Grindr Review: The Most Popular Gay Dating App in Australia 2024

There are sooo many different dating apps to choose from these days that it can be hard to know which ones to try. Some apps try to cater to everyone, whereas others focus on specific sexualities or the type of relationship you’re interested in.

Is Grindr the perfect dating app for you?  Find out with help from our comprehensive Grindr review, where we’ll cover the pros & cons of Grindr dating, outline the options for Grindr subscriptions, and more!

Overview of Grindr Australia

Grindr is one of the most popular dating apps in the LGBTQ+ community worldwide, including Australia. The Grindr app was originally created to be a gay dating app for men, but now labels itself as “the world’s largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people.”.

Grindr is a location-based dating app that helps users connect with other gay, bi, trans, and queer individuals nearby. Launched in 2009, it has become a staple in the LGBTQ+ community for dating, hookups, and social networking. Grindr Australia offers the same robust features as its global counterpart, tailored to the needs of Australian users.

6 Key Features of Grindr

1. Location-Based Matching: The Grindr app uses your phone’s GPS to show profiles of other users nearby, making it easy to connect with people in your vicinity.
2. Profile Customization: Users can create detailed profiles, including photos, bio, and various statistics such as age, height, and weight.
3. Chat Functionality: The app provides a robust chat system, allowing users to send messages, photos, and even location details.
4. Tribes: Grindr dating features Tribes, which let users categorize themselves into sub-groups such as Twinks, Bears, and Jocks, making it easier to find like-minded individuals.
5. Explore Feature: This allows users to search for and connect with people outside their immediate geographic area, expanding the possibilities for finding a match.
6. Favourite and Block: Users can save their favourite profiles for easy access and block those they don’t want to interact with.

History and Evolution of the Grindr App

Grindr revolutionized the way LGBTQ+ individuals connect, pioneering the concept of location-based dating apps. Over the years, the app has continually evolved, adding new features and improving its user interface to better serve its community.

Grindr Dating App’s User Base

Grindr Australia boasts a large and diverse user base, making it easier for users to find matches. Whether you’re looking for casual encounters or long-term relationships, Grindr’s extensive network increases the chances of finding a suitable partner.

Grindr Australia Pros & Cons

Pros 👍

• Large User Base: Grindr has over 2 million users active on the app daily, giving you more people to match with & unlimited options
• Connect Instantly: You can send text, images, and audio messages
• Multiple Subscription Options: Grindr Xtra and Grindr Unlimited offer valuable features for an enhanced experience.
• Quick Connect: You can make a new account using your Facebook, Google account, Apple ID, or email 
• Availability: Grindr is available both on iOS and Android

Cons 👎

• Many use the Grindr app to find casual hookups, so if you’re looking for something serious this probably isn’t the right app for you
• There is a paywall to chat with people outside your city & country
• There have been reported issues of the app crashing
• There are ads when using the free Grindr app

🆓Grindr App Membership Structure

The exact user ratio on the Grindr app is largely unknown, and some of the statistics we were able to find are a few years old. 

• Cis men make up the majority of the user base, as the app has historically been catered towards gay men. 
• There are some women using Grindr, though many of them seem to be trans women.
• There are users from many different countries and ethnicities using the app.
• As mentioned previously, many of the users on Grindr typically use the app for hookups rather than serious relationships.

Grindr Subscription Plans

Grindr offers several subscription plans to enhance the user experience, each with its own set of features.

Free Grindr App Features

Luckily, if you aren’t interested in paying for Grindr, there is a list of features available to you that many other apps don’t offer without a fee.

• Sending and receiving emails
• Messaging or tapping other users
• While chatting, you can use Grindr’s own Gaymoji’s
• You can filter your matches with their geolocation feature

Paid Grindr Subscription Features

Of course, if you’re paying for a dating app there are extra features that come along with it. There are two different paid tiers, the smaller version is called Grindr XTRA, and the highest tier is Grindr Unlimited. Some of these paid features include:

Grindr Xtra:

• Ad-Free Experience: Enjoy an uninterrupted Grindr dating experience without ads.
• More Profiles: View up to 600 profiles at a time.
• Advanced Filters: Use additional filters like body type and ethnicity to narrow down your search.
• Read Receipts: Know when your messages have been read.
• Quick Send Messages: Use pre-written responses to quickly reply to messages

Grindr Unlimited:

• All Xtra Features: Includes all the features of Grindr Xtra.
• Incognito Mode: Browse profiles without appearing online.
• Typing Status: See when someone is typing a message to you.
• Unlimited Blocking and Favorites: Add as many users to your block list and favourites as you want.
• Expedited Support: Access priority customer support for any issues.

💰Membership Prices – Grindr Australia

Some people might be fine without the premium features, but there’s no doubt that it can make a huge difference to not only being able to avoid ads but also being able to use some interesting features such as chatting with users worldwide. If you’re thinking of signing up for a subscription, we’ll break down some of the pricing for you. 

Grindr subscriptions can be charged at an interval of monthly, 3 months, 6 months, or yearly. 

	Monthly	3 Months	6 Months	Yearly	Free Trial
Grindr XTRA	$19.99	$39.99	$66.99	$99.99	Yes
Grindr Unlimited	$50	X	X	$300	No

Our recommendation for a paid subscription, if you are new to the app, would be Grindr XTRA. Not only is it cheaper and offers more flexibility with payment frequency, but it has most features that you would need. The biggest upgrade that Unlimited offers is the option to go “Incognito”, which allows you to appear offline while you browse profiles.

Payment for Grindr XTRA and Unlimited is made through either your Apple ID or Google Play account which is attached to whatever payment method you attach to your app store, which is generally a credit card.  

