Tinder has taken the online dating world by storm as one of the most popular smartphone-only dating apps in recent years, and now China has its own version called Tantan. On the surface level, Tantan appears to be a carbon copy of Tinder.
In this matchup AllChinaTech will break down the difference between the two apps.
Tinder:
Launched in 2012
Daily Active Users: 9.6 million
Tinder users “swipe” through an average of more than 1.4 billion user profiles each day
Tantan:
Launched in July 2014
Daily Active Users: half a million
Daily swipes on TanTan: 100 million
The sign-up process:
Tantan requires a mobile number to sign up through which the app then sends users a verification code. Tinder, on the other hand, requires users to log in via a Facebook account, which presents a problem for most Chinese users who cannot access Facebook due to government blocks in China.
Tantan users then fill out a name, birthday and a password. Users also need to disclose their gender and add a profile picture to get started. Once a basic profile is set up, users are allowed to add up to six profile photos – the same amount allowed on Tinder. In addition, Tantan users can voluntarily link up a WeChat account. Tantan users are encouraged to enter information based on their interests: the genre of books and movies they prefer, preference for a type of cuisine, and what places users have been to.
As for Tinder, since it pulls data from Facebook user profiles, the app automatically generates your profile and knows where you currently work, your school and your interests.
Tinder users can also connect up an Instagram account, which is a popular piece of information Tinder users include in their profiles. Once it’s connected, user profiles will automatically display recent Instagram photos. TanTan doesn’t seem to have a similar integration with any photo-sharing social media sites, perhaps as a result of Instagram being blocked in China.
In addition, Tinder users can establish a website profile by claiming a public username but users will still need to use the mobile application for swiping through the app, not on the website.
The UI:
The principle layout for both Tinder and Tantan is the same. A user swipes right on a profile to indicate a user likes a suggested profile, with a left swipe meaning the user is not interested. If two users indicate they like each other, the app will create a chatroom between the users to facilitate conversation. Tinder also has a “swipe right” limit for basic users, which TechCrunch reports as having a limit of 500 swipes over a 12-hour period to avoid spam and bots.
Tinder also allows users to swipe up or hit the star button to indicate a “Super Like”. If a Tinder user sees that you have “Super Liked” their profile, the user will see a message popping up saying this user has “Super Liked” you. The “Super Like” feature is limited to two swipes in any given 12-hour period for basic-level users.
Premium Features:
Tinder released Tinder Plus back in March. Tantan does not have a paid version at this stage. The premium service gives users a few extra advantages: Rewind and Passport.
Rewind is a feature that allows users to go back to their last left-swipe if a user wishes to change his/her mind. The Passport feature allows users to browse and matchup with users from around the world, beyond their immediate 100-mile-radius.
In addition, Tinder Plus users are able to swipe more than two “Super Likes” at a time and ads will not be displayed when browsing profiles.
TechCrunch reported in February that the pricing for Tinder Plus varies from market to market and between different age groups. It is reported that Tinder charges as little as USD 2.99 a month for users in emerging markets and charges more for users who are over 30, with the idea that older people make more money. I fired up Tinder in Beijing and was given the option of signing up for one month for USD 14.99, USD 10 per month for six months or USD 6.67 per month for 12 months.
Verified Profile:
Following in the steps of Twitter, Vine, Instagram and Facebook, Tinder rolled out verified profiles in July for well-known public figures. Users will now see a blue checkmark badge next to a verified profile. “Now when notable public figures, celebrities and athletes appear in your recommendations, you’ll know it’s for real.” The Tinder blog explains. Tinder users, don’t be surprised to find the rich and the famous out there looking for matches. The International Business Times reports nine celebrities have used Tinder before, including Hilary Duff, Leonardo DiCaprio and Katy Perry.
So how does a user get verified then? Tinder’s VP of Global Communications and Branding, Rosette Pambakian, told the Next Web Tinder is reviewing requests for verification “on a case-by-case basis.” She says, “A limited number of requests will be taken into consideration to start – others will be added to the wait list.”
TanTan doesn’t have this feature yet.