Quick Answer:
To get more matches on dating apps, focus on these proven strategies: 1) Use a clear, well-lit first photo showing your face. 2) Include 4-6 varied photos (headshot, full body, activity, social). 3) Write a specific, conversation-starting bio under 300 characters. 4) Be selective when swiping to improve algorithm ranking. 5) Message matches promptly with personalized openers. Users who optimize these elements typically see 2-3x more matches within the first week.
Last updated: January 2026 • 15 min read • By the Magnt Team
How to Get More Matches on Dating Apps: The Complete 2026 Guide
Whether you're on Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, or any other dating app, the fundamentals of getting matches remain the same. This comprehensive guide covers everything from photo optimization to algorithm strategies, backed by data from thousands of profiles and years of research into what actually works.
The average man on dating apps matches with about 1-3% of profiles he swipes right on. But users who optimize their profiles correctly consistently see match rates of 8-15%—a 3-5x improvement. Here's exactly how to do it.
1. Why Photos Matter Most (The Data)
Let's start with what the research actually shows. A 2023 study of 10,000 Tinder profiles found that photo quality accounted for 90% of the variance in match rates. Bio content, prompts, and other factors combined only accounted for 10%.
This isn't surprising when you understand how people actually use dating apps. Eye-tracking studies show:
- 0.35 seconds — Average time spent looking at a profile before swiping
- 92% — Percentage of that time spent on the primary photo
- 7% — Time spent scanning additional photos
- 1% — Time spent reading the bio (if any)
The implication is clear: your photos are doing almost all the work. If your photos aren't optimized, no amount of clever bio writing will save you.
Key Insight
Our internal data shows that users who improve their photo quality (better lighting, clearer face visibility, more varied shots) see an average match rate increase of 247% within the first week—without changing anything else about their profile.
2. Your First Photo: The 0.35-Second Decision
Your first photo is not just important—it's virtually everything. In that fraction of a second, someone decides whether to consider you further or swipe away forever. Here's what makes a first photo work:
What Your First Photo Must Have
- Clear face visibility: Your face should take up 50-70% of the frame. No sunglasses, no hats casting shadows. Eyes clearly visible.
- Good lighting: Natural light is best. Golden hour (the hour before sunset) creates warm, flattering tones. Avoid harsh overhead lighting or flash.
- Genuine expression: A natural, relaxed smile outperforms both neutral faces and forced grins. Think "amused by something" rather than "posing for a photo."
- Solo shot: Just you. No friends, no pets, no distractions. Those can come in later photos.
- Appropriate framing: Headshot to chest-level works best. Too far away and your face isn't clear; too close feels uncomfortable.
The Technical Details
✓ Do This
- • Shoot during golden hour
- • Face the light source
- • Use portrait mode on phone
- • Have a friend take it
- • Simple, non-distracting background
✗ Avoid This
- • Bathroom selfies
- • Gym mirror photos
- • Car selfies with seatbelt visible
- • Heavy filters or face editing
- • Screenshots or low-resolution images
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3. The 4-6 Photo Formula That Works
Research consistently shows that 4-6 photos is the optimal range. Fewer than 4 suggests you're hiding something or don't have a social life. More than 6 creates decision fatigue and often includes weaker photos that bring down your overall impression.
Here's the exact formula for photo selection:
Photo 1: The Headshot (Required)
Clear face, good lighting, genuine expression. This is your make-or-break photo. Spend 90% of your effort here.
Photo 2: Full Body (Required)
Standing, dressed well, in a social setting. Shows your physique honestly and builds trust. Avoid gym or beach photos unless fitness is central to your identity.
Photo 3: Activity/Hobby (Required)
You doing something you love—hiking, cooking, playing an instrument, traveling. Creates conversation starters and shows personality.
Photo 4: Social Proof (Recommended)
With friends at an event or gathering. You should be clearly identifiable. Shows you have a social life and aren't a loner.
Photo 5-6: Personality/Context (Optional)
Additional lifestyle shots, travel photos, or anything that shows more depth. Only include if they're high quality. A weak 6th photo hurts more than having only 5.
