Best Gay Dating Sites For Professionals

Gay Dating

11 Best Gay Dating Sites for Professionals (2024)

Amber Brooks

Written by: Amber Brooks

Amber Brooks

Amber Brooks is the Editor-in-Chief at DatingAdvice.com. When she was growing up, her family teased her for being "boy crazy," but she preferred to think of herself as a budding dating and relationship expert. As an English major at the University of Florida, Amber honed her communication skills to write clearly, knowledgeably, and passionately about a variety of subjects. Now with over 1,800 lifestyle articles to her name, Amber brings her tireless wit and relatable experiences to DatingAdvice.com.

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Edited by: Lillian Castro

Lillian Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of journalism experience to ensure DatingAdvice articles have been edited for overall clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement. She has worked at The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, The Gwinnett Daily News, and The Gainesville Sun covering lifestyle topics.

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A dating site for gay professionals can make online dating easier, but it’s probably not going to work overnight. Dating is similar to job hunting in that you often have to go through many one-on-one interviews before finding the right fit. A lot of luck is involved, which means applicants have to stay persistent and positive as they search for their dream jobs.

Job hunters, much like active daters, have to go wherever the best opportunities are if they want to be successful. You may not run into many now-hiring ads or job openings in your everyday life; however, a little clever searching on the web can uncover many positions for which you’re qualified.

Today’s top-rated gay dating sites encourage single professionals to network in flirtatious, opportunity-rich environments. We’ve broken our favorite dating sites into categories to help gay singles find the platform that suits their needs.

Overall | Free | Apps | Black | Senior | Christian | FAQs

Top Gay Dating Sites for Professionals (#1-2)

The rise of online dating has been good news for the LGBTQ+ community because it has given them a safe space where they can come out of the closet and find people who love them for it. A survey of 4,000 gay men revealed that 71% of gay men have used a dating app to find a long-term sexual relationship.

These guys aren’t messing around, and neither are the following two top-rated dating sites. While these mobile-friendly platforms don’t cater specifically to gay professionals, their diverse global networks will surely satisfy men across the spectrum of sexuality.

1. Match

★★★★★
4.9/5.0

Relationships: Friends, Dates, and Relationships

Match System: Browse by zip, age, appearance, more

Our Experts Say: “Match has a massive and extremely active gay user base, as over 1 million gay, bisexual, and curious men use the site to find dates and partners...” Full Review »

Browse Free: View Photos Now

Match has been king of the online dating mountain for decades now. The site originally launched in 1995 as a straight-laced, marriage-focused dating tool, but now it supports relationships of all kinds.

According to its internal data, 57% of LGBTQ+ users have dated someone they met online, and 63% say they are interested in meeting someone special and getting married down the line.

Due to its paid subscription model, Match tends to attract well-educated and commitment-minded singles who have enough pocket change to invest in their love lives. That means it’s perfect for successful gay men seeking a date on their level.

2. OkCupid

OkCupid

began as a thought experiment among four Harvard math majors who thought they could devise a formula for love. Now 15 years and thousands of personal questions later, OkCupid’s personalized compatibility rating is gospel to many singles out there. The dating site (and its companion app) excels at pinpointing the things that matter (lifestyle, values, goals, habits, etc.) and recommending dates who have real relationship material.

Under the motto “Dating deserves better,” OkCupid has engineered matches between singles of all orientations. OkCupid users go on about 50,000 dates every week, and the platform boasts making over 91 million connections each year.

Screenshot from OkCupid

OkCupid provides interest-based matches to singles of all orientations.

Since its launch in 2004, OkCupid has seen countless relationships blossom, and it shares just a fraction of these stories on its website to prove its worth.

“We have so much in common, it’s unrealistic,” said Justin and Jake in an OkCupid success story. “I’ll never be able to thank OkCupid for bringing us together! I’ve met the man that I’ve been looking for online and you brought him to me!”

Over the last decade, OkCupid has positioned itself as a gay-friendly dating platform. Singles can now share their pronouns while also choosing from 22 orientation and 13 gender options on their dating profiles. The site also prompts users to answer questions about gay rights, including “Do you support gay marriage?”

