Is a premium subscription worth it? (and what about Tinder Select?)
Online dating can feel like a second job you never wanted. You pour hours into swiping, thinking up a clever opener, only to be met with silence. Or, you land a date that has you fantasizing about being back on your couch with a pizza. It’s easy to get frustrated when it feels like all the good matches are hiding.
That’s when premium subscriptions like HingeX and Tinder Platinum show up, looking like the answer to all your problems. They promise to save you time, boost your profile, and deliver better matches. Now, with super-exclusive options like the invite-only Tinder Select, it feels like there’s a velvet rope for everything, even finding a partner.
So, are these subscriptions worthwhile? Or are they an expensive way to get the same results? Let’s dig into whether HingeX, Tinder Platinum, or even the elusive Tinder Select is a good use of your money.
What are premium dating app subscriptions?
Most dating apps use what’s called a “freemium” model. You can download the app, set up a profile, and start matching for free. But the free version usually has its limits, like only letting you “like” a certain number of people each day.
Premium subscriptions are the paid upgrades that unlock extra features. Think of them as tools to give you a bit of an advantage in a crowded space. They can make your profile more visible, tell you who’s already liked you, and give you more say over whose profiles you see. But they aren’t magic. How well they work really comes down to how you use them and, crucially, how good your profile is in the first place.
What is HingeX?
HingeX is the fanciest subscription for Hinge, the app that likes to say it’s “designed to be deleted.” It’s aimed at people who are genuinely looking for a relationship and are over the swiping games. HingeX includes everything from its cheaper subscription, Hinge+, and throws in a couple of exclusive perks.
The big selling points are Enhanced Recommendations, where the algorithm supposedly shows you more compatible people, Skip the Line, which gives your profile a continuous visibility boost, and Priority Likes, which makes sure your like stays at the top of someone’s list.
What is Tinder Platinum?
Tinder Platinum is the top subscription level you can buy on Tinder, which is probably the most well-known dating app out there. Its features are designed to give you a leg up on the competition and get your profile noticed by the people you really want to meet.
The main perks include sending a Message Before Matching when you use a Super Like, getting Prioritized Likes so you’re seen before non-subscribers, and being able to review all the likes you’ve sent in the last week.
What is Tinder Select?
Imagine the VIP room of a nightclub, but for a dating app. That’s Tinder Select. It’s an exclusive, invite-only subscription for what Tinder deems its top 1% of users. And it has a price tag that reflects that: $499 a month.
For that kind of money, you get some serious advantages. You can message people before you match (twice a week), your profile shows up unblurred in the “Likes You” section for everyone, and you get top placement among the app’s most popular profiles. It’s basically a luxury dating concierge service.
HingeX vs. Tinder Platinum: A feature comparison
While both HingeX and Tinder Platinum want to level up your dating game, they take different routes. HingeX focuses more on refining your matches and making sure you get seen. Tinder Platinum gives you more tools to be proactive and grab someone’s attention.
Here’s a simple side-by-side look at what you get. For a clearer view, check out our infographic below.
Side-by-side comparison of HingeX and Tinder Platinum features
| Feature | HingeX | Tinder Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Likes | Yes, included. Free users get eight per day. | Yes, included. Free users have a daily limit. |
| See Everyone Who Likes You | Yes, in a single grid. | Yes, in a single grid. |
| Advanced Filters | Yes (Height, politics, family plans, education, etc.). | Yes (Extensive options including lifestyle, communication style, etc.). |
| Profile Visibility | Skip the Line: Your profile is continuously boosted. | 1 Free Boost per month: Be a top profile in your area for 30 minutes. |
| Like Priority | Priority Likes: Your like stays near the top of their feed for 7 days. | Prioritized Likes: Your Likes and Super Likes are seen before non-subscribers. |
| Enhanced Match Curation | Enhanced Recommendations: Algorithm surfaces more compatible people in your Discover feed. | New Top Picks every day: A curated list of profiles. |
| Message Before Matching | No. | Yes, you can attach a 140-character message to a Super Like. |
| See Sent Likes | No. | Yes, you can see the likes you’ve sent in the last 7 days. |
| Unlimited Rewinds | Yes. | Yes. |
| Travel Mode (“Passport”) | Yes (Free for all users). | Yes. |
Comparing premium subscription costs
Alright, let’s talk money. While the prices may seem high, it can be helpful to think of them as an investment in your dating life. The real question isn’t just about the cost, but whether the potential payoff, such as better dates and less time wasted, is worth it to you.
Just know that prices can change. Tinder, for example, has been known to use a dynamic pricing model that could be different depending on your location. They claim age and gender aren’t factors anymore, but it’s something to keep in mind. And like with most subscriptions, you’ll usually save money per month by buying a longer plan.
A visual breakdown of the costs of HingeX, Tinder Platinum, and Tinder Select to help determine if a premium subscription is worth it.
HingeX pricing plans
Here’s a general idea of what HingeX costs, but it might vary.
- 1 Month: $49.99
- 3 Months: $33.33 per month (billed as one payment of $99.99)
- 6 Months: $24.99 per month (billed as one payment of $149.94)
(Prices are based on reports from The Everygirl and other users.)
