Tinder in the test (2021): Our experiences with the dating app

TINDER

December 28, 2021 at 4:26 pm

Tinder revolutionized online dating. You are looking for love based on photos that you liked or disliked. Will that still work in 2021? A test.

1. The Tinder principle explained

2. Superficial? So life is.

3. Is this all about sex?

4. Free or paid?

5. Conclusion & alternatives

The “Tinder” app has become almost synonymous with “online partner search”. The dating app can now be found not only on the smartphones of millions of users, but also in the feature sections of Spiegel, Stern, Zeit and Co. Even the Duden officially lists “tinden” as a verb.

However, the app has a dubious reputation. “Tinder is superficial” or “Tinder is all about sex” are two common prejudices against the dating app. Can our test invalidate it or should you look elsewhere for the great love? There’s only one way to find out: we’ll sign into Tinder. Registration is free and can be done via the iOS or Android app or via the Tinder website.

The Tinder principle explained

A Facebook account and a mobile phone number are required for registration. The use of Tinder without Facebook and mobile phone number is no longer possible without tricks. The provider wants to make the creation of fake profiles more difficult.

If you have a Facebook account, we recommend that you use this for registration. Because then the setup is done quickly. You don’t have to fill out a questionnaire or upload photos. Tinder takes most of the information straight from your Facebook profile.

If you do not want to transmit your Facebook data to Tinder, you can register with your own telephone number. Then you have to answer a few questions in advance before Tinder generates your profile. But even if you have registered with Tinder via Facebook, it is worth taking a look at the profile. You should be careful not to reveal too much about yourself directly. It is also advisable to add a short introductory text to the profile.

Once this is done, you can start. Tinder shows you a batch of photos. You can process this photo by photo. If you like a profile, tap the green heart or swipe right with your finger. Otherwise, click on the red “X” or swipe left. If you are unsure, you tap on the photo and you can see more photos and details of the proposed person in the profile. You can use additional buttons to increase your chances of flirting. However, some of these functions are chargeable.

The following table gives you an overview of which functions can be used free of charge at Tinder and which require a subscription to Tinder Plus, Gold or Platinum.

You can only write with a person if they also rate you positively. Then you have a so-called match. You can only influence which people are suggested to you to a limited extent. Tinder allows potential partners to be selected based on age, gender and distance from their current location. Unlike with Finya or Bumble, you cannot specify other preferences such as hair color, size, figure, smoker / non-smoker. At Tinder, it is primarily the appearance or the impression that the profile photo leaves on the other that decides whether you are liking or disapproving.

Tinder is as superficial as life

You can find that superficial, of course, but in fact Tinder only mimics “real life”. If you speak to someone in the disco, the selection of the flirt partner is only based on appearance. Or do you take a sign with you when you go out of the house that says your hobbies? Probably not.

So Tinder is a bit like the dance floor in your favorite club, only without music and without the risk of being rejected. After all, at a club you never know whether the person you have targeted will find you a good one. The response here is always associated with a risk. In a Tinder match, on the other hand, you can initially assume mutual interest. That increases self-esteem.

However, every match on Tinder does not automatically lead to a conversation. There are various reasons for this: It is difficult for many to write a potential flirt without much background knowledge about the person. Very few Tinder users make use of the option to write a few lines about themselves in their profile or indicate interests and if they do, then it is often secret Tinder codes that have to be decrypted first.

In our Tinder test, a longer chat only emerged from every 6th match. Tinder is now taking an offensive approach to this problem. The options for adding information to the profile have been continuously expanded since our last test in spring. So you can now enter your zodiac sign or your eating habits.

One of the biggest innovations, however, is the Explore area, in which you can get to know other users in interactive games – in Music Mode, for example, your taste in music plays a role alongside the photos.

If you chat with a match for a long time, further inadequacies of the app come to light. The chat is not very comfortable here. There is no search function. You cannot quote or send pictures to your contact.

Good conversations can therefore be continued more conveniently via WhatsApp or directly over a coffee. Alternatively, Tinder has also been offering video chat in the app since 2020.

Is Tinder All About Sex?

Even if Tinder is often referred to as a sex app in the media, in our experience you will not automatically polish up your sex life with the installation of the app. It may be due to the attractiveness of the author of this text, but igamesnews rarely received a clear offer in the test. The number of corresponding offers is apparently also dependent on gender. In conversation with other users it became clear that women on Tinder quite often receive sex offers. Many women therefore end their profile text with the note “No interest in ONS (One Night Stand).”

If you feel harassed by another user, you can report this to customer service. Experience has shown that Tinder takes action against corresponding users relatively quickly. The app also removes fake profiles from circulation within a very short time. You can also have your Tinder profile verified and show that you are real.

Tinder: That’s how much the dating app costs

What we also liked: The app can be used completely free of charge. Tinder now offers three different subscriptions with additional services, some of which can also be purchased individually in the app. However, this is not necessary for a match. The prices for a Tinder subscription vary depending on the age of the user and the device used.

In addition to these premium services, Tinder also uses advertising as a financing option. However, the number of advertisements in the app is negligible. According to its own statements, the service does not sell your data. Nevertheless, you should be careful with your information on Tinder. Too much information in the profile makes it easier for other Tinder users to find you on Facebook. So secure your Facebook profile in advance against unwanted glances.

Image source: Mactrunk //depositphotos.com