10 Best Gay Dating Apps & Sites For LGBTQ+

The world of online dating has changed a lot in the last decade. In fact, ten years ago, it was really difficult to find a dating app that was aimed specifically at gay dating. Now, you’ve got too many choices! 

In other words, you’ve got so many choices that it’s hard to know where you should spend your time. Which dating apps are going to yield you the best results? And which ones are going to make you puff your cheeks out in exhaustion after dates keep flaking on you? 

It’s cool – I’ve got the answers. I’ve given the best gay dating apps a test run and put together an article that will help you make a better decision. Here, you’ll find something for everyone – those who are looking for something longer term (maybe even marriage) and those who just want a friend with benefits. 

I’ll break each gay dating app down and take a look at who it’s for, how much it costs, and what its benefits are. 

Ready? Let’s go! 

The Most Popular Gay Dating Apps (LGBTQ Friendly)

1. Grindr: Best For Gay Dating

Grindr is the best gay dating app worldwide, whether you're looking for a relationship or hookup. It’s also free to send and receive messages, and more than 20,000,000 pics are shared daily. It’s ideal for men looking for gay hookups/ gay sex/ gay sugar dating, primarily because literally everyone is on here. Grindr is the Tinder of the gay community, and its sign-up process is just simple. All you need is the main photo that the Grindr team then needs to approve (approval tends to take just a few minutes). 

Once your profile is up and running, the app puts potential matches in front of you based on location. The closer someone is to you, the more likely it is that they’ll pop up in front of you. The idea is that you match with people you could possibly meet tonight. It’s worth mentioning that Grindr allows graphic pics, so if you’re into exchanging pics of your penis and other such things, this might be the right option for you. 

Inside Scoop: Gay Hookup sites and apps

2. OkCupid: Best For LGBTQ+ Dating

OkCupid is one of the world’s most popular dating sites. It has millions of members, and it’s very LGBT-friendly. It’s used widely by gay, bisexual and queer men and transgenders who see it as a ‘safe space’ free from judgment. OkCupid is free to send and receive messages and aimed at those looking for hookups, friends, or something more serious. Getting started takes a bit of time because you have to fill out a questionnaire that seeks to learn more about who you are and what you’re looking for.

Most users take the time to add a few lines to their bio, you can use the prompts (such as “last show I binged on”) if you’re stuck for something to say. Then, you can either use the search function to find members, or you can use a free feature called Double Take, which puts potential matches in front of you. However, whenever you message someone for the first time, they can’t actually see your profile just yet. Instead, OkCupid sends them an email to let them know “someone” has messaged them. Then, they have to “like” you before seeing your message.

3. Her: Best For Lesbian, Bisexual, and Queer

Her is one of the most popular queer dating apps among the queer community and LGBTQ community with 7 million-plus members, and it’s completely free to send and receive messages. Her is created for queer people by queer people. It's a safe and inclusive space where you can connect with queer women, find LGBTQ+ events near you, catch up on all the latest news and content, and maybe even find your person.

You can’t sign up to Her unless you connect a Facebook or Instagram account first. Then, it grabs photos from your social media accounts and the whole registration process takes a minute or less. Once you’re up and running, you’re free to add as many as 8 photos and each for other users. You can also amend your profile so that your personal details are included, such as your gender identity (there are lots to choose from) and your height and sexuality. Her is a “swipe” dating app that doesn’t come with a search option. As such, the only members you can send messages to are those you’ve matched with or your existing friends. 

4. Scruff

Scruff is a popular hookup app aimed at all members of the LGBT community. It’s also ideal for gays looking for new friends, but it’s generally seen as a place where you can find someone who’s looking for no-strings-attached sex. Scruff requires your device location before you can sign-up, and also need to describe your profile pic (to categorize your account). Other than that, Scruff requires the barest of personal details, and the whole sign-up process should take a minute or two. 

Once your profile is ready, you can search for members according to those who are online now, those who are new, and those who are the most popular. You can also check out how responsive a user is before messaging them. There are all kinds of communities to flip through, such as Bisexual, Twink, and Bear, which makes it really easy to find what you’re looking for. Messaging people is free, but if you’re unsure what to say, you can send someone a ‘Woof’ to let them know you’re interested. 

5. Surge

Surge prides itself on being a safe space for gay and bisexual men who are free to find a hookup or love without being judged. There’s no need to put yourself in a box here, and with more than 4 million members, Surge is increasing in popularity. It’s kinda like a mix between OkCupid and Tinder. Surge requires a valid email address but the whole sign-up process takes just a minute.

