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Grindr Review

Grindr Review February 2025

Chris Pleines, Author at Datingscout.co.uk
From: Chris Pleines
 • Reading Time: 5 minute(s)
Grindr is an online dating app created for gay, bi, trans, and queer singles who want to have casual encounters and/or relationships with like-minded individuals.
750,000 Members
 100 % ♂ 
Good For:
5 / 5
4 / 5
4 / 5
Success Rate:
100 / 10
40 / 10
35 / 10
Compare Grindr
Age Distribution:
18-24
25-34
35-49
50+

Grindr in 10 seconds

  • Grindr was launched in 2009 and was the first online dating app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people
  • Utilizes a mobile device’s geolocation to display potential matches
  • The app proudly represents a modern LGBTQ+ lifestyle that’s expanding into new platforms
  • Has over 27,000,000 total members around the globe
  • Grindr was reported to have shared its members' personal information to several advertisers violating the General Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR)
  • The app is available in almost 190 countries
  • Available for iOS and Android users
  • Offers general free services and options to upgrade - Learn more here
  • You can use Grindr for free
  • Pricing starts at £5.00 / Month - More Information
Chris Pleines, Author at Datingscout.co.uk
Chris Pleines
Founder of Datingscout and Author of the book "Online Dating for Dummies"
As one of the world’s largest social networking apps for the LGBTQ+ community, Grindr continues to evolve, underscoring its role in networking and global advocacy and support.

Who is Grindr for and not for?

  • For gays looking for casual dating with no strings attached
  • If you are looking for fun sex and hookups
  • For single gays seeking relationships with like-minded individuals
  • Not for straight and uptight individuals
  • People who are not into gay dating
  • People who have conservative sexual beliefs and values
Back to Overview

Grindr Pros & Cons

  • Grindr allows its users to meet new people easily
  • Has a welcoming and engaging pool of members
  • Lets members post their health status and dates of recent medical tests
  • The app has occasional glitches
  • Grindr was involved in a data privacy issue in 2018
  • There are fake profiles on the app despite its efforts to filter suspicious accounts

How does Grindr work?

how-it-works
  • Specifically designed for gay, bi, trans, and queer individuals for casual encounters, dates, and relationships
  • Uses a mobile device’s geolocation technology to identify and display potential matches nearby
  • Boasts a substantial membership base, with over 27 million users worldwide
  • Grindr has taken steps to improve privacy safeguards and reduce data sharing with third parties
  • The basic service is free and includes features like messaging and profile viewing

Grindr is a dynamic dating platform tailored for the LGBTQ+ community, providing a user-friendly interface that leverages geolocation to connect members with nearby matches swiftly.

It supports a diverse global audience of over 27 million users, ensuring a robust and engaged user base. Although Grindr has navigated challenges related to data privacy, improvements have been made to enhance security and protect user information.

The app is available in both free and paid versions, offering additional features for a richer, ad-free experience and more precise filtering capabilities, accessible across iOS and Android devices.

How much does Grindr cost?

Can you try Grindr for free?

  • You can use or try the service for free.
  • All members can send messages for free
  • You can read the first messages in your inbox for free

Is Grindr expensive or cheap?

In comparison to other providers Grindr is average.

Duration / Credits / CoinsCostsTotal
Grindr Xtra Lite
1 Month8.49 GBP / Month8.49 GBP
Grindr Xtra
3 Months7.33 GBP / Month21.99 GBP
6 Months5.00 GBP / Month29.99 GBP
1 Year44.99 GBP / Year44.99 GBP
Grindr Xtra Gbp
Free Features
  • Profile creation
  • View up to 100 matches
  • Send and receive messages
  • Select 1 tribe
  • Basic Filters
  • Explore profiles
  • Create group chat
Premium Features
  • Ad-free experience
  • Push notifications
  • View up to 600 matches
  • Online-only view
  • Select 3 tribes
  • Unlimited Blocks and Favourites
  • Save and send chat phrases

Grindr’s basic app is free and ad-supported. It uses location technology on iOS and Android devices so that users can instantly connect with other men in the area. With free messaging, the app seems to work well for its members. You can view 100 profiles as a standard member. 

