On this page14 sections
- Ratings and complaints
- Tinder vs. competitors
- Pricing
- Step by step
- Tinder legitimacy and licensing
- How much Tinder costs
- Tinder's age-based pricing settlement
- Fake profiles, scams and Face Check
- Complaints and account bans
- How to cancel Tinder and get a refund
- Who should skip Tinder
- What customers say
- Alternatives
- FAQ
Tinder is a legitimate dating app owned by Match Group, with 8.5 million paying users in mid-2026, and it is still the biggest pool to swipe through in most cities. The free version works for matching and messaging; paid tiers mainly buy unlimited likes, seeing who liked you and priority placement, and Tinder sets prices individually by region, subscription length, past purchases and account activity. The tradeoffs are fake profiles and scammers, account bans with little explanation, and subscriptions that auto-renew at full price. Use Face Check verified profiles, never send money to a match, and cancel through the same store you paid with.
Your options
- Owner
- Match Group (Nasdaq: MTCH), which also owns Hinge, Match, OkCupid and Plenty of Fish1
- Paying users
- 8.5 million Tinder payers in Q2 2026, down 5% from a year earlier; average revenue per payer $17.90 a month1
- Paid tiers
- Tinder Plus, Gold and Platinum; Platinum adds Prioritized Likes to Gold's See Who Likes You3
- Pricing
- Not published as a price list; Tinder says prices vary by region, subscription length, bundle size, past purchases and account activity2
- App Store prices seen
- Tinder Plus $9.99; Tinder Gold $13.99 to $24.99; 1 Boost $3.99 to $7.99 (subscription length not shown), October 20264
- Identity check
- Face Check video selfie required for new users in California since June 2025 and rolling out to more U.S. states5
- Refunds
- Generally non-refundable; 3-business-day right to cancel in AZ, CA, CO, CT, IL, IA, MN, NY, NC, OH, RI and WI2
- Age-pricing settlement
- $60.5 million class settlement for California Plus and Gold subscribers 29 and over (Candelore v. Tinder), final approval June 5, 20261
Pros
- Largest dating pool in many areas
- Free version lets you match and message
- Face Check video verification cuts down on fake profiles where required
- 4.2 App Store rating from 1.75 million ratings
- 3-business-day cancellation right in 12 states
Cons
- Prices are personalized and not published
- Discounted subscriptions renew at full price unless you cancel
- Fake profiles and romance scammers still get through
- Bans can be permanent with little explanation, and a Tinder ban can extend to other Match Group apps
- Trustpilot score of 1.1 from 5,128 reviews
Best for: Adults in cities or suburbs who want the widest pool of people nearby and are comfortable screening matches themselves.
Skip it if: You want detailed profiles aimed at long-term relationships, or you are not willing to do a Face Check video selfie.
Tinder vs. competitors
| Company | Owner | App Store rating | Paid tiers | App Store prices seen | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tinder | Match Group | 4.2 (1.75 million ratings) | Plus, Gold, Platinum | $9.99 to $24.99 | |
| Hinge | Match Group | 4.4 (1.13 million ratings) | Hinge+, HingeX | $14.99 to $34.99 | Read review |
| Bumble | Bumble Inc. | 4.3 (1.77 million ratings) | Boost, Premium | $7.99 to $32.99 | Read review |
| Match | Match Group | Subscription | Read review |
Dating apps we reviewed
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Tinder This review BestGuide rating: 3.9 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Adults in cities or suburbs who want the widest pool of people nearby and are comfortable screening matches themselves. -
Tawkify BestGuide rating: 4.4 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Busy singles who want a long-term relationship, are open to blind dates, and can spend thousands of dollars to have a matchmaker do the searching. -
Hinge BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Singles who want a relationship, are willing to write a real profile, and live in or near a city with an active Hinge community. -
Christian Mingle BestGuide rating: 4.2 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Christian singles who want a faith-specific dating pool and will commit to a longer plan to keep the monthly cost down. -
eharmony BestGuide rating: 4.0 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Singles, often 40 and older, who want a committed relationship and like quiz-based matching. -
OkCupid BestGuide rating: 3.9 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Daters who want to match on values and answers to questions, including LGBTQ daters who want many identity options, and who are happy to stay on a free plan. -
Bumble BestGuide rating: 3.7 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who want a second swipe app beside Tinder or Hinge, cheap Boost add-ons, or a way to meet friends through BFF. -
Match.com BestGuide rating: 3.7 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Daters over 30 who want detailed profiles, search filters and the option of in-person events, and who will manage a paid subscription carefully.