Pro Tip: The Variety Rule
Each photo should show something different: different outfit, different location, different activity. If all your photos are selfies in the same shirt, you're signaling limited life experiences.
4. Writing a Bio That Converts
While photos do the heavy lifting, your bio serves a crucial secondary function: it gives people a reason to message you and something to talk about. A good bio can increase your match-to-conversation rate by 40%.
The Optimal Bio Structure
- Length: 100-300 characters. Shorter is better. Nobody reads paragraphs.
- Specificity: "Obsessed with finding the best ramen in the city" beats "I love food"
- Conversation hooks: Include 2-3 specific interests someone could message you about
- Personality signal: A joke, a hot take, or a quirky detail that shows who you are
Bio Examples That Work
"Making homemade pasta every Sunday. Currently convinced my carbonara is better than any restaurant's. Happy to be proven wrong."
✓ Specific hobby, confident-playful tone, clear conversation starter
"Software engineer by day, amateur stand-up comedian by weekend. My sets are getting laughs now—from the audience, not just me."
✓ Shows profession without bragging, self-deprecating humor, unique hobby
"Just a guy looking for my partner in crime. Love to travel, laugh, and have good conversations. Ask me anything!"
✗ Generic, no specifics, no personality, overused phrases
5. How Dating App Algorithms Actually Work
Understanding how dating apps work under the hood can give you a significant edge. Here's what's actually happening:
The ELO System (Or Its Variants)
Most dating apps use a ranking system similar to chess ELO ratings. Your "desirability score" is calculated based on:
- Match rate: What percentage of your right swipes turn into matches
- Who matches with you: Getting matches from highly-rated profiles boosts your score
- Selectivity: Swiping right on everyone lowers your score
- Engagement: Profiles that get messages (not just matches) rank higher
- Activity: Regular users are prioritized over dormant accounts
How to Optimize for the Algorithm
- Be selective: Only swipe right on profiles you're genuinely interested in. Aim for 30-50% right swipe rate.
- Complete your profile: Filled-out profiles get more visibility. Use all available prompts.
- Stay active: Open the app daily. Algorithms favor consistent users.
- Message your matches: High conversation rates signal value to the algorithm.
- Update regularly: Fresh profiles get a visibility boost. Update photos every 3-6 months.
The "New Profile Boost"
All major dating apps give new profiles a visibility boost for the first 24-48 hours. This is why it's crucial to have your profile optimized before creating an account. If you've been on an app for a while with poor results, consider deleting and restarting with an optimized profile.
6. Common Mistakes Killing Your Matches
After analyzing thousands of profiles, these are the most common mistakes we see:
Sunglasses in Multiple Photos
Eyes are crucial for connection. Profiles where the first photo includes sunglasses see 40% fewer matches. If you're hiding your eyes, people wonder what else you're hiding.
Group Photo as First Photo
Making people guess which one you are is an instant left swipe. Nobody wants to do detective work. Your face should be immediately obvious in every photo.
All Selfies, All the Time
Multiple selfies signal you don't have friends to take photos of you. Mix in photos taken by others in social settings.
Shirtless Bathroom Mirror Photo
Unless you're on a fitness-focused app, this screams desperation. If you want to show fitness, a beach photo or outdoor activity works much better.
Cropped Ex or Visible Arm
The floating arm or awkward crop is a red flag. Either use photos without others or properly edit the background.
Negativity in Bio
"Don't message if..." or "Tired of..." is an immediate turn-off. Positivity attracts; negativity repels.
Not Sure What's Wrong With Your Profile?
Our AI profile review analyzes your photos and gives you an objective score, ranking, and specific suggestions. Stop guessing—get data-driven feedback.
7. App-Specific Tips (Tinder, Bumble, Hinge)
While the fundamentals are the same, each app has nuances worth understanding:
🔥 Tinder
- • Fastest swiping — Your first photo matters even more. Users decide in under a second.
- • Smart Photos feature — Enable it to let Tinder auto-optimize your photo order based on performance data.
- • Boost timing — Use Boosts on Sunday evenings (8-10 PM) for maximum visibility.
- • Bio length — Keep it under 100 characters. Tinder users read less than on other apps.
