Tantan: The 'Tinder of China' and How Dating Apps Work There
Tantan is China's most popular swipe-based dating app with 20M+ MAU. Compare Tantan with Tinder, Momo, and Soul for online dating in China.
TL;DR
Key Insights
Tantan User Base
Tantan has over 20 million monthly active users, primarily in China. Since its acquisition by Momo in 2018 for 600 million USD, Tantan has operated as Momo's dating-focused subsidiary. It is most popular among university students and young professionals aged 18-30.
Tantan vs Tinder Feature Comparison
Tantan offers more free features than Tinder including unlimited messaging, daily free super likes, and the ability to see mutual friends. Tinder restricts messaging to paid users in some markets. Tantan also includes social features like moments (similar to Instagram Stories) and group chat.
Safety and Verification
Tantan requires real-name verification with a Chinese ID, making it safer than most Western dating apps. Verified profiles are marked with badges. The app also uses AI to detect and filter inappropriate content. This verification requirement reduces fake profiles significantly compared to Tinder.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Tantan | Tinder | Momo | Soul |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swipe-Based | Yes | Yes | No (map-based) | No (AI matching) |
| MAU | 20M+ | 75M+ (global) | 100M+ | 30M+ |
| Free Messaging | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Real-Name Verification | Yes (required) | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Cost | Free + ~$2/mo VIP | Free + $10-20/mo Gold | Free + ~$2/mo VIP | Free + ~$3/mo VIP |
| Owned By | Momo | Match Group | Momo | Soul App |
| Ice-Breaking | Games + moments | Prompts + Super Like | Live streaming | Personality quiz |
| International | Limited | Global | Limited | Limited |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tantan is China's most popular swipe-based dating app, often called 'the Tinder of China.' Launched in 2014 and acquired by Momo in 2018, Tantan has over 20 million monthly active users. Its interface is nearly identical to Tinder with swipe-right-to-like and swipe-left-to-pass mechanics.
Tantan's core mechanic is identical to Tinder (swipe-based matching). Key differences: Tantan has real-name verification, integrates WeChat for deeper connections, offers more free features, and includes social games to break the ice. Tantan is free to message matches, while Tinder limits free messaging.
Foreigners can use Tantan in China with a Chinese phone number. The app is in Chinese but is intuitive enough to use without fluency. Foreign users may find fewer matches in smaller cities. Tantan has been used by expats in China to meet locals and other expats.
Tantan is free for basic features including swiping, matching, and messaging. Premium features include seeing who liked you, rewinding accidental swipes, and super likes. Tantan VIP costs approximately 15 RMB per month (about 2 USD), significantly cheaper than Tinder Gold at 10-20 USD per month.