In a Nutshell
pros
- Meet nearby singles only
- Over 6 million users
- Free and anonymous
cons
- Not for romantics looking to find Prince Charming
- App known to be glitchy
Best for: Gay singles looking for something casual
User base: Gay men
Number of members: Over 6 million members
Recommended age: 18+
See top dating apps like Grindr
Signup Process
Grindr’s signup process is super quick and simple. The app will ask you to provide your basic information like username, email and age (which helps keep users above legal age). The app will then ask for your specific preferences such as age, location and ‘tribe’.
Next, create a short ’about me’ section which will act as a way to ‘hook’ in your users. You’ll also have the option to display a profile photo, which is recommended as the app is very visual based (make sure to follow Grindr’s photo guidelines).
Matchmaking & Search Functions
Grindr’s matches are based on geo targeting and its interface allows users to see when other users are online and how close in proximity they are. You’ll be able to see all the available profiles within a specific radius. If you see a photo that tempts your fancy, tap on it to see his full photo, information and how far away he is from you.
Features & Communication Tools
You can save users as ‘favorites’ by tapping on the star, and his profile will continue to appear with a yellow dot, while a green dot indicates a user is online. If you don’t want a profile to appear again you can also choose to block him.
The app’s orange toolbar displays 5 icons used for various functions. The mask icon at the very left contains the main menu to view and edit your profile, change settings, get help, and subscribe to Grindr Xtra (the premium service).The speech bubble displays your chats, and when you have new messages this icon will change to a number. The circle hides offline users and only shows those who are currently online. The star shows users you've added to your favorites and the icon with 3 stacked rectangles sets filter options.
For a boost of added fun when messaging, use Gaymoji, a collection of over 500 LGBTQ-themed stickers.
In addition to the strong geo targeting feature of the app, there’s also the ‘Send Location’ feature which allows you to see exactly how close a user is in proximity to you. If you want to get the most out of the app, pay for the premium feature, suitably named Grindr Xtra.
Grindr Xtra members will enjoy the following features:
- Ad-free experience
- View over 600 profiles at one time
- Get additional photo filters
- Unlimited blocks and favorites
- Save & send chat phrases
- Quick send recent photos
- More Grindr Tribes
Safety & Security
As an app that works by targeting its users exact locations, it’s no surprise there was a recent scandal after a bug in the system was able to leak users’ locations. However, the app has made promises to protect user privacy.
The app allows users the option to report any suspicious profile activity; from fake accounts to using other people's photos. In an attempt to combat fake accounts, Grindr has a feature that allows accounts to be linked with social media channels so it’s easier to suss out a fake user.
Pricing
Help & Support
Grindr appears to have a pretty good help and support section with different categories based on your issue (also appears in Spanish). There’s an additional section with a sexual health resource which is important to help keep the app safe. If you have an issue with the app you can submit a request and you’ll be asked for more information about the problem.
Connect on Grindr
There’s no doubt that this app improves gay men’s dating lives considerably. Despite some technical issues, the millions of daily users are the proof that this app works for men looking for a hookup, or even just a great way to meet like-minded guys.
