Surveys of single people indicate that about 70% of gay men and 47% of lesbians have dated someone they met online, and dating apps are easily the most popular way for same-sex couples to get together.
If you’re wondering which app to download to find LGBTQ+ love, look no further because we’ve picked the best dating apps for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender singles. Click the links below to read the section that best meets your needs!
Best Overall Dating Apps
Let’s start with the best of the best. The apps below are some of the most popular dating apps for straight, bisexual, and gay singles.
1. Match
Match sees more than 13.5 million visits a month and has more than 1.7 million paid members, but the best part is the most popular dating site ever welcomes straight and gay singles alike.
- Relationships: Fun Dates, Serious Relationships
- Match System: Browse by location, age, interest, and more
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About the App:
Match is built for browsing rather than swiping. You can search by location, age, and interest, then take your time reading profiles before reaching out. The app is free to download, create a profile, search for date prospects, and receive compatible matches based on personalized preferences. Free members can also chat with select members and send unlimited likes.
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Match has been around since 1995, and it has kept up with the trends in the dating scene by consistently putting its members first.
Free members can chat with Top Picks on the Match site or app, and they can use search filters to identify their perfect match in the database.
2. AdultFriendFinder
In terms of hookup sites, AdultFriendFinder has so many things going for it, especially for gay singles and couples. For one thing, it supports the world’s largest sex and swinger community.
- Relationships: Hookups Only
- Match System: Filter by distance, gender, encounter
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About the App:
With 77 million members, Adult Friend Finder is one of the most popular apps for the sex community. It doesn’t matter if you’re single or part of a couple — you’re welcome to search for sex buddies, threesomes, and other casual encounters. And you won’t have to pay to do that as well as download the app, fill out a profile, and chat.
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
From the history (founded in 1996) to the features (e.g., videos), you’re sure to be impressed by the AFF community. This sex-positive hookup site allows singles, couples, and polyamorous people to come together to fulfill their secret desires.
Gay Dating Apps
Seeking hot dudes in your area? Jump online. These apps are great for gay, bisexual, and bi-curious men.
1. MenNation
MenNation is the self-proclaimed world’s largest gay dating and hookup app, and that appears to be true. More than 79 million gay and bisexual men have created a profile, and at least 83,000 are online in your area at the same time, at any given time.
- Relationships: Strictly Hookups
- Match System: Search by location, interest, more
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About the App:
MenNation is a casual sex brand that’s been around since 1996, and more than 79 million turned-on singles and couples have joined ever since — making it one of the world’s largest gay dating and hookup apps. Its free app only adds to its authority. Android and iOS compatible, MenNation doesn’t charge anything to add the app to your phone, upload your information and photos, view profiles, and flirt.
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
It’s totally free to add your information and photos to MenNation as well as browse through singles (and couples), receive match suggestions, and interact (e.g., via virtual winks).
2. Taimi
“The safest way to meet your man,” Taimi is new to the gay dating app scene, but it’s already making an impression. Taimi’s main focus is security, so every profile is verified and protected by a two-factor authentication and moderated by the team 24/7. Probably the funnest feature on Taimi is the built-in video calls, so you can take your conversations to the next level.
3. Grindr
Available in more than 192 countries, Grindr is the most popular location-based dating app for gay, bisexual, and bi-curious men. You’ve almost certainly heard of Grindr, and maybe you think it’s just a hookup app, but actually a lot of gay men have gotten into relationships here too.
4. Bristlr
Want more “beard love” in your life? Then you should turn to Bristlr. Open to everyone, this fun (and super specific) dating app is made for singles with beards and singles looking for someone with a beard.
5. SCRUFF
From bears to jocks to just normal guys, SCRUFF can help you find a match right around the corner or from across the world.
6. GuySpy
GuySpy has some of the coolest features of any dating app, from personal voice greetings and favorite lists, to search filtering options and a travel mode.
7. MR X
Known as the first and only gay chat and gay dating app exclusively for men over the age of 30, MR X takes your wants and needs into consideration in order to send you quality matches.
8. GROWLr
GROWLr, the Bear Social Network, is a free app that lets you view photos and chat with its more than 5 million members and keeps you up to date on the latest bear run and bear bar listings.
9. Hornet
More than 6 million people and counting have signed up for Hornet, a free and easy to use app for gay, bi, and curious men, so we think your chances of meeting someone special are very high.
10. Jack’d
One of the fastest-growing apps for men who want to date other men, Jack’d lets you browse thousands of photos, see who’s viewed your profile, anonymously select your own matches, and more.
Lesbian Dating Apps
The apps below are best for lesbian, bisexual, and bi-curious women.
1. HER (formerly Dattch)
What once was Dattch has now become HER, the app for women who like women. Not only is HER like a sassy best friend who really knows how to set you up, but you’re given more than just the typical features, including daily lesbian news and events. Over 4 million lesbian, bisexual, and queer women have joined HER so far.
2. Facebook Dating
Facebook Dating is an extension of Facebook, and it’s rapidly becoming a popular meeting space for singles of all orientations and backgrounds. Facebook Dating allows singles to meet new people by swiping or to connect with crushes in their friends list by mutual matching. No one on our Facebook feed will see your activity on Facebook Dating, so it’s a private place for lesbian matches.
- Facebook Dating requires the Facebook app
3. NaughtyCharm
Tired of the bar scene? Bored with swiping apps? Maybe it’s time to join an old-school hookup site like NaughtyCharm. The NaughtyCharm dating site allows single women to communicate for free, and its search tools allow for a lot of fun exploration and discovery of similar interests. If you’re a lesbian woman or bisexual woman, you’ll have your pick of matches on this naughty app.
LGBTQ+ Dating Apps
While the apps above can also work well for bisexual and transgender daters, the apps below have gotten some of the best reviews from this target audience.
1. Tinder
With more than 2 billion swipes per day, your odds of connecting with someone on Tinder are very good. Whether you want a hookup, casual date, or relationship, Tinder can make it happen and lead you to your dream date.
2. OkCupid
Launched in 2004, OkCupid is a free dating app that’s awesome for younger LGBTQ+ daters, especially those who like the idea of being matched by their on-site behaviors and answers to multiple choice questions. OkCupid is free to download, and it offers free matching and messaging, but the thing we really like is that it has 13 orientation options and 22 gender options on its profiles.
The Best Gay Dating Apps Work For You
It’s amazing to see the LGBTQ+ community expanding and welcoming so many different types of people — and bringing so much love into the world. Online dating has been a key ally in that journey, helping singles make connections, find solidarity, and pick up dates without having to come out of the closet if they don’t want to.
Today’s gay singles have so many options when it comes to online dating apps, and we only expect this number to keep on growing as time goes by. Any of the apps on this list can meet the needs of the gay community and build them up whenever they’re feeling alone.