If you want to view more profiles and experience Grindr XTRA, you can take its 7-day free trial. This upgrade is partnered with Grindr XTRA Lite premium. This means that you will be automatically subscribed to this 1-month auto-renew membership. With Grindr XTRA Lite Premium, you can browse 300 profiles and enjoy ad-free access.

If you subscribe to the Grindr XTRA Premium, however, you can browse up to 600 profiles. This other type of premium is offered as a 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month subscription. Other features include read receipts, ‘Discreet App’ icon, filter and mark profiles as “recently chatted”, save and send chat phrases, chat, tap and favourite users via Explore Mode, Online-only view, and quick-send recent photos.

All subscriptions auto-renew on the same terms until you cancel. To cancel a subscription on an iOS device, access your subscriptions and tap ‘Manage’. Go to your Grindr XTRA or Grindr XTRA Lite subscription and turn off ‘Automatic Renewal’. For Android devices, go to the Play Store, open ‘Accounts’ and then tap ‘Subscriptions’. You will find there your Grindr subscriptions and then hit ‘Cancel’.

How can I delete my Grindr account and cancel my subscription?

Please find more information here

Back to Overview

Who is signed up on Grindr?

Members
750,000 from United Kingdom
Members activity
100,000 active weekly
Gender Proportion
0 %
100 %
  • 3.3 million daily active users
  • Average user spends 54 minutes on the app
  • Up to a million users are logged in to Grindr at any given moment
  • Dedicated to the LGBTQ community all over the world
  • 25% of the users are from the US

Grindr is one of the largest dating platforms that cater to gays, bi, trans, and queer people. It has an outstanding 27 million users worldwide. Meet members from 190 countries who not only have different nationalities but also have different personalities, beliefs and likes.

The most popular age bracket that uses Grindr dating is between 25 to 34 years old. Research says that the frequent visitors are from the United States with 6,585,000 members, the United Kingdom with 1,819,000 members, Australia with 650,000 members, New Zealand with 124,000 members, Singapore with 162,000 members and Hong Kong with 191,000 members.

Some members prefer to remain anonymous by not uploading their photos or divulging too much information about themselves. Minors are strictly prohibited from signing up just like any typical dating site.

Registered users of Grindr are looking for fun and a place where their sexuality will be accepted. They are open to hookups and short-term relationships. 

Females
Males

Grindr Age Range and Age Distribution

  • 18-24
  • 25-34
  • 35-44
  • 45-54
  • 55+

New members at Grindr in February 2025 in comparison

Here you can see how membership figures at Grindr are developing compared to others

Test Match for free
Back to Overview

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Grindr in Detail

  • Reading time 16 minutes
  • Lots of insider information for more success

How to Sign Up for Grindr

signup
  • You must be at least 18 years old to sign up
  • You can sign up using your username and password
  • You can sign up with Facebook, Google
  • You must sign up to browse Grindr

To sign up, visit the Grindr website or download the Grindr app. The app is available on iOS and Android. To complete the registration, provide all required information.

Required Information on Signup
  • Name
  • Date Of Birth
  • Location
  • Your Gender
  • Profile Picture

Grindr does not offer an account verification process.

Making Contact on Grindr

contacting
  • Send 'Taps'
  • Add profiles on your 'favorite list'
  • Use 'Gaymoji'
  • You can send a photo as well as your location
  • Get at least 100 matches
  • All members can send messages for free
  • There is a chatroom

There are two ways to connect with Grindr gays: Messages and Taps.

You can chat with nearby users as a basic member. You can also message other users located within your country for free. Your conversations can be filtered to Favorites’ messages and Unread messages.

