Online dating will be one of the most common ways to date in 2025. Probably have already heard about apps like Tinder, Bumble , Hinge and the 300 other dating app variants. However, the question is which dating app suits you best. Of course, this also depends on what you are looking for.

In this blog post, I compare the most popular dating apps, the pros and cons, along with tips to get more matches and dates. "We listen and we don't judge". So whether you are seriously looking for some more casuals I will help you with a good insight and to swipe well and find matches. With these apps you can move forward. 

Overview of Dating Apps

We are going to look at the five best-known apps that you probably heard about before reading this blog. Basically, all dating apps are free (read: freemium) to use. 

Dating Apps

• • Tinder

• • Bumble

• • Hinge

• • Breeze

• • Happn

We are going to judge them on the number of users, subscriptions, serious vs casual dating.

Tinder

Tinder is by far the most popular dating app in the Netherlands and is also the easiest to create an account for. Within minutes you can upload a few photos and start swiping. You get 50 swipes to the right per day with the free version. Because Tinder has a somewhat lower entry barrier, there are also more fake profiles on it.

Tinder Plus

Tinder Plus is Tinder's basic paid subscription and what comes with it is:

• • Unlimited swipes per day - You may now swipe right (or left) as many times a day as you like 

• • unlimited rewinds (accidentally swiped to the left? go back a profile)
    - Tinder Passport that allows you to change location with the app without actually changing location

• • No ads 

• • Incognito Swiping - Only the people you have swiped to the right can see your profile (this is optional)

Tinder Gold

Tinder Gold, aka the second tier model of Tinder where you already get some more benefits on top of the benefits of the Plus subscription:
Seeing your likes

• • New top picks every day - Profiles selected specifically for you based on your swiping behavior

• •  5 Super Likes per day - Your like gets priority over other likes someone receives

• • 1 boost per month - For 30 Minutes your profile becomes one of the top profiles in your area (if your profile is bad you won't get much benefit from this)

Tinder Platinum

Until recently, this was the highest subscription you could get the most benefit from with even more benefits on top of the "perks" of the previous models.

• • Like Priority - All your normal likes are seen faster than those of the other users, unless it is a Superlike

• • Messages for matching - You can send a message with a like (just like Hinge)View Likes over the past 7 days - You can view all your likes over the past 7 days

Tinder Select

The most exclusive subscription of Tinder called Select for which you pay 500 euros per month in the last known message. You get the following benefits with it:

• • Private message: Up to 2 times a week you can send someone a message without matching first. Please note that you can only send a private message through the Sent Likes tab. You cannot send a Super Like at the same time, and some users may opt out of receiving private messages.

• • Skip the line: People you like can view your profile in their Likes You page, even if they don't have a Gold or Platinum subscription. Your profile also stays at the top among their likes for 7 days.

• • Special status: Show off your membership with an exclusive SELECT badge. If you do not want to add this badge to your profile, you can opt out in your Settings.

• • SELECT mode: See and be seen by the most popular profiles on Tinder and find someone who really suits you.

• • VIP Experience: Memberships are given to less than 1% of users to ensure you get the most exclusive experience.

But to apply for this subscription, according to the Tinder website, you must meet some requirements namely:

Bumble

The dating app that became popular after Tinder in part because women make the first move. This means that after a match, only women can send a message, question or GIF first. This app is mostly considered a more "serious" dating app than Tinder. The free version allows unlimited likes. Bumble also seems to be more female-friendly. After you match, the lady gets 24 hours to make the first move and you then get 24 hours to respond to that. Bumble is also often seen vs. Tinder as one of the apps for serious relationships.

