You're sitting on your couch, thumb hovering over that glowing "Upgrade" button, wondering if is Hinge+ worth it or if you're about to pay $30 just to get rejected in high definition. It’s a valid concern. Dating apps have fundamentally shifted from "social discovery" tools to tiered subscription models that feel suspiciously like pay-to-win mobile games.
Hinge, the app "designed to be deleted," is no longer just one single experience. Since the 2023 rebrand of their premium tiers, the platform split into Hinge+ (formerly Hinge Preferred) and the much more expensive HingeX. If you’re tired of the "Out of Likes" screen staring back at you every twelve minutes, Hinge+ is the first step up the ladder. But let's be real—does paying for a dating app actually result in more Sunday morning coffee dates, or does it just give you a more efficient way to see people who aren't going to text you back?
The Mechanics of the Hinge+ Tier
Basically, Hinge+ is the "utility" upgrade. It doesn't promise the world, but it removes the friction. When you're using the free version, you get roughly eight likes per day. That’s it. For most people in high-density cities like New York, London, or Los Angeles, eight likes lasts about as long as a TikTok video.
With Hinge+, that ceiling vanishes. You get unlimited likes. This is the primary driver for most upgrades. If you’re a power user who wants to cast a wide net, this is your bread and butter. But there's a catch. Just because you can send 100 likes doesn't mean your profile is suddenly more attractive. It just means you're doing more work.
The second major pillar is the Advanced Preferences. This is where things get controversial. On the free version, you can filter by age, distance, ethnicity, and religion. Hinge+ unlocks the "dealbreakers" for things like height, political views, education, and whether someone wants children. Some people find the height filter shallow; others find the "wants children" filter a non-negotiable lifesaver that prevents six months of wasted time.
The Power of "See Who Likes You"
Honestly, the most underrated part of the subscription is the grid view of people who have already liked you.
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On the free tier, you have to go through your "Likes You" stack one by one. It’s a blind process. You see one person, you decide, and then the next one appears. Hinge+ lays them all out in a clean grid. You can scan 20 profiles in ten seconds. It changes the psychology of the app from a repetitive chore to a curated selection process. It saves time. Loads of it.
If you’re a high-volume user who gets 10+ likes a day, the grid view alone might make the "is Hinge+ worth it" question a resounding yes. If you get one like a week? The grid is just a very expensive, empty room.
Sorting Your Stack: The Hidden Advantage
Most users don't realize that Hinge+ changes how you view the "Discover" feed. You get the ability to sort by "Nearby," "New Here," or "Active Today."
That last one is crucial.
Dating apps are littered with "ghost profiles"—people who deleted the app from their home screen but didn't actually deactivate their account. Sending a "Like" to someone who hasn't opened the app since 2024 is a waste of your energy. Sorting by "Active Today" ensures your likes are landing in the notifications of people who are actually looking at their phones. It’s about efficiency, not magic.
The Price vs. Value Disconnect
Hinge+ isn't cheap. Depending on your location and any "promotions" the algorithm decides to throw your way, you're looking at roughly $29.99 for a single month, with the price dropping if you commit to three or six months.
Is it worth a monthly bill that rivals a decent gym membership?
Think about it this way. If you spend three hours a week swiping and managing your likes, and Hinge+ cuts that down to one hour because of the grid view and better filters, you’ve bought back eight hours a month. If you value your time at more than $4 an hour, the math works out. But if you’re looking for the "Boost" effect where the app pushes you to the front of the line, you won’t find it here. That’s reserved for HingeX.
Hinge+ provides tools, not status. It’s like buying a better pair of running shoes. You still have to run the race. If your photos are blurry and your prompts are "I'm overly competitive about everything," no amount of unlimited likes will save your conversion rate.
Real Talk: The Limitations of Hinge+
We need to address the elephant in the room. The "Daily Standouts" tab.
Hinge takes the people the algorithm thinks you'll like most—usually the most popular profiles in your area—and puts them in a separate tab. You can't use your Hinge+ unlimited likes on them. You have to buy "Roses."
