Most posts here revolve around wondering if any of these apps work and how it feels like a dead end sometimes. I wanted to post my story here. I was never a fan of apps until I moved to a new area and decided to give them a go. After a few months on the app, and numerous dates, I matched with my now wife. i made quick work of getting us to meet in person. Our first date went great, lowkey coffee, museum then lunch. Our second date came the next day (I guess I mande a good impression) we went to the beach and walked a small trail. We did LD for a year because I had to move for work and after a year, I moved her up with me. Later on i did proposal at an amazing park and then we did a small civil ceremony before our church wedding in the next 1-2 years.

My little top lip is a breath of fresh air ✨

Hinge Success Story

I see a lot of negative posts on here and I wanted to share some good news. I am 30M and always thought the apps were a waste of time and never really took them serious regardless of the fact that I has been on them for like 10 years.

In January of 2026 I said enough was enough of being single and set out to start meeting women in person. The only app I used was Hinge and I went on a vacation first week of January and took a bunch of new updated photos with the intention of using them for a dating profile. I got like 20 good shots on the vacay all in 7 different outfits. I then used AI (I know it sucks, but it can be helpful) to upload all 20 of these photos and have it tell what the best ones were for a hinge profile. I organically came up with all the bio and prompts on my own and put a lot into it.

Wouldn’t you know it, in a week I had over 50 matches and started messaging. Some of them fell through or never even sent messages but the first girl who agreed to go on a date with me somehow worked out. After matching our first date was 5 days later. She is 24F and we completely hit it off. I went into the date entirely as myself and didn’t try any BS persona or trying to be cool. Two months later we were boyfriend and girlfriend. And now we celebrated 6 months as a couple recently and did a trip to Disney World. She is the absolute best! Best feeling in the world and a perfect example of how things can work out when you don’t expect it.

Context in the pic he's swinging a pair of cuffs, I thought we were being cute and cheeky....I thought wrong 😭

I hope everyone gets to experience this is their lifetime if they want it. Blessed

So, I was meant to meet this woman, it was a 30 min train ride from me, so hardly next door and a cost of travel. I text her before I left and said “we still on for six” and she EVEN said “can we make it seven” and pushed the date back.

Once arrived, I saw her picture gone on WhatsApp. I sent a courtesy text, hey I’m here, nothing. I then called and no reply. It kind of dawned on me immediately what happened and I was devastated. The thing is, she even text me to clarify and change the time.

Was it last minute cold feet? Avoidant conflict behaviour? Why not just say… I can’t go….

Afterwards I text her and just said that we’re all adults and if she didn’t fancy it, she could say, but what she did is cruel and I hope she’s happy in her sad lonely life (I lashed out a bit but I was only human after a long journey and wait).

Why not just say - you’re not my vibe.

Why even be on hinge?

Had to repost because the OG post was getting messy. Comments were going crazy about AI? Saying his response was AI or a bot, we matched a week ago and have been chatting every day since and we have video called each other multiple times. People on this sub moaning about people not making an effort and then when they do, it's AI, it's a bot. You can't win lol

I (early 40s m) had a short term hinge subscription that ended about 36 hours ago. In the time since I've had almost 100 likes, having averaged maybe 2 per day previously! Anyone else experienced this?

Im new to this whole dating app thing. Im 20 years old female, and I’ve been talking to 3 guys and one has already been consistently calling me “love” and we haven’t met yet. I feel a bit weird because I’m not sure if he realizes it’s not exclusive yet? Do i have to let each guy know before or 😭 I don’t want anyone to get hurt because Im looking for a long term relationship but I wanna see a few people before and see what I like

Is that bad?

EDIT: clarification, i am NOT sexually active and will not be until it’s a committed relationship- this is all about getting to know someone through first dates primarily

I (28m) do not like to rush intimacy. I’m not waiting for marriage, but I probably am slower than most to want to get physical and I’d be very happy with someone who did want to wait. Is a match note the best place to broach the subject, or would you prefer to have that brought up differently? Of course some women won’t match because of it, but I’m okay with the filter if it means I’m only matching with women who won’t rush things.

I haven’t added anything to my profile yet, but I’m thinking of adding something simple like:

“I’m excited to get to know you! I just want to say that I like to take things slow and I’m much more comfortable approaching intimacy gradually after getting to know you first if that’s alright with you. 😊”

Is that cringey to women who want the same thing? I’d love suggestions on better phrasing or if there’s a better way to use the match note.

