A Comprehensive Review Of Hinge
A Reservations guide to the dating app Hinge.
It used to be that Hinge was for finding a relationship. But now it seems to be a hookup app, a tool for passing time. Hinge markets itself as “the dating app that’s designed to be deleted” but it often feels more like the dating app that’s designed to be deleted, and then reinstalled during moments of existential dread. The algorithm also appears to be uniquely proficient at coming up with people you don’t want to see: your ex, the physiotherapist you regret sleeping with, or that guy you went to school with who wasn’t a good match for you back then and still isn’t. Do we need to relive every mistake?
What Is Hinge?
Hinge is a free dating app that most single people have used at least once in their lives. (Anecdotally speaking), it’s always appeared to me as the most popular dating app, but a 2024 study found it’s actually the third (after Tinder and Bumble); data I find fascinating.
The brand says its algorithm is about helping you find your “romantic match” (whatever that is?), not keeping you on the app. It had a reputation as the app to use if you were serious about finding a partner, but it’s evolved into simply another dating app. “Be warned: guys from Tinder have just jumped over to Hinge now,” my friend Sabrina told me. Or, like someone else said: “It’s just what everyone is using these days over Tinder or Bumble.”
What’s Good?
Despite my pre-articulated reservations, Hinge is my preferred dating app, for these reasons:
The design. It’s very clean—black and white, no colour
The functionality is user friendly—you don’t swipe left or right, you simple click ‘X’ on the people you aren’t interested in, then you’re shown another person. Or, you can try to match with someone by liking a picture or prompt in their profile (you do this by tapping the heart next to it)
If you match (ie. they like you back), a chat opens and anyone can start the conversation (on Bumble, it’s up to the woman, which becomes a burden in itself)
I’ve found most people to be kind (even if we aren’t aligned)
Hinge doesn’t encourage that whole ‘gamification’ culture on a dating app—it’s very clean, the features are simple, and there aren’t any “rewards” for number of swipes or matches
How Does It Work?
Hinge says it’s built on a Nobel Prize-winning algorithm but when you try to find more information about this on its website, you’re taken to a page that details the company’s broader mission. Hinge makes it clear they conduct intensive research into relationship, emotion, and behavioural science and that their team consists of data scientists and researchers. However, as a user of a Hinge, it feels as if the people I’m shown are completely at random—rarely do we have anything in common and I notice that we’re hardly ever the same level of attractiveness. It’s important to note this is referring to the free version of the app—I’ve never paid for Hinge but I recently asked people on Instagram and the majority said they get better matches with the paid version.
Tell Me More About The Algorithm?
I can’t. I approached Hinge for an interview but they never responded.
They did however give an interview to Vice once, in which Logan Ury, director of relationship science at Hinge, clarified things. It turns out that the app itself has not won a Nobel Prize, but rather that it implements something called the Gale-Shapley algorithm, which has won a Nobel Prize (in 2012). This algorithm establishes a system by which everyone is able to find the person they most prefer from among those who prefer them.
Ury told Vice: “It’s not just based on who you are likely to like, it’s also based on who is likely to like you back. It’s all about pairing people who are likely to mutually like one another.”
What If You’re Newly Single?
Hinge is the perfect place to start. It’s not overwhelming, the people are overwhelmingly good, and nobody is going to send you a picture of their penis. Having said that, I do wish Hinge could remain an app for people serious about finding a partner. We need it!
When Is The Best Time To Use It?
Monday is the most engaged day by far. I can only assume that people come off the back of a loveless weekend and roll onto Hinge. Which makes sense, because the second most engaged day is Thursday—are you ready for the weekend?
Hinge Things
Figuring out your dating goals = fuckboy
All the super hot people are trapped behind the ‘rose’ section on the free version, but it’s a social faux pas on Hinge to send a rose. As such, this has affectionately been coined the “rose jail”
There is something called Most Compatible but I strongly recommend you ignore this. On that topic, the director of relationship science at Hinge said the app “learns who you like and who is most likely to like you back, and that's who shows up in your most compatible.” Fortunately, I trust myself more than I trust Hinge, so I take my Most Compatibles with a grain of salt
No mention of dating goals = they share custody of a greyhound with their ex-partner of 10 years who they only broke up with two months ago (avoid)
Men are usually 1 inch shorter than what the profile says
You can’t filter (height, location) etc without paying for the app. You can, however, set an age limit (eg. 35-40 years old) and a location range (eg. within 10km of you)
In all other contexts, the concepts of personal growth/growth mindset are admirable but on Hinge it’s a red flag
Long term relationship, open to short = they are absolutely not open to short but don’t want to seem desperate (me)
For some reason, the following things are omnipresent: pineapple on pizza, men who fish or climb rocks, margaritas, love languages, references to The Office, a distaste for slow walkers, the phrase ‘heyyy’
Dos
Put your real dating goals on there. I recently matched with a guy who noticed my goals were, ‘Looking for a long-term relationship’ so he immediately flagged that he was after a FWB scenario (I had to google this, it means ‘friends with benefits’) and it meant I could politely decline; we went our separate ways
Use recent, good quality pictures. The rule is: only one selfie, a picture of you doing something active and at least one of you with a friend (but strictly no group shots)
Get off the app and on to a date with someone as soon as possible. Nobody wants a pen pal; the only way to know is to meet in person
Relax and have fun. Try to approach it with good intentions: to meet interesting people and (hopefully) go on some nice dates
Don’ts
Ghost
Audio prompts. They’re just weird
Spend too much time on the app. It’s easy to become addicted to Hinge. I use the function on iPhone to set screen time limits—I allow myself max. 15 mins a day
Obsess about whether or not Hinge “works”—it’s a meeting place, much like a bar or a Swans game. At the end of the day, it’s a tool for potentially meeting someone, but it’s not necessarily going to change your life
Hinge did not respond to my request for comments.
Dani, this is a window into a world I do not inhabit (i.e. a very married, very boring toddler mom) so I’m living vicariously through you. Cackled my way through this, I love it!! 💕