Tinder announced a $499 per month invite-only subscription. Select tinderon Friday, Bloomberg reports. As part of the premium plan, subscribers can message people they haven’t matched with, while “most searched” users will see their profiles. Tinder says it only offers the plan to less than 1 percent of its users it considers “extremely active” and that apps will open on a rolling basis.
“We know there is a subset of active, highly engaged users who prioritize more effective and efficient ways to find connections,” said Tinder chief product officer Mark Van Ryswyk. “That’s why we’ve conducted extensive testing and feedback with this audience over the past few months to develop an entirely new offering.”
If selected to apply, users will be required to comply with the company’s “5-Point Selection Screen.” That means their profile should include a verified photo, a bio, five interests, at least four pictures, and details about the type of relationship they are looking for. If their request is approved, members can add an exclusive Select badge to their profile. Like Twitter’s new option to hide the blue checkmark, select members can also hide the badge in case they don’t want people to know they paid for the highest tier package.
the new subscription coming more than a year after Tinder’s parent company, Match Group, bought invitation-only dating app The League, aimed at “ambitious, career-oriented singles.” That app costs users up to $1,000 a week.
Its success inspired Tinder Select, but unlike Tinder, The League uses real human matchmakers, not just algorithms, which could help subscribers justify the cost. In contrast, Tinder Select adds more features to three existing plans, which start at $24.99 per month. For example, with Select, Tinder promises greater visibility, even among its “most searched” users, while Tinder Select profiles won’t appear blurry in someone’s “I like you” grid, even if that person doesn’t pay for a Gold or Platinum. subscription.
Additionally, Tinder Select subscribers can direct message people they haven’t matched with up to twice a week. However, the company’s website adds that some recipients may opt out of receiving these messages. Plus, Platinum members can now message people they like before they match, and that’s only $29.99 for one month.
Despite all that, Match Group executives have high hopes for Tinder Select. At a Citi conference this month, Match Group Chairman Gary Swidler he said he believes The Tinder Select offer, which could cost a user $6,000 a year, will have a significant impact on revenue.
So far, the main appeal of Tinder Select seems to lie in its exclusivity and the opportunity to improve your chances with “the most wanted”.
