Tinder is such a popular dating app it brought on a whole new way of interacting with apps as well as an idiom. ‘Swipe left’ is a term used to denote dismissing an idea or person, a callback to Tinder’s user interface of swiping left when you’re not attracted to someone.

Swiping right, of course, means you are attracted to someone, and the swiping interface Tinder made popular has become fairly standard in other apps as well. While other dating apps relied on reading profiles, Tinder sparked the age of finding love via apps based on initial attraction.

We’ll tell you how Tinder works, how to use Tinder, what you need to do to get a Tinder login of your own, and which apps help you manage conversations and keep yourself safe while using the Tinder website.

What is Tinder

Launched in 2012 at a startup incubator, Tinder took only 2 years to reach one billion ‘swipes’ per day, a testament to its growing use. Because of its popularity, dating apps launched after Tinder also relied on the same method of visual attraction at the fore have sprung up and continue to dominate the dating app scene. It’s such a popular interface more traditional dating sites adopted it in response to TInder’s popularity, and many non-dating apps also utilize swiping to interact with items on the screen.

Its popularity lies in its ease of use, and anonymity. Users don’t know you’ve viewed their profile until you swipe right to indicate you’re interested. If that user also finds you attractive, they swipe right as well, and the two of you are able to chat and forge a more meaningful bond within the Tinder app.

Many prefer Tinder because of its chat component, which provides a layer of safety. You don’t have to give your real name to anyone, or provide personal details like a phone number or email. You’re free to chat, and meet, while completely controlling how much the other person knows about you.

How do I get a Tinder app?

The Tinder app is available for download on Android and iOS. Simply visit the App Store or Google Play to download Tinder to your phone.

Though Tinder used to require a Facebook profile to set up a Tinder account, that’s no longer the case. You can now login with Facebook, Google, or use a phone number. Know that if you use a phone number, you will still need to provide an email address to complete registration during the Tinder sign up process. This is to verify you’re not a bot account or spamming the platform.

Using Tinder on Mac: Tinder Web Tips

For some, the free professional dating sites Tinder website on desktop will be easier to use. It allows you to tap ‘like’ or ‘dislike’ buttons rather than swiping, so a tap of your trackpad or mouse is all it takes.

1. Go to Tinder from a browser like Safari or Chrome
2. Click the “Create an Account” button
3. Enter a phone number, or link a Google or Facebook account
4. Enter your name, birthdate, a picture, and some interests
5. Start swiping!

Keep in mind you will need to enter an email address if using a phone number to authenticate your account. You can also authorize with Google after step two to speed the process up. If you use another email, like Hotmail, you will need to click the link Tinder sends via email to continue the setup process.

Tinder also asks for permission to know your location while using the website in an attempt to help you find people in your area. If you’d rather control where you search for matches, you will definitely want to use ClearVPN.