"I knew it wouldn’t be long before I made it onto dating app TikTok, but it’s actually proven quite fruitful. I’ve found some very good Bumble openers (my current favorite: “If you could only have five apps on your phone, which would you choose?” which works like a charm at weeding out the people who will ask “What’s your snap?” five minutes later), and I’ve engaged in theories on whether or not to use selfies. But the biggest debate of all: Does Hinge hide all the hot people behind its Hinge Preferred membership paywall? Hinge+ (formerly Hinge Preferred and known as Hinge Premium) is a highly popular paid dating app feature that’s often the talk of the internet. From the weird pay structure (some people pay a smaller amount than others, and some TikTokers claim it has to do with the algorithm’s assessment of your “hotness”) to the embarrassing-yet-charming system of giving out a “rose,” Hinge didn’t have to try all that hard to sell me on testing it out.
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Why Use the Hinge Dating App?
I have used Hinge pretty much since it was released with little to nothing to show for it. So, why on Earth did I opt to pay for it then? After seeing dozens of TikToks claiming that Hinge hides all the best matches for you behind their Hinge Premium paywall, I knew I had to try the premium service for myself. I’ve had a similar experience as other people on the internet. I don’t really use Hinge because I never get any matches or meet anyone on there that I would be interested in. And I don’t mean it to be shallow. Plenty of them are attractive people, but conversations seem to go nowhere, and no one seems to be really interested. On Bumble, at least most of my matches make an effort to talk to me.
I also already tried Bumble Premium and had a great time, so I figured it was only fair to give Hinge Preferred a shot too.
How Hinge Works as a Dating App
Hinge sets itself apart from other dating apps by taking a fresh approach to matchmaking. Instead of focusing on endless swiping, Hinge encourages you to interact with profiles in a more personal and meaningful way. When you create your Hinge account, you’ll add photos, answer fun prompts, and share personal details that showcase your interests and values—making your profile feel authentic and unique.
READ: Hinge Prompts That Can Land You a Top-Tier Date
The app uses a combination of machine learning and an award-winning algorithm to suggest potential matches based on your preferences and interactions. You can browse through these potential matches and like or comment on specific elements of their profiles, which can lead to more genuine conversations. One of the standout features of Hinge is the ability to send unlimited likes, allowing you to explore potential matches without restrictions. This thoughtful design aims to foster meaningful connections rather than just casual encounters.
How Hinge Compares to Other Dating Apps
When comparing Hinge to other popular dating apps like Tinder and OkCupid, several key differences stand out. While all three apps offer similar features and functionality, Hinge is known for its unique approach to online dating. Unlike Tinder, which is often associated with casual hookups, Hinge focuses on creating meaningful connections. The app’s detailed profiles and engaging prompts encourage users to share more about themselves, leading to more authentic interactions.
Hinge is part of the Match Group, which owns other popular dating apps like Match and OkCupid. Hinge combines smart technology and an award-winning algorithm to suggest matches tailored to your preferences and interactions. As you browse, you can like or comment on specific parts of someone’s profile, often leading to better conversations. One of Hinge’s best features is unlimited likes, giving you plenty of opportunities to connect with people who catch your eye. It’s all designed to help you build real, meaningful connections—not just quick matches.
READ: The Newest Feature on Hinge Can Get You More Matches
Hinge Account Options: Free vs Paid
When it comes to Hinge, you have two main options: the free version and the two premium memberships: Hinge+ and HingeX.
- Free: You can send up to eight profile likes per day.
- Hinge+: Also called Hinge Preferred, this plan costs $29.99 per month (or less if you commit to a longer subscription). It includes unlimited likes, the ability to see who likes you, and advanced preference filters.
- HingeX: At $49.99 per month, this top-tier plan offers everything from Hinge+ plus some extra perks:
- Enhanced match recommendations
- Higher visibility and priority in matching
- Boosted profiles and likes so other users see them sooner
- Likes displayed upfront
The free version of the app allows you to create a profile, browse through potential matches, and send likes and comments. However, it does come with some limitations. For instance, free users have a daily limit on likes, which can be a bit frustrating if you’re on a roll.
