It's the Ultimate Smackdown: Sniffies Vs. Grindr. Let's Crown a Winner, Baby!

Source: EDGE composite image/Getty Images

To Sniff or to Grind...that is the question.

Once upon a time (in the late 90s and early 00s), if gay guys wanted to find an online hook-up, they'd have to scour M4M groups on a prehistoric platform called AOL (complete with software that you'd have to download to your desktop in order to dial-up the web).

Then came along sites like Craigslist and Gay.com, where you could post or respond to an "ad" detailing everything you were looking for, in hopes to get a return message. Next, came more sophisticated sites like Adam4Adam and Manhunt, where you could actually create a profile with stats, X-rated pics, send DMs and more.

Finally, thanks to smartphones, we ushered in the era of the GPS-enabled app, a game changer catapulting Grindr into a household name, with other apps like Scruff, Growler, Jack'd not far behind.

Now, however, a new addictive time-suck has appeared on the scene, and it's called Sniffies.

An intriguing name for sure, we couldn't help but wonder if it's referring to guys "sniffing around" for action, sniffing a used jock strap, or simply caters to gay men with a cold (hee hee). Luckily, we got some clarity on Wikipedia, which says: "The name Sniffies came from an earlier website that was used for trading underwear, but now refers more to 'sniffing out what's around,' according to its marketing officer."

We weren't toooo far off?

So, what exactly is Sniffies, and how does it differ from our tried-and-true orange and black bestie? We've taken the liberty of pitting the two platforms head-to-head in a first of its kind face-off, to help you decide which trusty man-seeker is more worth your while. To determine our ultimate winner, we started by listing various priorities that gay men have when they begin their search for the next Mr. Right (Now), and then weighing those priorities against our 2 candidates.

Ding, Ding, Ding...let the smackdown begin!

Round 1: Accessibility

Whether or not you're looking for "right now," or simply using the hunt as a way to check out for an hour and engage your brain's dopamine reward system, convenience is key.

Grindr has its own app infrastructure, so you can hit the little orange and black mask on your home screen to immediately dive into the sea of torsos you crave. Sniffies, on the other hand, is a website, not a separate app, which makes it more difficult for some users to access on their phone. Recently, however, a pop-up on Sniffies prompted users to save the site to their phone desktop as a short-cut, so that in essence, it now can be opened like an app by tapping their logo.

Still, we feel Sniffies is a bit behind the curve on this one.

THE WINNER: Grindr

Round 2: Use of Location Technology

GPS changed the landscape of the hook-up, altering the way we connect forever, so it's important to evaluate which app uses the technology to their advantage, packaging it in the best way to its users.

When you see a hot guy, the first (and potentially most important) thing you want to know is how far away he is. After all, when you're horny and searching, the logistics of a hook-up do weigh heavily on your decisions. If you're talking to a "10," but he's all the way across the city, it might make more sense to go with the "7" who lives around the corner.

Grindr arranges the profiles of your candidates in order of distance, so the closest one is in the upper left. When you click on their profile, it says exactly how many feet away from you the person is. Sometimes, if your math skills are on par with ours, it's hard to tell if that means they're just one building over, or actually a few blocks away.

Sniffies, on the other hand, shows your suiters on an actual map, with street names, and even the outlines of building structures in the area, so you can get a much better sense of where they are. For some reason, seeing the distance on a map helps you better gauge how it's actually going to feel driving to someone's place, or waiting for them to get to yours.

The WINNER: Sniffies

Round 3: Privacy

Sometimes it can feel exposing to put everything out there on the apps, especially when you live in a small town where everyone knows everyone. Sure, you could put up a generic chest pic, or some other obscure body part that no one would recognize, but at the end of the day, you might just be a "looker," and not want to make yourself known.

On Grindr, you'll have to create a profile, but you can choose to keep the default avatar as your profile photo, instead of uploading your headshot. You can also choose not to enter any personal information like your name, age, location, etc., which will keep your profile blank and anonymous.

On Sniffies, however, you don't even have to create an account at all, simply choosing to go on as an anonymous user with the default avatar. When you spot a potential match, you can message them directly as "Anonymous User," sending pics or other info privately if you so choose. This is especially useful for the bisexual or DL guys who aren't out, when they're looking to get their needs met. Additionally, strict moderation policies are in place to maintain a respectful and inclusive atmosphere.

THE WINNER: Sniffies

Round 4: Versatility

No, we're not talking about which platform has more tops, bottoms, vers, or sides (though, that would be an interesting finding)! Instead, we're talking about the guys who are actually looking to connect in more ways than one. After all, who is to say you can't meet your lifelong partner on an app? We certainly know some long-time couples who did.

Grindr seems to have evolved beyond just the casual hook-up, with more guys also looking for friends, dates, and activity partners. There's potential that by chatting with someone, you might end up with a hiking buddy, a work connection, a date, OR a FWB.

Sniffies, while it allows you filter potential connections based on your preferences, including location, interests, and desired activities, seems to be geared more towards getting off, rather than getting off the market.

THE WINNER: Grindr

Round 5: Sexiness

No matter what your reasons are for going on an app, there's always some part of you that wants to be titillated.

While Grindr may feature more cute faces, Sniffies seems to be a lot dirtier, with more photos of certain...body parts, being prominently featured. Not only that, there's a section to post real time cruising updates, as well as your upcoming bukkake party. If you're looking for quick hookups, group sex, sex parties, glory holes, and other ways to engage your irreverent side, this is probably your go-to.

THE WINNER: Sniffies

Round 6: Design & Features

At the end of the day, you're going to want to use a platform that is both pleasing to the eye, but also user-friendly, with lots of helpful features.

It's hard to tell if we like the look of Grindr because we've been seeing it for so long, or if it's actually a great design. That said, Sniffies also offers a clean and intuitive interface, and you can't beat that map, which not only includes guys, but nearby venues and cruising spots in the area (and who might be there now).

Like most apps, both platforms offer a free version, with limited features (including the amount of profiles you can view), and then a paid premium version. The premium version of Grindr (called Grinder XTRA) gives you not only more cool features, but better filters. With the paid subscription, you get zero ads, up to 600 profiles in the grid, read receipts, expiring photos, and then a lot more filters in your search (preferred sexual position, face photo only, etc.). With Sniffies, the premium members also gain access to additional search filters, unlimited profile views, and advanced messaging options.

Cost wise, Sniffies is cheaper, which seems fair since they are also newer on the scene, with less users. Ultimately, it's the refreshing novelty that Sniffies offers that tipped the scale in their favor in our final smackdown.

THE WINNER: Sniffies

FINAL SCORE: 4 SNIFFIES / 2 GRINDR

OUR WINNER: SNIFFIES!

For even more on this topic, check out the latest episode of the EDGE Experience Podcast:
https://www.edgemedianetwork.com/Media/Podcast/331578