On this page14 sections
Grindr works best for meeting nearby men quickly, for dates, hookups or friends, and the free version is usable. It is a legitimate app from a public company, Grindr Inc. (NYSE: GRND), with 1.4 million paying users in mid-2026 and a 4.5 App Store rating from about 389,000 ratings. The tradeoffs are ads and limits on the free tier, purchases that Grindr won't refund, a 1.1 Trustpilot score driven by complaints about bots, bans and support, and a privacy record that includes a Norwegian fine of about $6.8 million (NOK 65 million) it paid in February 2026. Use it, but share little you couldn't afford to have exposed.
Your options
- Company
- Grindr Inc., West Hollywood, California; listed on the NYSE as GRND; CEO and chairman George Arison1
- Users
- 1.4 million average paying users in Q2 2026, up from 1.2 million a year earlier2
- Price
- Free with ads; App Store lists XTRA at $14.99 and $22.99, Unlimited at $27.99 and $44.99, an Unlimited Day Pass at $9.99 and Boost at $11.99, as listed October 20264
- Refunds
- All purchases are final and non-refundable under Grindr's terms; iPhone refunds can only be requested from Apple6
- Age
- 18+ only; Grindr may require a FaceTec video selfie age check8
- Privacy fine
- Paid a fine of about $6.8 million (NOK 65 million) in February 2026 under a 2021 Norwegian Data Protection Authority decision on sharing data with advertisers2
- Pending lawsuit
- UK group claim on behalf of about 10,000 users over data processing from 2009 to 2020, plus a second claim for 1,964 users2
- App Store
- 4.5 out of 5 from about 389,000 ratings (US), rated 17+4
Pros
- Largest LGBTQ-focused app by its own account, with 1.4 million paying users
- Free version lets you browse and chat
- Private albums, expiring photos and Incognito for more control
- Shows who's nearby right now, useful when traveling
- Public company that reports to the SEC
Cons
- All purchases are final and non-refundable
- Trustpilot score of 1.1, with complaints about bots, bans and support
- Privacy record includes a paid Norwegian fine and a pending UK group claim
- Free tier shows ads and caps profiles, videos and calls
- Location-based grid can expose users in unsafe places
Best for: Gay, bi, trans and queer men who want to meet people nearby quickly, for dates, hookups or friends, without paying.
Skip it if: You want a slower, relationship-first app, refunds on paid plans, or you live where being identified as LGBTQ puts you at risk.
Grindr vs. competitors
| Company | Audience | Lowest App Store plan | App Store rating | Trustpilot | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grindr | Gay, bi, trans and queer men | $14.99 (XTRA) | 4.5 (about 389,000 ratings) | 1.1 (1,041 reviews) | |
| Tinder | Everyone, broad audience | $9.99 (Plus) | 4.2 (about 1.75 million ratings) | 1.1 (5,128 reviews) | Read review |
| Hinge | Everyone, relationship focused | $14.99 | 4.4 (about 1.13 million ratings) | 1.2 (1,216 reviews) | Read review |
| SCRUFF | Gay, bi, trans and queer men | 4.4 (about 29,000 ratings) |
Dating apps we reviewed
-
Grindr This review BestGuide rating: 3.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Gay, bi, trans and queer men who want to meet people nearby quickly, for dates, hookups or friends, without paying. -
Tawkify BestGuide rating: 4.4 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Busy singles who want a long-term relationship, are open to blind dates, and can spend thousands of dollars to have a matchmaker do the searching. -
Hinge BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Singles who want a relationship, are willing to write a real profile, and live in or near a city with an active Hinge community. -
Christian Mingle BestGuide rating: 4.2 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Christian singles who want a faith-specific dating pool and will commit to a longer plan to keep the monthly cost down. -
eharmony BestGuide rating: 4.0 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Singles, often 40 and older, who want a committed relationship and like quiz-based matching. -
OkCupid BestGuide rating: 3.9 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Daters who want to match on values and answers to questions, including LGBTQ daters who want many identity options, and who are happy to stay on a free plan. -
Tinder BestGuide rating: 3.9 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Adults in cities or suburbs who want the widest pool of people nearby and are comfortable screening matches themselves. -
Bumble BestGuide rating: 3.7 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who want a second swipe app beside Tinder or Hinge, cheap Boost add-ons, or a way to meet friends through BFF.