Top “Free” Gay Dating Sites for Professionals (#3-4)

In 2016, the average American single spent $1,596 on dating. The average cost of a date varied based on where you lived with New Yorkers spending the most at a whopping $297.27 per date.

Gay singles need to cut costs wherever they can to save up for their dates, and joining a free dating site or app is one great way to put a little extra green in your wallet. We’ve selected two free dating sites that give singles a lot of bang for their buck.

★★★★★
4.8/5.0

Relationships: Serious Relationships

Match System: Search, Receive Partner Suggestions

Our Experts Say: “Not only is EliteSingles exclusively for educated professionals, but it also has a diverse user base made up of millions of gay and bisexual men...” Full Review »

Browse Free: View Photos Now

Elite Singles maintains a fast-growing network of over 13 million active daters. The dating site adds 381,000 new members each month, according to internal data, and a good percentage of those new members are men seeking men.

Starting in 2009, Elite Singles has built its reputation by catering to a sophisticated crowd. Over 85% of its members have earned at least a bachelor’s degree, and over 90% say they are interested in settling down in a long-term partnership or marriage.

Elite Singles is the dating site of choice for ambitious and successful individuals looking to meet the perfect match. The site is free to join, and you can browse profiles for as long as you like to see if it’s worth upgrading your account. On average, 2,000 couples meet on Elite Singles each month, so we’re confident this dating resource can work for you.

4. Scruff

Scruff

is a free gay dating app for men seeking fun, friendship, and hookups. The global network includes over 15 million sexy men in 180 countries. There is a zero-tolerance policy on spammers and hate language, and anyone acting inappropriately will be removed from the app. The app explains its code of conduct in its Community Guidelines.

Since its launch in 2010, Scruff has stood out as one of the safest platforms for gay, bi, trans, and queer men. The app is free to use, but men can choose to unlock extra perks, including unlimited chat history and unlimited album sharing, by upgrading to SCRUFF Pro.

Screenshot from Scruff

Scruff uses location-based searches and live events to connect GBTQ men.

Scruff also powers GBTQ Events for guys eager to meet in person. These events are active in more than 500 cities around the world. Users can submit an event themselves or search the app for upcoming festivals, parades, and parties. Scruff users can browse through the attendees of a local event and see if anyone is willing to go as their date.

Additionally, the Venture feature allows Scruff users to let each other know when they’re going to be traveling to a certain area, so they can start chatting up dates in Rome, for instance, a week before touring Italy.

As Scruff CEO Eric Silverberg said in an interview, “For us, the past and the future can really be summed up by the word ‘community’. We are bringing our community to more places and enabling our community to connect in more ways.”

Top Gay Dating “Apps” for Professionals (#5-6)

Guys on the go often don’t have time to find a desktop computer and log into a dating website just to check their messages. It’s much easier to carry your swipes, matches, and chats in your pocket.

Mobile dating frees singles to hunt for dates wherever they go, and that’s an exciting prospect for men out on the town. You can’t go wrong with these two well-reviewed dating apps for gay professionals.

5. Zoosk

★★★★★
4.9/5.0
Zoosk

Available on: iOS, Android

  • Relationships: Casual Dates, Relationships
  • Match System: Search for and receive matches
  • About the App: Meeting gay singles on your phone (whether it's iOS or Android) doesn't get any better than on Zoosk, particularly because it's integrated with Facebook and Google+. When you want to be in control, go to the Search page and view guys based on sexual orientation and other characteristics. When you want Zoosk to do the work, go to the Carousel and SmartPick™ pages.
  • Browse Free: View Profiles Now

Zoosk is a free dating app that integrates familiar social media tools (such as a newsfeed) into the online dating experience. Silicon Valley entrepreneurs developed this tech-savvy platform to speed up the matching process and get singles chatting as soon as possible.

Over 40 million singles of all ages, backgrounds, and orientations have joined the Zoosk network. The dating app is available in 25 languages and 80 countries.

Zoosk uses a signature Behavioral Matchmaking algorithm to identify compatibility. The platform takes every like, message, and view into account when it generates its SmartPicks and other match recommendations.

David Pedersen, Zoosk’s Senior Manager of Communications, told us user experience has always been a top priority. for the team “We think we are doing our job if we get you one date, two dates, three dates, five dates, marriage, kids,” he said. “We want to make sure people are enjoying the experience.”