How to Reduce Costs

If you’re looking for a cheap Grindr XTRA plan, maybe a free trial is the answer. Grindr offers a 7-day free trial of Grindr XTRA which will allow you to try out all of the premium Grindr features before it charges to your account for the full subscription amount. This allows enough time to try out the features, but the downside is that Grindr XTRA is the smaller paid tier and doesn’t offer a free trial for Grindr Unlimited.

✍️Registration on the Grindr App

Setting up your account on Grindr is simple and user-friendly, but we will break down the main steps below. It should take no more than 5 minutes!

1. Download the app to your iOS or Android device.
2. When you open the app, tap “Sign Up” and accept both the terms and conditions and privacy policy if you agree to them.
3. You can use either your Facebook, Google account, Apple ID, or email to make your Grindr account. For Facebook, choose that option and allow Facebook access to login through Grindr. There are similar steps with Google and Apple ID. With email, type in your email and create a password.
4. After choosing your registration method, you’re all set and ready to log in!

User-Friendliness of the Grindr App

The original version of Grindr is the mobile app, but they have also recently developed a website version that you can use from your desktop. The most interesting thing about the website is the discreet design. The layout is similar to Google Docs, with each profile hidden behind an icon of a folder that needs to be hovered over to see the user’s photo. 

A few of the benefits of using the desktop version is larger photo sizes due to the larger screen size of a computer, and the ability to have multiple chat windows on the same page. 

The app version is not as discreet and doesn’t hide profile pictures, but it’s also easy to use with a simple design. Besides the possibility of ads showing up in the free version, there are no overwhelming icons or buttons.

Get the Most Out of Grindr Dating!

1. Create a Strong Profile:
   • Profile Picture: Use a clear, recent photo. This is the first thing users see, so make it count.
   • Bio: Write a concise and interesting bio that reflects your personality. Mention your interests, what you’re looking for, and any important details about yourself.
   • Stats: Fill out the profile stats honestly to attract genuine matches. Include information such as age, height, weight, and relationship status.
2. Utilize Filters:
   • Basic Filters: Use basic filters to find users within a specific distance or age range.
   • Advanced Filters: With a Grindr subscription, use advanced filters to find exactly what you’re looking for. These filters can include body type, relationship status, and even sexual preferences.
3. Engage with the Community:
   • Messages: Be proactive and send thoughtful messages. Personalize your messages rather than using generic greetings.
   • Tribes: Join relevant Tribes to find users with similar interests. Participating in Tribe discussions can help you meet people who share your interests.
   • Attend Events: Look for local events or meetups organized through the app. This can be a great way to meet people in person in a safe and social environment.

🏳️‍🌈LGBTQ+ inclusivity

In recent years, Grindr has started to advertise itself to be welcoming of everyone in the LGBTQ+ community. One thing to keep in mind is that most users identify as men, as that is part of the reputation of the app, but everyone is now welcome to join. 

There are also a variety of gender identity and pronoun options to choose from. Gender identity options include terms such as cis man, trans man, trans woman, woman, and non-binary. Pronoun options are he, she, or they. For both gender and pronouns, you can also put in your own custom terms.

💌Contacting Users on Grindr

Unlike other dating apps, Grindr allows users to message each other without needing to match with them first. Also, the basic messaging feature is available for free. Through the chat feature, you can send text, image, and video messages as well as Gaymojis. If you have a paid subscription, you can use “Saved Phrases” to send small, quick messages in the chat. 

If you’re not interested in messaging someone first, Grindr also has a “tap” feature that you can click on to notify that user that you’re interested in them, and they might reach out to you if they’re also interested. 

Grindr Review: Is It Worth It?

Grindr Australia is an excellent platform for those looking to meet other LGBTQ+ individuals. Its location-based matching system, combined with the ability to create detailed profiles and join Tribes, makes it a versatile app for both dating and social networking. The additional features offered by Grindr Xtra and Grindr Unlimited subscriptions can significantly enhance the user experience, making it worth considering for serious users.

Grindr App User Testimonials:

• Positive Feedback: Many users appreciate the large user base and the ability to quickly find matches. The advanced filters and profile customization options are also frequently praised.
• Areas for Improvement: Some users have noted that the free version’s ads can be intrusive, and there have been occasional complaints about bugs or app crashes. However, the development team is active in addressing these issues.

Grindr Compared with Other Dating Apps:

• Grindr Versus Tinder:
  While Tinder is popular among the general population, Grindr is specifically tailored for the LGBTQ+ community, making it a better choice for users seeking same-sex relationships.
• Grindr Versus Scruff:
  Both apps are popular in the LGBTQ+ community, but Grindr tends to have a larger user base and more advanced features available through its subscription plans.

🙋Grindr FAQs

Our Thoughts: Grindr Australia

Is Grindr worth trying out? Ultimately, it may slightly depend on how you identify and what you’re looking for. Although Grindr has opened its arms to the greater LGBTQ+ community, the majority of its users remain as cis men. Grindr is also generally an app with people that are more focused on finding hookups rather than long-term relationships. 

However, the app is easy to use and has a number of free features that make it possible to find matches without being forced into a subscription. Then, if you decide to upgrade into a paid subscription, there are several extra features that become available to you. 

Overall, we hope that this article has given you enough information to make the decision on whether or not you would like to give Grindr a try. 

Whether you’re new to Grindr dating or a seasoned user, Grindr Australia offers a robust platform to connect with like-minded individuals. For the best experience, consider upgrading to a Grindr subscription to take full advantage of all the app’s features.

ℹ️ Company Info: Grindr App

The Grindr dating app was created in 2009 by Grindr LLC for gay men. Now, Grindr is considered the largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people. 

Grindr LLC
750 N San Vicente Blvd West Hollywood
CA 90069
(310) 776-6695

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