Taps contain those who are interested in you in three different ways: Looking, Friendly, and Hot. These are made of emoticons which you can also use to send your interest to another member. For example, simply send a Hot to a member you think is hot.

Add more fun while you converse by downloading Gaymoji. It is a free keyboard for everyone and a collection of over 500 LGBTQ-themed stickers that you can use to personalize your chats. It is downloadable on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Grindr Profile Quality

profile quality
  • Only one photo allowed at a time
  • Most fields are not mandatory
  • Can link other social media accounts
  • You can see members' distance from your current location
  • The profile information can be changed later
  • Profile pictures are visible to everyone for free

Make your profile more appealing by adding interesting information about you. There are five sections that you can fill out:

Info

It contains your Display Name and About Me, which is a short description of yourself.

Stats

You can add your age, height, weight, body type, ethnicity, relationship status, position, ‘My Tribes’, and ‘I’m Looking For’ in this section.

Take note that "position" means your preferred sexual position. ‘My Tribes’ is also related to a sexual preference (what you describe yourself as). Tribes include Bear, Clean-cut, Daddy, Discreet, Geek, Jock, Leather, Otter, Poz, Rugged, Trans, and Twink.

‘I’m Looking For’ describes who you want to meet. You can state that you are seeking for Chat, Dates, Friends, Networking, Relationship, or Right Now. Right Now simply means hook up.

Identity

This contains Gender and Pronouns. Identify your gender as either a man, woman, non-binary, or custom non-binary. Set your pronouns according to your gender which you can also customize.

Sexual Health

There are four items in this section namely: HIV Status, Last Tested Date, Testing Reminders, and Sexual Health FAQ.

This section became controversial early on after its launch. Apparently, Grindr’s data are sent to third parties including the HIV status that violated the users’ privacy. The company already took action and declared that they have ceased sharing any data to third parties.

Social Links

You can link your social media accounts. Enter your Instagram username, or Twitter handle, or Facebook username to connect your Grindr app.

Completing the above sections is encouraged. Grindr made it simple to edit anyways. It may result to an increase of your matches. It makes you more attractive. Thus, an accomplished profile furthers your chances to find that one true soul mate.

Targeted Ads

Grindr users can opt our of seeing targeted ads. Members who opt out won’t be seeing LGBTQ promotions elsewhere as their data is safe within Grindr.

Albums

Albums are curated sets of photos you can now directly share to another member's inbox. It is designed to add an extra layer of control and privacy over a user's shared images. They have the opportunity to add a favourite photo from their phone, take a new one, or even choose from previous photos they’ve shared in chat to get started. Album is designed to help matches form deeper connections amongst each other.

Grindr App

Grindr App
  • Free to download
  • Available for both Android and iOS users
  • Design is straightforward
  • Has occasional glitches
  • User-friendly and easy to navigate

Grindr app is free to download and is available for iOS and Android users. The app's design is straightforward and has an easy user interface. Although the app has garnered much attention since its initial launch, it still has occasional glitches. 

Special Features

This dating app has a few special features that make for a unique browsing experience that's both fun and distinctively Grindr.

Gaymojis

Gaymojis are customized, LGBTQ-themed emojis that are a fun way of speaking your own language with your own community. There are currently over 500 Gaymojis, and they're not available on any other social media app. Spice up your game and bring out your wildest ways to talk about dates, travel, fun times, how you’re feeling, guys (obviously), and more.

Tap

Seen as the flame icon, taps are a great way of showing someone you're interested without having to start a conversation. If you catch their attention, they might start the conversation themselves.

Favourite

Favourites are a way to bookmark new profiles that you find interesting and message them later. Unlike taps, users won't know that you've favourited them.

Explore

This feature is a search mode that allows you to look for members outside of your country. Chat, Tap and Favorite users on this mode when you upgrade your subscription to premium.

Discreet App Icon (DAI)

Both iOS and Android users are available for free as an added security free feature to all of their users. This feature allows its users to select how the Grindr app will appear on your phone.