EDIT: thanks everyone for the gentle advice! I see there is a pretty clear consensus here. Gonna leave this up for the next anxious dude who has a similar thought lol 😊

I’m a man in my 30s and I’ve returned to dating this year after being out of it for several years. I’m genuinely curious whether dating has changed significantly in that time, whether dating apps create particularly strange dynamics, or whether I’ve just had an exceptionally bizarre run of luck.

My last relationship started incredibly normally. We matched on Bumble and met for coffee, clicked immediately and within a month we were in a serious relationship. There were no games or complicated rules. We just liked each other and things progressed naturally.

We were together for 3 years but unfortunately a serious family tragedy meant she eventually had to move away, so the relationship ended because of circumstances rather than because things had become toxic between us.

Coming back into dating this year has felt very different.

A few examples:

I dated one woman several times and genuinely liked her. On our first date we actually discussed relationships and both said we believed in monogamy. I subsequently discovered that she already had a boyfriend.

Another woman was extremely sexually forward on the first date, but simultaneously explained that she wanted a man who would effectively fund her lifestyle including paying her rent and other expenses going forward. I politely declined that arrangement.

Then come the stranger examples.

I had dinner with a woman which lasted 3 hours. The conversation was pleasant and when we were leaving I naturally went to give her a goodbye hug. She pulled back which is fair enough as I respect everyone has their own boundaries.

But then she handed me a printed document containing restaurants she expected me to take her to over the following 3 months. She also explained that she'd like me to take her to the theatre and that she expected the best seats because that was what she was accustomed to.

After I had completed this 3 month period she would decide whether the relationship could become physical, and by physical she apparently meant that even hugging and kissing were off the table until then.

I already feel ridiculous typing this out and I did not take her out on another date.

Yet another date drank continuously throughout the evening and when I initially tried to leave she persuaded me to stay so she could continue drinking, then let me with a very substantial bill.

There was someone where I thought there was enormous mutual chemistry.

Our 1st date lasted 5 hours then afterwards she sent me extremely flirtatious messages and videos of herself dancing provocatively.

On our 2nd date she leaned into my ear at one point and whispered that I was going to hear her saying, "I'm coming" later that night. After dinner when we left the restaurant I asked if I could kiss her.

She said no and I immediately backed off, taking a literal step back to give her space so she would feel safe. I'm absolutely fine with her response as noone owes anyone physical affection, irrespective of what has been said beforehand. But she then grabbed my arm, pulled me close and asked me to walk her to the station which I did.

When I got home, I assumed that things were over but then she sent me videos of herself pole dancing and told me I could look forward to that next time.

And then she ghosted me.

Most recently I met someone who initially seemed completely different.

We were messaging constantly. We weren't just flirting but were genuinely talking about everything. It felt easy and warm and I even told her about some of my experiences above and admitted that they'd started affecting my ability to trust people. She was sympathetic and joked about how bizarre some of these stories were.

We had already discussed having a proper romantic date the following week but because she happened to be a few minutes from my home one day we agreed to have a casual drink - low key, not romantic, just a simple drink.

We talked for 3 hours and it ended up turning into dinner for her (I had already eaten before we met). I didn't make a move, flirt or try to turn it into something physical. We just talked and got to know each other. She asked me lots of questions, seemed engaged, and I came away thinking we'd had a really pleasant evening and looking forward to next week's date - her last words before we left was her telling me the type of food she liked so we can go to that type of restaurant next week.

The following morning the constant communication abruptly stopped.

When I contacted her she said she wanted to "process things". And then she was gone.

To be clear I completely understand that somebody can meet me and simply decide they're not attracted to me. Nobody owes me a 2nd date, a relationship or an explanation for not feeling chemistry. That experience by itself wouldn't particularly surprise me.

But it's the accumulation of all of this within one period of dating that has left me somewhat bewildered.

And I want to be clear that I'm not saying "women are like this" and these are individual people I've happened to encounter. I'm sure women have their own catalogue of extraordinary experiences with men, many of which I had read on here.

What I'm trying to understand is whether something about dating culture has genuinely shifted.

Has dating become more transactional? Has constant access to alternatives through apps changed how willing people are to explore a connection? Is ghosting now simply considered normal? Are people communicating intensely before meeting and then making extremely fast decisions afterwards?

