Tinder grants do-overs, transatlantic swiping with paid version

02.03.2015
Tinder, the popular dating app, wants to offer a second chance at love for users who may passed on a potential mate.

For a price, users can now undo their most recent left-swipe on someone's profile, which signals disinterest. Another new feature, called Passport, lets users search for people in other locations beyond their pre-selected geographic radius.

Tinder said these are its two most requested features. They're available in a new paid version of the app called Tinder Plus.

Pricing details were not disclosed at the time of launch on Monday, though the cost of upgrading in San Francisco is US$19.99 per month. A report in TechCrunch cited a monthly fee of US$9.99, but it appears the price might vary from market to market. Tinder, based in Los Angeles, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Users can upgrade on both iOS and Android by tapping the blue location icon on the main screen.

Tinder has been testing the paid version of its app in Europe over the past couple of months. On the surface, the new options seem like useful features to have for power users who are willing to pay a premium. In Tinder's app, profiles appear based on where the user is located. A right swipe on the profile signals interest, a left swipe, no. If two people both swipe right, they can message each other within the app.

Regular users can find themselves swiping rapidly through the profiles, so realizing only a second later you wanted to swipe right instead of left is not uncommon.

But, Tinder has received some negative feedback to the paid version overseas from users who didn't like that it offered only a limited number of swipes.

Tinder, in its announcement on Monday, said the paid version would grant unlimited liking capability.

Users of the paid app can cancel their subscription at any time at the Apple or Google app stores, Tinder says in its FAQ.

Tinder does not have any ads in its app yet, though the company is reportedly in the process of incorporating them. This now seems imminent, because on the sign-up screen for Tinder Plus, the company also cites this feature: "Turn off ads."

Zach Miners covers social networking, search and general technology news for IDG News Service. Follow Zach on Twitter at @zachminers. Zach's e-mail address is zach_miners@idg.com

Zach Miners