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].

Mashable Image

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 8

Reading 11 of 2017's funniest Tinder interactions probably won't get you laid, but what else are you doing?

They're so creative.

12/08/2017

By Jennifer Machin

Reading 11 of 2017's funniest Tinder interactions probably won't get you laid, but what else are you doing?

Reading 11 of 2017's funniest Tinder interactions probably won't get you laid, but what else are you doing?

Yes, using poetry in Tinder might get you a date like it did for this dude

It's time to get creative.

11/29/2017

By Jennifer Machin

Duo who unmatched on Tinder magically reconnect on reddit

A very modern love story.

11/27/2017

By Johnny Lieu

James Corden surprises staff member with gloriously awkward game of 'Live Tinder'

So much cringe.

11/23/2017

By Sam Haysom

James Corden surprises staff member with gloriously awkward game of 'Live Tinder'

James Corden surprises staff member with gloriously awkward game of 'Live Tinder'

Picky gorilla wanting to see more pictures of apes is all of us on dating apps

"Eh no, next one please."

11/14/2017

By Jennifer Machin

Dude on Tinder uses inappropriate shark pickup line and ends up getting schooled in the best way

He should know to never look for sharks unless he wants to get bitten.

10/26/2017

By Jennifer Machin

Dude on Tinder uses inappropriate shark pickup line and ends up getting schooled in the best way

Dude on Tinder uses inappropriate shark pickup line and ends up getting schooled in the best way

Uh oh, turns out your favorite dating app is scary easy to hack

Daters, beware.

10/24/2017

By Cassie Murdoch

Google is offering $1000 to anyone who can hack Tinder, Snapchat, Dropbox, and more

Duolingo, Headspace, Snapchat, and Dropbox are also up for grabs.

10/20/2017

By Monica Chin

Google is offering $1000 to anyone who can hack Tinder, Snapchat, Dropbox, and more

Google is offering $1000 to anyone who can hack Tinder, Snapchat, Dropbox, and more

Why it's worth taking the leap and meeting your Tinder match IRL

It only takes a swipe right.

10/17/2017

By Tinder

Why it's worth taking the leap and meeting your Tinder match IRL

Why it's worth taking the leap and meeting your Tinder match IRL

Instagram is the new Tinder—whether you want it to be or not

The thirst is real, and it's sliding into your DMs.

10/10/2017

By Rachel Thompson

Ever wonder what it’d sound like if animals could talk?

Dating is just as difficult for the animals.

10/09/2017

By Mashable

Ever wonder what it’d sound like if animals could talk?

Ever wonder what it’d sound like if animals could talk?

If animals could talk, they'd just complain about dating apps of course

Just when you thought animals had it easy.

10/09/2017

By Mashable

If animals could talk, they'd just complain about dating apps of course

If animals could talk, they'd just complain about dating apps of course

We swipe right on this dude's super creative Tinder photo stunt

He's definitely going places.

10/09/2017

By Jennifer Machin

Tinder now has animated reactions to make shutting down douchebags a little more fun

The dating app will now let you say "nope" in a much cuter way.

10/04/2017

By Cassie Murdoch

Here's a really terrible dad joke that could be your key to Tinder success

This could be the start of something beautiful.

09/28/2017

By Jennifer Machin

Tindstagramming is the newest way to be a huge creep

Ugh. Nowhere is safe.

09/26/2017

By Cassie Murdoch

This finger is for the Tinder super users out there

Swipe right 24/7.

09/15/2017

By Michelle Yan

This finger is for the Tinder super users out there

This finger is for the Tinder super users out there

An important update to that Tinder date where the girl threw her poo out the window

Well at least it had a happy ending.

09/13/2017

By Sam Haysom

An important update to that Tinder date where the girl threw her poo out the window

An important update to that Tinder date where the girl threw her poo out the window

Are you beautiful or not? Tinder hires James Blunt to critique your profile

Sometimes the truth hurts.

09/08/2017

By Cassie Murdoch

She threw her poop out the window. Then her Tinder date really went off the rails.

Friendly reminder to never throw a poop out of a window. Never

09/05/2017

By Brian Koerber

Your unwavering thirst drove Tinder to be the top grossing app in the App Store for the first time

Tinder has a lot of thirsty people to thank.

09/01/2017

By Brett Williams

Your unwavering thirst drove Tinder to be the top grossing app in the App Store for the first time

Your unwavering thirst drove Tinder to be the top grossing app in the App Store for the first time

'Trumping' is the newest and best way to shut things down on Tinder

It didn't work out? Sad!

08/29/2017

By Jessica Sroczynski

Here’s how Bumble plans on winning the dating app wars (and why they just passed on $450M)

Whitney Wolfe has a lot more to do.

08/24/2017

By Kerry Flynn

Tinder guy uses the eclipse as a way to get some action in the dark

Didn't see that coming.

08/22/2017

By Jessica Sroczynski

Dude on Tinder somehow uses memes to win his match's heart

Modern love is beautiful.

08/21/2017

By Jessica Sroczynski

Dude on Tinder somehow uses memes to win his match's heart

Dude on Tinder somehow uses memes to win his match's heart