Bumble Boost

Also called the lowest tier subscription from Bumble where you can enjoy:

• • 1 Spotlight per week - Bumble's boost where you become one of the most visible profiles for 30 minutes

• • 5 Superswipes per week - Your like gets priority over other likes someone receives

• • Unlimited liking - You may now swipe right (or left) as many times a day as you like 

• • Renew Matches - If your match hasn't responded after 24 hours, you can give them another 24 hours

• • Rematch - Expired matches can be matched again

• • Undo - You can reclaim someone you accidentally swiped to the left

• • See all your likes - an overview of all the likes you get to see your potential matches

Bumble Premium

Bumble's second tier subscription where you get additional options such as:

• • Private mode - Only the people you have swiped to the right can see your profile (this is optional)

• • Travel mode - Swiping at another location worldwide

• • Additional Search Filters - You can filter out certain characteristics, such as height, education or sport

• • Viewing your likes - You can see all your likes and like them back 

Bumble Premium+

The highest tier of Bumble where you get some additional options such as:

• • Priority Likes - All your normal likes are seen faster than those of the other users, unless it is a Superlike

• • Every week 2 compliments - You can send a compliment/message with a like

• • Standing out more - Your profile stands out more than those of other users

• • Everything from Premium and Boost

Hinge

The dating app "designed to be deleted" with more than 20 million users. Unlike Tinder, Hinge actually wants you to create as comprehensive a profile as possible with a minimum number of photos of 6 and a mandatory number of prompts or questions to answer. This also makes Hinge the app with the highest entry barrier. Compared to Tinder and Bumble, users on Hinge tend to be more serious about it.

Hinge+

Hinge has only two subscription types unlike Bumble and Tinder. Hinge + features the following:

• • Unlimited likes - You may now swipe right (or left) as many times a day as you like 

• • View all your likes - an overview of all the likes you get to see your potential matches

• • Use dating filters - Filter by certain characteristics such as height or religion

• • Sort all your incoming likes - Sort your likes by recentness or use

HingeX

The highest tier premium version of Hinge with the following included 

• • Priority likes - All your normal likes are seen faster than those of other users, unless it's a Superlike

• • Enhanced recommendations - Your Hinge Standouts are much more attuned to you

• • Includes the benefits of Hinge+

Happn

The idea of Happn is that you swipe on profiles you've met in real life or that you cross paths with often (enough). It is somewhat less popular than the Big 3 (Tinder, Bumble and Hinge) but still has plenty of enthusiasm in the Netherlands. 

Happn Premium

• • Send unlimited likes - You may now swipe right (or left) as many times a day as you like 

• • 10 Supercrushes a day - Your like gets priority over other likes someone receives

• • Seeing who has liked you - an overview of all the likes you get to see your potential matches

• • Use more filters

• • Rewind - You can reclaim someone you accidentally swiped to the left

• • No ads

Breeze

Dutch dating app with a rather innovative use, as soon as you match you go on a date. Every day you get to see new profiles at 07:00 in the morning and 19:00 at night with a maximum of 20 profiles per day.

The concept is that you pay 4.50 euros p.p. and cannot chat until an hour before the date thus avoiding a lot of fuss. Happn has a number of "regular spots" that then host the date.

• • No chat function until an hour before the date

• • Payment

• • Walk & Talk vs drinks at bar

Honorable mentions

Inner Circle, Badoo, Raya, Grindr, Lexa

Serious Relationships vs Casual Dating

Whether your goal is to find the one and only or just casual dating, dating apps all have their own value. It won't be about the best app for you, but rather what your goals are. 

• • Tinder is easiest to create a profile on and date casually

• • Bumble is a little more difficult because it requires more commitment with profile creation but is already more suitable for seriously seeking singles

• • Hinge is often seen as the most serious dating app for relationships, however, your profile will determine what you will encounter on it. Hinge is also a bit easier to match on based on your profile because you can send a message along with it.

• • Breeze and has no chat and thus depends purely on your profile strength (read: photos).

Dating Photography

At the end of the day, your photos are what matter most. You can have the best personality in the world, but on dating apps you swipe at images - not character. And bad photos? People just swipe those away.

10x your dates! Hire a dating photographer. A photographer who understands how dating apps work and won't just take headshots of you that then don't work. Otherwise, check out the home page.

Or access personalized feedback with the Profile roast. It takes you less than 2 minutes to get started.