Software · head to head
Ship vs Grindr
Grindr
Software
The world's largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- They diverge on capability: Ship covers Crew Swiping, Grindr covers Location-Based Discovery.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Ship and Grindr actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Ship
- Crew Swiping
- Friend Recommendations
- Group Chat
- Profile Sharing
- Dating on Behalf
- Social Matching
Only in Grindr
- Location-Based Discovery
- Chat
- Explore Tab
- Tags and Tribes
- Incognito Mode
- Video Chat
- Web support
Both cover
- Ios support
- Android support
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Ship
Nothing recorded yet. See the Ship review.
Grindr
- Poor account appeal process with frequent wrongful bans and unresponsive customer service
- Incomplete age verification globally, with inconsistent enforcement across regions
- History of privacy violations, including 5.8 million euro fine from Norwegian Consumer Council for sharing user data with advertisers
- Rising subscription costs with aggressive monetization strategy
Pricing, plan by plan
Ship
Free- FreeFree
- Crew Swiping
- Messaging
- Friend Recommendations
Grindr
Free- XTRA$19.99/month
- No ads
- View 600+ profiles
- Unlimited blocks and favorites
- Unlimited$39.99/month
- All XTRA features
- See who viewed your profile
- Incognito mode
Which should you pick?
Choose Ship if
- You need crew swiping.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Ios, Android.
- You also want friend recommendations.
Choose Grindr if
- You need location-based discovery.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web.
- You also want chat.
Questions people ask
- Is Ship or Grindr better?
- Neither clearly leads. Ship starts at Free and Grindr at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Ship or Grindr?
- Ship starts at Free and Grindr at Free.
- Does Ship or Grindr run on more platforms?
- Ship runs on Ios, Android. Grindr runs on iOS, Android, Web.
- Can I use Ship for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What can Ship do that Grindr cannot?
- Ship covers Crew Swiping, Friend Recommendations, Group Chat, Profile Sharing. Grindr covers Location-Based Discovery, Chat, Explore Tab, Tags and Tribes. Both handle Ios support, Android support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Grindr: Is Grindr free to use?
Yes, Grindr offers a freemium model with basic profile browsing and unlimited messaging at no cost. Two paid tiers provide additional features: XTRA ($19.99/month) removes ads and expands visible profiles to 600, while Unlimited ($39.99/month) adds viewing who viewed your profile and incognito mode.
SourceGrindr: How do I export my personal data from Grindr?
Open the app, tap your profile image, then Settings. Scroll down and tap Download My Data under Security and Privacy. Re-enter your password, choose an email address, and your data report will include chats, images, and messages you sent (not received).
SourceGrindr: Can I use Grindr on my computer?
Yes, Grindr offers a web version for subscribers at grindr.com, though it requires a paid subscription. Alternatively, you can run the Android app on desktop using emulators like BlueStacks or NoxPlayer.
SourceGrindr: What privacy features does Grindr offer?
Grindr allows you to share photos that expire after one view and last 10 seconds. You can also opt out of having your location shared publicly, and premium subscribers can enable incognito mode to browse anonymously.
SourceGrindr: Is my account deletion permanent?
Yes, deleting your profile through Settings is permanent and non-recoverable. Grindr will remove all your personal data within their stated timeframe according to their Privacy Policy.
Source