An alternative to Tinder for serious dating

Tinder made online dating quick and easy. The format works well for people who enjoy discovering lots of faces and letting things happen. It works less well for those who already know what they want: a serious relationship, with someone who shares that intention.

Perhaps you recognise yourself in one of these reasons for looking for a Tinder alternative: the time spent scrolling through profiles, intentions that are hard to read, conversations that fizzle out quickly, and the wish for a service focused on your own region. None of these reasons says that Tinder is a bad service. They simply say that what you are looking for has changed.

On Tinder, you create a profile, set your preferences, then browse profiles by swiping. If you like someone and they like you back, the conversation can begin. This principle of mutual contact is a good thing, and Velvet shares it.

The app can be downloaded at no cost on iOS and Android. Three paid plans add features: Tinder Plus (unlimited likes, Passport mode to search in other places, Incognito mode, no adverts), Tinder Gold (adding the list of people who have liked you, weekly Super Likes and one Boost a month) and Tinder Platinum (adding priority likes). Prices are not shown on the public plans page: they appear in the app. According to the terms of use, subscriptions renew automatically until cancelled.

Tinder has also added tools that point towards more considered dating. Since early 2023, everyone has been able to show on their profile what they are looking for, from a long-term relationship to new friends. Optional selfie verification adds a blue tick to the profile. For Switzerland, the service is provided by MTCH Technology Services Limited, in Dublin, and is restricted to people aged 18 and over.

Before switching services, ask yourself a few simple questions. They apply to Velvet as much as to any other site.

• A shared goal. Are the people suggested to you looking, like you, for a serious relationship?
• A selection rather than a feed. Do you receive a few relevant profiles or an endless list?
• Contact on your terms. Who can message you, and when?
• Discretion. Who sees your profile? Can search engines index it?
• Proximity. Are the profiles in your region, within a reasonable distance?
• Clear terms. Subscription length, price, renewal: is everything easy to read before you pay?

Velvet is a premium dating site designed for French-speaking Switzerland. Instead of a feed of profiles, you receive a few profiles every day chosen to match your criteria: what you are looking for, age, distance, lifestyle and interests. Each suggestion shows your affinity as a percentage, so you can see at a glance what you have in common.

Nobody can message you without your consent: a conversation only opens when the interest is mutual. Your profile is visible only to logged-in members, never to search engines, and you can hide it at any time. Members who wish can have their identity checked; a badge marks them out.

The new platform opens soon. Pre-register today, with no bank card, and you receive 15 days on us, which start the first time you log in and must be activated within 30 days of opening. After that, three plans give the same full access; only the length changes: Découverte at 89 CHF a month, Premium at 239 CHF for 3 months, Elite at 889 CHF a year, with payment charged in euros by CCBill.

If you are leaving Tinder for a serious relationship, Velvet is not the only route. Sites built around a personality test, such as Parship, suit people who like a structured approach and subscriptions lasting several months. Mainstream sites such as Meetic offer extensive search by criteria. Finally, a matchmaking agency provides personal support, governed by a written contract.

Our pages on the Parship alternative, the Meetic alternative and the alternative to matchmaking agencies look at each of these options in detail. For an overview, read our selection of the best dating sites in Switzerland.

Tinder remains effective for meeting lots of people quickly, and its recent tools let you show your intentions. If you live in French-speaking Switzerland and are looking for a serious relationship, with a few profiles chosen for you and contact only when it is mutual, Velvet is an alternative designed for exactly that.