Grindr pricing at a glance
Grindr plans and add-ons on the US App Store, October 20264
| Option | App Store price | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Grid of nearby profiles, chat, photos, 10 video messages a day, 1 minute of video calls a day; shows ads |
| XTRA | $14.99 or $22.99 | No third-party ads, up to 500 nearest profiles, 5 Explore chats a day, read receipts, 5 expiring photos a day, Grindr Web |
| Unlimited | $27.99 or $44.99 | Everything in XTRA plus unlimited profiles, Viewed Me, Incognito, global chat, chat translation and unsend |
| Unlimited Day Pass | $9.99 | Unlimited features for a day |
| Boost | $11.99 | Shows your profile to more people nearby for a set time |
Apple doesn't show the subscription length next to each price, and Grindr says plans can be weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly depending on location. Subscriptions renew until you cancel in your App Store or Google Play account.
Grindr, step by step
Download and sign up
Install the free app, confirm you're 18 or older, and create a profile with photos, tags and what you're looking for.
Browse the Grid
The Grid shows the profiles closest to you. Filters, tags and Explore narrow it down or let you browse other cities.
Chat and share
Send messages, photos, voice notes and short videos. Private albums and expiring photos control what others keep.
Upgrade if you want
Buy XTRA, Unlimited, a Day Pass or a Boost through Apple or Google. Purchases are final.
Cancel or delete
Cancel the subscription in your App Store or Google Play settings. Deleting your profile doesn't cancel it.
Grindr legitimacy and licensing
Yes. Grindr has had users since at least 2009, according to its SEC filings, and is run by Grindr Inc., a public company on the New York Stock Exchange (GRND) based in West Hollywood. It reported $138 million in revenue for the second quarter of 2026 and 1.4 million average paying users. On September 30, 2026 it agreed to buy PurposeMed, the company behind the Freddie PrEP telehealth brand, for $250 million plus up to $70 million in earnout, a deal that hadn’t closed as of its filing.
Being a real company doesn’t mean every profile is real. Grindr’s Trustpilot score is 1.1 from 1,041 reviews, mostly about bots, fake profiles, bans and support. Treat new contacts with caution.
Grindr cost
Grindr is free to download and use. On the US App Store in October 2026, XTRA is listed at $14.99 and $22.99, Unlimited at $27.99 and $44.99, an Unlimited Day Pass at $9.99 and a Boost. A paid feature that shows your profile to more people for a short time. Compare dating apps at $11.99. Apple doesn’t show the length of each plan, and Grindr says plans can be weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly depending on your location, so check the term on the purchase screen.
XTRA removes third-party ads, shows up to 500 nearby profiles and adds read receipts and Grindr Web. Unlimited adds all profiles, Viewed Me, Incognito, global chat, chat translation and message unsend. Both renew automatically until you cancel.
Grindr privacy and safety record
In 2021 Norway’s Data Protection Authority fined Grindr about $6.8 million (NOK 65 million) for sharing personal data, including data revealing sexual orientation, with advertisers without a valid legal basis. A Norwegian appeals court upheld the fine in October 2025 and Grindr paid it in February 2026, according to its SEC filings. Grindr also faces a UK group claim on behalf of about 10,000 users over its data processing from 2009 to 2020, and a privacy class action settlement in Israel still awaits a court ruling.
To protect yourself: turn off Show Distance, use a face-free main photo if you need discretion, keep explicit photos in a private album or send them as expiring photos, meet first in public, and tell a friend where you’re going. Be careful when traveling in countries where same-sex relationships are criminalized.
What customers say about Grindr
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Large number of active users nearby, especially in cities
- Fast way to meet people while traveling
- Free tier lets you chat without paying
- Private albums and expiring photos
Common complaints
- Fake profiles, bots and spam
- Heavy advertising on the free version
- Accounts banned without a clear reason
- Slow or automated customer support
- Subscription prices viewed as too high for the experience
Complaints and what users report
The common complaints are bots and spam profiles, heavy ads on the free tier, account bans without a clear reason, automated support replies, and subscription prices that users feel aren’t worth it. Grindr doesn’t have a BBB profile we could find, and it hasn’t claimed its Trustpilot page.
The App Store picture is better, at 4.5 out of 5 from about 389,000 ratings, which reflects people who use the app day to day rather than those with a problem.
How to cancel Grindr and get a refund
Cancel XTRA or Unlimited in your App Store or Google Play subscription settings. You keep the features until the end of the paid period. Deleting your profile or the app doesn’t cancel the subscription.
Grindr’s policy is that all purchases are final. For iPhone purchases, only Apple can refund, through reportaproblem.apple.com. For Google Play purchases, Grindr says it can occasionally help with refund requests. A charge that shows after you cancel may be a card pre-authorization, which Grindr says can stay on your statement for up to 15 business days.
