People of all ages date these days. And that’s a good thing. But sometimes, finding the right app for your age group can be tricky. Hinge, the app that’s designed to be deleted, is seen as a little more in-depth than Tinder. Does that mean it is suitable for older users? What age group is Hinge actually for?
On dating apps like Hinge, you have to be 18 to sign up and that’s pretty consistent across different dating apps. Hinge is aligned towards somewhat more serious dating than some swiping apps so you are asked to answer thoughtful or fun prompts, and must include six photos of yourself.
All this means Hinge appeals to a slightly older audience with most users falling between 23 and 36, though of course, anyone over 18 is welcome.
Although “age is just a number, baby” (once you’re 18+, anyway), dating apps have begun to recognize that different age groups want different things. If you are specifically looking for older daters, you might want to try a niche site like Silver Singles.
If you’d like to see more age-appropriate options for slightly more mature daters, you can also take a look at my guide to dating apps for over 40s.
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What Is The Hinge Target Audience?
Despite being open to pretty much all adults in many corners of the world, Hinge does have a target audience.
When Hinge was first launched in 2012, it marketed itself to college-educated young adults aged between 25 and 35. It aimed to act as a step above the swipe-happy world of Tinder, and a step below the seriousness of a paywalled dating site.
Originally, Hinge used to match you with Facebook friends and friends of friends, but that was dropped in 2018. Probably because, at that point, all our Facebook friends were aunts, weird cousins, and ‘some guy you met on spring break in 2013’.
Unlike Tinder, Hinge aims to create more genuine connections by helping your personality shine on your profile and offering plenty of chances to meet people over shared interests.
Hinge audience stats
Hinge is a powerhouse of the Millennial dating scene. I’ve put together this stats rundown of the 6 million monthly users on Hinge:
- 90% of the Hinge audience are aged between 23 and 36
- 50.2% of the profiles on Hinge are female
- 49.8% are male
The gender split on Hinge is way better for men than other apps like Tinder, where men make up 76% of total monthly users in the US. A good dating platform should have plenty of options – and Hinge is a safe bet on that front.
What Age Group Is Hinge Aimed At?
Hinge is aimed mainly at Millennials – i.e., those who are in their mid-twenties to late thirties. Most other users are aged between 30 and 49, encompassing the younger Gen Xers. Only 2% of users are over 50, but no matter what you’re looking for on Hinge, you can ask the app to only show you profiles in the age range you’re interested in.
Here’s how to personalize your Hinge search settings by age range:
- Open the app and tap the icon on the bottom right of the screen
- Tap the ‘Preferences’ button under your profile picture
- Tap the ‘Age Range’ button under the heading called ‘Member Preferences’
- Drag the sliders to include the age ranges of profiles you want to see – you can go as low as 18 or as high as 65+
- Under the slider is a button called ‘Is this a dealbreaker?’. If you turn this on, then Hinge won’t show you anyone who isn’t in the age range you’ve specified. If you turn it off, then Hinge will throw a few wildcards into the mix who aren’t in your age range
What Is Hinge’s Minimum Age?
You can only sign up to Hinge if you’re over 18.
Underage dating apps do exist and tend to act more like social media apps such as Snapchat or Tiktok. MyLOL is one of the only dating apps for teens and has a user age limit of 13-19. It keeps its users safe with AI that blocks inappropriate messages, and they have a strict policy on banning accounts that lie about their age.
Is Hinge Good For Over 40s?
As mentioned earlier, Hinge is designed to form stronger and long-lasting connections with people, which makes it great for both those seeking out their first serious relationship – and those who are reentering the dating scene later in life.
Because Hinge allows you to learn more about your matches than sites like Tinder or even Bumble, many older users like it. Prompts and plenty of pictures make finding something to talk about and maintaining conversation easy, which is a real plus for anyone not used to online dating.
And let’s be realistic, the oldest Millennials are in their early 40s now! It isn’t like 40-year-olds are Luddites sitting back with their slippers on and shouting at the youths on their lawn.
One of the best things about Hinge is that even if you don’t pay for their premium service, you still get access to a lot of their features. A basic Hinge account will give you:
- 8 likes every 24 hours
- A daily Most Compatible suggestion
- Unlimited messaging with Matches
- As many skips as you need
- Basic filters on age, gender and location of the profiles you want to see
- 1 Rose every Sunday (read my rundown on Roses here)
- A daily group of 10 Standout profiles (read more about Standouts here)
If you’re new here, have a look at my detailed guide on getting to grips with the different types of Hinge accounts. I always recommend knowing your way around an app before you dive in.
What Is The Best Dating Site For 40+?
If you find yourself saying “I think I’m too old for dating apps”, then don’t worry. I’ve got your back. And you’re wrong, by the way! No matter your age, there are plenty of dating sites that cater to you and your demographic.
One of my top picks for people in the market for more serious dating is eharmony. This dating site has stood the test of time. It was founded in 2000 with a mission statement of “creating long-term relationships”.
Most of the 15 million eHarmony members fall into the 30-44 age group, which is great for those of us looking for something a bit more serious with someone at a similar point in life.
Where apps like Tinder and Hinge leave most of the work to you, eHarmony uses a detailed personality assessment to act as a sort of digital matchmaker. This quiz really is detailed – they cover everything from your attitude to cheating, to how your parents would describe you – they even ask you why you’re single at the moment, so be prepared to get deep.
The downside to this nifty dating site is that you have to pay to use it, but if you’re serious about finding your next relationship then it’s worth it.
Paying for a site means you know that everyone you interact with is super serious about finding someone. eHarmony makes dating easier, and you really do get what you pay for.
Here’s a breakdown of their fees*:
- 6 months, $65.90 per month
- 12 months, $45.90 per month
- 24 months, $35.90 per month.
Eharmony knows its place as a bridge between free dating apps and paid-for matchmaking services, so it offers a 7-day free trial period.
Dating can be tricky at all stages of life, I know – I’ve been there. But the best way out of it is to make the most of whatever comes your way.
Free trial? Yes, please.
New app? Give it a go.
You get as much as you give, so give it your all!
*Correct at the time of writing, but always subject to change. All prices in US dollars
What are the best dating sites for the over 50s?
If you’re over 50 and you want to get on Tinder or Hinge, then go for it! Apps definitely have their place in the over 50s dating game, and their older user base is growing, so there’s no reason you can’t find your next date with a few swipes. Read my article about how to get ahead on Hinge if you’re over 50 for some tips and tricks to make your profile stand out.
In my humble opinion, though (as a mere dating expert) the best place to meet singles over 50 is Silver Singles.
With over 800,000 monthly users and women making up 59% of the user base (which is more than any mainstream app), Silver Singles has excellent success rates for older users.
Silver Singles uses a personality quiz and digital matchmaking to set you up with people you’re most compatible with. You literally tell the site what you’re looking for in a partner and the site does all the hard work for you, sending you 5-7 new profiles every day.
Although Silver Singles says it’s free to use if you don’t pay for a subscription then you don’t get to see the profile pictures of your matches and you can’t send messages. To access the site properly you need to buy a membership.
It’s affordable, and you can cancel whenever you need to. Prices vary and are subject to change. You can find the current Silver Singles prices for your area here.
I’ve been in this business for a while. And the bottom line is that when it comes to modern dating, your age really doesn’t matter.
Set your dating app preferences to reflect what you’re looking for in a partner, or head over to a more niche dating site.
If you’re still not sure about which dating site is best for you, though, you should check out my dating app quiz to find the best platform to get yourself out there.
Online dating isn’t as complicated as you might think. Just get clear on the kind of person you want and the kind of relationship you’re after, and let the dates roll in!