This is where users start to feel the "is Hinge+ worth it" doubt. You pay for a premium subscription, but the "best" people are still locked behind an extra paywall. It feels a bit like buying a VIP pass to a club only to find out there’s a double VIP section behind another velvet rope.
Furthermore, Hinge+ does not include a "Priority Like" feature. When you like someone on Hinge+, your profile sits in their stack exactly where it would have if you were a free user. If that person has 500 likes waiting for them, you are number 501. If you want to skip the line, you’re looking at HingeX, which costs significantly more.
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Who Should Actually Buy It?
- The Time-Crunched Professional: If you have more money than time and want to filter out smokers or people who don't share your political views immediately.
- The High-Volume Receiver: If you wake up to 15 likes every morning, the grid view is a sanity-saver.
- The Intentional Dater: If you are looking for something specific (e.g., someone who definitely wants kids) and don't want to waste weeks finding out you're incompatible.
Who Should Skip It?
- People with Low Engagement: If you aren't getting likes or matches on the free version, Hinge+ is a waste of money. Fix your profile first.
- The Casual Swiper: If you only open the app once every few days, you'll never hit the eight-like limit anyway.
- The Budget-Conscious: $30 is a lot for features that are mostly administrative.
The Competition Factor
How does this stack up against Tinder Gold or Bumble Premium?
Bumble Premium's "Travel Mode" and "Backtrack" features are arguably more robust for the price. Tinder Gold’s "See Who Likes You" is similar, but Tinder’s culture is vastly different. Hinge's value proposition is its "Designed to be Deleted" ethos. The filters in Hinge+ are more granular regarding lifestyle and values than almost any other mainstream app.
Research from the Match Group (which owns Hinge) suggests that Hinge users are generally looking for more long-term connections compared to Tinder users. Therefore, the filters in Hinge+ carry more weight because the stakes of the eventual date are higher.
Technical Nuances You Should Know
When you upgrade, the change is instant. However, many users report a "cooling off" period.
There is an anecdotal theory in the dating app community that the algorithm takes a moment to recalibrate your "Elo-style" ranking once you start using advanced filters. If you suddenly filter for "6'0+ and doesn't drink," your pool shrinks. Don't panic if your matches don't double overnight. You’ve narrowed the field to increase quality, not quantity.
Also, remember that Hinge+ is a recurring subscription. Apple and Google Play make it notoriously easy to forget you're paying for it. If you find your "The One" on Tuesday, cancel the subscription on Wednesday. You'll keep the features until the month runs out.
Actionable Strategy for Hinge+
If you decide to pull the trigger, don't just swipe more. Use the tools properly.
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Start by setting your "Advanced Preferences" but don't make them all "Dealbreakers" immediately. Use the "Active Today" sort feature exclusively for the first week. This ensures your unlimited likes are actually being seen by active users, maximizing your Return on Investment (ROI).
Monitor your "Likes Sent" versus "Matches Received" ratio. If you're sending 50 likes a day and getting zero matches, the issue isn't the app—it's the profile. Use the "New Here" filter to find people who haven't been jaded by the app yet; they are statistically more likely to engage in conversation.
Final Verdict
So, is Hinge+ worth it?
It is worth it if you use it as a productivity tool. It is not worth it if you expect it to be a dating cheat code. It won't make you more attractive, but it will make you more efficient. If your goal is to find a partner by filtering for specific life values and you find the eight-like limit frustrating, the $30 is a solid investment in your personal life. If you're struggling to get any traction at all, keep your money and ask a friend to critique your photos instead.
Next Steps for Success:
- Audit your profile: Before upgrading, ensure you have at least three high-quality, clear photos and prompts that invite a question.
- Test the waters: Spend one week using all eight free likes daily. If you hit the limit every single day and feel restricted, the upgrade is justified.
- Check your settings: Once you upgrade, immediately toggle the "Active Today" filter to stop wasting likes on abandoned accounts.
- Set a calendar reminder: Put a note in your phone for 28 days from now to evaluate if you’ve actually gone on more dates. If not, cancel the renewal.