Tinder Tests Height Preference Feature For Paid Users

Tinder is testing a new feature that lets paid users set height preferences, sparking renewed debate about looks-based dating culture online.

Tinder is conducting a test of a new feature that allows paid users to add their height preferences to their dating profiles — a move that some see as embracing the app’s reputation for prioritizing looks, as first spotted by TechCrunch.

The test, available to Tinder Gold and Premium subscribers, doesn’t block users who don’t match the preference. Instead, it helps guide suggestions. A Reddit user first spotted the feature, and Tinder later confirmed the test is global.

“We’re always listening to what matters most to our Tinder users — and testing the paid height preference is a great example of how we’re building with urgency, clarity, and focus,” said Phil Price Fry, VP Comms at Tinder, as reported by TechCrunch. “This one speaks directly to a few [principles]: prioritizing user outcomes, moving fast, and learning quickly.”

Unlike filters for age or relationship goals, this feature focuses on appearance — a trend that’s become more common with dating apps. Tinder’s design already encourages users to judge matches based on photos, leading to quick swipe decisions. Height has long been a sticking point, especially for women looking for taller men. It’s not unusual to see profiles with demands like “6 feet or taller,” even if such rules are looser offline.

TechCrunch notes that Tinder has joked about this before. In 2019, it teased a “height verification” tool for April Fools’ — a prank some didn’t find funny. Designer Soren Iverson also imagined a parody where men could pay to override height filters.

This new feature comes as Tinder’s parent company, Match, reported a 5% drop in paying users — down to 14.2 million, as noted by TechCrunch. Reuters reports that experts blame inflation, market fatigue, and a lack of exciting new features. The height setting could be an attempt to win back subscribers by offering a more tailored — if controversial — experience.

The height filter comes amid a broader dating app crisis, especially among Gen Z and millennials, who are increasingly deleting apps like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble. Fortune reports that many cite burnout, shallow interactions, and paywalls that limit genuine matches. Some say the apps have become “wastelands,” more about curated profiles than real connection.

Whether the test becomes permanent remains to be seen. For now, it adds fuel to the ongoing debate about looks-based dating culture.