GrindrOur review.

What Grindr is

Grindr is the hookup app that made "sorted in 20 minutes" a gay cliché. Launched in 2009 by Grindr LLC, it is the location-based grid of gay, bi, trans and queer guys nearest to you, sorted by distance, with chat, photos and a bluntness straight dating apps never managed. The homepage sells it as "The Global Gayborhood in Your Pocket" — and in most cities, it is exactly that: open the app, see who's 300 metres away, say hi, meet.

It's an 18+ app (App Store rating), free to use with ads, with two paid tiers — XTRA and Unlimited — plus pay-per-use extras like Boost and Right Now sessions.

Verified facts (3 Nov 2026)

• Read today: grindr.com, the Grindr help centre (XTRA, Unlimited, Refund policy, Right Now, Edge, Map View, profile hiding) and the App Store listings in France and the US.
• App Store: rated 18+; 56k ratings in France and 390K in the US.
• Free: the grid, chat and photos, with third-party ads.
• XTRA: zero third-party ads, up to 500 nearest profiles in the grid, 5 global chats a day via Explore, saved phrases, read receipts, 5 expiring photos a day, premium album features, Grindr Web.
• Unlimited: everything in XTRA plus unlimited profiles, Viewed Me, Incognito, typing status, unlimited expiring photos, unlimited Explore, chat translation and message unsend.
• In-app prices (App Store France): XTRA €11.99 and €17.99, Unlimited €27.99 and €44.99, Boost €12.99, Right Now €1.99. US: XTRA $14.99 / $22.99, Unlimited $27.99 / $44.99, Unlimited Day Pass $9.99, Boost $11.99. Plan lengths are shown in the app.
• Right Now: 1-hour sessions where you post what you're in the mood for, whether you can host, and optionally appear on the Right Now Map or post Discreet (without linking your profile). Free sessions reset every Friday at 5 PM local time; extra sessions are sold in-app.
• Grindr Edge: a new top tier with AI features, being tested in a few markets (Australia, New Zealand, Canada and select US cities).
• Refunds: all purchases are final per Grindr's Terms; iOS refunds go through Apple. Subscriptions auto-renew until cancelled.

How it works

Download, add a photo (no nudity on the main profile — keep that for chat and albums), fill in your stats, tribes and what you're looking for, and the grid fills up with the nearest guys. Tap, chat, swap photos, decide. Free accounts see a limited grid with ads; XTRA pushes the grid to 500 profiles and adds filters, Unlimited shows everyone and lets you browse invisibly.

Right Now is Grindr's hookup-on-demand button: start a one-hour session, say what you want and whether you're hosting, and you land in the Right Now feed and map where other guys looking for the same thing find you fast. In the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the Right Now feed even allows moderated explicit solo pics. Incognito (Unlimited) hides you from the grid while you keep browsing, read receipts off — handy if you're not out, or just picky.

Pricing

Grindr is free, and the free grid is enough to get laid in any city. The paid tiers are about volume and stealth: XTRA from €11.99 in the French App Store (ads gone, 500 profiles, filters), Unlimited from €27.99 (everyone, Viewed Me, Incognito). US prices start at $14.99 for XTRA and $27.99 for Unlimited, and there's a $9.99 Unlimited Day Pass for a weekend away. Pay attention: renewals are automatic, and Grindr itself refunds nothing — on iPhone you have to ask Apple.

Pros

• The biggest name in gay and queer hookups since 2009
• Free grid, chat and photos — no paywall to meet
• Right Now: one-hour sessions for instant hookups
• Incognito, Discreet posts and profile hiding for privacy
• Grindr Web to chat from a computer (XTRA/Unlimited)
• Clear feature lists for each paid tier

Cons

• Ads and a limited grid on free accounts
• Unlimited costs more than most dating apps
• All purchases final, auto-renewal on by default
• Edge and some features only in test markets

Who it is for

Grindr is for gay, bi, trans and queer men who want to meet fast, at home or when travelling. If you're bi and want women and men in one app, Feeld and BiCupid are better fits; trans women and their admirers should look at TransDate; kinky guys will find events and fetish groups on FetLife and ALT.com. Hiding your app use on public Wi-Fi? See our best VPN for adult sites guide. Full adult dating ranking.

Tired of ads? SCRUFF is the ad-free alternative many guys run alongside Grindr: 30M+ members, a daily Match stack, verified photos and the best travel and events features. Bi guys can also try BiCupid, and trans-inclusive dating lives on TransDate.

Verdict

7.6/10. Grindr is still the fastest way for gay and queer men to find sex nearby: a free grid that works, Right Now for same-hour hookups and real privacy tools on Unlimited. The price of Unlimited, the ads on free accounts and the strict no-refund policy cost it points — use free first, then pay only for the month you travel.

FAQ

Is Grindr free?

Yes. The grid, chat and photos are free with ads. XTRA and Unlimited remove ads and unlock more profiles, filters, Viewed Me and Incognito.

How much is Grindr XTRA and Unlimited?

In the French App Store, XTRA is listed at €11.99 and €17.99 and Unlimited at €27.99 and €44.99, depending on plan length. In the US: XTRA $14.99 / $22.99, Unlimited $27.99 / $44.99, plus a $9.99 Unlimited Day Pass.

What is Grindr Right Now?

A one-hour session for people who want to meet now: you post what you're looking for and whether you can host, then appear in the Right Now feed and, where available, on the Right Now Map. Free sessions reset every Friday at 5 PM local time.

Can you use Grindr on a computer?

Yes, Grindr Web is included with XTRA and Unlimited.

Can I get a refund from Grindr?

Grindr says all purchases are final. On iPhone, refund requests go through Apple; for Google Play purchases, Grindr support can occasionally help.