Match vs Tinder: Which Dating App is Best in 2024?

Published: June 21, 2022
Updated: August 17, 2023
match vs tinder couple having fun

Signing up for the best dating app can increase your chances of meeting the right person. Match and Tinder are both dating services with an established track record and many happy users. Have a look at how Match vs. Tinder compare.

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Picking the right dating app: Match vs Tinder

The best dating app for you mainly depends on your goals relating to your love life, relationships, and intimacy. Dating apps are a bit like your favorite podcast. You can’t decide without having tried a few. This applies to Match vs. Tinder as well as other dating services like eharmony.

Online dating app recommendations

Before you pick your favorite dating app, checking out our dating app recommendations is a good idea. 

These are some of the leading dating apps in the match-making market. Sign-up today for free:

Most Popular Choice
Match vs Tinder: Which Dating App is Best in [year]?
9.9
  • Most popular dating app in US
  • 100% match assured
  • Numerous positive reviews
Match vs Tinder: Which Dating App is Best in [year]?
9.6
  • Meet real asian, european, and latino singles
  • Real-time communication with efficient tools
  • Professional dating services
Match vs Tinder: Which Dating App is Best in [year]?
9.3
Meet and hook-up with neighbors. Search and view specific profiles in your area. Male profiles needed.
  • Free and easy registration.
  • Largest verified database in the US.
  • Thousands sign up every day.
  • Male profiles needed.
  • Guaranteed matches.
Match vs Tinder: Which Dating App is Best in [year]?
9.1
Meet Kinksters is an open-minded dating app where you can match based on romance and compatibility in the bedroom. Join our community of like-minded singles who know what they need, both in and out of the bedroom.
  • Match based on both taste and romantic compatibility
  • Stop wasting time on vanilla dating sites
  • No swiping here: Find who and what you're looking for
  • Show your face only when you're ready
  • Be yourself with dozens of genders and kink identities
Match vs Tinder: Which Dating App is Best in [year]?
8.8
Dating.com believes that dating isn’t about data, algorithms, how many friends you have in common, or whether you want a boy or a girl or no kids at all. Dating.com believes that dating is a chance — a chance to meet someone new, a chance for them to introduce you to people, places and things that you never knew that you’d love.  
  • 100 million active users
  • 100% verified accounts
  • Right now 60% of sales for Monthly plan
  • Easy start with the "Let's Mingle" feature
 
Match vs Tinder: Which Dating App is Best in [year]?
8.3
Christian Filipina is perfect for people who are looking for a serious relationship.
  • 24 hrs customer service
  • One on one Romance Consultations.
  • 100% real users.
Match vs Tinder: Which Dating App is Best in [year]?
8.0
  • Covers the entire United States, offering a vast pool of singles from diverse backgrounds and regions.
  • User-friendly interface that simplifies the process of finding matches and sending messages.
  • Sophisticated algorithms to ensure users are matched with those who share similar interests and values.
Match vs Tinder: Which Dating App is Best in [year]?
7.8
  • Receive curated matches in just 15 minutes
  • Send and receive pictures in private chats
  • A high-security chat with two-factor authentication
Match vs Tinder: Which Dating App is Best in [year]?
7.0
  • Large database of verified & attractive Asian and European singles
  • Efficient communication and instant messaging 
  • Top-level safety and professional support
 

The differences between Match vs Tinder

These are the key differences between the two dating apps.

MatchTinder
Who is it for?Singles looking for committed relationships and even marriage.Singles looking for swipe-based online dating. Tinder caters to younger users.
Registration detailsIn-depth registration process. Lots of detail about yourself and your goals.Streamlined registration using Facebook, Apple, or your phone number.
Memberships and profilesMatch gets about 3 million users logging in daily with detailed profiles.Over 75 million users make Tinder a household name in online dating.
Paid optionsTwo levels. You need to pay for basic features. Premium level lets you see who likes you and be seen by more members.Free service includes messaging. Paid subscription adds benefits and extra features to improve experience.
ProsQuality over quantity approach with curated matches called “Top Picks”.Messaging and all main features are free.
ConsYou need to pay for full messaging features.Not focused on long-term relationships or older users. No free customisable search and filtering options.

How is Match better than Tinder?