🐝 Bumble
- • Women message first — Your profile needs to give clear conversation starters.
- • Prompts matter — Use all available prompts. They're prime real estate for personality.
- • Photo verification — Get verified. It increases trust and visibility.
- • More deliberate users — Quality over quantity matters more here.
🌹 Hinge
- • "Designed to be deleted" — Users are more serious. Quality photos and thoughtful prompts are essential.
- • Prompts are key — Hinge users read prompts more. Make them specific and engaging.
- • Comment on prompts — When liking, always add a comment. Generic likes get ignored.
- • Limited likes — Be more selective. Quality matches over quantity.
8. Converting Matches to Conversations
Getting matches is only half the battle. Studies show that only 30% of matches result in a conversation, and only 10% of conversations lead to a date. Here's how to improve those odds:
Message Within 24 Hours
Match momentum is real. Conversations started within 24 hours are 3x more likely to result in a date than those started after 3 days. Strike while the interest is fresh.
Personalize Your Opener
"Hey" gets you nowhere. Reference something specific from their profile—a photo, a prompt answer, a shared interest. Show you actually looked at their profile.
Good Openers
- "That hiking photo is stunning—where was that taken?"
- "A carbonara fan! What's your secret ingredient?"
- "Okay I need to know—Team Jim or Team Dwight?"
Bad Openers
- "Hey"
- "What's up?"
- "You're beautiful"
- "Hi, how are you?"
Stuck on What to Say?
Our Rizz GPT feature analyzes their profile and generates personalized opening lines and conversation suggestions. Just screenshot their profile and get the perfect opener.
Learn more about Rizz GPT →Frequently Asked Questions
How many matches should I be getting on dating apps?▼
Match rates vary significantly by app and demographics. On Tinder, the average man matches with about 1-3% of profiles they swipe right on. Women typically see 10-15% match rates. If you're significantly below these numbers, there's likely room for profile optimization. Our data shows users who optimize their photos see match rates increase by 2-3x within the first week.
What's the most important factor for getting matches?▼
Your first photo accounts for 90% of the initial decision to swipe right or left. Studies show users spend an average of 0.35 seconds on each profile before deciding. That means your primary photo needs to instantly communicate attractiveness, approachability, and authenticity. Clear face visibility, good lighting, and genuine expression are non-negotiable.
Do dating app algorithms punish you for swiping too much?▼
Yes, most dating apps use an ELO-style rating system. Swiping right on everyone signals desperation and can lower your profile's visibility. Being selective (swiping right on 30-50% of profiles) and getting matches from people you swipe on improves your internal score and shows your profile to more attractive users.
How often should I update my dating profile?▼
Update your photos every 3-6 months at minimum. Apps prioritize new profiles and recently updated ones. If you've made changes to your appearance, lifestyle, or photos, update immediately. A/B testing different photo orders and bio variations can also help optimize your match rate over time.
Do paid features on dating apps actually help?▼
It depends on how you use them. Features like Boost or Super Likes can increase visibility, but they won't fix a weak profile. Invest in your photos first. Once your profile is optimized, paid features can amplify results. Without good photos, you're paying to show a profile people will still swipe left on.
What time of day should I use dating apps?▼
Peak usage is typically Sunday evenings (8-10 PM), followed by weekday evenings. Swiping during these times increases the chance of immediate matches and conversations. However, using Boost features during off-peak hours can help you stand out with less competition.
How long should my dating profile bio be?▼
Keep it between 100-300 characters. Short, specific bios outperform long ones. Focus on 2-3 unique traits or interests that spark conversation. Avoid clichés like 'love to travel' or 'looking for my partner in crime.' Be specific: 'Currently obsessing over homemade pasta' is better than 'I like cooking.'
Should I use photos with other people?▼
Use group photos sparingly (maximum 1-2) and never as your first photo. You should be clearly identifiable in any group shot. Photos with mixed groups work better than all-same-gender groups. Avoid photos with attractive people of your preferred gender, as it creates comparison.
Ready to Get More Matches?
Start with your photos. They're doing 90% of the work. Our AI enhancement can transform your existing selfies into professional dating profile photos in 60 seconds.