On the other hand, Hinge Preferred offers a suite of premium features that can enhance your online dating experience. With a Hinge Preferred membership, you get unlimited likes, so you can keep the momentum going without any interruptions. You also gain access to advanced filters, allowing you to narrow down potential matches based on specific criteria like height, politics, and lifestyle choices. Additionally, you can see who has liked your profile, making it easier to connect with people who are already interested in you. Hinge Preferred is available for a monthly or annual subscription, giving you the flexibility to choose the plan that best suits your needs.
The Perks: Premium Features
With a free Hinge membership, you get to filter by age, location, gender identity, ethnicity, and religion, but that’s pretty much it. With a Preferred membership, you have unlimited filters and can sift matches through height, politics, if they drink, smoke, or do drugs, or if they have children. You also have unlimited likes, so your next Hinge-binge doesn’t have to be rudely interrupted when you’ve used up all of your likes on the funniest voice prompts.
With Hinge Preferred, the premium service, you’re also able to see all of your likes in one place. When you don’t pay for Hinge, you’ll get a handful of likes, but they likely won’t all come in at once. Premium Hinge allows you to see everyone who likes you, so if you’re shy or feel weird making the first move, this feature alone might make paying worth it.
The Price
Hinge Preferred (Hinge+) hurt my wallet a little less than Bumble did, so I’ll give it that. At $29.99 a month (or $19.99 a month when you pay for three months, $14.99 a month when you pay for six), Hinge is a pretty standard price as far as dating app pricing goes. Is that price worth it? Depends. Based on the perks above, I don’t think so, but it’s the unspoken perks that might make it a good option for you. I’ll explain later.
My Hinge Experience
I have not previously loved Hinge in the past. I despise having to “like” people before I know if they like me, and I often find myself just waiting around to get new likes rather than sifting through hinge profiles to like others. This has resulted in a whopping three dates since I joined the app in… wait for it… 2017. So, to say I was thrilled about this experiment would be a lie.
Because I’m not big on Hinge, there was a bit of a learning curve. I’ve always felt uncomfortable liking someone out of the blue, and I always felt like I never got any matches. As I started using Hinge more, I definitely felt better sending likes and roses, and I got more matches in this month than I maybe ever have on Hinge.
Something I love about Hinge is the ability to change your location to anywhere. When I was considering a move last summer, I changed my Hinge location to see what the people were like in all the different neighborhoods to get a feel for where I would want to live, and it was so helpful. However, I was constantly running out of likes going through all the people in that area. With Hinge Preferred, I was able to like as many people as I wanted, so I didn’t have to spend days on the app getting to know a new place. I even used this recently when my friends and I were planning a trip. I got some great recs from locals and might have lined up a double date or two for my friends and me.
READ: I Let My Friend Take Over My Dating Profile—Here’s What Happened Next
My Results
Compared to my normal use of Hinge (which is just letting likes roll in and checking the app maybe once a week to go through them), I had a lot more matches and conversations. Now, is this because I started paying? Unsure. I’ve also read that Hinge awards users who use the app. Why put someone who’s never swiping or talking to people at the top of everyone’s stack? It makes sense. When I started paying for Hinge’s premium service, I definitely began using the app a lot more. As I started liking people, giving out roses (Hinge, I’m begging you, please give me a less embarrassing way to tell someone they’re hot and funny), and having more conversations, more and more came pouring in. It’s hard to tell if this is because I’m now a paying customer or if I just finally gave the app a chance and they’re sending me a virtual “thank you.”
Did I see more hot people? Sadly, yes, but again, I began swiping instead of just relying on who liked me, and that made a world of a difference.
Final Verdict: Meaningful Connections
If you’ve tried other dating apps and Hinge is your favorite, I think you’ll have a better experience on the app if you pay for the premium subscription option of Hinge Preferred, but I wouldn’t say it’s necessary by any means. At the end of the day, I still prefer Bumble for the area that I live in, but I know if I ever move to a place where Hinge is more popular, I won’t be stuck single forever. Bottom line: Make sure you’re actually using the app and putting yourself out there, and if paying for the app encouraged you to do that as it did for me, you’ll have a good experience.
Beth Gillette, Former Editor
Beth Gillette is a former editor at The Everygirl, where she specialized in beauty content and covered the latest trends in sex and relationships. Beth spent four years as part of The Everygirl’s editorial staff and is currently a beauty editor at Cosmopolitan.