Hinge Plans In-App Payment System to Sidestep Apple Fees

Dating app Hinge is preparing to introduce its own mobile payment system by the end of the year, aiming to bypass Apple’s longstanding commission on in-app purchases. CEO and co-founder Justin McLeod shared the update during an appearance on the Verge’s Decoder podcast, highlighting the potential benefits of the shift for both the company and users.

According to McLeod, a Hinge-specific payment solution would allow the app to avoid Apple’s transaction fees, a move that he says “changes the equation” for the business in significant ways. He suggested that retaining more revenue could enable Hinge to invest more heavily in its product and potentially offer users lower prices. The new system would also provide more flexibility during a period he described as one of “massive disruption.”

The initiative follows a major court decision in Epic Games v. Apple, which now permits developers to direct users to payment options outside the App Store. The ruling has opened the door for companies to reduce their reliance on Apple’s infrastructure, and major players like Epic and Stripe are already providing alternatives.

Hinge’s parent company, Match Group, has long opposed Apple’s fee structure and has publicly supported broader efforts to reform the App Store’s policies. Despite owning a portfolio of dating apps – including Tinder, OkCupid, and Match – McLeod said the payment system will “most likely” be tailored specifically to Hinge rather than being implemented across the full Match Group ecosystem. However, there’s always a chance that other apps follow suit.