Is Grindr XTRA worth it? I tried it, and I only regret it a little.

I don’t know when it started, because it certainly hasn’t always been like this, but Grindr has a serious problem. You can’t do anything on the app without getting hit in the face by an ad, and it’s absolute hell.

Does it really cost at least five long seconds (in some cases, a lot more) to get some action in 2025? Yes, it is. But it doesn’t have to be…if you’re willing to let the Grindr gods take a look in your wallet.

For $14.99 — a steep price for one weekly subscription to the app, I must say that users can get rid of all unwanted Grindr ads for a whole week. On top of that, you’ll unlock access to 600 additional profiles in your region, enjoy unlimited album views without the hassle disappearing after a few hours, send as many photos and expiring albums as you want, and much more.

But, for just over $2 a day, is paying Grindr XTRA for the week really worth it, especially when there are so many other dating apps? Before testing this feature for myself, I was sure to say no. But the answer isn’t as black and white as you might think.

What is Grindr XTRA?

Grindr XTRA is basically Grindr’s way of saying: “We know you’re desperate, so why not pay us to make this hellscape a little less miserable?” What do you get in exchange for coughing up money? First of all, sweet, sweet freedom from those endless ads that clog every corner of the app, which is a major bonus. This makes the app actually, dare I say, usable. This is the most beneficial aspect of getting Grindr XTRA, period.

You’ll also have the ability to create multiple albums, tag people who have recently chatted (so you don’t accidentally message the same guy twice), and the ability to send three expiring photos each day.

Several albums are a nice advantage, even if their usefulness seems a little limited to me. Since Grindr only allows one video per album, this feature only really works if you’re juggling lots of photos or sending different sets to different people.

As for recently tagged profiles, this one is pretty awesome. This keeps you from getting déjà vu (and looking desperate), like when you think, “Oh, that chest pic looks really hot,” click on it for a quick “Hello,” then realize you definitely messaged the same guy at 3 a.m. a few weekends ago. And, personally, when it comes to expiring albums, I don’t really need them. I’m a gay man and I don’t care who sees my dick. Every gay guy in Chicago on Grindr has done it before. It’s nonsense. But if you’re the type who likes to keep your nudes sensitive, this is a huge step forward in privacy. You’ll never again have to worry about whether or not a hiker you chatted with saved your nudes in a private album on their smartphone.

As I mentioned, you’ll also have a larger grid of guys to browse (an absolutely amazing perk), a golden ticket to the World Explore feature (useless unless you’re planning a trip to Dublin next month and/or prefer long-distance sexting), and some brilliant extras like read receipts (so you know exactly who’s ignoring you) and recorded phrases (so you don’t have to type what you like 600 times).

Another handy feature is the ability to filter profiles more effectively based on what you’re looking for. The free version of Grindr doesn’t let you use filters as well as before.

Back in the day (yes, I’ve been single long enough to remember), you could set an age range, choose a tribe (jocks, bears, twinks, etc.), select a “search” category (branches, relationships, dates, etc.), add tags (bondage, anon, couples, whatever) to actually target your ideal person. The results would still show as many profiles as you would see without any filters.

NOW? The free version only generates three to six profiles when you’re trying to get specific. With Grindr XTRA, you’ll see the same full range of profiles whether you use filters or not. It’s great if you’re interested in something very specific, like trading bottom non-binary bears who love fisting (or ff, if you know, you know) and tentacles.

How much does Grindr XTRA cost?

Grindr XTRA is currently available in four price tiers, which may vary by location:

• One week: $14.99

• One month: $22.99 (64% savings)

• Three months: $49.99 (74% savings)

• Twelve months: $149.99 (80% savings)

What is the difference between Grindr XTRA and Grindr Unlimited?

Of course, Grindr XTRA isn’t the only paid Grindr subscription the app offers. Go figure. Grindr Unlimited is the cream of the crop when it comes to Grindr, offering every aspect of what you’d get with Grindr XTRA, plus everything else in the kitchen sink. You will have the ability to see all profiles that have viewed you, no longer send messages after post-nut clarity, browse the grid without being seen in incognito mode, see when someone is typing a message, and of course, see unlimited profiles using unlimited filters.

The trap? It starts at $9.99 for one day. However, for a full month, it would cost you $22.99, a total savings of 64%. Three months costs $49.99 with a 74% savings, and 12 months costs $149.99 with an 80% savings. We don’t know what kind of money you’re working with, but if you can afford to pay for your hookup apps and you’re that horny, you will, baby.

Is paying for Grindr worth it?

Here’s where things get complicated: I honestly don’t know how to answer this question for you. My wallet and my brain say no, but the user experience that Grindr XTRA has to offer? It’s incomprehensibly good. And I can’t help but think there’s a little conspiracy behind this.

Unpaid-for-Grindr is an application that is borderline unusable in 2025, but it do technically it works great for free users. It’s not you need pay for Grindr to use it effectively. Problems with using Grindr for free in 2025 include:

• The ads are overwhelming

• The app constantly crashes

• Messages slip through the cracks

• The search function is almost useless

I’ve noticed that all of these issues have cropped up over the past few years at different times, and I’m hardly the only one. I fear that Grindr has done this on purpose: making the app complete garbage so that we have no choice but to buy a week-long Grindr XTRA subscription in our most exciting moments, realize once again how amazing the app can be, and then, poof, the week is over. Your only choice? Take Grindr XTRA back for another week or suffer through all the ads again. It’s a bit like a drug for unbearably horny gays like me.

But, again, is Grindr XTRA worth it? Although I don’t usually say this, I could go either way. Sometimes yes, depending on the circumstances. Visiting a new city alone for a week and want all the cake and eat it too? So, sure, pay for a one-week Grindr XTRA membership for just over $2 per day. Go wild on your trip to Berlin. Are you at home on your couch when Pornhub is just a few clicks away in your Safari app? Maybe don’t pay for Grindr XTRA this time. Let it be a little treat from time to time. Everyone deserves a little treat from time to time.

So, should I get Grindr XTRA?

I think if you’re here and you read everything I had to say about Grindr But, in the old days, these were not “benefits”. It was exactly like that gay dating apps were supposed to work. If Grindr actually managed to fix the unpaid user experience instead of milking every penny out of the gay community, we could go back to using Grindr the way the gay gods intended. No one should have to pay money just to make money. login app work as it is supposed to. Just some food for thought.

But here’s the hard truth we all have to swallow: I purchased Grindr XTRA and my experience was nothing short of perfect.

In the future, I hope the Grindr experience returns to what it was, but that seems unlikely. So here’s my verdict: When taking a solo trip to Rome, New York or Ibiza, pay Grindr XTRA for a week, and only a week. You’ll hate yourself for paying, but you’ll hate Grindr even more if you don’t.