When you think of dating apps, you probably think about Tinder. Approximately 50 million people use the app each month, according to its website, and it’s been downloaded over 630 million times. So it makes sense if you’ve heard of it before — but you might still have questions about what Tinder is and how it works.
You’ve come to the right place. Scroll through for the answers to the top questions about Tinder.
What is Tinder?
Tinder is a dating app that launched in 2012. Once you make an account, you swipe right to “like” someone’s profile — trying to match — and swipe left to “skip” it. In 2026, the swipe model is everywhere on dating apps, but over a decade ago, it was pretty novel. Tinder has evolved over the years from a “hot or not” copy, though, installing safety checks, facial recognition, and robust bio features like adding what you’re looking for and personality traits.
Is Tinder free?
Yes, there is a free version of Tinder — but, like every dating app, there are paid versions that offer more features. For example, if you accidentally swipe left on someone and want to reverse the decision, you’ll have to pay Tinder to do so.
It’s free to match and message on Tinder, but free users have limited swipes per day. You also can’t see a list of who has liked you, nor can you go incognito or use the Passport feature to swipe in another location. For those features, you’ll have to pay for one of three Tinder subscriptions (Plus, Gold, or Platinum).
Here’s what every tier gets you:
Tinder Plus
Tinder Gold
All Plus features, and:
Mashable Trend Report
-
See who likes you first
-
“Top picks” every day, or curated matches
-
Weekly Super Likes (the potential match will know you liked them before they swipe_
-
One free Boost a month (this puts you at the top of profiles)
Tinder Platinum
All the aforementioned features, and:
How to get unbanned from Tinder
How to get unbanned from a dating app is a question that users on social media have been asking for years because it’s so elusive. While we can’t guarantee you’ll get your account back, you can appeal the decision if you believe you were banned in error or unfairly. Go to Tinder’s Appeals Center, find the violation you want to appeal, and select it. Begin the appeal, and then submit it. You can appeal multiple violations if you wish.
According to Tinder’s Help Center article, you’ll then receive one of two outcomes to the appeal: approved, meaning the violation was reversed, or denied, meaning the violation was reinforced.
How to delete your Tinder account
Had enough of the dating app? You can delete your Tinder account by signing into the app or browser version, tapping your profile icon, going to Settings, scrolling to the bottom, and tapping Delete Account.
You can also use the Manage My Account tool. Sign in, tap Delete Account, and confirm.
How to cancel Tinder Gold
Mashable has a whole guide on how to cancel Tinder Gold or other paid Tinder subscriptions if you no longer want to pay for them.
How does Tinder work? How do you use Tinder?
Tinder users are presented a “stack” of profiles. It’s your job to swipe through them. If someone seems appealing, swipe right — you might match. You can only message people if you match (unless you have a Tinder Platinum subscription). If you’re not feeling the conversation or vibe, you can unmatch someone; they can unmatch you, too.
How to pause your Tinder account
While not called “pause,” you can hide your Tinder profile from other people. To do this, tap on your profile icon on the Tinder app or browser, go to Settings, scroll to Enable Discovery, and toggle it off.
You won’t be shown to new profiles, but people you already swiped right on will be able to see you, and you can still see and chat with existing matches.
