Hinge Expands Face Check Testing, Adds ‘Direct to Date’ Feature

Hinge is rolling out facial recognition verification through its Face Check feature in additional markets during Q1 2026, as announced by its parent company Match Group during its Q4 2025 earnings call. The expansion follows successful implementation on Tinder, where the tool became mandatory for new U.S. users in October 2025 and is now set for global rollout by the end of March 2026.

Testing of Face Check on Hinge will begin in Mexico, Brazil, Australia, and Canada this quarter, with U.S. testing scheduled to start as early as March. Match Group reports that where Face Check has been deployed on Tinder, interactions with bad actors – accounts engaging in spam, scams, or deceptive behaviour – have dropped by more than 50%.

The company is also preparing to test Direct to Date, a feature described as clarifying user intent to “accelerate IRL plans.” Hinge indicated that the upcoming trial will allow newly matched users to share availability and preferred date activities immediately after matching, streamlining the transition from conversation to in-person meeting. The test is slated for spring 2026.

These updates arrive as Hinge continues to outperform other Match Group brands. In Q4 2025, the app reported quarterly and year-over-year increases in both paying users and direct revenue, while Tinder experienced declines in both metrics. Hinge has positioned itself as a platform focused on intentional dating, with features like prompts, voice notes, and compatibility questions aimed at fostering deeper connections rather than high-volume swiping.