Tinder Platinum pricing plans
Tinder Platinum is in the same price range.
- 1 Month: $49.99 per month
- 6 Months: $29.99 per month (billed as one payment of $179.94)
You can also grab a weekly plan for $24.99 if you just want a short-term trial.
(Prices based on data from Android Authority.)
The cost of exclusivity: Tinder Select
If you get an invitation and are approved, Tinder Select has just one price.
- 1 Month: $499
Real user experiences with premium subscriptions
Features and price tags are nice, but what really matters is whether this stuff works in the real world. I spent some time digging through forums like Reddit to see what people are actually experiencing. To get to the bottom of it, I’m looking at three main questions: Does it save you time? Does it make you feel better about the process? And the big one: does it actually get you better dates?
Efficiency: Are you saving time or just swiping more?
The main promise of any paid subscription is making your life easier. Features like HingeX’s “Enhanced Recommendations” and Tinder’s “Top Picks” are supposed to filter out the noise and show you better matches, which should mean less time spent on mindless swiping.
For some people, it seems to deliver. One Reddit user said HingeX was the only way they could get matches and dates:
Another user mentioned that the advanced filters alone saved her a ton of time by letting her screen for people who didn’t meet her basic criteria.
Many users suspect that the apps might be deliberately holding back likes to nudge them toward paying. In one pretty telling example, a YouTuber paid for HingeX and got zero new matches, which makes you wonder how “enhanced” those features really are. So, while it can work, it’s definitely not a guarantee.
The ego boost: A short-lived high?
Users often report an initial positive feeling after subscribing. Users often see a sudden rush of likes and matches right after upgrading, which feels great for your confidence. For a moment, you feel like the most popular person on the app.
But how long does that last? A user on Reddit made a useful point about this: the advantage of having “priority” status goes down as more people buy in.
This initial increase in activity can sometimes level off, which may lead to frustration. This raises the question of whether the subscription offers a sustained benefit or a temporary one.
The end result: Are the matches and dates actually better?
This is what it all comes down to. Does paying a monthly fee lead to better connections and dates you’re actually excited about?
The general feeling seems to be that a subscription boosts your visibility, but it doesn’t change who you are or who you’re compatible with. One reviewer for Mashable noted that her match rate on Tinder Platinum felt about the same as it did on the free version. You’re just showing the same profile to more of the same people.
The app’s vibe matters a lot, too. One user ran a direct comparison:
Hinge is generally known as a place for relationships, so people on HingeX are likely looking for something serious. As one user puts it:
Tinder has a more casual reputation, so Platinum users could be looking for anything. A subscription doesn’t magically create better people; it just gives you more chances to connect with who’s already there.
Seeing how these features play out in real-time can offer a different perspective. For a detailed breakdown comparing the major players like Hinge and Tinder, this video provides some useful insights and tips.
The verdict: Is a premium subscription right for you?
After digging through the features, pricing, and what users are saying, it’s obvious there’s no one-size-fits-all answer here. Whether a premium subscription is worth it is super personal. It comes down to what you’re looking for, where you live, what your budget is, and: this is the most important part: how solid your profile is to begin with.
Who should consider HingeX?
HingeX might be a good move for you if:
- You’re serious about finding a long-term relationship.
- You live in a big city with a ton of competition.
- You already have a great profile but feel like you need a visibility boost.
- You’re willing to spend money to save time and make your search more efficient.
Who should consider Tinder Platinum?
Tinder Platinum could be the way to go if:
- Tinder is the most popular dating app in your area.
- You like the idea of using features like Message Before Matching to make a strong first impression.
- You’re open to anything from a casual fling to something more serious.
Who should consider Tinder Select?
Tinder Select is for a very specific, very small crowd. It could make sense if:
- A $499/month bill doesn’t make you flinch.
- You’re all about exclusivity and want to connect with other high-demand profiles.
- You’ve actually received an invitation and passed Tinder’s screening.
The importance of a strong profile
Here’s the biggest lesson from nearly every user review I read: a premium subscription can’t save a bad profile.
Think of it like this: paying for a boost is like buying an ad for your profile. If the ad itself isn’t any good, if your photos are blurry, your bio is empty, or your prompts are boring, you’re just paying to show more people something they don’t want.
The foundation of success on any dating app, paid or free, is a strong, authentic, and interesting profile. Before you even think about pulling out your credit card, you should put time and effort into your photos and prompts. That’s the real investment.
Final thoughts
So, where does that leave us? HingeX and Tinder Platinum are interesting tools with some potentially useful features, but they’re amplifiers, not magic fixes. They can give a strong profile an extra push, but they won’t make a weak profile suddenly successful. Their value is subjective and far from guaranteed.
The best advice isn’t to rush out and buy a subscription. It’s to first work on the one thing that’s proven to make a difference on every platform: building a fantastic profile.
Before you spend any money, take an honest look at your own profile. Get some new, high-quality photos. Rewrite your bio to show off your personality. Be clear about what you’re looking for. Once you’ve done all that, then you can decide if a premium subscription is the right tool to help you get where you want to go a little faster.