6. Hornet

In 2011, the Hornet dating app created a buzz in the gay dating scene. The app is now home to a diverse community of gay, bi, queer, and questioning men. Over 25 million men have created dating profiles and made matches here. This premier gay dating network prides itself on maintaining a fun and chatty atmosphere.

The Hornet logo

Hornet connects the gay community with live chat.

“Hornet, as a social network, is a glittering success,” according to the Dating Scout review team. “It provides original and refreshing content, and it facilitates connections not limited to the romantic kind. Thanks to its features, you can easily make new friends abroad.”

Hornet relies on real-time GPS data from your smartphone to suggest dates in your area, so make sure your location settings are turned on when you go out clubbing or bar hopping.

Many guys say Hornet is their favorite wingman in the gay dating scene. Eevee Maizz called Hornet “the only place to meet quality people” in their review.

All Hornet accounts are free, and singles can contact their mutual matches without paying anything. However, premium subscribers do enjoy more features, including an Explore section with search filters based on important demographic information.

Top “Black” Gay Dating Sites for Professionals (#7-9)

Niche dating sites can be helpful for any minority population seeking like-minded individuals. LGBTQ adults make up only 4.5% of the total U.S. population, and African-Americans make up 13.4% of the U.S. population. Finding singles who are in both groups can be like finding a needle in a rainbow haystack.

Since you’re looking for a minority within a minority, you may need to take the search for dating sites where gay black men are known to mingle. Any of the following three sites would be good choices for gay professionals seeking African-American hunks.

★★★★
4.1/5.0

Relationships: Deep Relationships or Just Casual Dates

Match System: Search by location, age, more

Our Experts Say: “BlackPeopleMeet is a go-to dating site for gay, bisexual, and curios black and biracial men, and it has a free membership option...” Full Review »

Browse Free: View Photos Now

In 2002, BlackPeopleMeet was launched on a mission to diversify the dating scene, and today it represents the largest black singles community in the U.S. and Canada. The site has thousands of active users who take advantage of the niche network to find dates who share similar backgrounds and values.

You can create a free BlackPeopleMeet profile in less than two minutes, and you don’t need to upload a picture to browse the site for dates. However, profiles with pictures receive more attention and rank higher in searches, so you may want to dust off your selfie collection before you start chatting.

BlackPeopleMeet began as a niche dating site, but it also has launched dating apps available for download via Google Play and the App Store.

8. Gaydar

As you can tell from its name, Gaydar is all about finding local gay men. Its search filters can help you narrow down the dating field to the chocolate men you’re hankering for. Gaydar is mobile-friendly, and it also has a companion app on iTunes and Google Play.

Gaydar offers its members unlimited one-on-one messaging and location-based chat rooms, so you can always dive into a stimulating conversation here.

Screenshot of Gaydar

Gaydar supports a diverse user base of gay men in the U.K. and abroad.

You can sign up via Facebook or an email account. Gaydar has pledged to protect personal information and provides a Do Not Track Disclosure for privacy-conscious singles who don’t want their information collected while on the site. “We are committed to providing you with meaningful choices about the information we collect,” the team said.

If you want to get the best possible experience online, you can subscribe to Gaydar VIP and receive royal privileges, including unlimited profile views and advanced filtering tools. Paid subscribers can browse incognito and view private photos. The subscription will automatically renew until auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the pay period.

9. GayFriendFinder

FriendFinder Networks Inc. has been around since 1996, and it has several online dating services to its name. GayFriendFinder draws upon this team’s network and expertise to connect sexy men around the world. This hookup site doesn’t waste time with pleasantries or lengthy profiles. It gets right down to business and offers live webcam chats, forums, and blogs where black singles can get flirting in no time at all.

Screenshot of GayFriendFinder

You don’t have to be a member of GayFriendFinder to browse.

GayFriendFinder has many ways for guys to connect and arrange steamy encounters. The all-male network is geared toward openly gay individuals, but it also has room for queer, questioning, and trans men. Anyone who wants to explore thousands of hot male photos can sign up.

You’ll find members in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and other parts of the world here. It doesn’t matter where you come from: If you want to hookup with guys, GayFriendFinder can help you find date opportunities.

