Grindr XTRA Review 2025 — Is It Really Worth $14.99 a Week?

A brutally honest look at Grindr’s premium subscription, pricing, features, and whether it’s worth your cash.

In 2025, the landscape of gay dating apps has shifted drastically, and no app shows that better than Grindr. Once known for its simple, fast and free experience, today it’s loaded with ads, bugs, and frustrating limitations. The solution, according to the app itself, is a premium subscription: Grindr XTRA.

But is paying $14.99 per week really worth it? I tried it myself, and the answer isn’t as straightforward as a simple yes or no. Let’s dive deep into what Grindr XTRA actually offers — and whether it’s worth the price tag.

What Is Grindr XTRA?

Grindr XTRA is the app’s premium upgrade aimed at users who want a smoother, ad-free experience. Once subscribed, the first thing you’ll notice is the disappearance of those annoying pop-up ads that interrupt chats and slow everything down. It instantly feels more functional.

Besides going ad-free, Grindr XTRA unlocks features like:

• Access to 600+ extra profiles nearby
• Unlimited album views and expiring photo sends
• Advanced search and filtering options
• Read receipts and saved phrases
• Global Explore mode to connect with users worldwide

For someone who’s active on dating apps, these upgrades make the platform feel like a completely different app — cleaner, faster, and way more enjoyable to use.

How Much Does Grindr XTRA Cost?

The biggest question most users have: how much does Grindr XTRA cost? The pricing structure in 2025 looks like this:

• 1 week: $14.99
• 1 month: $22.99 (about 64% savings)
• 3 months: $49.99 (around 74% savings)
• 12 months: $149.99 (up to 80% savings)

Paying weekly is clearly the most expensive option, but for short-term use — like a weekend trip or special occasion — it might make sense for some users. However, if you’re a regular user, a longer subscription is far more cost-effective.

What You Actually Get for the Money

The most obvious upgrade is the ad-free experience. No more waiting through endless ad interruptions just to view profiles or reply to messages. This alone makes Grindr usable again.

Another major benefit is the expanded grid. Instead of being limited to a small selection of nearby users, you suddenly see hundreds more profiles. This is especially useful in cities where competition for attention is fierce.

Advanced filters also come in handy. Free users can barely narrow their search anymore — which often leads to repetitive or irrelevant matches. XTRA lets you filter by age, tribe, preferences, tags, and even body type, so you can find exactly who you’re looking for.

Then there’s the Explore feature, allowing you to browse users in other countries. If you’re traveling or just curious, this can be fun — though admittedly not essential for everyone.

Grindr XTRA vs Grindr Unlimited

It’s worth noting that Grindr XTRA isn’t the app’s top tier. There’s also Grindr Unlimited, which offers everything XTRA has and more, including:

• Seeing everyone who’s viewed your profile
• Incognito mode browsing
• Unsend messages after sending
• Unlimited filters and profile views
• Typing indicators (see when someone’s typing)

Of course, this comes with a higher price tag. So if you’re just looking to make the app more functional without going all in, XTRA is the more affordable middle ground.

The Dark Side: Why Grindr Feels Broken Without Paying

Here’s where things get tricky. Over the years, the free Grindr experience has deteriorated. Constant ads, random crashes, and broken filters make it almost unbearable at times. It’s hard not to feel like the app was designed this way — to push users toward paying for XTRA.

In fact, common complaints from free users include:

• Ad overload after every few taps
• Slow and laggy performance
• Limited visibility of profiles
• Frequent crashes and glitches

This makes XTRA feel less like a “perk” and more like paying a ransom for a functional dating app.

Is Grindr XTRA Worth It?

The big question: Should you pay $14.99 per week for Grindr XTRA?

Honestly, it depends on your situation. If you’re traveling, going out for Pride weekend, or simply want to skip the frustration of ads and bugs, then yes — the premium features make a noticeable difference and can be worth it.

But if you’re just browsing at home with no real plans, it might not make sense to pay that much weekly. Free Grindr is clunky, but technically usable if you have patience.

Final Verdict

Grindr XTRA delivers a noticeably better experience than the free version: it’s faster, cleaner, and genuinely enjoyable to use. However, the price can be steep if you use it long term, and it’s hard to shake the feeling that the free version was deliberately crippled to push subscriptions.

My advice? Use XTRA strategically — maybe during travel or special events — but don’t feel like you need to keep it on autopay. For many, a short subscription here and there offers the best balance of features and cost.

Bottom line: If you want a smooth, ad-free Grindr experience, XTRA delivers. Just make sure you’re okay with the price.