How each app actually works
Match is a searchable dating site: you set filters, browse, like and message, and you can do all of it from a desktop browser. Hinge shows you a small stream of suggested profiles built from photos and prompt answers, and you like a specific part of a profile rather than the whole person. Match rewards knowing what you want. Hinge rewards writing well.
Age is the real dividing line
Under 40 in a city, Hinge will show you more people you would plausibly date. Over 40, or anywhere outside a metro, Match's pool holds up and Hinge's starts repeating. This is more decisive than any feature comparison, so check both free for a fortnight before paying anything.
Profiles and first messages
Hinge's prompts are the best thing about it: they give you something specific to react to, and conversations start warmer as a result. Match profiles can be more detailed but plenty sit half-empty, which leaves you writing a cold opener. If you dread the first message, that difference matters more than pool size.
What you get for paying
Hinge keeps it simple with two tiers, and Hinge+ is the one most people notice, mainly for unlimited likes and filters. Match spreads value across four tiers and pushes visibility extras that are harder to judge. Neither subscription can make a thin local pool bigger.
Safety and expectations
Both offer photo verification, blocking and reporting, and neither runs background checks. Match's older crowd and slower pace produce fewer throwaway accounts. On either, verify what you can, video call before meeting, and keep the first date public.