The Week in Dating Business: September 30 to October 7, 2026
Grindr buys its way into healthcare, an Australian court formalizes eHarmony's subscription breaches, Feeld grows 32%, and Tinder goes group.
The biggest move of the week came from Grindr, which agreed to pay $250 million for Freddie, a profitable PrEP telehealth service, betting that its audience is worth more as patients than as subscribers. Two other stories went to how dating apps charge: Australia's Federal Court formally declared eHarmony's free-dating, auto-renewal and pricing practices unlawful ahead of a penalty hearing, and Google went on trial in London over the Play Store commissions that Android subscriptions pay. Feeld's UK accounts showed an independent app growing 32% while the big public brands shrink. And Tinder and the networking app Clockout both bet that people would rather meet in groups and in person.
M&A
AnalysisM&AGrindr Pays $250 Million to Become a Healthcare Company
Grindr agreed to buy Freddie parent PurposeMed for $250 million in cash and stock, plus up to $70 million in earn-outs, to sell HIV prevention care inside the app.
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Policy
AnalysisPolicyeHarmony's Australian Loss Is a Subscription Design Warning for Every Dating App
An Australian court formally declared eHarmony's free-dating, auto-renewal and pricing practices unlawful. Penalties and redress are next.
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The Data
AnalysisThe DataFeeld Grew 32% Last Year While the Big Apps Shrank
Feeld's 2025 revenue rose 32% to £64 million and pre-tax profit reached £11.4 million, according to its UK accounts.
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Product
ProductTinder Launches Group Hangouts, Matching Friend Groups With Each Other
Tinder's new Group Hangouts lets friend groups match with other groups around a shared activity, starting in the U.S.
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Platforms
PlatformsGoogle Goes on Trial in London Over Play Store Commissions
A £1 billion UK class action over Google's Play Store commissions is now at trial. App store fees are one of a dating app's biggest costs.
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Funding
FundingClockout Raises $3.5 Million to Get Professionals Meeting in Person
Networking app Clockout has raised $3.5 million led by 114 Ventures and reports $1.1 million in annual recurring revenue.
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High Intent operates consumer dating brands and a white-label dating platform that compete with some companies covered here.