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Category: Grindr

Grindr Beats Revenue Estimates, Bets on AI to Drive Growth

Posted on February 27, 2026
A smartphone displaying the Grindr logo

REUTERS – Grindr reported Q4 revenue of $126M, beating estimates, and expanded its share buyback program by $400M, sending shares up about 4% after hours. The company said it will remain publicly listed after reaching an 18-month standstill agreement with its largest shareholder, Ray Zage, following failed take-private talks last year. Grindr is doubling down on AI-driven growth through its proprietary “gAI” system and a new premium subscription tier called “Edge,” while maintaining a strong free product to attract younger users. For 2026, it plans heavier investment in technology upgrades and expansion into health and wellness services, projecting full-year revenue above $528M, roughly in line with expectations.

See full article at Reuters

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Malaysia Blocks Grindr and Blued and May Limit More LGBTQ+ Dating Apps

Posted on February 27, 2026
Grindr and Blued blocked in Malaysia

THE PINK NEWS –  Malaysia has blocked access to Grindr and Blued and is considering further action against other LGBTQ+ dating platforms, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced on 25 February. He said authorities are reviewing legal measures to restrict apps deemed to violate local laws, including those involving immoral or unlawful content. Same-sex activity remains illegal in Malaysia and carries severe criminal penalties under federal and state laws.

See full article at The Pink News

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Grindr Is Testing a New AI Subscription Tier in Australia Called Grindr Edge

Posted on February 24, 2026
Grindr EDGE

STREAMLINE – The paid plan uses AI to summarize chats, suggest compatible matches, detect under-18 users, and strengthen identity verification. It’s priced very high (over AUD 100/month in some markets).

See full article at Streamline

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Mark Brooks on the Dating App Business Model and AI’s Role in Matchmaking

Posted on February 16, 2026
Mark Brooks

REUTERS – Reuters’ Econ World podcast interviews dating-industry consultant Mark Brooks about how dating apps actually make money despite losing users when matches succeed. He explains the evolution from Match.com search-based dating to Tinder’s swipe gamification, the freemium-to-subscription model, and why apps aim for users to stay around three months before pairing off. Major players include Match Group (Tinder, Hinge, Match), Bumble and Grindr. The industry grew during COVID, now faces payment reluctance and privacy concerns from Gen Z, and is shifting toward more meaningful matching and niche communities. Brooks says AI will help verify users, improve profiles and eventually predict compatibility and support relationships, not just create matches.

Listen to the podcast at Reuters

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Grindr Tests AI-Powered EDGE Subscription Tier

Posted on February 12, 2026
Grindr EDGE

GRINDR – Grindr is testing a new premium subscription tier called EDGE, positioning it as a fully AI-integrated upgrade to the app experience. Powered by its gAI™ stack, EDGE embeds AI across discovery, messaging, and re-engagement rather than limiting it to a single feature. The tier includes daily personalized profile recommendations, conversation recaps to help users reconnect with missed chats, and expanded profile insights aimed at improving match quality and follow-through. The pilot is currently running in Australia, New Zealand, select U.S. cities, and Canada, with randomized pricing during testing. Grindr states that AI features are optional and that sensitive health data is excluded from AI use.

See full article at Grindr blog

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Grindr Introduces Temporary Privacy and Safety Measures for the 2026 Winter Olympics

Posted on February 2, 2026
Close-up of a smartphone displaying the Grindr logo in yellow against a dark background.

FINDARTICLES – Grindr is introducing temporary privacy and safety features for the 2026 Winter Olympics to reduce risks associated with increased app usage around athlete villages. Measures include stronger location privacy controls, unlimited disappearing messages, message unsending, default screenshot blocking, in-app safety reminders, and the suspension of third-party ads in favor of public service announcements. 

