Updated on: August 30, 2024
Only 3 Steps (Quick + Easy) to Access Grindr in Indonesia in 2024:
- Download and install a VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN. It can reliably bypass government censorship, provides excellent privacy and security, has the fastest speeds in the industry, and is really easy to use.
- Connect to a VPN server. Choose a nearby country where Grindr isn’t blocked, like Singapore, the Philippines, or Australia, for the best possible speeds.
- Log into your Grindr account. That’s it! You’re ready to start chatting and swiping on Grindr.
If you’re traveling to Indonesia and eager to stay connected with the LGBTQ+ community on Grindr, the simplest method is using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Grindr is banned in Indonesia, as the government prohibits citizens from accessing LGBTQ+-related websites and apps.
A VPN can bypass government restrictions on Grindr by rerouting your internet connection through a server in a country where Grindr is accessible. As a bonus, using a VPN also hides your real IP address and keeps your online activities private and secure.
The VPNs I recommend below are the best for accessing Grindr in Indonesia in 2024. My #1 choice is ExpressVPN, which works with Grindr 100% of the time, has servers near Indonesia, and provides the fastest speeds on the market.
ACCESS GRINDR IN INDONESIA WITH EXPRESSVPN
NOTE: Access to Grindr may be restricted in your current location. Before using the app or site, please make sure that it’s legal to use Grindr where you are and adhere to all applicable laws and regulations.
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
How to Access Grindr Content on Any Device
1. Choose a VPN that reliably works with Grindr.
ExpressVPN can reliably access Grindr in Indonesia, has servers in several nearby countries, provides strong privacy and security features, and is very easy to use.
2. Download and install the VPN.
Download the app from the VPN’s official website or from your device’s app store. Then run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions provided by the installation wizard.
3. Open the app, select and connect to a server, and start using Grindr.
Open the VPN app on your device and select a VPN server to connect to. Choosing a nearby country where Grindr isn’t blocked, like Singapore, the Philippines, or Australia, will get you the fastest speeds. And that’s it! You can now connect to the LGBTQ+ community on Grindr while you’re in Indonesia.
Best VPNs for Accessing Grindr Content in 2024
Quick summary of the best VPNs for accessing Grindr in 2024:
- 🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for accessing Grindr in Indonesia with the fastest speeds.
- 🥈2. Private Internet Access — Customizable VPN with ad blocker to remove in-app ads.
- 🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Beginner-friendly VPN for accessing Grindr in Indonesia.
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Accessing Grindr in 2024
ExpressVPN is the top VPN for accessing Grindr in Indonesia and our #1 VPN in 2024 overall. It’s able to reliably bypass the DNS filters used by the Indonesian government to block access to Grindr (and other popular LGBTQ+ dating apps in the country, such as Blued, Hornet, and Scruff). It also has servers in multiple nearby countries, including Singapore, the Philippines, and Australia, so you can get the best possible speeds.
This provider is the fastest VPN on the market. In my tests, its proprietary Lightway protocol consistently outperformed the fastest common VPN protocol, WireGuard. This means you won’t have to deal with delays when sending messages on Grindr or poor quality during video calls.
It also comes with some useful extra features for Grindr users. One of my favorites is its split-tunneling feature, which allows you to route your Grindr app traffic through the VPN tunnel while excluding your other app traffic. This allows you to access Grindr without slowing down your other apps and to use apps that require your actual location, such as restaurant food delivery services.
ExpressVPN’s plans start at $6.67 / month, and it backs all subscriptions with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it out risk-free.
Read our full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Customizable Apps + Great Ad Blocker
Private Internet Access (PIA) can consistently unblock Grindr in Indonesia and has good mobile apps. I especially like how flexible its apps are with 20+ options in the Settings menu that you can tweak to make the VPN work exactly as you like. For example, you can change how the settings appear in the app (i.e., put your most-used ones at the top) or set up Wi-Fi rules.
I’m a fan of PIA’s ad, tracker, and malware blocker, MACE, too. It’s the best VPN ad blocker in 2024 and does a good job removing in-app ads on Grindr, preventing trackers from collecting data from your Grindr account and protecting you from any malicious links that your chat partners might send you.
This provider comes with an advanced split-tunneling tool that can exclude specific IP addresses from the VPN tunnel (which could be handy if you use Grindr’s web app). It also includes a data breach monitor, which alerts you if the email associated with your Grindr account has been compromised in a data breach (which could put your Grindr login details at risk of exposure).
Private Internet Access’s plans start at just $2.19 / month, and all purchases come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full Private Internet Access review
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Intuitive VPN for Accessing Grindr in Indonesia
CyberGhost VPN is one of the most beginner-friendly VPNs for accessing Grindr in Indonesia. I like how you can favorite servers (like its servers in Singapore, the Philippines, and Australia), which pins it to the top of your server selection menu for quick access. Its Smart Rules feature also streamlines the process of using a VPN for Grindr by automating your connections. You can, for example, configure it so that CyberGhost automatically connects to a specific (nearby) VPN server when you launch the Grindr app.
This VPN comes with a data breach monitor and an ad blocker called Content Blocker, but it isn’t as good at stopping ads on Grindr as Private Internet Access’s ad blocker.
CyberGhost VPN’s plans start at an affordable $2.03 / month, and it backs every subscription with a money-back guarantee (up to 45 days for long-term plans).
Read our full CyberGhost VPN review
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
Quick Comparison Table
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
To find the best VPNs for accessing Grindr in Indonesia, I followed our proven testing methodology for VPNs with a focus on each VPN’s ability to access Grindr consistently, privacy and security features, speeds, and ease of use. You can find a more detailed breakdown of the criteria I used to rank and compare the VPNs on my list below:
- I checked if the VPNs work well with Grindr. All of the VPNs on my list can consistently access Grindr in Indonesia.
