How Does Hinge Work?

The world of dating apps can be a minefield of frustration and disappointment. This is especially true if you don’t hear back from your matches or when the other person never seems to want to meet up.

Hinge, on the other hand, claims to be different. It markets itself as a relationship app and is specifically designed to encourage interaction between its users.

If you’ve heard about Hinge but are wondering how does Hinge work, keep reading as we tell you what to expect from this increasingly popular app.

How Does Hinge Work?

On the surface, Hinge has a lot in common with other popular dating apps available.

It differs from others in that it demands more profile content than some apps to ensure that people are more serious about wanting a relationship when they set up an account.

Don’t get us wrong; it doesn’t take ages to set up a profile, but you can’t do so in two minutes on a whim.

The first thing you need to do to use Hinge is to set up a user profile.

Creating an Account

Like many other popular dating apps, you are invited to match with other people based on a location search. This means that everyone you match with will live fairly near to you.

Being within the same area makes the dating process much simpler than if the other person were three states away from you.

For this reason, to use Hinge, you must give the app permission to use your location when you download it to your phone.

You can log in to Hinge with your Facebook, or you can set it up using your mobile phone number.

All that’s left to do then is to add some personal information, photos, and fill in three profile prompts of your choice, and you’re ready to go.

Personal Information

Once your account is set up, you’ll be asked for some personal information about yourself, including your age, height, and weight.

You’ll also be asked your ethnicity, education, and about any vices you may have (smoking, drugs, alcohol). The app will then use this information to suggest matches for you.

If, however, you feel like any of the information you’ve given is too personal for sharing, then you can choose to keep this information hidden from your public profile.

It will still be used to make matches, but no one looking at your profile will be able to see your answers.

Photos

Setting up a Hinge account also requires that you upload a minimum of six photos or videos to your profile.

If you’ve ever used a dating app where some people just have one picture, then you know how frustrating it can be.

Having a few different photos on your profile allows your prospective matches to get a slightly better idea of you, your style, and your hobbies or lifestyle.

If you’ve logged in with Facebook, you can just pick some photos from your Facebook account to use. Otherwise, you’ll have to upload them from your phone.

Unlike other apps, Hinge allows you to “like” and comment on individual photos, as opposed to an entire profile.

This can often be a great way to start new conversations with any potential matches, especially at times where you have a hobby or cute pet in common.

Profile Prompts

One of the things we particularly like about Hinge are the profile prompts it gives you, which give you some great ideas on how you can bulk out the information you share.

Some of these prompts include “I know I’ve made it when…”, or “the dorkiest thing about me is…”, or “I should win an award for…”.

These provide a great opportunity to come across as funny and interesting but remember to always remain honest and true to yourself.

There's no point in pretending to be something you’re not, as Hinge users are looking for something more serious and long-lasting than just one date.

Using Hinge

Once you’ve got your account and profile set up, you can begin your quest to find someone special to share your life with.

This process involves liking people and getting matches. Then, it’s all up to you guys to make a connection.

Likes

The first few people you see on your Hinge “newsfeed,” will be suggested matches for you.

After that, they will become more general, such as eligible singles in your area who are looking for a relationship.

You can start sending out likes to people immediately. They can be profile likes or a photo like.

You can only view one person at a time, so you’ll need to look at and read their profile before deciding whether you like or don’t like them.

Once you’ve given your decision, Hinge will show you a new person, and then another, and so on.

Matches

You’ll receive a match when someone you’ve liked has liked you back. You’ll receive an alert telling you that you have a match, and you’ll be able to communicate with them directly.

The more likes you give, the more matches you’ll have. Unfortunately, the free version of Hinge only allows you a certain number of likes per day.

With Hinge’s preferred membership, you receive an unlimited amount of likes, enabling you to cast out your “love-net” even further.

Top Tips for Using Hinge

If you like the idea of finding a new relationship by using the Hinge app, then we’ve got some top tips to help you stand out from the crowd.

Choose Your Photos Well

To give other users an idea of who you are and what you look like, you would want to choose photos that represent you.

Use A Good Range

Try to use a range of photos that best represent who you are as a person and what you enjoy doing in your free time.

For example, you can upload a photo of you with your dog, a picture of you out walking or climbing, one with your family or friends, one at Christmas, and so on.

Having a good range also gives people more opportunity to strike up a conversation with you.

Okay, so maybe that picture of you climbing isn’t your favorite photo of yourself. Still, we encourage you to use it, especially if it’s the only one you have.

If a fellow climber was to stumble upon your profile, this photo could make them like you so that they can talk to you about climbing.

Sometimes attraction can develop a little later on in a relationship, so give it a chance to get there!

Group Photos

It’s okay to use one, or even a few, group photos, but make sure it’s obvious which one is you.

You can do this by starting off with some solo shots so that people know who to look out for in the group image.

You can also crop images to make yourself appear more centrally.

Go on Dates

Too many people join dating apps and services and are then too scared to meet up in person.

You can chat for hours, days, weeks, or months, raising your hopes and expectations of a person as much as you want.

However, ideally, you need to have a face-to-face meeting in order to tell whether you make a good relationship match.

Meeting a person in “real-life” is often daunting, but if you are looking for a long-term “real-life” relationship, then you’re going to have to meet at some point.

Why put off the inevitable? We think the sooner you both find out whether or not there's chemistry between you, the better!

Stay Safe

Obviously, make sure that when you do go on dates, do it safely, regardless of your sex.

Make sure someone knows where you’re going, as well as who you’re going with, and always insist on meeting up in a public place.

You should also be careful about giving out your personal information online, including your phone number and home or work address.

Final Words

So, now that you know how does Hinge work, what are you waiting for?

The way that Hinge markets itself means that you’ll only be matched with other singles that are also looking for love.

Other apps can lead to a lot of unwanted attention, as they are more casually viewed as dating apps.

Spend a little bit of time setting up your profile and show a few friends to find out what they think. They’ll soon tell you if your profile represents you well or not.

Happy hunting with Hinge!