Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Azar vs Grindr

Azar 4.3★ · Free + IAP 30
Winner Grindr
Grindr 4.5★ · Free + IAP 55

Grindr is the better choice for its established community and functionality, despite its significant issues with ads and monetization, as Azar's recent updates have severely degraded its user experience.

Full reviews: Azar · Grindr

Azar's recent updates have alienated its user base, transforming it from a free randomized video chat app to a 'glorified Tinder' with many paid features and connection issues. Grindr, while plagued by excessive ads, fake profiles, and customer service complaints, still offers a more functional platform for its niche.

Head to head

Features edge: GrindrR5R6R7R10
Azar Users are highly dissatisfied with Azar's recent updates, which removed core features like randomized video chats and live streaming in the US, replacing them with a 'Tinder-like' invitation system R5R15R35R42. Many users want the old version back, citing the new one as boring and difficult to use R6R7R10.
Grindr Grindr's core features allow users to meet different people, but many complain about the lack of control over profiles, poor filtering, and the inability to see basic info on profiles R59. The app has also been criticized for forcing users to engage with promotional content, such as Madonna's advertising, and for redesigning the icon without user consent .
Ease of Use tieR3R6R7R10
Azar Azar's new update is described as boring, difficult, and not working well R6R7R10R17. Users report issues with connecting, inability to add photos, and the app closing conversations R3R17R28.
Grindr Grindr is frequently described as unusable due to constant ads, freezing, and crashing . Users also report issues with text scalability for accessibility and general glitchiness .
Reliability tieR1R3R17R28
Azar Azar users report problems with the app closing conversations, connection issues, and a general decline in quality after updates R3R17R28. There are also complaints about fake profiles and scammers R1.
Grindr Grindr suffers from frequent freezing, crashing, and multiple notifications for the same messages . Users also report a high number of fake accounts, bots, and scammers R53R54R59R86. Some users have also experienced unjust bans R51R64R76.
Price/Value tieR3R8R12R34
Azar Azar is heavily criticized for becoming a 'money grab' where 'every feature costs money' R3R8R12R34. Users report automatic charges for subscriptions without clear warning and the need to buy gems for features that were once free R8R34.
Grindr Grindr is widely seen as exploitative and expensive, with users complaining about constant payment requests and limited features even after paying R56. Many feel they pay for the option to buy more options, and that the cost is extortionate for what little they receive .
Support edge: AzarR51R64R66R76
Azar There are no specific reviews mentioning Azar's customer support directly, but the widespread dissatisfaction with updates and monetization suggests a lack of responsiveness to user feedback.
Grindr Grindr's customer service is frequently described as hopeless, useless, and unresponsive, especially regarding ban appeals R51R64R66R76. Users report waiting months for responses or being told nothing can be done R51R66. There are also concerns about the app doing nothing about stalkers or harassment .
Pick Azar if

You are looking for a video chat app and are willing to navigate its recent, unpopular changes and payment structures, or if you are specifically avoiding the issues reported by Grindr users regarding ads and customer support.

Pick Grindr if

You are looking for a dating app within the LGBTQ+ community and are prepared to deal with a high volume of ads, potential fake profiles, and unresponsive customer service, but value its larger user base and established presence R59.

Evidence note: Azar's recent reviews are overwhelmingly negative, focusing on a major update that changed the app's core functionality and monetization model. Grindr's reviews also highlight significant issues, particularly with ads and customer support, but its lifetime rating remains higher.

