The lawsuit, first filed in 2015, accused Tinder of breaching California law by using age-based pricing for its subscription tiers. While the company has denied wrongdoing, it agreed to the multi-million-dollar settlement to resolve the legal dispute and avoid further litigation.
Lawsuit Centers on Alleged Age-Based Pricing for Subscriptions
The case, known as Candelore v. Tinder, Inc., was brought before the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles County. According to court filings reported by class action notices, the lawsuit claimed Tinder charged older users higher prices for its premium plans, including Tinder Plus and Tinder Gold.
Plaintiffs argued that this pricing structure discriminated against older customers and breached the state’s Unruh Civil Rights Act and Unfair Competition Law. According to information published about the settlement, the legal challenge focused on the period beginning in March 2015, when the company allegedly introduced subscription prices that varied depending on a user’s age.
The settlement applies to people who purchased Tinder Plus or Tinder Gold while living in California and who met certain age conditions at the time of purchase. Eligible individuals include those who were over the age of 29 and purchased a subscription on or after March 2, 2015, or those over the age of 28 who purchased one on or after March 2, 2016.
According to Marca, more than 260,000 users could fall within the affected group. The amount each person receives will depend on how much they paid for the premium subscriptions during the relevant period. Although Tinder agreed to fund the settlement, the company did not admit liability. Reports describing the case indicate the company chose to resolve the dispute financially rather than continue the court proceedings.
Eligibility Rules and Key Deadlines for Potential Claimants
Users who may qualify for compensation are being contacted through email, text message, or postal mail. According to the settlement notice, these notifications are based on Tinder’s records indicating that a user purchased a subscription during the time period covered by the case.
Individuals who receive a notice must confirm their payment method through the official settlement website in order to receive compensation. Those who believe they qualify but did not receive a notification can also verify their eligibility by submitting information such as their contact details, the approximate date of their first subscription purchase, and their age at that time.
According to information released about the claims process, applicants may also need to provide documentation supporting their estimate of how much they paid for Tinder Plus or Tinder Gold. The deadline to submit or verify a claim is August 18, 2026.
The legal process has not yet reached its final stage. The Superior Court of California has scheduled a final approval hearing for May 20, 2026, where a judge will determine whether the settlement can move forward.
If the court grants approval, the settlement administrator will begin distributing payments to eligible users afterward. The exact amount each person receives will vary depending on the total number of valid claims and the amount each claimant paid for the subscription services during the covered period.