You can sync your Facebook account if you wish but you don’t need to spend time filling out a bio. Once your profile is ready, you’re free to swipe right or left on members. If you match with someone, you can then start chatting and sending pics. You can also send videos. However, pics and videos soon vanish – like on Snapchat. Because Surge provides a safe space for people, the contact features have been designed to ensure people feel respected and secure. As such, you cannot message anyone you haven’t matched with.

6. Growlr

Growlr is a simple-to-use gay app, and which comes with a free version. However, it’s entirely mobile-based and can’t be accessed on the desktop. It’s also predominantly aimed at gay men looking for bears. Growlr is best seen as a social networking app for gays who want to meet bears for friendship, hookups, or even serious relationships. The sign-up process takes two minutes, and there’s no need to wait around for your photos to be approved. 

Once you’re in, you can search for members via the search function or start chatting by commenting on a user’s pics or blog (yes, you can post your own blogs!). By using the SHOUT feature, you can boost your business or your profile so that you’re seen by more members.

7. ROMEO 

Romeo is a well-known gay dating site for its highly active user base. It’s open to all kinds of gay men (including transgenders), it’s free to send and receive messages, and several special features enhance your enjoyment. The quickest way to set up an account is to link your Facebook profile. However, you’ll also need a valid email address to verify your account, and you need to input your location. Then, you’ll be taken to the profile builder, where you’ll be asked questions about your relationship status and sexual orientation. 

Once your profile is done, you can look for members via the search function. If you see someone you like, you could go ahead and send them a message, or you could be a bit cute and send them a ‘footprint.’ This makes things a bit fun by encouraging you to send someone a sticker with a description of what you like about them (“hot butt” or anything like that). Also, Romeo puts members into one of seven categories (Twinks, Jocks, etc), making it easier to find compatible users. 

8. Match

Match is one of the world’s biggest, most established dating sites. It’s a premium matchmaking service that’s home to millions of members worldwide, and it’s perfectly suited for gays looking to date – or even find their life partner. The first thing Match.com asks is whether you’re looking for a man or a woman. Then, it asks for your gender. Once you’ve entered this information, you’re taken through a (fairly brief) step-by-step process that sets your profile up. You need to enter your height, your relationship status, your build, etc. 

Then, you just need to write an “About Me” paragraph and upload the main profile picture. Once your profile is up and running, you’re free to browse other profiles, either through the extensive search filters or a “Matches” tab that suggests potential matches for you. However, you can’t send or receive messages (or see who’s “liked” you) unless you upgrade your account.

9. Zoosk

Zoosk is a popular dating site that’s home to millions of active users. It’s been around for almost two decades but was recently given a revamp to look and feel better than ever. Zoosk is stuffed with features and can work for those looking for something short-term, or something longer-term. Signing up on the Zoosk dating site doesn't take longer than 5 minutes and you don’t even need to upload a photo initially. All you need to provide is the most basic of information about yourself and then you’re up and running. 

However, while browsing profiles and sending smiles and hearts is free, you need to upgrade your account to send messages. Finding members works two ways: You can either tweak the search function and look for users manually, or you can use a matchmaking feature called the Carousel, which puts suggestions in front of you. There’s also a SmartPick feature that picks out matches according to your behavior on Zoosk. You can also write stories in your profile to attract more matches, and actually sending and receiving messages is really straightforward. 

10. Chappy (BUMBLE)

Chappy recently merged with Bumble but continues to be a fun gay dating app that’s perfect for casual sex and something longer-term. A one-click registration process ensures that signing up for Chappy is a breeze. However, you can’t sign-up unless you have a Facebook account. You also need to turn on your GPS. 

Because all your info is taken from your Facebook account, you don’t even need to spend time creating a bio! Like Bumble, there’s no search function. Instead, a roulette-type matching feature puts potential matches in a queue and you have to swipe left or right. If you’re not happy with your matches, you can adjust them using the ‘ChappyScale.’ Once you’ve matched with someone – and only once you’ve matched – you can start exchanging messages. 

These are the best apps around right now. The next step is to decide which ones sound right for you, and then take a closer look. You can register for free on all of these sites, so it’s well worth doing that just to get a feel for things. If you like what you see and want to start firing off a few messages, you’ll need to take the plunge and upgrade your account.

Related:

• Best Transgender Dating Apps

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