- I looked for VPNs with nearby servers. To ensure a lag-free experience when sending chats, audio and video messages, and making video calls on Grindr, I only recommend VPNs with servers in countries near Indonesia where Grindr isn’t blocked, including Singapore, the Philippines, and Australia.
- I chose VPNs that can guarantee your privacy. The VPNs I chose stop third parties from prying into your personal business. They all come with industry-standard security features, such as bank-grade 256-bit AES encryption, a strict no-logs policy (the provider doesn’t track your online activities), and a kill switch to prevent accidental data leaks.
- I picked VPNs with great mobile apps. Since most people use Grindr on their phones, I picked VPNs with feature-rich and intuitive apps for Android and iOS.
- I evaluated each VPN’s overall value. Accessing Grindr in Indonesia shouldn’t hurt your wallet. The VPNs on my list all have reasonably-priced plans, useful extra features (like split-tunneling and an ad blocker), allow at least 7 simultaneous connections, and come with a money-back guarantee.
Why You Are Unable to Access Grindr in Indonesia (& Why You Need a VPN to Access It)
Grindr is blocked in Indonesia due to government-imposed restrictions on LGBTQ+ content. You won’t be able to download or use the app within the country, even if you’ve previously installed it on your device.
While homosexuality is legal in the country, authorities justified their decision by citing ethical concerns, claiming that the app promotes “sexual deviancy,” reflecting the strong undercurrent of cultural and religious conservatism in the country.
If you’re traveling to Indonesia, you can use a VPN to overcome the restrictions on Grindr. A VPN works by changing your IP address to an IP address owned by your provider in another country where Grindr isn’t blocked, which makes it look like you’re accessing the app/site from outside of Indonesia. A VPN also encrypts your data, ensuring that your online activities remain private and secure from prying eyes.
How to Sign Up for a Grindr Account in Indonesia Using a VPN
- Subscribe to a VPN that can access Grindr in Indonesia. A good VPN can also keep your online activities private by encrypting your traffic. I recommend ExpressVPN because it has servers in multiple locations near Indonesia where Grindr is available, provides top-notch privacy and security features, and offers lightning-fast speeds. Additionally, it has feature-rich and easy-to-use apps for all major OSs, including Android and iOS.
- Download and install the VPN. You can find desktop apps on the provider’s official website and mobile apps on your device’s app store.
- Connect to a server. Scroll through the server list on your VPN app and choose a server to connect to. Make sure the server is in a country where Grindr is available. I also recommend connecting to a server in a country near Indonesia, like Singapore, the Philippines, or Australia, in order to get the best possible speeds.
- Download Grindr. If your Google Play Store location is set to Indonesia, you may have to change it in order to see the Grindr app because Google has pulled it from the Indonesian version of its online store. Learn how you can change your Play Store location here.
- Create a Grindr account. Launch the Grindr app and then follow the on-screen instructions.
- Start using Grindr. You’re all set! You can now access Grindr in Indonesia. Make sure you’re connected to the VPN when using the app to stay safe and anonymous.
Where is Grindr Banned?
Grindr is banned in several countries for cultural and religious reasons. Here’s a quick overview of some of the countries where it’s banned and why:
- Indonesia. Grindr, along with other gay networking apps, such as Blued and BoyAhoy, were banned in the country in 2016, reflecting the government’s stance that there is “no room” for the gay community in the country. Homosexuality remains legal in most parts of Indonesia, but LGBT people have limited protection against discrimination.
- Malaysia. Homosexuality has been punishable by law in the country since colonial times, but Grindr wasn’t banned until April 2024, making it the most recent country to do so.
- China. Homosexuality is legal in China, but Grindr was still one of many victims of the internet purge in 2022 in the days leading up to the Beijing Winter Olympics. The purge cracked down on “illegal” online content, including content considered obscene, vulgar, or immoral by the government.
- Turkey. Though homosexuality isn’t illegal in the country, Grindr was banned in Turkey in 2013. The Criminal Court in Turkey claimed that this was done as a “protection measure.”
The app is also banned in the following countries: Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Jordan, Tanzania, Lebanon, Oman, and Qatar.
Additionally, Grindr is currently unavailable in certain locations due to US sanctions: Crimea, Syria, North Korea, and Sudan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Grindr work in Indonesia?
No, Grindr has been blocked in Indonesia due to anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes in the country fueled by the dominant cultural and religious beliefs. However, it’s still possible to access Grindr by using a VPN to change your location.
Can I access Grindr in Indonesia with a VPN?
Yes, using a good VPN is the easiest and most reliable way to bypass government censorship and access Grindr in Indonesia. When you connect to a VPN server in another country, it makes it seem as if you’re accessing Grindr from that location, so all you have to do is connect to a server in a nearby country where Grindr is available.
Are VPNs legal in Indonesia?
Yes, VPNs are legal in Indonesia. Many people in the country use VPNs to enhance their online privacy and security. Please keep in mind though that while VPNs may be legal, using a VPN to access a banned app or site could still get you in trouble.
All of the VPNs on my list have strong encryption and strict no-logs policies, so they can neither see nor track what you do online. However, I urge you to familiarize yourself with local laws and regulations and to avoid engaging in any illegal activities.
Is homosexuality legal in Indonesia?
Homosexuality is legal everywhere in Indonesia except in the Aceh province, where it’s punishable by flogging or imprisonment. That said, there’s social stigma attached to homosexuality due to traditional cultural and religious views, and LGBTQ+ people aren’t well protected by the country’s laws.
