How to Change Hinge Location in 2024: Get Accurate Matches

Hinge uses a complex algorithm to show you potential matches. Among other things, the algorithm uses Facebook data to show you people that you have mutual friends with. However, unlike many other dating apps, you can change your location manually rather than the app using your IP address to determine it.

Unfortunately, Hinge does gather some of your data (including your IP address) and shares it with third parties. When using a dating app, privacy is definitely a concern. Thankfully, you can use a VPN to keep your data private.

I tested over 50 VPNs with Hinge, and I found that ExpressVPN is the best. It has the strongest security features and fastest speeds of any VPN tested. You can get ExpressVPN risk-free, as it includes a 30-day money-back guarantee to give you peace of mind.

Get ExpressVPN for Hinge

Quick Guide: 3 Easy Steps to Change Location on Hinge

The Best VPNs to Change Location on Hinge (Tested 2024)

1. ExpressVPN — The Fastest, Most Secure VPN for Hinge

Outstanding

Outstanding

📍Servers	3,000+
📱Devices	8
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for using Hinge from any location. Its proprietary Lightway protocol balances super-fast speeds (the highest of any premium VPN I tested) with a level of security that’s trusted by the US military. All of ExpressVPN’s 3,000 servers encrypt your traffic with AES 256-bit ciphers, so no unauthorized third parties can see what you’re doing on Hinge.

ExpressVPN’s encryption level is backed up by powerful data leak prevention measures. Its leak protection ensured no IP address, DNS, or WebRTC information was exposed in my tests. There are also many other useful features to keep you private and secure on dating apps, including:

• Perfect Forward Secrecy — regularly changes your encryption key so that your online dating activity won’t be accessible to hackers.
• Obfuscated servers — disguise your VPN traffic as regular traffic, so you can access your Hinge account from anywhere, on any network.
• RAM-based servers — automatically delete all data at the end of each browsing session, so your data isn’t stored anywhere.
• Network Lock kill switch — terminates your internet session instantly if your device loses connection to the VPN to prevent any accidental IP address exposure.
• No-logs policy — ExpressVPN’s no-data-logging policy has been verified by audits from respected firms like PriceWaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, and Cure53.
• Privacy-friendly jurisdiction — ExpressVPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, which isn’t part of any data-sharing agreements like the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances.

While all VPNs reduce your connection speeds (since your traffic is routed through an additional server), the slowdown with ExpressVPN was only 4%. Even on a server over 3,000 miles away in New York, my speed only dropped by 9%. This meant I could see what matches were available there before my upcoming trip, and even message back and forth super-quickly.

I tried out ExpressVPN with other dating apps and sites too. On ExpressVPN’s Android app, I was able to connect to overseas servers in seconds to change my location on the Tinder and Bumble apps and see new matches. The desktop app is just as convenient, which is great if you like to use sites like Match, Plenty of Fish, and eHarmony on your PC or Mac.

While ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Hinge, it’s also one of the most expensive — the best value comes at $6.67 a month with the 1-year + 3 months plan. However, I think it’s worth it for the peace of mind its excellent security provides. If you’re on iOS, you can even get a 7-day free trial.

All plans also include a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you don’t need to worry in case you decide to opt for a different VPN instead. To claim a refund, you can message the 24/7 live chat customer support feature. When I tested this out, I had my money back in my account in only 4 days.

2. CyberGhost — Internally-Owned Servers Keep Your Dating Activity Private

Outstanding

Outstanding

📍Servers	11,800+
📱Devices	7
💰Refund	45 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

CyberGhost’s NoSpy servers are excellent at ensuring your dating activity remains private. These servers are exclusively owned and managed by CyberGhost, with no third-party data centers involved. This means only CyberGhost staff can access them, ensuring the utmost security. These servers are also RAM-based, so none of your data is stored after each session.

There are plenty of other benefits for security and privacy too. CyberGhost uses robust AES-256 encryption, and its data leak protection performed brilliantly in tests — revealing no DNS or IP address information. CyberGhost also includes:

• WiFi Protection — automatically secures your connection when you connect to WiFi. You can also set a rule that it connects to a server as soon as you open Hinge.
• Dedicated IP addresses — for a little extra money, you can buy your own dedicated IP address to use for online dating.
• Automatic kill switch — immediately halts your internet traffic in case the VPN disconnects to stop your real IP address from being exposed to Hinge or online snoopers.
• Romanian jurisdiction — CyberGhost is based in Romania, which isn’t part of any intelligence-sharing alliances.
• Strict no-logs policy — audited and verified by Deloitte, this policy ensures your data is safe with CyberGhost.

