Gay hook-up app Grindr is trialling a new ultra-premium subscription tier that costs up to $500 per month — and is heavily powered by artificial intelligence.
The new plan, called EDGE, is currently being tested with a limited number of users across the United States, Canada, Australia, and here in New Zealand, with prices ranging from $349.99 to $499.99 depending on location.
Grindr has confirmed that EDGE will not replace its existing Grindr Unlimited subscription, but will instead sit above it as the platform’s most expensive offering to date.
An ‘AI-First’ Grindr Experience
In a post on its website, Grindr announced its intention to become an “AI-first company,” describing the shift as a way to deliver:
“A faster, smarter, more personalised app that helps you connect with less effort and makes every conversation count.”
EDGE is powered by gAI™, Grindr’s proprietary AI stack, and is embedded throughout the app’s entire user experience.
New AI-driven features include:
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Conversation recaps summarising previous chats with other users
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Daily personalised profile recommendations
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Profile insights designed to help users identify better compatibility matches
According to Grindr, these tools are aimed at reducing friction, improving engagement, and helping users make more meaningful connections — albeit at a steep price.
Users React to the Price Tag
The cost of the EDGE subscription has been met with widespread scepticism online.
“$500 a month? At that point just hire a matchmaker and a therapist,” one user wrote.
Another was more blunt:
“You can spend as much money as you want on Grindr to increase your presence on the grid, expand your reach, and whatever else — but if you’re chopped, you’re chopped.”
While Grindr has not said when — or if — EDGE will be rolled out more broadly, the trial highlights the app’s growing focus on AI-driven personalisation, even as users question whether premium tech can really buy better connections.
