Dating & Social Platforms

Grindr

Grindr is the world's largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people. Launched in 2009, it uses location-based technology to help LGBTQ+ individuals connect for dating, hookups,…

Founded 2009 · 17 years on market

·

Visit Grindr

·

How we score privacy →

·

All brands →

About Grindr

Grindr is the world’s largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people. Launched in 2009, it uses location-based technology to help LGBTQ+ individuals connect for dating, hookups, and socializing—making it fundamentally about facilitating intimate connections and sexual encounters within the queer community. The app has continuously evolved its features, including what we covered in testing a real-time feed feature and rolling out various community-focused tools. With over 13 million monthly active users globally, Grindr has become a cultural touchstone for LGBTQ+ dating and hookup culture. The platform has also faced its share of controversies and challenges, including issues around user safety and corporate positioning. Grindr operates on a freemium model with premium tiers (Xtra and Unlimited) that unlock additional features like viewing more profiles, advanced filtering, and removing ads. As we noted in our December 2025 dating app roundup, the platform continues to dominate its niche while adapting to user needs and market demands.
Active coverageFirst covered
40 articles 2016–2026 Peak: 2025 (8)

Grindr

70%

This privacy assessment is automated and editorial information only, not legal or compliance advice. Scores age over time as brands update their practices.

SEXTECHGUIDE may earn commissions from some brands it assesses. Scores are generated by an automated methodology and are not influenced by commercial relationships.

Learn more about our methodology Spot something wrong about Grindr? Request a correction

0

Privacy deep-dive

In summary

In our assessment, Grindr's Privacy Policy is relatively detailed and transparent for a dating/social app, with concrete retention periods and documented international transfer safeguards, though it collects unusually sensitive categories of data (health status, ethnicity, biometric selfies) with broad AI-driven processing. The accompanying B2B media-buy terms, meanwhile, appear heavily one-sided in Grindr's favor and do not address consumer privacy rights at all.

  • Concrete retention periods disclosed (28 days post-deletion, 2 years for device identifiers)
  • Sensitive profile fields collected (HIV/vaccination status, ethnicity, sexual position)
  • Biometric video selfie collection used for age verification in some jurisdictions
  • International transfer safeguards referenced (SCCs, EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework)
  • GPC signal honored; CCPA 'Do Not Sell or Share' opt-out mechanism present

Our editorial assessment of Grindr’s published policy — an opinion based on the policy text we reviewed, not legal advice or a compliance determination. Spot something wrong? Request a correction

Privacy Concerns

  • High Collection of highly sensitive profile data (health status, ethnicity, sexual preferences)
  • Medium Biometric data (video selfie/ID pairing) collected for age assurance in some regions
  • Medium Vague, unnamed 'Other Partners' category used repeatedly for data sharing without specifics
  • Medium B2B media-buy terms grant Grindr broad sole-discretion powers with heavy indemnification imposed on Agency/Advertiser
  • Low Browser 'Do Not Track' signals explicitly not honored

Privacy Positives

  • High Impact Specific, concrete retention periods stated (28 days / 2 years) rather than only vague language
  • Medium Impact International data transfer mechanisms (SCCs, DPF certification) explicitly disclosed
  • Medium Impact Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal honored for opt-outs
  • Medium Impact Dedicated regional DPO contacts and jurisdiction-specific rights pages (EEA, UK, Switzerland, South Korea, California)
  • Medium Impact Consent management platform (Ketch/IAB TCF) implemented for EEA/UK users

Security Overview

50% Security

Security Headers

HTTPS Secure connection
Pass
HSTS HTTP Strict Transport Security
Fail
CSP Content Security Policy
Pass
X-Frame-Options Clickjacking protection
Pass
X-Content-Type MIME type sniffing protection
Fail
Referrer-Policy Controls referrer information
Fail
Permissions-Policy Browser feature controls
Fail
Mozilla Observatory Grade: C Scanned: July 19, 2026

From Their Privacy Policy

Direct excerpts from Grindr's published privacy policyVerified July 19, 2026 · Source trust.grindr.com/en-US/privacy

We also retain a device identifier (i.e., IDFV and Android ID) and limited log information for a period of up to two years following account deletion to support internal reporting, metrics, and statistics.

Post-deletion retention period

For EEA/EU/UK users, other than cookies and similar technologies that are strictly necessary to operate the Services, we will only use these technologies with your consent.

Cookie consent approach for EEA/UK users

Only adults may use Grindr, so Grindr does not sell, share, or process for targeted advertising purposes the personal information of consumers it knows are minors.

CCPA-related minors carve-out on sale/sharing

Recommend this brand? Your vote powers Reader favourites.

0