How to Develop a Dating App like Tinder & How Much It Costs
Published: 2021-03-02 16:00:14

Dating isn’t so much of a struggle for anyone that is used to be; online dating has forever changed how we date and mingle with other people. What once seemed like a chore, sitting through a boring dinner date, has changed conveniently to swiping right and left on your screen.
Online dating has established itself as a million-dollar market. Finding love never runs out of trend and will only grow as the population grows. Dating apps and [wa dating sites](https://www.datingreviews.com.au/tasmania-dating-sites/), which were once only to find your life partners, have expanded into making friends, engaging in hookups, and meeting like-minded people. The dating market has become a [4 billion dollar](https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/dating-services-industry/) industry, and it is only presumed to grow in the coming years.
But how does one develop a dating app like Tinder, which has managed to solidify its name as one of the best dating sites, and what costs are involved in its development? Find out more in this article.

Technological Features of Tinder
Tinder has managed to garner attention and make a concrete spot for itself in the online dating industry by catering to what people expect from a dating app. According to numerous tinder reviews, we can conclude that this application reflects the colossal work of the developers.
1. Easy Sign In
Tinder lets users’ signup by connection to their Facebook or Google account. Generally, the whole ordeal of creating an account and setting up a profile by filling in all the details is very time-consuming. 
A great app always streamlines its signup process by reducing the number of personal details required or adding a feature that lets you connect your account to a preexisting account on another platform to autofill details.
Signing up via Facebook / Instagram is a smart move since Facebook has a great presence and has established itself in the market, and it can upload your picture feed to an account automatically. 
2. Matching algorithm 
Every dating app has to have a matching algorithm. Without a matching algorithm, there isn’t any systemic process of matching people to those around them. 
Tinder infamously uses the geolocation matching features using the GPS tracker on the user’s device. Through this, matches are made with those close to you, so you don’t have to go through the hassle of a long-distance relationship. Narrow or expand your search field manually to set the perfect zone suiting your taste.
3. Filtered Searching
Everyone has a specific criterion they want their partner to match, such as location, age, and gender. Introducing filters to allow advanced search is an excellent way of catering to user’s demands. This saves user’s time by letting them match with only those they find attractive. 
Tinder has gained a lot of attraction because of this filter feature, so it might be an option worth adding to your dating platform.
4. Offline Access
Rarely are there any dating profiles out there that let you navigate the app without an internet connection. Tinder saw an open market and jumped right into introducing offline dating. The offline allows you to swipe as well as initiate conversations without any internet connection.

Design of Dating App Interface
Every app needs to have a set theme, such as a color code and matching algorithm. This is the most visually engaging element of the app and the first thing any user will encounter. Tinder is well known for its reddish-pink toned theme and geolocation matching interface. 
But the most crucial design element of Tinder that has made it stand out in the market was its ease of matching through simple left and right swipes.  Moreover, Tinder promotes positivity as no user is informed if someone swipes left and only alters users when both parties swipe right. 
To top is all premium features like “superlike,” which lets you show your increased interest in a person, and “reverse,” enabling you to undo your swiping error. This allows you to reverse back if you swipe left by mistake.
The second most essential element of an app design is how much control users have; Tinder lets users customize their notifications and real-time alerts. This customization feature allows users to personalize their experience in-app. The purpose is to provide information the users would want and makes them come back. An example could be similar to a notification letting users known someone has swiped right or an alert letting you know you’ve got a new message.

Cost and Development Time of a Dating App
Although investing in a dating app seems to be the buzz and a desirable option, most don’t know what it’ll cost to develop an app like Tinder. The total cost eventually breaks down into elements like:
1. Features you’ll add
2. The platform you’ll develop the app for ([cross-platform or native](https://www.zeolearn.com/magazine/native-vs-cross-platform-apps-youll-be-the-winner#:~:text=Native%20apps%20are%20developed%20exclusively,language%20compatible%20with%20the%20platform.&text=and%20vice%20versa.-,Cross%2Dplatform%20apps%20are%20compatible%20with%20multiple%20platforms.,to%20these%20two%20operating%20systems.))
3. UX/UI of the app
4. Testing and maintenance cost
But the most important element that controls how much each of the factors mentioned above would cost you is the developer’s hourly rate of payment. You have several options when hiring developers you could:
a. Hire freelancers
b. Hire a permanent in-house development team
c. Hire an out-sourced development team
The total cost of developing either cross-platform or native is as such:
1. App for iOS: $40,000-45,000 (back-end $10,000-$11,000)
2. App for Android: $40,000-45,000 (back-end $10,000-$11,000)
3. Cross-platform app:$80,000-90,000 (back-end $10,000-$11,000)
And when taking into consideration all the other costs involved with the app development, your total budget needs to be around:
1. For iOS: $60,000-65,000
2. For Android: $55,000-60,000
3. Cross-platform: $115,000-120,000

Considering all the benefits and market value of the dating industry and the cost of developing the app, make your decision. Know that just developing an app won’t be the end of it, money won’t keep coming in, and you’ll have to create a revenue generation factor such as in-app ads or premium subscription. 
In the end, whether you invest or not, someone else will. However, the success of the investment will depend significantly on the features and design of the app.