Match takes quality over quantity to heart by streamlining the profile selection process. The app will make daily profile suggestions based on the qualities you’re looking for. If you don’t like sifting through hundreds of profiles or setting up complex search filters, you’ll click with Match.

Match is better than Tinder for users who don’t like to swipe through an endless stream of profiles. Match uses its technology to narrow down who is compatible with you. This saves you time and can potentially lead to more meaningful connections. 

match vs tinder app screenshots

User profiles are also more detailed than on Tinder. This is understandable since a majority of Match users have more defined relationship goals. While Tinder caters to a younger and more diverse dating audience, Match focuses its app on better serving an older and more committed demographic.

If you are exclusively looking for a long-term committed relationship or even a potential spouse, then Match is likely the better choice. The majority of Match users are looking for a long-term partner.

Match key points 

Here are some important details to know about Match:

How is Tinder better than Match?

Tinder is best known for its swipe-based profile viewing mechanic. One of the first dating services to start off as an app (not a website), Tinder disrupted the industry by stripping the dating experience down to its core question: do you like this person? Yes or no.

Unlike Match, which places its emphasis on compatibility, Tinder is all about first impressions. You have to make a split-second decision based on a handful of profile pictures and a short bio. If you don’t decide, you just don’t get to see other profiles. 

match vs tinder app screenshots

As you swipe left and right, you make your way through a stack of profiles of people who are located within the distance and age range you set. Those are the only details that truly matter when it comes to getting a date on Tinder—how old and how far your match is.

As for the rest, Tinder transfers that responsibility to the user. Tinder has added other criteria for matching—beyond age and distance—but its core strength and reputation still hinges on geolocation and first impression dynamics through swiping. This is why Tinder appeals to a younger demographic: it’s dating, gamified and polarized.

Tinder key points

Here are some important details to know about Tinder:

Match vs Tinder: which one is cheaper?

Tinder and Match have multiple paid tiers. The basic paid option is called “Standard” for Match and “Plus” for Tinder. Match is more expensive than Tinder across most plans and durations. Take a look at the price comparison below.

It’s worth noting that Tinder offers different pricing depending on your age while Match has consistent pricing no matter your age.

Match vs. Tinder price comparison (under 30s)

Match StandardMatch Premium Tinder PlusTinder GoldTinder Platinum
1 monthn/an/a$4.99 per month$14.99 per month$19.99 per month
3 months$34.45 per month$40.41 per monthn/an/an/a
6 months$24.48 per month$26.51 per month$2.50 per month$7.50 per month$10.00 per month
12 months$21.84 per month$23.11 per month$1.67 per month$5.00 per month$6.67 per month

*Pricing provided for illustrative purposes based on available information at the time of writing.

Tinder is significantly cheaper than Match for singles under 30, no matter what level of Tinder paid subscription you choose. In fact, Tinder Platinum month-to-month rate is cheaper than the Match Standard monthly rate for its longest subscription.

This means that Tinder is offering its top-tier paid service for cheaper without commitment. Let’s take a look at what Match vs Tinder costs for over 30s singles.

Match vs Tinder price comparison (over 30s)

Match StandardMatch Premium Tinder PlusTinder GoldTinder Platinum
1 monthn/an/a$9.99 per month$29.99 per month$39.99 per month
3 months$34.45 per month$40.41 per monthn/an/an/a
6 months$24.48 per month$26.51 per month$5.00 per month$15.00 per month$20.00 per month
12 months$21.84 per month$23.11 per month$3.33 per month$10.00 per month$12.50 per month

*Pricing provided for illustrative purposes based on available information at the time of writing.

Tinder has the cheapest paid subscriptions when compared to what Match offers for over 30s. If you are just looking to save, then Tinder is clearly the more affordable choice here. However, price isn’t always the only deciding factor. 

Free vs paid features: how do these apps stack up?

What really sets Match vs. Tinder apart is how Tinder makes messaging matches available from the get-go for free users once they match up with someone. Match only lets you message certain profiles it has picked out for you in advance.

Tinder and Match have different features for users who use the service for free and those who pay. Let’s take a closer look at what each one offers to its free and premium users.

Match features: free vs paid options

Match features are divided up between one free and two paid options. Take a look at what option has the features you need for online dating.