Tinder pricing at a glance
Tinder tiers and App Store prices, October 20262
| Tier | What it adds | App Store prices seen |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Swiping, matching and messaging, with a daily like limit | $0 |
| Tinder Plus | Unlimited Likes, unlimited Rewinds, no ads, Passport to anywhere, Incognito | $9.99 |
| Tinder Gold | Everything in Plus, plus See Who Likes You, weekly Super Likes and 1 monthly Boost | $13.99, $18.99, $24.99 (length not shown) |
| Tinder Platinum | Everything in Gold, plus Prioritized Likes | Not shown in the App Store's top purchases |
| Boosts and Super Likes | One-off purchases | 1 Boost $3.99 to $7.99; 5 Super Likes $4.99 |
Tinder does not publish a fixed price list. Its terms say prices and promotions vary by region, subscription length, bundle size, past purchases and account activity, and discounted subscriptions renew at full price. Apple lists only the top in-app purchases, so the price you see in the app may differ.
Tinder, step by step
Create a profile
Sign up with a phone number or email, add photos and a bio. Tinder's terms set 18 as the minimum age.
Verify with Face Check
In California and other areas where it is required, record a short video selfie. Tinder keeps an encrypted face map to check your photos and block duplicate accounts.
Swipe and match
Swipe right to like and left to pass. When two people like each other, you match and can message.
Decide whether to pay
Upgrades add unlimited likes, see who liked you and priority placement. Compare the price in the app with the renewal price before you buy.
Meet safely
Video chat first, meet in public, and tell a friend your plans. Never send money or gift cards to someone you met on the app.
Cancel and delete
Cancel the subscription in Apple, Google Play or your Tinder account settings, depending on where you paid. Deleting the app or your profile does not cancel billing.
Tinder legitimacy and licensing
Yes. Tinder is run by Tinder LLC and owned by Match Group, a public company that also owns Hinge, Match, OkCupid and Plenty of Fish. Match Group reported 8.5 million paying Tinder users and $457 million in Tinder direct revenue in the second quarter of 2026, with payers down 5% from a year earlier.
The app itself is real; some of the people on it are not. Reviews on Trustpilot (1.1 out of 5) center on fake profiles, bots and bans, while the App Store rating is 4.2 from more than 1.7 million ratings. Use verified profiles and keep conversations on the app until you have met someone.
How much Tinder costs
Tinder is free to use, with three subscription tiers. Plus adds unlimited likes and rewinds, no ads, Passport and Incognito. Gold adds See Who Likes You, weekly Super Likes and a monthly Boost. A paid feature that shows your profile to more people for a short time. Compare dating apps. Platinum adds Prioritized Likes.
Tinder does not post a price list. Its terms say pricing varies by region, length of subscription, bundle size, past purchases and account activity, and that it regularly tests prices. In October 2026 the App Store’s top purchases showed Tinder Plus at $9.99, Tinder Gold at $13.99 to $24.99 and single Boosts at $3.99 to $7.99. Check the renewal price before you confirm, because promotional prices renew at full price.
Tinder's age-based pricing settlement
Tinder has charged some older users more. In Candelore v. Tinder, a California class action filed in 2015, subscribers argued that charging people over a certain age more for Tinder Plus violated California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act. The class covered California Plus and Gold subscribers 29 and over. The parties agreed to a $60.5 million settlement in September 2025, and the court granted final approval on June 5, 2026, according to Match Group’s SEC filing.
What customers say about Tinder
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Largest pool of active users in many cities
- Simple, fast swiping that is easy to start
- Free version is usable without paying
- Some users report long-term relationships that started on the app
Common complaints
- Fake profiles, bots and accounts promoting other social media
- Paid features that don't lead to more matches
- Account bans with little explanation and slow support
- Subscription prices and add-on fees seen as too high
- Glitches and lost matches after updates
Fake profiles, scams and Face Check
Tinder’s main safety tool is Face Check, a short video selfie that new users must complete in California (since June 2025), Canada, Colombia and other areas, with more U.S. states being added. Tinder deletes the video after review but keeps an encrypted face map and face vector. Tinder says exposure to likely bad actors dropped by 60% where it launched.