Data Dictionary

Grindr users can download their data through the settings tab and have it emailed to them. The Data Dictionary helps members understand how all of their information is being displayed – such as chat and sign-in history.

‘Viewed Me’

Members can remove themselves from the ‘Viewed Me’ feature to allow them to browse incognito. If users decide to opt out of this feature, other members won’t be notified when they click and visit their profiles. Withdrawing from this feature would entail that users won’t also be able to access their own ‘Viewed Me’ list.

Know Your Rights

Among Grindr's unique offerings is the newly introduced 'Know Your Rights' resource, developed in partnership with GALCK+ in Kenya. This feature provides users with essential legal information, free therapy access, and guidance on dealing with extortion. It’s a powerful tool for advocacy, aligning with Grindr's commitment to support and empower the LGBTQ+ community through Grindr for Equality.

Chat Summaries

Provides conversational highlights and reminders about past interactions, such as discussed topics or the context of the last meeting with a match.

A-List

An automated list of profiles with whom users have had meaningful conversations, making it easier to reconnect and focus on strong matches.

AI Wingman

A feature designed to assist users in conversations and improve interactions.

How can I delete my Grindr account and cancel my subscription?

Uninstalling the app will not cancel your subscription.

How can you cancel your Subscription?

  • You can cancel by managing your app store subscription

Will your subscription automatically renew?

  • Yes, your Grindr subscription will automatically renew. The notice period for opting out of automatic renewal is 1 Day.

Is there a money back guarantee and do you get refunded the full amount?

  • Usually you will not get back the full amount, it will be reduced by the time or credits you used for Grindr.

Grindr FAQ

Facts

What is the Grindr website?

Grindr website is not the actual online dating platform. It is an introduction to the Grindr App. It also contains the Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and the Grindr Support information.

What is the Grindr App?

Grindr App is the first online dating app for gays that was launched in 2009. Today, this app caters to not only gays but also bi, trans, and queer people. 

Who created Grindr?

Grindr LLC is the company that created Grindr. Apparently, it has grown into one of the largest social networking apps for gay, bi, trans, and queer people.

Is Grindr a real dating app?

Yes. It is operated by Grindr LLC, which specialises in the development of database-driven dating sites. This company has been running Grindr for ten years already. 

How does Grindr dating work?

First, you have to register using your email address, Facebook account, or Google account. You also need to write about your gender identity. Second, you need to allow the Grindr App to find your location. This way, you get to be matched with online users nearest to your area.

What is ‘My Tribe’ on Grindr?

'My Tribe' is one of the unique items on your profile. It is a set of categories that further describes your sexual identity. The different tribes include Bear, Clean-cut, Daddy, Discreet, Geek, Jock, Leather, Otter, Poz, Rugged, Trans, and Twink.

How do I contact other members?

Grindr dating with regards to messaging comes in two ways: Chats and Taps.

You can chat individually or create a group chat. Likewise, you can easily filter Unread and Favourites’ messages.

Taps show Grindr gays who are interested in you. These are further filtered into Looking, Friendly, and Hot.

How do I report abuse?

You can report a member on Grindr via tapping the Block / Report button located on the top right of your chat box. 

What is the average age of users on Grindr?

The average age of Grindr users is between 31-38 years. You can find more information here

Usability

What are Grindr bots?

Bots have been found and reported by a number of people. The bots lure users into clicking a fake webcam site link, which installs a virus in the user's device. One way to spot a bot is that they usually list their height as less than 3 feet. Conversations with them will rarely make sense as their responses are automated.

What is Grindr really like?

Based on the actual test, matches are indeed near your location. You can also find online users that aren't your matches nearby. If they are interested, they simply have to tap your profile.

We also received messages and photos during our test. These messages are from users who are looking for hook-ups.

Where is Grindr most popular and where is it blocked?

