Tinder Brings Back Free Passport Feature for One Month

Tinder has announced it will bring back its popular paid premium feature Passport for free, but only for a limited time. The promotion advocates for users to take advantage and enjoy “fantasy flings” while they can. 

Passport lets users to set their current location to any zip code or city in the world, allowing them to match with users in the same areas. The feature is usually a paid premium service, but Passport will be free for all users during the month of April according to CNet. 

The company said of the promotion: "it could be a way of testing the international waters while [users] wait for a vaccine passport.”

This time last year, Tinder offered Passport to all users at no cost for the first time. The move was prompted by the lockdowns taking place around the world and the subsequent popularity of virtual dating. Curious singles were looking to expand their match options beyond their current cities – including to matches who live in other countries. 

More than 25 percent of the app’s users tried Passport during the promotion, and many documented their flings or #TinderPassport adventures on TikTok, garnering over 72 million views to date. Members who took advantage of Passport last year made 1.4 billion matches and on a single day – April 24th - broke Tinder’s highest matches per day record with 55 million matches according to the company’s press release. 

Tinder also provided a list of popular Passport “locations” in its press release, with Los Angeles topping the list. Other popular destinations included New York City, London, Paris, Miami, Tokyo, Seoul, Stockholm, Amsterdam and Moscow.

Tinder has made several new announcements in recent weeks to improve user experience on its app, including adding background checks for those who want to know about a match before meeting in person. The company also partnered with Lyft so users can gift rides to their dates, and gave away 1,000 free COVID testing kits in a lottery earlier this year for those who scheduled in-person dates.

Passport is typically offered under their Tinder Plus premium service for about $10 per month.

“We saw such overwhelming adoption of Passport the first time around because people were desperate for connection,” said Udi Milo, VP of Product for Tinder. “One year later, we expect similar adoption for a different reason: possibility. We’re all eager to close this chapter of our lives, but we’re still (mostly) at home. Tinder Passport lets us dream about what life might be like when we can travel, meet new people and make plans again.”

For more information on this dating service you can read our Tinder app review.