Romance scams still happen. The FTC’s warning signs: a match who can’t meet in person, asks for money for emergencies or travel, or wants payment by gift card, wire transfer, payment app or crypto. Never send money to someone you haven’t met, run a reverse image search on suspicious photos, and report scams in the app and at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Complaints and account bans
The most common complaints are bots and fake profiles, paid features that don’t produce matches, and bans with little explanation. Tinder’s terms let it share safety data with other Match Group apps and ban users across them, including Hinge, Match, OkCupid and Plenty of Fish. Tinder may also end your account if you file a chargeback, so ask for a refund through the proper channel first.
How to cancel Tinder and get a refund
Cancel where you paid. If you subscribed with Apple or Google Play, cancel in that store’s subscription settings; Apple handles its own refunds. If you paid on tinder.com or in the app with a card, cancel in the Account section. Deleting the app or your profile does not stop billing.
Tinder’s purchases are generally non-refundable, and Super Likes, Boosts and other virtual items are final. Subscribers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Wisconsin can cancel for a refund before midnight of the third business day after subscribing. In the EU, UK and Switzerland the window is 14 days.
Who should skip Tinder
If you want someone looking for a long-term relationship and dislike screening a high volume of profiles, Hinge or Match may waste less of your time. If you’re in a small town, check how many profiles show up on the free version before paying. And if you are uncomfortable giving a dating app a video selfie and a stored face map, Tinder may require it where you live.
Alternatives to Tinder
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Hinge
Better if you want longer profiles with prompts and are dating for a relationship rather than volume.
-
Bumble
A large swipe app with a different culture and its own verification, worth running alongside Tinder.
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Match.com
A paid-first site that suits older daters who want detailed profiles and fewer casual users.
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In-person events and clubs
Free or low-cost options like run clubs, classes and community events avoid fake profiles entirely; Tinder itself now runs in-person events in the U.S. and Europe.
Next steps
Tinder reviews
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Frequently asked questions
Is Tinder free?
Yes. You can swipe, match and message for free, with a limit on daily likes. Plus, Gold and Platinum subscriptions add unlimited likes, see who liked you and priority placement.
How much is Tinder Gold?
Tinder does not publish a fixed price; it varies by region, subscription length and your account. In October 2026 the App Store showed Tinder Gold purchases at $13.99, $18.99 and $24.99, without listing the subscription length.
What is the difference between Tinder Plus, Gold and Platinum?
Plus gives unlimited likes and rewinds, no ads, Passport and Incognito. Gold builds on Plus with See Who Likes You, weekly Super Likes and a monthly Boost, and Platinum adds Prioritized Likes on top of everything in Gold.
Why is Tinder more expensive for me than for my friend?
Tinder's terms say prices vary by region, subscription length, bundle size, past purchases and account activity, and it tests prices. A California class action over higher prices for users 29 and over settled for $60.5 million in 2026.
Are Tinder profiles real?
Many are, but fake profiles and scammers remain a top complaint. Look for profiles that passed Face Check or photo verification, video chat before meeting, and never send money.
What is Tinder Face Check?
Face Check is a short video selfie Tinder uses to confirm you match your photos and to block duplicate accounts. It has been required for new users in California since June 2025 and is rolling out to more U.S. states.
How do I cancel Tinder Gold?
Cancel where you paid: Apple subscription settings for iPhone purchases, Google Play for Android store purchases, or the Account section on tinder.com for card payments. Deleting your account does not cancel the subscription.
Can I get a refund from Tinder?
Purchases are generally non-refundable. In 12 U.S. states, including California and New York, you can cancel for a refund before midnight of the third business day after subscribing; Apple handles refunds for Apple purchases.
Is Tinder just a hookup app?
Tinder is used for everything from casual dates to relationships, and Match Group does not publish a breakdown of what users want. If you want a serious relationship, say so in your bio and consider pairing Tinder with Hinge.
Why was my Tinder account banned?
Tinder can ban accounts for violating its terms or community guidelines and does not always explain why, citing user safety. A ban can extend to other Match Group apps, and filing a chargeback can also lead to termination.
Sources (10)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Match Group: Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 (SEC EDGAR) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Tinder: Terms of Use (effective March 5, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Tinder: Subscription tiers (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Apple App Store: Tinder Dating App (accessed October 12, 2026)
- TechCrunch: Tinder will require new users in the US to verify their identity with a selfie (October 22, 2025) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Match Group: Second quarter 2026 results (SEC Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Trustpilot: Tinder reviews (accessed October 12, 2026)
- FTC: What to know about romance scams (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Apple App Store: Hinge Dating App (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Apple App Store: Bumble Dating App (accessed October 12, 2026)
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