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Tinder, Bumble or Hinge? My Experience After One Month Of Dating App Madness
By this point if you are single, even if you are not, and have not heard of at least Tinder, probably the most recognized brand in modern dating apps, you must be deaf, yet can still recognize the name.
About 5 years post separation with my wife, and with the encouragement of my own children and friends I found myself back in the dating scene having, as usual, no clue what I was doing. As one of the ways to go about it in the modern age has now become the use of apps, the new normal was an inevitable inclusion. Though often touted as a hook-up or casual app, usually as a joke in conversation these days, my personal impression was that it was actually a general dating app, not particularly leaning towards informal relations or long term relationships solely, but the overarching field of dating. The reason I have had this impression is due to the existence of Grindr which I saw as the hook-up focused version of Tinder. However due to the brand recognition of Tinder over that lesser known app, and the tendency to divert to primal references when applying a sense of humour, the more general app is framed as the sexy one. After all if you are in a social situation and want to be charming, you know what sells.
I looked up many resources online to find recommendations for dating apps, with many different suggestions, none recommending Tinder, though it was the only one I knew and ever heard of regularly and recently in conversation. Over time I came to know quite a few apps. From Zoosk to Hinge, as well as legacy sites like PlentyOfFish and eHarmony which are now more focused on the 50+ relationship seekers. With my still looking much younger than my actual age while being in the best shape of my life, I found myself comfortable getting with the more modern platforms available. The main ones I explored besides Tinder were Bumble and Hinge. Bumble being a simplified girl-friendly version of Tinder which boasts a higher percentage of females to males available than Tinder. Hinge takes a different approach to the dating app making it perhaps even more female friendly, particularly those looking for more serious relationships from the start.
