Hinge Sees India Become Its Second-Largest Market

Finding a partner in India has traditionally involved more than just two people. Family expectations, shared values and even parents can play an important role in the process. But younger singles increasingly want more control over how — and who — they date, and Hinge is betting that shift could make India one of its most important markets.

India is now Hinge’s second-largest market based on downloads and registrations and its third-largest by monthly active users. The dating app, which entered the country in 2015, has largely reached that position through organic growth. Now, Hinge and parent company Match Group are preparing to invest more heavily in the market.

In an interview with Fortune India, Hinge CEO Jackie Jantos said the company sees an opportunity between casual dating apps and traditional matrimonial services. Singles may still care deeply about family and shared values, but they also want more agency in finding a long-term partner.

Hinge Is Adapting Dating to the Indian Market

That combination fits naturally with Hinge’s focus on relationships. The company’s familiar “Designed to be Deleted” philosophy is based on helping users find meaningful relationships rather than keeping them endlessly swiping.

The potential market is substantial. India’s online dating app market was valued at approximately $547.9 million in 2023 and is projected to reach $1.02 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research figures cited by Fortune India. India also generated around 205 million dating app downloads in 2025.

Hinge is introducing several features intended to address some of the concerns that can make online dating more complicated for Indian singles. These include a phased waitlist for new members, Face Check verification and Screenshot Protection, which prevents screenshots of personal profile information in areas including Discover, Likes You and Standouts.

There is also a Block List that can help you avoid being shown to people you already know, including family members, coworkers or former partners. In a dating culture where some singles may want more privacy from their existing social circles, that could be particularly useful.

Another feature, Match Note, allows daters to privately share information such as values, boundaries, religion or communication preferences before beginning a conversation. Hinge says the feature was developed with input from LGBTQ daters and can also be used for information someone may not feel comfortable displaying publicly.

AI Will Help You Date, But Hinge Doesn't Want It Dating for You

Artificial intelligence is also becoming a bigger part of the Hinge experience, but the company is drawing a distinction between AI that assists daters and AI that replaces them.

Hinge already uses machine learning to recommend potentially compatible people and AI to identify harmful language and suspicious activity. Its Prompt Feedback feature takes a similarly restrained approach. Rather than writing a profile response for you, the tool asks follow-up questions designed to help you create a more detailed answer yourself.

That approach could become increasingly important as AI-generated dating profiles and messages make authenticity harder to judge. Jantos noted that Gen Z daters are curious about AI while simultaneously showing distrust toward the technology. Hinge’s own research found that 60% of younger Gen Z daters ages 18 to 22 were open to using AI for dating help as a kind of virtual second opinion.

India Could Be an Important Part of Hinge's Next Growth Phase

The opportunity arrives as Hinge continues to grow globally. Revenue increased 22% year over year to $203.5 million during the second quarter of 2026, while its paying-user base grew 17% to 2 million. Match Group has said it expects Hinge to reach $1 billion in annual revenue in 2027.

Still, Hinge says fewer than 15% of its global monthly active users currently pay for a subscription or another product. Jantos emphasized that the free version must continue helping singles form relationships, even as the company expands its paid offerings.

For Indian singles, Hinge’s expansion could ultimately mean more choice between two familiar extremes: casual dating and formal matchmaking. The company is betting there is plenty of room in the middle for people who want to find a serious relationship on their own terms — while still bringing their values, families and authentic selves along for the journey.

For more on this dating app, check out our Hinge review.