Swiped off your feet?
With a more serious bent, the JSwipe dating app isn't just Tinder for Jews, say users and founder David Yarus
JSwipe and Tinder are both matchmaking mobile apps that allow you to either “like” or “pass” on individuals based on their photos and proximate location to you. If two users match with one another, the apps automatically create a private chat. But, while JSwipe has been too easily dubbed the “Jewish Tinder,” there are a few major distinctions between them. Since its launch in 2012, Tinder has gained an approximate 22-24 million users worldwide and boasts 21 million matches a day. Its whopping success has also come with an equally sized reputation: as a “hook-up” app used primarily for casual sex.
JSwipe, on the other hand, has a religious bent. Unlike Tinder, JSwipe users provide religious information for their potential suitors, including sect (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform or “Just Jew”; plus an "Other and Willing to Convert" option) as well as any kosher preferences. For many people, knowing someone’s religious background and beliefs off the bat is valuable information when looking for a more serious relationship, which is precisely the intention, says founder David Yarus. “It's about connecting people for love, friendship, travel, or whatever they seek," he says.
Since launching in 2014, Jswipe has signed up 250,000 users, with 15,000 of them in Israel. A 2014 VICE review of JSwipe described the app as “something rooted in tradition, but coupled with a healthy dose of casual 21st century dating culture.” And one month later, TIME named JSwipe among the top 10 apps for falling in love.
So, what do some local users have to say about Tinder versus JSwipe? “Tinder is definitely the app for just looking to hook up, and men speak more sexually than on JSwipe," says a 23-year-old female Tinder and JSwipe user who prefers JSwipe, adding that “the app is a little more personable and men try to have real conversations.” A 20-something male user says that "women on JSwipe don’t have as many skin-baring pics and look more reserved in their photos." He also says there aren’t as many late night responses.
When it comes down to brass tacks, dating apps are supposed to get people dating and more, right? Yarus maintains that Jswipe has initiated engagements and "even a wedding or two."
Both apps are free – we guess it just depends on what you're swiping for.
See: JSwipe