According to research, Grindr is most popular in the United States, Brazil, United Kingdom, Venezuela, and Mexico. However, it is banned in countries like Lebanon, Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Egypt, China, UAE, Ukraine, and Russia.

How to sign in to Grindr online?

Write your validated email address and password and click Login. Another way is to sign in via Facebook. Follow the link and allow Grindr to use your Facebook account to sign in.

Is Grindr available on iPhone or Android?

Yes. The Grindr app is downloadable on Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

How can I see my distance to someone?

Under their username, you will see how many metres away the other user is from you.

How do I know if someone blocked me?

If someone blocked you their profile will completely disappear from your view. To check if they really blocked you or just deleted their profile, you can create and use a different account. If he shows up in your location, then he blocked you.

How do I unblock someone on Grindr?

You can reset the list of people you've blocked but you can't unblock individual accounts. Click on your "Profile". Under "Settings", click "Unblock All" then confirm your decision.

Can I use Grindr on a laptop?

Grindr isn't officially available on laptops/PC, but you can still install it using hacks. Word of advice though, Grindr was primarily made to be experienced on a mobile gadget.

Can I browse Grindr without an account?

No, you cannot browse profiles on Grindr without signing up.

What is needed to open a Grindr account?

To open a Grindr account, download the Grindr App on your iOS or Android device or visit the Grindr website. To complete the registration, provide all required information:
  • Name
  • Date of Birth
  • Location
  • User's Gender
  • Profile picture upload

Security

Can Grindr track you?

Grindr collects your location through GPS, Wi-Fi, and/or cellular technology in your device so yes, it can track you.

Can Grindr be anonymous?

You can be anonymous on Grindr by uploading a faceless photo and only putting a little bit of information about yourself. 

Will Grindr show up on Facebook?

Although users have the option to link their social media accounts to Grindr, it is not required. If you want to stay private, you won't have to worry because Grindr doesn't collect your Facebook information.

Does Grindr do profile validation and background checks?

Yes. As part of the terms of service you agreed to, the moderators do background checks on all members to determine if your information is true. As the terms dictate, the user must oblige to the Community Guidelines. Any time that one of the guidelines is violated Grindr may delete or ban your account.

Does Grindr sell your data?

No, Grindr does not sell your data.

Was Grindr hacked in the past?

No, Grindr was never hacked.

How accurately does Grindr track your location?

Grindr tracks your approximate location.

Do your Grindr profile pictures or profile information appear in Google Search Results?

No, your Grindr photos and personal information will not appear in Google Search Results.

Who can view your pictures on Grindr?

All Grindr users can view your pictures.

Is your phone number required for signing up at Grindr?

No, you don't need a phone number to sign up on Grindr.

Can you erase your personal data on Grindr?

Yes, Grindr provides an option for users to erase their data.

How can I delete my Grindr account and cancel my subscription?

Costs

Can you try Grindr for free?

How much does Grindr cost?

Grindr typically costs between 8.49 GBP and 44.99 GBP. Compared to other dating services, Grindr's membership costs is average. You can find more information here

How much does it cost to sign up on Grindr?

You can sign up for Grindr for free, but to use its premium features you must upgrade. You can find more information here

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Why Can You Trust Us?

  • We have been testing and publishing online dating reviews for over 16 years
  • We have carefully reviewed over 2,928 dating services
  • Our dating site reviews and results are objective and independent in contrast to many other comparison sites
  • We update our reviews every month based on new site/app offerings and feedback from our readers
  • We are the Author of the Book "Online Dating for Dummies" - read more on our About Us page 
  • Our Dating Experts are constantly cited by press and TV outlets, find out more here

Final Results table

Signing Up: 3.0 / 5
Making Contact: 3.0 / 5
Profile Quality: 3.5 / 5
App: 3.0 / 5

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Contact details

Company:Grindr LLC
Address:750 N. San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood, California 90069, USA
Phone-Hotline:+1 415 8120244
E-Mail:help@grindr.com 
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