Nowadays, almost everyone is familiar with the gay dating app Grindr, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they know how it works. And that’s where we can help.

We’ve dug through countless online conversations about Grindr to help you decide whether it’s a viable dating app for you and your dating preferences. We summarize reviews on different outlets, discuss pros and cons, and address subscription options. Follow along to see if you should download Grindr on your journey to finding love. 

Grindr Dating App: Reviews, Prons, Cons, and Grindr XTRA (2024)

What is Grindr?

According to the company, Grindr is the “world’s largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people.” It’s a location-based dating platform, meaning unlike other apps that present each profile at once, Grindr presents a grid of users ranked in order of how close they are to you. This helps users connect with others who are located within their vicinity. 

The app is also unique in that it focuses on users’ niche groups and sexual interests, which helps users find other like-minded matches. 

While Grindr is often used to facilitate hook-ups, some users have reported finding long-term partners and even friends through the app. 

What are Grindr’s Reviews like? 

While Grindr is easily one of the most well-known dating apps, the reviews suggest it may be losing its fan base. The majority of the reviews slammed the dating platform, referring to it as buggy and calling out its excessive use of ads that interfere with the app’s functionality. That said, some reviews did celebrate the app for helping them find their partner or spouse. 

Grindr Reviews on Reddit

The majority of conversations about Grindr on Reddit were negative. Many complained about the quality of the app and the quality of singles on the platform, including discussions around the influx of ads and fake profiles. However, a handful of people did confess that they found their partners or spouses through the app. 

Grindr Reviews on Publishers:

Dating Scout Review:

Dating Scout reviews gave Grindr 4 out of 5 stars. Overall, the review praised the app for providing a space for the LGBT community to casually date, hook-up, and meet like-minded individuals. However, it did warn of fake profiles and glitches within the app. 

Grindr Reviews on App Store

Although Grindr received 4.5 stars on the App Store, some of the most recent reviews are negative. They describe a poor user experience involving a glitchy interface and invasive ads. Some reviews also discussed users being unfairly banned or experiencing harassment due to a lack of safety features. What was interesting was that many of the reviews were from users who claimed to have used the app for several years. 

Grindr Reviews on Google Play

Grindr has a 3.5-star review on Google Play. Similar to other platforms, the Google Play reviews of this app expressed concerns about unfair bans, excessive ads, age verification issues, and technical issues. 

Grindr Reviews on Sitejabber

Grindr earned just 1.8 stars on Sitejabber, receiving 1-star reviews in the categories of service, value, and quality. Most reviews expressed disappointment with banned accounts and fake profiles, with others calling the app buggy and a waste of time. 

Grindr Reviews on Trustpilot

Of the 594 reviews on Trustpilot, 94% of them were 1-star reviews, earning Grindr a total of 1.2 stars. Not unlike the other review sites, Trustpilot reviews discussed poor customer service and the excessive number of ads and bots. Users using the free version and paid subscriptions expressed similar discontent with the app’s functionality. 

Grindr Reviews on BBB

The Grindr review on the Better Business Bureau told a similar sad story for this app. The dating app earned 1.09 stars out of 5 and received 51 complaints in the last 12 months. The majority of the most recent complaints discussed wrongful bans, safety concerns, technical problems, and subscription issues. 

Does Grindr have any complaints, lawsuits, or scandals? 

Yes, in May 2024, a lawsuit was filed in the U.K. against Grindr for breaching data protection laws. The lawsuit claims the dating app shared sensitive user data, such as HIV status and sexual orientation with third parties. 

So, is Grindr Legit or a Scam? 

Grindr is a legit dating app. 

How does Grindr Work? 

Grindr is a location-based dating app for gay, bi, queer, and transgender people. 

When creating your profile, you can include photos, describe your sexual preferences, and even include your tribe, which refers to the sub-committee you belong to or are attracted to within the gay community. 

Once you’ve set up your profile, you can apply filters and browse through the other profiles. When you see someone you like, you can favorite their profile, send them a flame icon, or message them directly. 

What is Grindr used for? 

Members of the LGBT community most often use Grindr to meet, casually date, and hook-up with locals in their area. The app lets them browse profiles on the app in search of others who share their dating interests and sexual preferences. 

Is Grindr only for men? 

Grindr was initially designed for gay men, but now it welcomes gay and bisexual men, transgender people, and queer people.

Is Grindr just for hook-ups? 

While Grindr does embrace the hook-up culture as it welcomes users with different sexual preferences and kinks, some users have found long-term partners, spouses, and even friends on the platform. 

Is Grindr anonymous? 

Grindr is not based on anonymity, but there are ways you can make your experience more discrete. For instance, you can use the incognito features, avoid linking your social media account, and retrain from including personal details in your profiles. 

Is there a straight Grindr? 

There is no version of the app designed for straight users. However, there are plenty of other dating apps available that are geared toward heterosexual relationships. 

What is a side on Grindr? 

A side on Grindr describes a user who has specific sexual preferences. In this case, a side enjoys sexual activities that do not involve penetration. 

How much does Grindr Cost? 

Grindr has a free version, but it also offers paid subscriptions.

The XTRA version costs $13 for one month, $9.40/month for three months, and $5.20/month for 12 months. The Unlimited subscription option costs $44.11 for one month, $20.39/month for three months, and $14.74/month for 12 months. 

What is Grindr XTRA? 

Grindr XTRA is an upgraded version that offers advanced features. For instance, this version provides 600 profile views in the grid view, offers unlimited blocks and favorites, allows you to filter who is currently online, includes a PIN for security purposes, and unlocks additional filtering options. What’s more, Grindr XTRA doesn’t allow third-party ads. 

Grindr XTRA also has premium add-ons available for purchase, such as incognito mode, unlimited scrolling, and the option to see who has viewed your profile. 

Is Grindr XTRA worth it? 

Many who have paid for the subscription claim that the free version is just as good as the paid version. While users say the extra features can be fun to experiment with, they don’t really enhance the user experience or make it any easier to find matches. 

Is Grindr Worth the Money? 

Users suggest that the free version of Grindr has everything you need to make connections and that paying for extra features may not be worth it. 

Is Grindr the best gay dating app?

Grindr is certainly one of the largest and most well-known gay dating apps, but reviews do not suggest it’s the best one. That said, it might be one of the best gay dating apps for those who want to find local hook-ups. 

What is Grindr’s success rate? 

Because Grindr is based on discretion and hook-ups, there isn’t much research regarding the app’s success rate. However, one survey suggested that 84% of users have found at least one long-term partner via the app.