

Hinge was initially launched in 2012. In 2016, it underwent a full re-branding, and earlier in 2019, Match Group had the mobile app re-designed.

Who can join Hinge?

Anyone over the age of 18 can join Hinge for free.

Membership

How do I join Hinge?

You can join Hinge by either signing up with your mobile number of through your Facebook account.

Does Hinge offer premium membership?

Hinge offers premium membership in package durations of 1, 3, and 6 months.

Is Hinge’s premium membership auto-renewed?

Yes, Hinge’s premium membership is auto-renewed for the same price and package duration unless canceled.

Can I cancel my premium membership anytime? How do I do that?

Yes, you can cancel your Hinge premium membership through your Account Settings anytime you wish. You could freely enjoy the perks of being a Preferred Member until the last day of your billing cycle.

Is it possible to get a refund for unused premium membership time?

Unfortunately, Hinge does not offer refunds under any circumstance.

Usability

How does Hinge work?

Hinge works by matching users based on their answers to the questions upon sign-up. Users need to like a specific section of another member’s profile in order to send the like.

How do I match with another member on Hinge?

You match with another member of Hinge when both of you send a like to each other.

Am I required to leave a comment with my like?

You are not required to leave a comment if you want to send a like on Hinge.

I want to see who sent me likes, how do I that?

If you’re a Hinge Preferred Member, you can view who sent you likes on one page on the ‘Who Liked Me” tab. If you’re a standard member, you have to view each profile who sent you a like.

Why can’t I delete some of my photos on my Hinge profile?

You are not allowed to delete any photos on your Hinge profile unless you replace them with a new one.

Security

Is using Hinge safe?

As with any other dating app, Hinge expects its members to be observant of members who have bad intentions. Yet, there are hardly any fake profiles in Hinge as its sign-up process is a tedious one.

What security features does Hinge have?

Hinge has published terms and conditions, as well as privacy policies.

How do I block and report an abusive Hinge member?

You can select the three dots at the top right corner of his or her profile and tap the ‘Report’ button. You need to choose a reason why you are reporting this particular member. Reporting a particular member automatically blocks his or her profile from contacting you again.

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Infos

Company:	Hinge Inc.
Address:	508 LaGuardia Place, NYC, New York, 10012
E-Mail:	hello@hinge.co
Phone-Hotline:	+1800-952-5210