Tinder vs. Grindr: Which One Is Better?

Whether you’ve never used a dating app before or you’re a seasoned user, modern dating can be overwhelming. With so many apps available, you might struggle to decide where to focus your time and energy. If you’re looking for casual dating with the potential for something more, Tinder and Grindr are a great start. 

Each app offers a long list of features, both paid and unpaid, different types of people to connect with, and varying success rates. So, is Tinder better than Grindr or vice versa?

I’ve created this Tinder vs. Grindr comparison to help you determine the best app for your needs. I’ll also tell you how you can use PIA VPN to find new matches and protect yourself online.

Tinder vs. Grindr: Full Comparison 

If you’re new to dating apps, you may be wondering “What is the difference between Tinder and Grindr?” Although often lumped together as casual dating apps, there are some big differences between the two. The information you can share, app interface, and demographics vary widely. One is even a top-ranked app for marriage, while the other is more hookup-focused.

Interface and User Experience

On the Grindr app, you’ll see a grid with the nearest 99 people. You can filter by age, online status, and newest members. On each profile, you can see information about the person’s height, weight, sexual preferences, and interests. You’ll hit a paywall if you want to see more people or use advanced filters, including those that allow you to filter out profiles without photos or profiles you’ve already chatted with today.

Tinder presents you with one profile at a time. You can swipe left to “nope,” right to “like,” or up to “super like.” Frustratingly, Tinder also stores additional information about each person under their photo. While you used to be able to swipe up, you now have to tap an arrow button. That means your natural inclination to swipe up can cause you to accidentally “super like” someone when you only meant to learn more.

The user experience is quite different on Grindr vs. Tinder. The Grindr app interface looked and felt less modern to me. That said, its grid allows you to view a lot of profiles at once, which lends to the speed at which you can meet people. The Tinder app interface feels fresher, but its functionality could use some work. Tinder also allows users to share far more information on their profiles, making for deeper connections.

Matching Algorithms

One major difference between Grindr and Tinder is the way you find and match with people. In fact, Grindr doesn’t really match you. It shows you the nearest users and people with paid subscriptions who are boosting their profiles. Connecting is in your hands from there. You can add search filters to find people you think will be a good match for your needs and interests.

Meanwhile, Tinder considers your current location, gender, gender preferences, age, interests, and lifestyle descriptions. It also shows you profiles with photos similar to those you’ve already liked. Plus, it factors in how often other people like your profile. 

User Base and Demographics

Grindr is an LGBTQ app, so you’ll primarily find gay, bisexual, and transgender people there. According to data from Statista, users are mostly millennials (57%), though there are some Gen Z (25%) and Gen X folks (16%). And, according to one study, 96.3% of users are male. This rang true for my experience – while I was scrolling I primarily found men and only a handful of women or trans folks.

Tinder also has an overwhelmingly male population, making up 76% of the app, according to Statista. User ages vary, but data shows that people aged 33 to 44 are most likely to use the app, with people 18 – 29 coming in second most likely. 

Both apps have users around the world. Grindr has the highest number of lifetime downloads in the US but still has millions of downloads in Brazil, India, Mexico, Chile, the UK, France, and other countries. Meanwhile, Tinder is still the most downloaded dating app globally and is especially popular in the US and Europe.

Communication and Interaction

Another difference between Tinder and Grindr is that you can message anyone in your Grindr grid – no need to mutually match first. The app also allows you to share collections of photos in a private chat. If you don’t want to talk immediately, you can “tap” someone to show interest. 

On Tinder, you can view your matches for free and the app will notify you when someone “super likes” you. You can’t share photos in the chat, but Tinder has a unique video chat feature called Face to Face, which allows you to get a little more personal. 

You won’t be able to see who has liked your profile until you match on Tinder unless you pay for a subscription. Likewise, the app hides missed connections (people who “liked” you, but you “noped”) behind a paywall. 

Pricing and Subscription Models

Grindr

	Grindr	XTRA	Unlimited
Cost	Free	1 month: $19.99 3 months: $49.99 12 months: $149.99	1 week: $23.99 1 month: $39.99
View basic grid and message	❌	❌	❌
Read receipts		❌	❌
Grindr Web access		❌	❌
5 daily expiring photos		❌	❌
No third-party ads		❌	❌
View up to 600 profiles in the grid		❌	❌
Access to Explore, the global chat feature		❌	❌
Premium album features		❌	❌
Saved chat phrases		❌	❌
Premium search filters		❌	❌
Unlimited profiles in your grid			❌
Unlimited expiring photos			❌
Visible typing status			❌
See who chatted you			❌
Incognito mode			❌
Chat translation			❌
Chat message unsend			❌

