Grindr Lifts 2026 Revenue View to $540 Million as AI Drives 33% Q2 Growth
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Aug 6
Grindr Lifts 2026 Revenue View to $540 Million as AI Drives 33% Q2 Growth
2 articles · Updated · CNBC · Aug 6
Summary
$138 million in second-quarter revenue, up 33% year over year, prompted Grindr to raise 2026 guidance to about $540 million in revenue and $232 million in adjusted EBITDA.
AI is driving both growth and efficiency: Grindr said engineering output rose about 2.5 times from July 2025 to April 2026 with a similar-sized team, avoiding what it estimated would have required 200 more engineers and $60 million a year.
The company is also testing its AI-powered 'Edge' companion at up to $350 a month in markets including New York, and management said uptake has come from non-subscribers and lower-tier users, not just top-paying members.
Customer metrics backed the strategy, with paying users rising 16% to 1.4 million and average revenue per paying user up 12% to $25.51, while CEO George Arison said churn stayed lower than expected despite price increases.
The results add to broader investor scrutiny of whether generative AI can produce measurable returns, with Grindr arguing its roughly $6 million token spend is already paying off and Wall Street watching Edge as a test of premium AI demand.