Top “Senior” Gay Dating Sites for Professionals (#10-11)

Nearly 20% of online daters identify as gay or lesbian, but most of these individuals are young, recently out of the closet, and looking to explore the party scene. It’s a lot rarer to see a silver-haired daddy or bear in the mix. Singles over 50 often hesitate to join popular dating apps because they don’t have the time or energy to keep up with such a fast-paced scene.

Once you reach a certain age, you may not want to stay out past midnight on a Tuesday. You may prefer quieter dinner dates or low-key picnics. If that’s the case, then you should try out these mature dating sites where experienced daters can come together and have a thoughtful conversation.

★★★★★
4.6/5.0

Relationships: Dates and Relationships

Match System: Search by profiles by zip and more

Our Experts Say: “OurTime is a fantastic option for gay, bisexual, and curious single men age 50 and up, as the site's user base is very active...” Full Review »

Browse Free: View Photos Now

OurTime is a highly effective and successful senior dating site engineered by People Media, a Match.com company. Over 20,000 singles join this network every week.

OurTime is open to singles of all orientations. As long as you’re over 50, you can create a dating profile and find age-appropriate matches on this platform.

You’ll find all the usual bells and whistles on OurTime. Members can send flirts, photo likes, favorites, or messages to attract attention. Only paid subscribers can read and reply to messages, but the paid plans are fairly affordable, starting at less than $4 a week.

OurTime’s success stories showcase the love that can blossom when members are willing to invest their time in a new relationship. And it’s proof that the dating site works well for people of all ages.

11. eharmony

You may be surprised to find eharmony on this list if you’re familiar with the online dating scene. This site hasn’t always been gay-friendly — it used to have a separate site called Compatible Partners that was marketed to LGBTQ+ daters. However, the site has recently been overhauled, and one of its major shifts was that it now facilitates same-sex partnerships.

The current eharmony dating site has evolved to serve people from all walks of life, and its tried-and-true match algorithm is well worth seeking out, particularly if you’re in the 50+ demographic.

Signing up to eharmony may take a good 15 minutes because new members have to fill out the 80-question Compatibility Quiz, which delves into your habits, morals, opinions, and lifestyle. The eharmony algorithm uses this information to calculate a match percentage that is right on the money.

Members not only see an overall rating on each dating profile, they can also dig into the details and view their compatibility percentage in terms of romance, affection, religious values, social values, extroversion, and other qualities. On eharmony, profiles are rich with information so you get a good feel for who a person is before you initiate a conversation.

Top “Christian” Gay Dating Sites for Professionals (#12-13)

Christianity may seem at odds at times with the LGBTQ+ lifestyle, but some individuals have been able to reconcile their religious beliefs, their family values, and their gayness. According to a recent study, 48% of lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals also identify as Christians.

Christian viewpoints on homosexuality are gradually changing as more people come out of the closet and talk about what it means to be a good Christian and love thy neighbor.

“Putting a face on what it looks like to be LGBTQ and Christian is really important for the Christian community at large to see,” said Erin Green, Faith Programs Coordinator at the Tyler Clementi Foundation. “We can show that we’re human beings with beating hearts just like they are, with a proclivity to screw up just like they do.”

12. Christian Mingle

If you want to meet a gay Christian man, you don’t have to wait until church on Sunday — you can log into ChristianMingle any day of the week. This Christian dating site focuses on creating God-centered marriages. And yes, it caters to singles of all sexual orientations.

Screenshot of the ChristianMingle homepage

ChristianMingle facilitates God-centered marriages for straight and gay singles.

You don’t have to be a practicing Christian to enroll, but you should be open to dating men of faith because they’re everywhere on this dating site. Since its launch in 2001, ChristianMingle has facilitated deep connections between roughly 16 million members. It is easily one of the best dating sites for gay professionals.

ChristianMingle actually hasn’t always accepted gay and lesbian members, but a 2016 lawsuit pushed the site to change its policy and open its doors to everyone. Today, gay singles have the run of the site and can use it to find new friends, dates, and relationships.

13. GayCupid

Finally, GayCupid is a great site for gay men looking for a partner in faith. It’s free to join, and all members enjoy a three-month free trial on the dating site. All you have to do is provide basic information about yourself, upload a picture, and you’re good to go.

