InternationalCupid vs Hinge: Which One Is Best for Meeting International Partners?
by John Santana
Not all people want to date within their locality, and that’s okay. Some people prefer to date someone with a different culture and background. With so many dating apps available today, you’d be hard-pressed to find one that works for you. To limit your options, we chose two dating apps known for international dating and compared InternationalCupid vs Hinge.
InternationalCupid was established by Cupid Media in 2004 and is known to be the world’s largest dating network. The app focuses on singles around the world looking for foreign partners and has over 4 million app users around the world.
Hinge, on the other hand, is a newer app launched in 2012. It’s now being operated by the Match Group, which also owns other dating sites like Tinder, Match.com, and OkCupid, among others. Hinge’s tagline is “the dating app designed to be deleted,” as it focuses on singles looking for long-term partners.
Features and User Base
Let’s look at the algorithms, demographics, and user bases of InternationalCupid vs Hinge and see what differs between the two dating apps.
During your signup at InternationalCupid, you can answer a 40-item questionnaire that profiles you. Then, the app uses a match indicator—a green circle and a red X sign that indicates whether you’re compatible or not on each user’s profile. The app also has a search filter that you can use to limit your search based on your preferred nationality, physical feature, age, or location, but more advanced filters are available only to premium subscribers. In terms of users, 44% of users are women, while 56% are men. Most of the users are from Europe and the United States and are 25 to 34 years old.
Hinge takes pride in using a Nobel Prize-winning algorithm that matches people who are more likely to like each other. It’s based on the Gale-Shapley algorithm by Lloyd Shapley and Alvin Roth. They use factors such as who you like, send a comment to, or engage with, and Hinge uses these to decide who’s more compatible with you. As for the search filter, you get the basic age, location, gender, and ethnicity, but you can get more filters with a Hinge subscription. Hinge has 23 million users, mostly between 23 and 36 years old, with 64% of them male and 36% female.
InternationalCupid and Hinge are mostly similar when it comes to features and user demographics. It has the same basic options for search filters, almost the same gender ratio, and both of the app’s users are millennials. It’s worth noting that they use different algorithms in matchmaking, with International Cupid using your profile to check compatibility, while Hinge uses an algorithm that uses data on who Hinge thinks you’ll like the most.
Communication and Interaction
InternationalCupid lets free version users browse people, see photos, message premium members for free, and send a heart to show interest to other users. It’s available in 32 languages, so you can connect with other people around the world. But the thing about InternationalCupid is that reading messages, video chat, and automatic translation services are only available for premium members.
On Hinge, you can send unlimited messages to someone who also likes your profile, send a comment, send only limited likes per day, and see mutual likes for free. Video chat and voice calls are only available once you send a message to your match. A paid subscription lets you see everyone who likes you, give unlimited likes, and filter more preferences. Hinge is available in over 100 languages, but a built-in translation isn’t available.
Communicating and interacting with InternationalCupid vs Hinge is quite different. The former is more usable when you use its paid version, but the latter can work quite well with its free features. However, if you’re looking for international partners, it might make more sense to use InternationalCupid’s premium feature of having a translation service aid you in communicating with your match.
Safety and Security
One of the most important features you should check when using online dating apps is their security. Apps should have strict security features to make a safe dating community for all.
With InternationalCupid, email verification isn’t required. When you encounter suspicious or fake profiles, you have the option to Block or Report the user. InternationalCupid doesn’t sell Personal Data to any third parties, and all other private information is kept confidential except for that which you share on your profile.
Hinge requires you to verify your mobile number, which is their way to avoid fake profiles. You can also do an optional selfie verification, wherein you’ll have to take a video selfie for authentication.
You can also remove, report, and block people you don’t want to match with on Hinge. You can hide someone and block them from seeing your profile. You can also hide your own profile too. And if you Report or Block someone, you’ll never match with them again. With Hinge, your user data is shared with Match Group’s other dating sites.
Both InternationalCupid and Hinge let you block and report another user. While optional, it’s better to verify your profile to ensure security–something Hinge requires but InternationalCupid doesn’t. Regarding the privacy of your data, InternationalCupid doesn’t sell to third parties unless otherwise stated, unlike Hinge, which shares with other dating sites under their parent company.
Pricing
InternationalCupid and Hinge both have free and paid versions. Here are the costs, features available, and comparisons of the apps.
InternationalCupid free version
- Send messages to users with premium subscriptions for free
- Receive matches
- Send interest to other members
InternationalCupid Gold Plan
Cost: $41.5 for a month, $83 for 3 months, $165 for 12 months
- Browse anonymously
- Ad-free
InternationalCupid Platinum Plan
Cost: $50 for a month, $100 for three months, $210 for 12 months
- All Gold Plan features
- Highlight to other members and rank high in searches
- More profile space
- Advanced matchmaking services
InternationalCupid Diamond Plan
Cost: $89.98 for a month, $179.97 for 3 months, $379.98 for 12 months
- All Platinum Plan features
- Rank even higher on the list
Hinge free version
- Limited likes per day
- Limited filter options
- Only see likes if you’re mutual
Hinge+
Cost: $29.99 a month, $59.99 for three months, $89.99 for six months
- Unlimited likes per day
- See those who liked you
- Advanced preferences and sorting options
- Enhanced browsing
HingeX
Cost: $49.99 a month, $99.99 for 3 months, and $149.99 for 6 months
- All Hinge+ features
- Constant boosting of your profile to rank higher
- Likes and interests will be shown
- Enhanced recommendations
InternationalCupid has three tiers of premium subscriptions, while Hinge only has two. Both apps have promising premium features, but the big difference is the free version on Hinge, where you can send messages, while on InternationalCupid, it’s advisable to upgrade to send messages.
InternationalCupid vs Hinge, which is better?
Both InternationalCupid and Hinge offer ideal features for meeting international partners. InternationalCupid’s strength lies in its premium subscriptions, with features that can really put you at an advantage over other users. Its translation service will definitely work, especially if you’re determined to look for foreign partners. However, since it’s only available to Android users, this can be a disadvantage for those who want to try the app.
Meanwhile, Hinge is ideal for beginners who want to try dating international partners without the need to spend more for a premium. Hinge’s free version is packed with good starter features. It also has a larger user base with 23 million users, meaning you have more people to potentially match with.
InternationalCupid and Hinge are two apps that work for those who are looking to meet international partners for long-term relationships. It all depends on your willingness to find a potential match. Choose wisely!
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