

Because it’s an app you pay for, users take it more seriously.Free option gives users only a preview, with no way to access matches or messages.Gives users extensive information about potential matches.Members are seriously looking for relationships or marriage.Why We Chose It: We chose Match because it’s the best option for serious daters who are marriage-minded. The Preferred Membership is about $30 for a month, $60 for three months, or $90 for 6 months and allows you to send unlimited links and set stricter filters. While it’s free, there is a paid version as well. Unlike other apps where you have to both agree to match before a message can be sent, people on Hinge can message you an opener to get the conversation going. In some cases, they might show you someone you already know which can be slightly uncomfortable. Many times they’ll choose someone extremely far away or with wildly different political affiliations. The algorithms daily pick for your best match is also notoriously not helpful. It all feels very much like an episode of The Bachelor. The app is free but wants people to pay, asking them to pay for virtual "roses" meant for standout matches the service chooses for you based on what you’re looking for. It gives you people’s last names and usually their neighborhood, age, height, job, hometown, and college. Hinge shows you more information about people, so if you’re uncomfortable meeting strangers from the internet, this makes it easier. Profiles offer prompts to get the conversation started like “If loving this is wrong, I don’t want to be right…” and “The one thing I’d love to know about you is….” Users can choose to connect with someone by tapping the conversation button and matching or leaving a comment on a page. Now, it simply connects users with people near the neighborhood they have chosen. When it was founded by CEO Justin McLeod, the app showed people profiles based on proximity as well as Facebook friends they shared in common.

Hinge started as a way to connect friends of friends and people in your network.

Why We Chose It: Hinge gives you a limited number of connections a day, making it a better option for people searching for more serious relationships.
