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Dating & Social · head to head

Hinge vs Ship

Hinge logo

Hinge

Dating & Social

Designed to be deleted

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

Ship

Dating & Social

Date better with the help of friends

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • They diverge on capability: Hinge covers Profile Prompts, Ship covers Crew Swiping.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hinge and Ship actually diverge.

Attributes where Hinge and Ship differ
AttributeHingeShip
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebIos, Android
Founded20122019

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Dating & Social).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Hinge

  • Profile Prompts
  • Like and Comment
  • Most Compatible
  • Video Prompts
  • Voice Prompts
  • Standouts
  • Spotify
  • Instagram

Only in Ship

  • Crew Swiping
  • Friend Recommendations
  • Group Chat
  • Profile Sharing
  • Dating on Behalf
  • Social Matching
  • Facebook

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Android support

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Hinge

  • Pricing varies significantly by age and location, making costs unpredictable
  • Algorithm changes in 2026 added 'Vibe Check' feature that some users find intrusive
  • User base is smaller than Tinder or Bumble, limiting matches in smaller cities

Ship

Nothing recorded yet. See the Ship review.

Pricing, plan by plan

Hinge

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 8 daily likes
    • 1 rose per week
    • Basic matches
  • Hinge+$16.99/month (varies by age)
    • Unlimited likes
    • See who liked you
    • Advanced preferences
  • HingeX$49.99/month
    • All Hinge+ features
    • Priority likes
    • Skip the line

Ship

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Crew Swiping
    • Messaging
    • Friend Recommendations

Which should you pick?

Choose Hinge if

  • You need profile prompts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want like and comment.
Hinge review

Choose Ship if

  • You need crew swiping.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android.
  • You also want friend recommendations.
Ship review

Questions people ask

Is Hinge or Ship better?
Neither clearly leads. Hinge starts at Free and Ship at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hinge or Ship?
Hinge starts at Free and Ship at Free.
Does Hinge or Ship run on more platforms?
Hinge runs on iOS, Android, Web. Ship runs on Ios, Android.
Can I use Hinge for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What can Hinge do that Ship cannot?
Hinge covers Profile Prompts, Like and Comment, Most Compatible, Video Prompts. Ship covers Crew Swiping, Friend Recommendations, Group Chat, Profile Sharing. Both handle Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Hinge: Is Hinge free to use?

Hinge offers a free tier with 8 daily likes and one rose per week. Premium tiers (Hinge+) start at $16-$32 per month depending on commitment length, with HingeX at $49.99 per month.

Source
Hinge: What does 'designed to be deleted' mean?

Hinge positions itself as focused on helping users find meaningful relationships and delete the app once they're in one, emphasizing quality matches over quantity of swipes.

Source
Hinge: How does Hinge match people differently than other apps?

Hinge uses the Gale-Shapley algorithm to predict mutual compatibility based on preferences and engagement patterns, not just one-sided attraction like pure swiping apps.

Source
Hinge: Can women message first on Hinge like on Bumble?

Yes, but Hinge's model is different: anyone can like with a comment on specific photos or prompts, and there's no time limit like Bumble's 24-hour requirement. This gives Hinge more flexible messaging initiation.

Source
Hinge: Does Hinge have a location limit?

Hinge shows matches within your preferred radius. The app adjusts matches based on location preferences you set during onboarding.

Source
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