Tinder

	Tinder	Tinder Plus	Tinder Gold	Tinder Platinum
Cost	Free	1 week: $12.99 1 month: $24.99 6 months: $99.99	1 week: $18.99 1 month: $39.99 6 months: $139.99	1 week: $24.99 1 month: $49.99 6 months: $179.99
Match & chat	❌	❌	❌	❌
Unlimited likes		❌	❌	❌
Unlimited rewinds		❌	❌	❌
Passport to any location		❌	❌	❌
Hide ads		❌	❌	❌
Incognito mode		❌	❌	❌
5 super likes per week			❌	❌
1 boost per month			❌	❌
See who likes you			❌	❌
New top picks daily			❌	❌
Message before matching				❌
Prioritized likes				❌
See the likes you’ve sent				❌

Privacy and Safety Measures

On Grindr, you can delete any of the content you’ve shared at any time. That includes messages, chat threads, photos, and taps. You can also adjust your display preferences, which stops people who aren’t nearby from seeing your profile. Or, you can hide your distance so people can’t see how close you are.

Grindr also deserves a special shoutout for safety. The app encourages users to share health information that can affect dating, including vaccination status, HIV status, and last STD testing date. 

Like Grindr, you can delete the content you share on Tinder anytime. That said, if others have saved your photos or information from either app, there’s no getting it back. Tinder has ID + Photo Verification, which uses technology to compare your ID to a selfie and confirm you’re really you. Plus, Tinder’s in-app video chat feature allows you to confirm the identity of other users before you meet in real life.

Success Rates

People have different goals when using dating apps, which makes measuring success tricky. According to a 2023 survey from The Knot, 25% of engaged and newly married couples who met online connected on the Tinder app. It was also the top app for marriage until 2022 when Hinge took the title. 

There’s less data on Grindr’s success rates, which is likely because Grindr focuses on hookups and discretion. While there are no statistics on the app’s successful hookups, one small survey found that 84% of respondents who use Grindr reported falling in love with someone they met on the app. You can also find plenty of anecdotal evidence online, with many folks sharing how they met their long-term partner on the app. 

Grindr vs. Tinder: Which Is Best for You?

The best dating app for you depends on your goals and preferences. If you’re part of the LGBTQ community, especially if you’re male, you’ll find lots of people to chat with on Grindr. If you’re looking for hookups, Grindr is likely the best option.

Tinder is probably more worthy of your time if you’re more interested in going on dates but open to everything from hookups to long-term relationships. It’s geared toward helping you connect over interests and people use it for all types of dating.

Millennials make up the majority of people on both apps, though you’ll find users of all ages. Both apps are male-dominated, but Tinder has a larger female population. You can also date internationally on each, though it will require a premium subscription or a VPN and GPS-spoofing app. Ultimately, only you can decide which dating app is right for you, so try downloading one and see if you like it!

How to Change Your Tinder Location with a VPN

The process of changing your Tinder location with a VPN depends on what type of device you’re using to swipe. Here’s a quick look at both options.

Changing Your Tinder Location on a Browser

1. Get a VPN. PIA VPN is quick to download and easy to set up. 

2. Choose a server location. Connect to a server in the country or city you want to swipe in, which will give you an IP address from that location. Tinder will automatically detect your location using your new IP address. PIA VPN has servers in 91 countries worldwide.

3. Swipe on Tinder. Swipe like normal and see who’s out there! 

Changing Your Tinder Location on a Phone or Tablet

1. Get PIA VPN and a GPS-spoofing app. PIA VPN will change your IP address, while the GPS-spoofing app will change the GPS location of your device. You can find one of these apps on your device’s app store – just be sure to do your research and download one with lots of positive reviews. 

2. Choose a location. Make sure your VPN and GPS location are set to the same region, and launch Tinder. You may need to connect your phone to your computer for some GPS apps. 

3. Start swiping! Check out potential love connections in your new location.

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Why PIA Is the Best VPN for Online Dating Apps

Want to date in another city, state, or country? PIA has you covered with servers in 91 countries, including every US state, so you can swipe just about anywhere. We also have dedicated apps for iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux, which means you can use PIA VPN with your favorite dating apps and websites on any device.

If you’re dating on the go, you’re probably connecting to public Wi-Fi, which can make you an easy target for cybercriminals wanting to steal your data. PIA’s encryption uses complex algorithms to conceal your online activity, which protects your personal data from anyone trying to eavesdrop on your connection. It also hides the fact that you’re using a dating app, which can be useful if you need discretion with your dating activity. 

PIA VPN can also help you get past restrictions at your college or workplace. It hides your online activity from your network, so you can unblock dating websites and swipe wherever you go.

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