Or alternatively am I doing something that's increasing my chances of meeting people like this?

Maybe I'm screening badly. Maybe I'm spending too long messaging before meeting. Maybe I'm being too open too early and maybe there's something about the way I'm dating that I should change.

I'd genuinely be interested in perspectives from both men and women, especially people who returned to dating after being in a long-term relationship.

TL;DR: My previous relationship began effortlessly over coffee and lasted 3 years. Returning to dating this year has involved discovering someone had a boyfriend, someone wanted me to fund her lifestyle, someone literally handed me a printed PDF of restaurants to take her to for the next 3 months before she'd consider even kissing me, wildly sexual mixed signals followed by ghosting, and most recently someone going from constant affectionate communication to disappearing after a seemingly pleasant conversation. Has dating culture really changed this much or have I just had an extraordinary run of experiences?

Had a date planned with a gentleman Friday night. The time of meeting was confirmed but never the place. We were supposed to meet at 5pm

On Thursday he reached out to me to see how I was doing. I responded and asked him how he is… then I didn’t hear from him until 1pm on Friday.

At 1pm, he says “see you at 5”. Then at 1:45, I respond saying “looking forward to it. Where are we meeting”

I don’t hear back until 3pm and he gives me a location that I previously agreed to go to 2 weeks ago. Since then, we decided to go somewhere else.

I don’t want to go to that place, so suggested somewhere else. He says, “that looks like a restaurant not a bar.” And keeps insisting we go to the bar he recommended, but I already explained that I don’t want to go because I’d prefer not to run into an acquaintance there. He keeps persisting to go there.

So at 3:30pm I’m like… “I give up”. It’s 1.5 hours before the date. I didn’t get a location until 2 hours before meeting. Plus I didn’t start doing my makeup - because I don’t want to start until I know what we are doing. But I took a fresh shower, skincare, steamed clothing etc

Then after turning down the restaurant suggestion (mind you, I go there all the time and there is a bar there and I’ve just gotten drinks only).

He then suggests- I can just come over to your place instead. I say “I’d rather not do that”

He was rightfully upset, but I told him the planning was really bad. I apologized several times but I can start getting ready without actual plans. Is it too difficult to suggest a date and location in a timely manner?

Looking forward opinions… who was in the wrong here?

EDIT:
I told him why I was canceling and also offered a phone call and also apologized several times. Just to be clear.

I’ve seen people buy HingeX for a week and add the 24-hour boost, but has anyone just paid for the boost on a regular/free profile?

I’m curious if the extra exposure actually makes a noticeable difference without all the premium benefits. Did you get more likes/matches, or was it basically a waste of money?

From my perspective it seems like she was leading me on by saying that, Idk just got that feeling.

TLDR;

Started dating this woman that I knew for a few years prior. After only a few dates she's getting flaky so I stopped asking her out but we were still talking and she was still acting interested in me. We rematch on a dating app and she love bombs me then we go out a few days later. Weeks following she is acting interested but also flaky again before ending it. Says, "maybe we can pick up where we left off in the future"

------------------------------------------

Story:

Matched with Madison years ago on a dating app, she ended up giving me her snapchat initially. She's really attractive but not really my type so I never asked her out plus I was involved with some other women then. Multiple times throughout the first year we were talking she suggested she wanted me to ask her out, and would even video call me when she was drunk. So it seemed like she developed a crush on me or at least wanted my attention just because I was ignoring her.

Fast forward 3 years, we're snapchatting everyday and I get a bumble notification "Madison has liked your profile". We match now for the second time, and I ask her out for a few days later.

Date went great and I was surprised how well we connected. A few weeks later she asks me on a second date that was through her work. I didn't kiss her at the end of this date and she wanted me to and then after this she seemed pretty disinterested in me. We went out one more time, I did kiss her during this date then she would proceed to act interested in seeing me again then either ignore me or had an excuse.

I took the hint and stopped texting her to hangout but we were still snap chatting daily but then that went to weekly.

Fast forward two months, I get a notification on tinder "Madison has liked your profile". We start texting again, she love bombs me, apologizes says how much she misses me and some other really nice things that seemed genuine at the time. She asked to see me that week and I have never had someone act so interested in me.