Free optionStandard paid optionPremium paid option
✅ Profile creation✅ Profile creation✅ Profile creation
✅ Unlimited likes✅ Unlimited likes✅ Unlimited likes
✅ Message top picks Match has selected for you✅ Message top picks Match has selected for you✅ Message top picks Match has selected for you
✅ Unlimited messages (beyond top picks) ✅ Unlimited messages (beyond top picks)
✅ Receive messages from non-matches
✅ See who likes you
✅ Read receipts
✅ Monthly boosts
✅ Unlimited rewinds
✅ See who visited your profile
✅ Weekly super likes

Match’s free option seems similar to Tinder, but the difference is that you can only message top picks on Match. These are a limited number of profiles that Match picks out for you. If you match on Tinder, then unlimited messaging is possible with whoever you end up mutually swiping with.

While you can view and like as many profiles as you want, you won’t be able to message them unless you pay for the Standard paid option, at minimum. That is the only extra feature that the Standard option gives you.

When it comes to Premium features, Match vs. Tinder are pretty much equal. The only difference is price: Match is more expensive than Tinder.

Tinder features: free vs paid options

Compare what you can do with each version of Tinder, free or paid, below.

Tinder (free)Tinder PlusTinder GoldTinder Platinum
✅ Profile creation✅ Profile creation✅ Profile creation✅ Profile creation
✅ Match and chat✅ Match and chat✅ Match and chat✅ Match and chat
✅ Unlimited likes✅ Unlimited likes✅ Unlimited likes
✅ Unlimited rewinds✅ Unlimited rewinds✅ Unlimited rewinds
✅ Tinder Passport✅ Tinder Passport✅ Tinder Passport
✅ No ads✅ No ads✅ No ads
✅ 5 weekly SuperLikes✅ 5 weekly SuperLikes
✅ 1 Boost per month✅ 1 Boost per month
✅ See who likes you✅ See who likes you
✅ Daily top picks✅ Daily top picks
✅ Message without matching
✅ Prioritized likes
✅ See Likes from the previous week

The free version of Tinder has all the basic features you need to browse profiles, match, and chat with other users. Tinder Plus, Gold, and Platinum add features to make the online dating experience more pleasant.

Let’s take a closer look at the perks you get when paying for Tinder:

Which dating app is better for you? Match vs Tinder

Take a look at the pros and cons of each dating app so you can pick the right one when it comes to Match vs. Tinder.

Match pros and cons

These are the benefits and drawbacks of using the Match dating app.

ProsCons
✅ Quality over quantity approach❌ More expensive than Tinder.
✅ Engaged and active user base❌ Not suitable for casual dating
✅ Many users have found long-term partners and spouses thanks to Match

Tinder pros and cons

These are the advantages and disadvantages of the Tinder dating app.

ProsCons
✅ You can message for free once you match with someone.❌ Significantly more men than women use Tinder.
✅ Household name. Millions of active users.❌ You need to pay more to get features that come as standard on other dating sites.
✅ 3.8 out of 5 App Store review score. Editor’s Choice award.❌ Older users are forced to pay higher prices.

Match vs Tinder: final thoughts

When it comes to Match vs. Tinder, your choice of dating app depends on the following key questions:

If you are only interested in serious dating and committed relationships then Match will be the better choice for you. However, if you like swiping through profiles, then Tinder invented and refined that way of viewing profiles. When it comes to the cheapest dating app between Match vs. Tinder, then Tinder wins again.

Match vs Tinder FAQ

You can find answers to common Match vs. Tinder questions below.

Which one is better? Match vs Tinder

If swiping left and right through profiles is your preference, then Tinder is better than Match. However, if you like the idea of a dating app curating matches for you, then Match will be the better choice.

Is Tinder legit?

Tinder is definitely a legitimate dating app. In fact, Tinder is owned by Match Group —the owners of Match as well.

Which dating app will help me get married? Match vs Tinder

Both apps will help you get married, but Match is more likely to help you tie the knot because of its focus on compatibility. Match users are also more likely to be looking for long-term relationships than those on Tinder.

Which is cheaper? Match vs Tinder

Tinder is cheaper than Match. However, both apps have basic features as part of their free accounts. It’s worth checking out both apps for free first before paying. You may prefer one app’s approach to dating over the other.