See full article at FindArticles

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Top Dating Apps by Press Coverage in 2025

Posted on January 15, 2026
Top Dating Apps by Press Coverage in 2025

OPW – In 2025, we selected and summarized over 600 of the top news items mentioning 212 companies from the online dating industry. Tinder took the top spot, followed by Match Group and Hinge. Here’s the full list of dating companies that received the most press coverage last year:

1. Tinder – CEO Faye Iosotaluno was replaced by Spencer Rascoff who took over the brand in an attempt to reinvent it for Gen Z through safety tools, AI, and product experiments.
2. Match Group – hired a new CEO, Spencer Rascoff, but lost several long term C-level execs, acquired Her and Salams, and pivoted to AI and emerging markets.
3. Hinge – reached 15 MAU worldwide, launched in Mexico and Brazil and also launched new features, but ended the year with it’s founder and CEO Justin McLeod stepping down, being succeeded by the CMO, Jackie Jantos.
4. Grindr – saw a year of growth, with numerous new features launched, mostly AI and safety oriented. At the end of the year, he company experienced a buyout attempt, which ultimately failed due to financing uncertainty.
5. Bumble – Whitney Wolfe Herd returned as a CEO in an attempt to revive the company which lost over 90% of it’s market value in the last 4 years. The company announced major layoffs and shut down two previously acquired apps, Fruitz and Official. It launched Bumble BFF as a standalone app.
6. Happn – was acquired by Hello Group, introduced flexible relationship options, and launched AI powered “Perfect Date” tool.
7. Matrimony.com – invested in AI in and attempt to boost the growth, however later financial results showed rising costs and a year-on-year profit decline in Q2 FY2026. In December, the company announced a share buyback.
8. Three Day Rule – launched a “$1 Million Matchmaking” service, secured an investment from Palm Venture Studios. Later in the year, it introduced Tai, an AI-powered matchmaking app.
9.-10. Chapter2, Match.com, OkCupid, Sitch, Tea
Chapter 2 acquired M14 white label dating platform last year. Match.com released another Singles in America study in June. OkCupid was usually mentioned alongside other Match Group’s app and we also used several of OKCupid’s studies for posts last year. Sitch raised $6.7M and announced the U.S. expansion. Tea was first mentioned as a fast growing app that should help women spot red flags before a first date, but their news coverage quickly turned to negative with two hacks that exposed user data. In October, the app was removed from AppStore by Apple.

Read the full version of the article

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Grindr Plans Four New Consumer Businesses Targeting up to $120m in Revenue by 2028

Posted on January 15, 2026
Grindr

BUSINESS INSIDER – Grindr plans to build four new direct-to-consumer businesses by 2028, each targeting $15–30M in revenue (up to $120M total), according to an internal roadmap. After launching ED-meds brand Woodwork in 2025, the company aims to expand into areas like wellness and personal care, while scaling AI across the app beyond existing features. CEO George Arison says these ventures will start small with lean teams, marking a rare move for a dating app to diversify beyond subscriptions.

See full article at Business Insider

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Dating Apps Turn to AI After User Growth and Revenue Declines

Posted on December 29, 2025

BUSINESS INSIDER – Dating apps including Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, and Grindr are investing tens of millions of dollars in AI-powered matchmaking to counter swipe fatigue, declining engagement, and falling paid-user numbers. Match Group’s stock is down ~75% over five years and its paying users fell 5% YOY, while Bumble’s share price is down ~50% this year, it laid off 30% of staff, and paying users dropped 18%. The companies are deploying generative AI for matchmaking, profile creation, flirting, and safety, with Tinder testing its Chemistry feature and Grindr launching AI-driven recommendation feeds. Analysts say AI alone cannot revive unpopular products. At the same time, AI-first startups are raising capital and entering the market, including Sitch, which has raised $9M and charges $90 for three matches, alongside new apps such as Known, Ditto, and Amata, while Facebook has introduced an AI dating assistant.

See full article at Business Insider

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TikTok Monitored Grindr Activity Through Third-party Tracker, Privacy Group Alleges

Posted on December 18, 2025
A person holding a smartphone displaying the TikTok logo, with a blurred background showing a TikTok feed on a computer screen.

REUTERS –  Austrian privacy group NOYB has filed complaints against TikTok, Grindr, and AppsFlyer, alleging they violated EU GDPR rules by tracking users across apps and sharing sensitive data without consent. NOYB says a user discovered, through a data-access request, that TikTok had accessed information about their Grindr activity, along with data from other apps, via AppsFlyer. The group claims TikTok used this information for personalized ads, analytics, and security, and that neither Grindr nor AppsFlyer had legal grounds to transfer such data. NOYB is urging regulators to issue fines and halt the practices.

See full article at Jpost

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