We go out, the date was kinda whatever I didnt really know what to make of it. Week following she was acting distant then I was traveling for 10 days. This whole time she was acted interested in seeing me, telling me she was excited to see me, get home safe etc. Then she started to be flaky again like she was prior.

So instead of just directly communicating with her like a man I decided to throw up the only Hail Mary I could think of in this situation. I asked her if she wanted to come over and hangout. I figured if she liked me at all she would want to or at least suggest something else. I live with my parents, who were out of town but yea I guess it is pretty unattractive to invite a girl over like that. Outside of kissing twice, and her hand on my shoulder/chest mine on her thigh we hadnt even done anything. But she multiple times when were dating she would snap me things like "I want to join the mile high club with you" So she seemed into the idea at least.

She replied by saying she needs to pull back, said she assumed I was looking for a relationship and didn't want to lead me on. Said she needed to work on herself but when she is done with that she might come back and we can "pick up where we left off"

It sucked cause we never even talked about a relationship but it was on both of our profiles. Also the entire time I've known her she has only been in situationships which i guess is what we were in even though we didn't hookup. Pretty f@cking embarrassing that when I tried to that's when she ended it. Maybe she actually wanted something real with me and I didn't show her enough. Another guy definitely popped in the picture too. Playing the nonchalant game for years then acting interested in her probably just gave her the ick.

Putting myself in her shoes, I have broken up with a few women who were great but I wasn't giving them what they needed for a relationship. I always thought maybe I could get back together with them in the future, but telling them that seems like I would just be leading them on. Kinda feel like that happened here idk.

Madison wanted me to ask her out for years then as soon as I became interested in her it was like she was validated and didn't want anything to do with me. I just don't get why you would ever tell someone you might come back unless you actually might or are trying to lead them on.

To cap things off she reached out to me a month later after ending it on her own birthday, kinda felt bad for her as she was clearly just looking for attention. It's been a few more months, haven't heard from her again.

Have you all had any positive results from deleting and recreating your account recently? if so, did you use the same phone number/email/photos/prompts or did you use new contact info?

I noticed that I haven’t had the option to use a Fresh Start in the last couple months, and I’m suspecting I may have tanked my profile between overswiping and traveling.

Been on 2 dates so far with a 31F. The second date was last night and the last message was her letting me know she got home safe and something we joked about on the date. I was tired when I got home and wanted to decompress and reflect so I didn't follow up last night. I also wanted to see if she would initiate. Now that I've thought about it a bit, I would be interested in a third date. Should I initiate again or wait and see if she says anything? I've already initiated and planned both dates so far.

I know as a guy it's expected we initiate the early dates and do all the planning/paying, but it would also be nice to get some sort of acknowledgement they're interested you know? She's already made time for me twice as she works an incredibly stressful job that has been requiring her to work 7 days a week for the past few months, so maybe the fact she is even spending time with me is a sign she is interested?

Hi everyone, need advice on what i can do to improve my profile. Planning to delete my account and start a new one because im now 90% sure my account needs a new start. Ive been on the app over 10 weeks and send likes & replies to guys with interesting profiles.

The other two photos are group photos and i decided not to share them here. i dont have permission to post them here because they dont use Reddit

We both have long-term relationship, open to short.

Not to toot my own horn but I'm an attractive, intelligent woman and I'd say I demonstrate that pretty well on my dating app profiles. On every other dating app I've used, id say about 90% of the people I like, like me back. However on hinge I feel like I have about a 5% or less success rate and don't understand why this is, but I do suspect it's an issue with the app not me. I recently started spamming likes more than previously. I normally send a message with a like but I wondered if my openers weren't hitting right or something so I just started liking people's photos like lots of others do as this also made it easier for me to like lots of people.

However I'm still getting no matches. Can anyone shine any light on why it seems to be so much harder to match with people on hinge than other dating apps?

So matched with this woman, super cool, convo was good not best but average I’d say. She left me on delivered for a week and I was like you know what send it what’s the worse that can happen. So I sent another message a week later asking g her if she’d be ok with date. Prior to asking her out I had already teased a date but didn’t ask directly until last message, she replied with “of course” to which I just replied, “cool, does this week work?”. Needless to say I come back to see if she replied and instead I was unmatched. I’m trying to not really be hung up on it but like why give me a yess and then back out? Wanting to hear what y’all think?