Tinder

Probably the dating app most synonymous with the term, Tinder is a household name. Launched in 2012 by Sean Rad, Justin Mateen, Jonathan Badeen, Joe Munoz, Whitney Wolfe Herd, and Chris Gylczynski before merging with Match Group in 2017, Tinder put swiping on the map. Here's everything you need to know about the app Tinder says 50 million people use each month.

Meet Our Experts

Rachel Thompson, sits wearing a dress with yellow florals and black background.

Rachel Thompson

Features Editor

Rachel Thompson is the Features Editor at Mashable. Rachel's second non-fiction book The Love Fix: Reclaiming Intimacy in a Disconnected World is out now, published by Penguin Random House in Jan. 2025. The Love Fix explores why dating feels so hard right now, why we experience difficult emotions in the realm of love, and how we can change our dating culture for the better.

A leading sex and dating writer in the UK, Rachel has written for GQ, The Guardian, The Sunday Times Style, The Telegraph, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Stylist, ELLE, The i Paper, Refinery29, and many more.

Rachel's first book Rough: How Violence Has Found Its Way Into the Bedroom And What We Can Do About It, a non-fiction investigation into sexual violence was published by Penguin Random House in 2021.

anna iovine, a white woman with curly chin-length brown hair, smiles at the camera

Associate Editor, Features

Anna Iovine is the associate editor of features at Mashable. Previously, as the sex and relationships reporter, she covered topics ranging from dating apps to pelvic pain. Before Mashable, Anna was a social editor at VICE and freelanced for publications such as Slate and the Columbia Journalism Review. Follow her on Bluesky.

Chance Townsend

Assistant Editor, General Assignments

Chance Townsend is the General Assignments Editor at Mashable, covering tech, video games, dating apps, digital culture, and whatever else comes his way. He has a Master's in Journalism from the University of North Texas and is a proud orange cat father. His writing has also appeared in PC Mag and Mother Jones.

In his free time, he cooks, loves to sleep, and greatly enjoys Detroit sports. If you have any tips or want to talk shop about the Lions, you can reach out to him on Bluesky @offbrandchance.bsky.social or by email at [email protected].

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Freelance Writer

Tabitha Britt is an award-winning freelance journalist, editor, and SEO/AEO strategist. Aside from reviewing dating apps and sex toys for Mashable, Tabitha is also the founding editor-in-chief of DO YOU ENDO — a digital magazine by individuals with endometriosis, for individuals with endometriosis. She has a Master's degree in Creative Publishing and Critical Journalism from The New School for Social Research and is a grad of Sextech School. You can find more of her work in various online publications, including National Geographic, Glamour, Better Homes & Gardens, and Everyday Health.

More Tinder - Page 12

Tinder launches new trans-inclusive gender options

Tinder is rolling out new features to help its transgender users have a better experience on the app.

11/15/2016

By Karissa Bell

After Tinder murder trial, acquitted man paid for cringe-worthy interview

The interview hasn't aired yet and it's already being called "disgusting."

11/07/2016

By Jerico Mandybur

Swiping is the new cheating—or is it?

Exclusivity isn't the same as it used to be.

11/04/2016

By Rachel Thompson

Tinder lets swipers around the world 'vote' in the US presidential election

Users in over 15 countries can swipe on some of the election's most important topics.

10/27/2016

By Rachel Thompson

Dude notices a stranger's Tinder photo was taken in his bathroom

A tale of star-crossed Tinder-ers.

10/25/2016

By Chloe Bryan

'Tinder murder' accused posted testimony on a body building website

Gable Tostee shared the post in 2014.

10/24/2016

By Ariel Bogle

'Tinder murder' trial almost derailed by juror's daily Instagram habit

Innocent-looking coffee cup Instagram shots could have landed this woman two years in jail.

10/21/2016

By Jerico Mandybur

Australian man found not guilty of murdering his Tinder date

He was also acquitted of manslaughter following the harrowing incident.

10/20/2016

By Ariel Bogle

Awesome single lady on Tinder is coming to steal your organs

"You MUST have both kidneys."

10/18/2016

By Heather Dockray

Tinder is A/B testing your profile photos to help you get more matches

Could this improve your chance of a match?

10/13/2016

By Rachel Thompson

Hinge relaunches as a paid members-only relationships app, moving away from Tinder

Hinge wants to be Match.com for the next generation.

10/11/2016

By Kerry Flynn

Hinge relaunches as a paid members-only relationships app, moving away from Tinder

Hinge relaunches as a paid members-only relationships app, moving away from Tinder

Online dating FOMO is ruining my chances of finding a date

Am I missing out on potential dates because I'm too busy to swipe?

10/09/2016

By Rachel Thompson

Tinder's new function could get you more matches but it'll cost you

A costly cure for your swiping fatigue?

10/07/2016

By Rachel Thompson

Tinder's new 'boosting' function will let you pay to be seen first

If you only there were an in-app purchase that could fix crippling self-doubt.

09/28/2016

By Jerico Mandybur

Tinder's new iMessage app will let you swipe while you chat

Tinder power users, rejoice: You can now swipe in iMessage.

09/21/2016

By Karissa Bell

Your Tinder match can now judge you by your most-played songs on Spotify

Time to clean up the Spotify account.

09/20/2016

By Emma Hinchliffe

Your Tinder match can now judge you by your most-played songs on Spotify

Your Tinder match can now judge you by your most-played songs on Spotify

Spice Girl Mel B joins James Corden for a gloriously awkward game of live Tinder

"Swipe wisely".

09/12/2016

By Sam Haysom

Spice Girl Mel B joins James Corden for a gloriously awkward game of live Tinder

Spice Girl Mel B joins James Corden for a gloriously awkward game of live Tinder

Emoji you should never use during online dating

What do you mean, realistic whale emojis aren't cute?

09/05/2016

By Jonathan Keshishoglou

Tinder crashed and now love is dead

Hope you enjoy being alone, forever.

09/02/2016

By Keith Wagstaff

Artist illustrates the weird, goofy and gross pickup lines she gets online

"My hope is that the project is like a mirror."

08/31/2016

By Chloe Bryan

Tinder reveals which athletes were the most right-swiped in Rio

Maybe you should update your Tinder bio...

08/23/2016

By Elise Cooper

Tinder reveals which athletes were the most right-swiped in Rio

Tinder reveals which athletes were the most right-swiped in Rio

Research says using GIFs on Tinder increases responses by 30 percent

Hint: it's not opening with "hey."

08/19/2016

By Carmen Triola

Bumble adds paid features for the first time

Dating app Bumble just added three new paid features.

08/16/2016

By Karissa Bell

I communicated like Cher for the day and people didn't know what to make of it

"I'LL KICK ASS TIL I'M 100"

07/26/2016

By Rachel Thompson

Tinder's new feature may shake up your social life a little too much

If want to use Tinder Social, you should make sure you're 100% OK with your Facebook friends knowing you use the app.

07/21/2016

By Rachel Thompson