In leak tests, CyberGhost revealed none of my data

I put CyberGhost’s mobile app to the test with other dating apps like Bumble and Tinder, and they performed flawlessly. The desktop app also works well with sites like Match and eHarmony. Each version of CyberGhost’s app is intuitive, and you can change server location by simply clicking on one of the listed countries.

Internet speeds are crucial when using dating apps like Hinge. Although the speed of distant servers can be unpredictable, my slowdown was only 5% from the base speed on local CyberGhost servers. This means you can talk to your matches without interruption, even while you’re running other bandwidth-heavy apps.

You can try CyberGhost for just $2.19 a month with the 2-year + 2 months plan. There’s also a generous 45-day refund policy, which I tested by messaging the 24/7 live chat function. The customer support agent approved the refund with no questions asked, and then it was processed in just 2 minutes. My money was returned the same week.

3. Private Internet Access — The Largest Number of Servers to Access Hinge

Excellent

Excellent

📍Servers	35,000+
📱Devices	Unlimited
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

Private Internet Access (PIA) has 35,000+ servers to match your chosen Hinge location. This is the most extensive server network of any top VPN I’ve tested. This means you won’t find yourself on overcrowded, sluggish servers when using Hinge, ensuring a smooth experience.

On 3 of PIA’s New York servers, my speeds only dropped by 14%, so I could respond to messages from my matches without any delays. I used the app while also listening to music on YouTube and downloading a file, and my speeds were high enough to do all without lag or buffering.

PIA’s mobile apps work excellently with Hinge and other apps like Tinder. Additionally, PIA’s PC and Mac apps proved highly compatible with various other dating sites, offering versatility for your online dating needs.

Although PIA’s built-in MACE ad, tracker, and malware blocker works excellently on Android devices, it unfortunately isn’t available on the iOS version of the app. Thankfully, there are many other useful security and privacy features that work on Apple devices too, like:

• Military-grade encryption — protects your Hinge data with the strongest ciphers available (although you do need to select 256-bit encryption manually as 128-bit is the default).
• Data leak protection — ensures that none of your data leaks through encryption protocols and becomes visible to hackers.
• Dedicated IP addresses — for an extra monthly cost, you can get dedicated IP addresses for using dating apps like Hinge.
• Strict no-logs policy — verified by Deloitte that it doesn’t save your data, so you can never be traced.

If you want to get PIA just for a while, it has one of the cheapest premium VPN monthly plans. I recommend the 2-year + 2 months plan, which is very affordable at $2.19 a month. It’s easy to get a refund with PIA, too — you just need to send a support ticket via the website’s online portal. When I tried this, I had my money back in just 5 days.

4. NordVPN — Double VPN Feature Gives Extra Anonymity for Online Dating

Excellent

Excellent

📍Servers	6,300+
📱Devices	10
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

NordVPN’s Double VPN option gives you an additional layer of protection when you’re using Hinge. It routes your internet traffic through 2 servers instead of 1, which can be extremely useful if keeping your identity private from snoopers is your priority when you’re online dating.

Even if you don’t enable this feature, NordVPN encrypts your data with 256-bit ciphers to keep you private on Hinge. There’s also reliable leak protection, as well as these features:

• Automatic kill switch — stop any of your data from leaking if your VPN connection is interrupted.
• No-logs policy — verified by PwC that it doesn’t save any of your data.
• Panama jurisdiction — NordVPN is based in Panama, one of the most privacy-friendly countries on Earth.

The extensive server network (6,300+ servers across 111 different countries) and fast speeds ensure fast response times, wherever the location of the person you’re chatting to. A New York server was more than fast enough for me to swipe through potential matches while also downloading a file and listening to Spotify.

While the mobile app works well with Hinge on both Android and iOS, it’s worth noting that NordVPN’s dedicated IP addresses aren’t yet available on mobile. However, mobile users still benefit from military-grade encryption and the other robust security features mentioned earlier.

It only costs $3.09 each month to get NordVPN with the 2-year + 3 months plan. If you’re on Android, you can also get a 7-day free trial. NordVPN’s subscription plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee — I tested this refund policy using the 24/7 live chat and got my money back within the week.