After the three-month trial period is over, you can continue your online dating journey by upgrading to GayCupid’s gold or platinum membership plans. These plans offer an ad-free experience and powerful live chat features as well as other perks. All free members can respond to messages from paid members, so it’s an open playing field for gay men seeking local dates.

Screenshot of GayCupid

Christian men can meet their match thanks to GayCupid’s international network.

GayCupid has a long track record of success, and you can see its impact in its many success stories. “I would like to say thank you to the owner and staff in GayCupid because on this website I found my soul mate and my partner in life,” said a Christian man who found love online. “I will pray for more success.”

Which Dating Sites are the Most Successful?

This question depends on how you define success. Match has been in business longer than any other dating site in existence, and it has facilitated countless relationships and marriages since the 1990s.

The Tinder logo

Since its launch, Tinder has powered billions of gay matches worldwide.

On the other hand, Tinder has drastically changed the online dating world by pioneering a swiping system that has now become the status quo on many dating sites and apps. Tinder’s reputation among active daters is unparalleled, and it proudly supports #SwipeLife by helping singles see dating as an adventure rather than a chore. To date, Tinder has created over 43 billion matches worldwide.

With over 27 million registered users in 196 countries, Grindr is among the best-known and most active gay dating networks in the world. The gay dating app has a reputation for arranging hookups between single men, but the Grindr team has also taken up the activist mantle and launched the Grindr for Equality campaign to support LGBTQ+ rights on a global scale.

We’d also like to give a shoutout to OkCupid for being one of the most welcoming and inclusive dating platforms around. In 2014, OkCupid added 22 gender options and 13 orientation options to its profile creation process, allowing singles to identify as they see fit. OkCupid has successfully freed its users from the heteronormative box, and it deserves props for that.

What Should I Do for a First Date?

First dates can be tricky. You never quite know what to expect, so it’s best to have a low-key plan with a clear exit strategy. Casual dates at bars or coffee houses are the status quo in the dating scene, but you can stand out by proposing something a little more exciting or interesting. I don’t just mean dinner and movie. Think outside the box, guys. You can visit a museum, a zoo, or botanical gardens on a first date. These options are casual, affordable, and flexible, so you can linger for hours together and even get dinner afterward if you feel a spark.

Wine tastings, food festivals, and farmers markets are also good first date ideas for anyone willing to step out of their comfort zone and create memorable moments.

What are Some Good Conversation Topics?

Good conversation topics can be anything you enjoy talking about — movies, sports, hobbies, traveling, family, the list goes on and on. You should talk about the things going on in your life and the people you care about. You can tell stories about trips you’ve taken or rank your all-time favorite romantic comedies. Choose something upbeat to get you both smiling and laughing.

Photo of a gay couple talking

Get the ball rolling on a date by talking about your personal experiences and interests.

Many dating experts recommend keeping things light on a first date. That means don’t bring up controversial issues, polarizing ideas, or past relationships. Religion and politics are usually on the no-no list, but that’s not a hard-and-fast rule. As long as you express your opinions in a nonjudgmental way, you can carry on a good, insightful conversation about your religious values or political views.

Of course, the date isn’t just about you telling stories and acting as a one-man show. The best dates know how to ask questions to get the other person talking as much as they are.

We just so happen to have a list of 18 solid dating questions to ask as you get to know someone. If those aren’t enough for you, then check out this massive list of 160 date questions generated by Conversation Starters World. That should give you plenty of topics to burn through during your date nights.

Submit an Application for Best Gay Dating Sites for Professionals

Whether you’re applying to jobs or asking guys out on dates, you may have to endure quite a few “nos” before you get to the “yes” that leads to something big. It can be difficult to find that perfect match in everyday life. Fortunately, today’s gay singles have the internet to back them up and help them reach their relationship goals.

Gay dating sites for professionals can increase the odds that you’ll make a genuine connection with someone who meets your standards. The sites on our list have facilitated friendships, hookups, and relationships between people of all races, creeds, and orientations, and we think they’ll work well for you, too.

Remember, dating should be fun, so don’t take the search so seriously. Don’t be afraid to take a chance and send a message to your online crushes. After a flirty online chat, they may realize you’re perfectly qualified to become their next boyfriend. Good luck!

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