Cautious but generally positive reviews of the app circulated through the gay blogosphere on sites such as Queerty and Joe My God. The free version displayed 100 profiles of nearby men, while a premium version ($2.99 plus a monthly fee) contained no advertising and broadened the dating pool to 200 guys. Grindr was launched as an iOS mobile app on March 25, 2009, by tech entrepreneur Joel Simkhai in Los Angeles, California.

Selecting a profile photo in the grid view will display that member's full profile and photos, as well as the option to chat, send a 'tap,' send pictures, video call, and share one's precise location. The app allows members to create a personal profile and use their GPS position to place them on a cascade, where they can browse other profiles sorted by distance and be viewed by nearby and faraway members depending on one's filter settings. It is available on iOS and Android devices in both free and premium versions (the latter called Grindr XTRA and Grindr Unlimited). It was one of the first geosocial apps for gay men when it launched in March 2009 and has since become the largest and most popular gay mobile app in the world.

Grindr is a location-based social networking and online dating application for gay, bi, trans, and queer people, and men who have sex with men.