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
Anna Iovine
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.

Headshot of a Black man
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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Tabitha Britt
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 5

Great dating apps for serious relationships
By Jules Suzdaltsev
Great dating apps for serious relationships
Your favorite dating app may be matching you with advertisers
By Anna Iovine
Your favorite dating app may be matching you with advertisers
Ghost Exorcism Day: How to move on after you've been ghosted
By Jess Joho
Ghost Exorcism Day: How to move on after you've been ghosted
Inside the future of online dating: AI swiping and concierge bots
By Anna Iovine
Inside the future of online dating: AI swiping and concierge bots
Dolly Parton is to thank for that 'LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Tinder' meme
By Nicole Gallucci
Dolly Parton is to thank for that 'LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Tinder' meme
Tinder rolls out a new panic button feature
By Anna Iovine
Tinder rolls out a new panic button feature
This desktop app will make every click a Tinder right-swipe
By Anna Iovine
This desktop app will make every click a Tinder right-swipe
The 10 worst dating trends of the decade, from 'orbiting' to 'breadcrumbing'
By Anna Iovine
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Tinder reveals the politicians users talk about most — and, yes, AOC tops the list
By Anna Iovine
Tinder reveals the politicians users talk about most — and, yes, AOC tops the list
Video chatting before first dates is actually not a terrible idea
By Brenda Stolyar
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Facebook gave Tinder and other dating apps special access to user data
By Anna Iovine
Facebook gave Tinder and other dating apps special access to user data
Why did Tinder make a show about the apocalypse? We drank margaritas and found out.
By Rachel Kraus
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'Covered for Graham'? Tinder's 'Swipe Night' debut revealed a moment of rare honesty
By Rachel Kraus
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Tinder and Bumble try keg-standing their way to success
By Rachel Kraus
Tinder and Bumble try keg-standing their way to success
Tinder sued by former exec over sexual assault, wrongful termination
By Saavon Smalls
Tinder sued by former exec over sexual assault, wrongful termination
Former Tinder exec sues over sexual assault, wrongful termination
By Brittany Levine Beckman
Former Tinder exec sues over sexual assault, wrongful termination
Billy Eichner got banned from Tinder for violating the terms of use
By Rachel Thompson
Billy Eichner got banned from Tinder for violating the terms of use
Smaller, faster Tinder Lite app coming to Vietnam soon
By Alex Perry
Smaller, faster Tinder Lite app coming to Vietnam soon
Tinder adds sexual orientation feature to make swiping more inclusive
By Mashable Video
Tinder adds sexual orientation feature to make swiping more inclusive
Tinder partners with GLAAD to make swiping more inclusive
By Katie Berohn
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A dating app for literal monsters exposes the bias in our swipes
By Rachel Kraus
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6 ways to make your dating app profile stand out from the crowd
By Morgan Sung
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Tinder says it's introducing height verification. If only.
By Stan Schroeder
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Tinder has nothing on this mobile game about dating literal demons from hell
By Jess Joho
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Woman asks Tinder for tech support with her Wii, and it actually worked
By Sage Anderson
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