5. Surfshark — IP Rotator Makes it Harder for Third Parties to See Your Hinge Activities

Great VPN

Great VPN

📍Servers	3,200+
📱Devices	Unlimited
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

Surfshark’s IP Rotator feature keeps your Hinge data private by automatically changing your IP address regularly. This makes it very difficult for hackers or any other unauthorized third parties to track your activity, wherever you are.

Speeds are fast with Surfshark. I only had a 20% slowdown on a New York server, so swiping and messaging matches weren’t interrupted at all. Updates were also quick, even when I was downloading other files at the same time.

It was very easy to switch locations with Surfshark’s Android app — you just select “Location” and choose from the list. The desktop app is similarly intuitive if you want to use Surfshark with popular dating sites like OKCupid and Match on your PC or Mac.

Sadly, Surfshark is headquartered in the Netherlands, which is part of the 9 Eyes Alliance. Thankfully, this shouldn’t matter — the VPN has a no-logs policy, uses 256-bit encryption, and also includes privacy and security features like:

• Camouflage Mode — obfuscates VPN traffic to look like regular internet traffic to any potential snoopers.
• Dedicated IP addresses — a personal IP address just for you, available for an extra monthly fee.
• CleanWeb — a built-in ad, malware, and tracker blocker that keeps you private on Hinge.

A Surfshark subscription costs $2.19 a month with the 2-year + 3 months plan, and there’s a 7-day free trial available for its iOS and Android apps. What’s more, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. I tested this policy by contacting the 24/7 live chat, and I had my money back in my account in 1 week.

Comparison Table: 2024’s Best VPNs to Change Location on Hinge

Why You Need a VPN for Hinge

Privacy is particularly important when it comes to dating. Like many other apps, Hinge tracks certain data — your IP address, network data, and device ID. They’re upfront about this in their data collection policies, where they mention the possibility of sharing this information with partners and service providers.

Hinge does allow you to tweak your settings within the app, but I recommend using a VPN as well as changing data-sharing settings. This gives you an extra layer of protection. It masks your real IP address, making it harder for anyone to trace your online activities back to you. Even if Hinge shares data, it’s not linked to your true location or identity.

Encrypting Hinge data is especially critical if you’re on public Wi-Fi networks. On public networks, data can be more easily intercepted by cybercriminals. A VPN ensures that your sensitive personal conversations with matches and data remain private.

How to Manually Change Your Hinge Location

To change your location on the iOS and Android Hinge apps:

How I Tested and Ranked the Best VPNs for Hinge

I followed a rigorous testing process to find the best VPNs for changing your location on Hinge. Here are the criteria I used to test each VPN:

• Large server networks — I chose VPNs with a large network that lets you choose from more countries, increasing your chances of finding the ideal location for your Hinge profile.
• Strong security and privacy features — I looked for VPNs with robust features like military-grade 256-bit encryption to keep your data secure, and leak protection to prevent any accidental information exposure.
• Compatibility with mobile devices — I only included VPNs with iOS and Android apps since Hinge is primarily a mobile app.
• Fast speeds — I tested VPNs to ensure they offer fast and reliable connections, so you can enjoy smooth browsing and communication on the platform.
• Customer support — I checked for VPNs that provide 24/7 live chat support, ensuring you can get help whenever you need it, no matter where you are.
• Money-back guarantee — I specifically looked for VPNs with refund policies of 30 days or more, giving you the confidence to try the service without worrying.

FAQs: VPNs and Hinge

Get a VPN to Change Your Hinge Location Today!

While Hinge allows you to change your location within the app, I strongly recommend pairing it with a VPN. Hinge does store some of your data unless you encrypt it. Using a VPN adds an extra layer of security, ensuring your online activities remain private.

Among all the options I tested, ExpressVPN stands out as the best choice for Hinge users. It offers exceptional speeds, top-notch security features, and has servers in 105 countries, allowing you to match your Hinge app location precisely. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get ExpressVPN with peace of mind.

Summary — The Best VPNs to Change Location on Hinge in 2024

Rank

Provider name

Our score

Price

Top Ranked Top Choice

1.

9.8

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$6.67 / month Save 49%

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2.

9.6

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$2.19 / month Save 83%

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3.

9.4

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$2.19 / month Save 82%

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4.

9.4

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$3.09 / month Save 76%

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5.

9.4

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$2.29 / month Save 85%

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