While most dating apps have been snoozing on new features, Grindr’s been getting busy. I guess it is the season of renewal and growth after all.
In the last two months, the app's dropped a load (pun intended) of new features, as well as hosted a cheeky "Cum Calculator" on its blog. But beyond the gimmicks, some updates actually make the app safer and more user-friendly.
Here’s a rundown of what’s new on Grindr.
Dodge catfish and keep your profile pics fresh with Grindr's 'Taken on Grindr'
To make the app safer and more trustworthy, Grindr launched a new in-app camera feature called "Taken on Grindr" on April 7. It lets users take photos directly through the app. Afterwards, you have the option to add a watermark showing a timestamp (like "Taken on Grindr – just now" or "Taken on Grindr – 2 days ago").
This helps give others more confidence that the photo is real and recent, and might ease any concerns you have about catfishing or outdated profile pics. You don't have to add the watermark if you don’t want to.
To use this feature, you'll need to make sure your app is updated to the newest version. Open the in-app camera (either in a chat convo or your profile editing screen), snap a pic, and enable or disable the watermark as you like.
Once you're done, you can send the photo directly to a guy in your chats or add it to your profile.
Find hookups even faster with Grindr's 'Right Now' feature
On March 25 (Grindr's 16th birthday), Grindr expanded its "Right Now" feature to 15 new cities around the world: New York City, Los Angeles, London, Miami, Philadelphia, Austin, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Orlando, Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam, São Paulo, and Milan. "Right Now" originally launched in Australia and Washington, D.C., in 2024.
If you're unfamiliar, "Right Now" lets people see who's online at that moment, making it easier to match and meet up ASAP. It's for users who don't want to spend time chatting and prefer to hook up as soon as possible, or as the name implies: Right Now.
"Unlike the traditional grid, which is designed for browsing profiles and starting conversations, Right Now is a live feed where users can post text updates and photos to signal exactly what they're looking for at that moment," AJ Balance, Grindr's Chief Product Officer, tells Mashable. "Fast, clear, and direct connections with others who want the same thing."
To use this feature, all you have to do is open the app and tap the "Right Now" button. You can then browse or post in the feed, respond to others' posts, and find someone to meet up with.
If your city isn't included in the update, don't worry. Balance says this is just the beginning, and more cities will be added over the coming months.
"Right Now is part of our larger vision to make Grindr the go-to space for every kind of LGBTQ+ connection, whether that's for something casual or more long-term," he says. "We're committed to making those connections faster and more intuitive, while continuing to evolve with our users."
Hide from exes and other people you want to avoid with 'Profile Hide'
If you're worried about running into your ex, a coworker, or even just a nosy family member, Grindr's new "Profile Hide" feature could come in handy.
Released on March 31, "Profile Hide" lets you become invisible to specific people on the app, so they can't find your profile or message you. When your profile is hidden, you'll disappear from their grid, and theirs from yours. (You'll also disappear from their "Viewed Me" and "Taps.") They won't receive a notification or any other indication to let them know you've hidden from them.
This isn't like blocking, which is more permanent. It's just a way to temporarily hide from people you know (and want to avoid).
To use this feature, go to the profile of the person you want to hide from. (It has to be someone you haven't chatted with.) Tap the "Hide" icon at the top of their profile photo and confirm your decision.
If you change your mind, you can go into your Settings and unhide the profile at any time.
Yes, Grindr hosted an interactive 'Cum Calculator' on their blog
If you didn’t think Grindr could get any hornier, think again. This week, the company hosted "the world’s first Interactive Cum Calculator," which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Think MyFitnessPal, but for cum.
The calculator is easy to use. Just plug in a few details (it measures in "loads") and it'll give you a nutritional breakdown including calories, protein, sugar, fat, and even zinc. Of course, these numbers are just estimates.
The company says the Cum Calculator is meant to be a tongue-in-cheek way to engage users and promote sexual health awareness. Which is honestly a cute way to get people talking about their health and status (something their app competitor, Archer, has been leaning into for years).
We'll see what else Grindr has in store for spring — and this year's Pride.