Frequently asked

What happened to Azar's video chat feature?
Azar's recent updates removed the randomized video chat feature, which users previously loved, and replaced it with an invitation-based system, leading to widespread dissatisfaction R15R35R42R45.
Are there many ads on Grindr?
Yes, Grindr has an excessive amount of intrusive ads, with users reporting them appearing every few seconds, crashing the app, and being difficult to close, making the free version almost unusable R54R56R57R59.
Does Grindr have fake profiles?
Yes, many Grindr users report a significant problem with fake accounts, scammers, and bots on the platform R53R54R59R86.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 100 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R5] Azar 1/5 · US No live here in US!!!: The used to love this app but since they took off the live streaming here in US (no lobby) then I disliked it now idk why they guys took it off?
  2. [R6] Azar 1/5 · US Azar: The new facade is very boring, we want the old facade🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
  3. [R7] Azar 2/5 · US The old version is the best: I’ve been using this app for almost 2 years and now time to look for another app can provide me a better video chat experience
  4. [R10] Azar 2/5 · US Old update: I want the old update better than this. I don't want to work with the new update.
  5. [R3] Azar 1/5 · US Not optimal: This is the second time where I messenge someone after the app decides to close the convo on me, vc mind you with no anything, they just close it, so I’m guessing they want you to pay which I did but they restrict other person with the same thing so there is no point, stick to another app, they just want your money ggs
  6. [R1] Azar 1/5 · US Scammers: Scammers
  7. [R17] Azar 1/5 · US 👎: It doesn't work after I show my face why is it like that?!
  8. [R28] Azar 1/5 · US Problem of connecting: Problem of connection i
  9. [R8] Azar 1/5 · US Terrible update, they take your money automatically).: I highly advise against downloading the new update of Azar. It is a total failure. Especially when it comes to subscriptions, they charge you and take your money without clear warning. Do not subscribe and do not download it
  10. [R12] Azar 1/5 · US Trash. Garbage. Money grab.: Not much else to say. Tried it out, deleted after 5 minutes. They take advantage of people’s isolation and depression and profit off it. EVERY FEATURE COSTS MONEY.
  11. [R34] Azar 2/5 · US Stop taking the point for free: The app is good but you keep they keep stealing the credit without even you actually connecting with anyone
  12. [R51] Grindr 1/5 · GB BAN APPEAL: I was signing up to Grindr and had accidentally inputted the wrong DOB so the app thinks I’m a minor. I’m not and have valid proof of age ID. I contacted Grindr support about this and they said nothing can be done because I need an account for a ban appeal but I can’t even sign up for an account because my phone it banned from the app.
  13. [R64] Grindr 1/5 · GB Shi company: Shi company blocked my account didn’t allow me to appeal
  14. [R66] Grindr 1/5 · GB Emails are not being responded to at all: Sat here waiting for months to get a response on my ban appeal and still nothing! Utterly useless
  15. [R76] Grindr 1/5 · GB Banned: This app is a complete joke. Been banned for ‘phishing, fraud or harmful links’. Nothing could be further from the truth. Constant ads, app was unusable when I was able to use it. Customer service if you can call it that is hopeless. Avoid this app. It’s broken.
  16. [R15] Azar 1/5 · US Changed: Azar use to be 100% free randomized video chats where you could talk to anyone around the world, and now it’s basically a glorified tinder what happened?
  17. [R35] Azar 1/5 · US The new update: Now it’s really boring because of the new update that you have to invite people first
  18. [R42] Azar 1/5 · US POS: They removed video chats so you can’t ft who you meet. It’s really went down hill!!!
  19. [R45] Azar 1/5 · US Awful display and layout: What you did to the app is awful. It was supposed to randomly pair you with someone, now wait for an invite? getting out of this app
  20. [R54] Grindr 1/5 · GB Money grabbing fags.: Constant spam messages. Constant ads. Constant bot accounts. Actual cesspit of an app.
  21. [R56] Grindr 3/5 · GB Truth: Possibly the worst, most exploitive app available. Constantly diverts to ads that cannot be removed without deleting the app. Apple should remove this anti-LGBTQ+ disgrace. I can’t even rate the app because Apple won’t allow the stars to be rated. I’ve complained to OFCOM and my MP.
  22. [R57] Grindr 1/5 · GB Pop ups: Good to meet different people but the app is becoming unbearable with all the pop up ads and the age/face verification thing should be taken off because what if someone that’s closeted is using the app and get asked to have their face scanned, I’ll redownload the app when you take away the AI and the Subscriptions and the hundreds of Ads that pop up along with the facial recognition!
  23. [R59] Grindr 3/5 · GB Great if you love adverts and fake profiles: Ads every few seconds are diving me insane. Also the number of fake profiles is infuriating. However, occasionally you can find a horny hook up
  24. [R53] Grindr 3/5 · GB Could be better: A lot scams from India, fake accounts. Be careful. The app is nice, but I hate fake profiles.
  25. [R86] Grindr 1/5 · GB Phishing App: How on earth this gets past Apples Marketplace, I have no idea. The free version is completely unusable due to ads and if you do pay, all you have are scamming or fake profiles. On top of that, you pay to remove ads? They’ll still cover your screen in Madonna promotional ads.

Synthesized from 100 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store