Age checks and the rules that apply
Grindr is for adults 18 and over. It may ask for a one-time FaceTec video selfie to estimate your age, either because local law requires it or because your account was flagged, and it can fall back to an ID check. Colorado law requires dating apps to publish their safety policies, and Grindr posts its Colorado safety page in its help center. If you’re a victim of a Romance scam. A fraud where someone builds a fake relationship online to get money from you. Compare dating apps or sextortion, report it to the FBI’s IC3 and to Grindr in the app.
Who should skip Grindr
If you want a long-term relationship and prefer slower conversations, Hinge is a better fit. If you’re in a small town with few active users, a general app such as Tinder may show more people. And if being outed could put you in danger where you live or work, think carefully before creating any location-based dating profile.
Alternatives to Grindr
-
Hinge
Better if you want a relationship; profiles and prompts lean toward dating, and it lets men search for men.
-
Tinder
A bigger general pool with a cheaper entry plan, useful in areas where Grindr is quiet.
-
SCRUFF
Another app for gay, bi, trans and queer men, from Perry Street Software, if you want a different user base.
-
Local LGBTQ groups and events
Free, in person and without data sharing; check your local LGBTQ center's calendar.
Next steps
Grindr reviews
Written by readers, read by our moderators, never edited by the company.
No reader reviews yet. If you have used Grindr, yours will be the first.
Write a reviewHow do I know I can trust these reviews about Grindr?
- Every reviewer confirms an email address before a review can publish.
- Our moderators read every review before it publishes.
- Companies can respond publicly but can never edit, hide or remove a review.
- Paying BestGuide never changes the reader rating or which reviews publish.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grindr free?
Yes. You can browse nearby profiles and chat for free, with ads and limits on profiles, video messages and calls. XTRA, Unlimited, Day Passes and Boosts cost extra.
How much is Grindr XTRA and Unlimited?
On the US App Store in October 2026, XTRA is listed at $14.99 and $22.99 and Unlimited at $27.99 and $44.99, depending on plan length. An Unlimited Day Pass is $9.99.
What's the difference between Grindr XTRA and Unlimited?
XTRA removes ads, shows up to 500 nearby profiles and adds read receipts and Grindr Web. Unlimited adds every profile, Viewed Me, Incognito, unlimited expiring photos, global chat, translation and unsend.
Is Grindr safe?
Most people use it without problems, but scams, fake profiles and robberies set up through dating apps happen. Turn off Show Distance, verify people by video before meeting, meet in public first and tell a friend your plans.
Does Grindr sell or share your data?
Norway fined Grindr about $6.8 million (NOK 65 million) over sharing user data with advertisers, a fine it paid in February 2026, and a UK group claim over past data processing is pending. Read Grindr's privacy policy and limit what you put in your profile.
Can I get a refund from Grindr?
Grindr says all purchases are final. For iPhone purchases you can ask Apple for a refund through reportaproblem.apple.com; for Google Play, Grindr says it can sometimes help.
How do I cancel my Grindr subscription?
Cancel it in your Apple App Store or Google Play subscription settings. Deleting your Grindr profile or the app doesn't stop the billing.
Who owns Grindr?
Grindr Inc., a public company listed on the NYSE as GRND, headquartered in West Hollywood, California. George Arison is chairman and CEO.
Why was my Grindr account banned?
Grindr removes accounts it believes break its community guidelines or belong to someone under 18. It may ask for a video selfie age check. You can appeal through Grindr's help center.
Is Grindr only for hookups?
No. People use it for hookups, dates, friends and meeting locals when traveling. If you want mostly relationships, Hinge leans more that way.
Sources (11)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- SEC: Grindr Inc. 8-K, PurposeMed purchase agreement (September 30, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- SEC: Grindr Inc. 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 (accessed October 12, 2026)
- SEC: Grindr Q2 2026 results press release (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Apple App Store: Grindr – Gay Dating and Chat (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Grindr Help: Grindr XTRA and Grindr Unlimited (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Grindr Help: Refund policy (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Trustpilot: Grindr reviews (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Grindr Help: Age Assurance on Grindr (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Grindr Help: Understanding Grindr charges and pre-authorizations (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Grindr Help: Video messages and calls (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Grindr Help: Grindr XTRA (accessed October 12, 2026)
BestGuide is free to use. Some companies we review pay us when you visit their site or contact them through us. Compensation may influence which companies we feature and their order. It doesn't change what our reviews say. Advertising disclosure