I get it, we all get lonely time to time, and finding love isn’t as easy as the Hallmark movies make it out to be. The dating scene is a mess, and the difficulty cranks up to 11 if you are gay, queer, or bisexual. We’re aware of the stories about all the creeps and catfishing accounts that try to take advantage of members of the LGBTQ community. So what are your options then?
Well, there are LGBTQ+ dating apps that can help you find the match you have been looking for without facing rejection for who you are. Maybe you have tried one of them but haven’t found the success you were hoping for. So, we have curated the best LGBTQ+ friendly dating apps for gay, bi, and queer men to try your luck on other platforms and find the “one” you have been searching for.
1. Grindr
Who Should Use This App: Best Hookup App for Gay/Bi Men
This list couldn’t be complete without Grindr. This is one of the most popular dating apps for gay, bisexual, queer, and trans people. The app isn’t built to find long-lasting relationships, but for quick fun if you are looking for some action during the weekends. And the folks there will let you know with explicit images to attract potential mates to spend the evening with.
However, the best aspect of Grindr is its large user base making it easy to find matches of your preference near you. There are plenty of options to customize your profile, interact with others, and even block them if things go out of hand. It’s not like you can’t find genuine companionship on Grindr. There are several stories of people finding their soulmate on the app and maybe you can too.
Like many other dating apps, Grindr offers limited options in its free version, and you can upgrade to the premium version to use these features.
Pros Cons Large user base of Gay, Bi and Queer Men Rare to find people ready for relationships Good amount of profile customization Some features locked behind premium membership Use tags to find people with similar interests
Price: Free, in-app purchases available
2. Hinge
Who Should Use This App: Gay, Bisexual and Queer Men Looking for Relationships
Hinge might not tick off as a dating option for people of the LGBTQ+ community, but the app is actually pretty inclusive. It asks several questions so its algorithm can easily match you with the right profile removing the hours spent swiping people left and right on Tinder.
Once you find someone interesting, you don’t even have to come up with a pickup line, as the app will give you conversation starters to kick-start your romantic journey. It automatically hides your older conversations after 14 days so you can find new matches as active interests. For these reasons, we have added Hinge to this list because of how easy it makes finding a match.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Asks extensive questions to create a detailed profile | Only lets you interact with suggested matches in free version |
| Offers conversation starters | |
| Matches are easy to come by | |
| Inclusive user base |
Price: Free, Premium starts at $ 14.99 per week
3. Scruff
Who Should Use This App: Gay, Bisexual and Queer Men
Scruff is an app for those who have had their share of fun and now want to take things seriously. It isn’t your typical match people near you and get down and dirty with them, instead, it’s all about taking them on a nice date and seeing where things lead to next. That’s the kind of people you will find on Scruff. It has a huge pool of users which increases the chances of you finding your match.
You can find guys near you, and connect with them or give them a “woof” to show you’re interested. Plus, you can even find any queer events happening locally. It also serves 24/7 support for members of the LGBTQ community so you can reach out to them whenever you feel stranger danger. Some features like advanced search filters and the ability to send videos are limited to the pro version.
Pros Cons Large userbase of LGBTQ+ people Stealth search and advanced search limited to pro version. Shows LGBTQ+ events happening near you Search matches with tags and filters
Price: Free, $16.99 per month
4. Hornet
Who Should Use This App: Gay Social Networking App
Hornet is a social networking app exclusive to LGBTQ+ people but you’ll mostly find men looking for other men on here. Its layout is actually quite similar to that of Reddit if you have used it before. So you can not only find a match here but also explore the community itself and find new friends.
But there is a direct messaging feature if you wish to spice things up with someone you are interested in. There’s also Hornet Live where you can go live yourself or join other people’s live streams and check which person is ranking in the leaderboards. It’s a good app if you are looking for more than just dating and making connections with other people in the community.
Pros Cons Social Media apps LGBTQ+ Encounters can be risky Good app for exploring people in the community Supports messaging and live streaming
Price: Free, in-app purchases available
5. eharmony
Who Should Use This App: Men who want a stable relationship
Now you may have already heard about eharmony which is one of the oldest apps on this list. The site started back in the 2000s and still helps people meet their potential life partners. When you sign up on the app, it serves you with a detailed questionnaire to help you find the right person you have been searching for and filter out everyone else.
The platform is inclusive to the LGBTQ+ community even though it caters to everyone. And the best part about signing up on platforms with large userbase is that there is a high chance you will match with someone. It’s like Scruff as it promotes more serious relationships than casual hookups. However, since it has a diverse pool of users, this means that bisexual men can explore their options as well.
Pros Cons Platform to find stable relationships More suitable for older crowds LGBTQ+ friendly Detailed questionnaire to find the right match
Price: Free, Premium membership starts at $39.90
6. Taimi
Who Should Use This App: Non-Binary, Bisexual, Gay and Queer Men
Taimi is a social media platform built for the LGBTQ+ community where people can video call, chat, and live stream. But it also doubles as a dating site where you can browse profiles of hot singles in your area and if you two manage to hit it off, then start chatting with each other.
You can find matches outside of your area, just in case you are traveling there and don’t wish to spend the night alone. There’s a Stealth mode allowing you to check out profiles secretly and share them with your friends. Taimi was originally intended for gay men but now serves all the colors of the rainbow.
While the basic version is free, there’s a premium version that unlocks some additional functionality. The issue is that there are way more pop-ups than I would like which could deter users from using the app.
Pros Cons Promotes genuine interaction Riddled with annoying pop-ups Can create an extensive profile to show you are genuine Constantly pushes you to buy premium Lets you find profiles in other regions
Price: Free, Premium membership starts at $8 per month
7. GROWLR
Who Should Use This App: Gay Men Looking for Bears
GROWLR is an app that specifically caters to gay, bi, and queer men looking to hook up with a bear. And if you are curious about what a bear is, then it refers to strong, big muscular, hairy, testosterone-filled men. Yep, this app serves that specific niche but it’s a good thing because now you know where to find a potential bear when you are in the mood for one.
Though its UI is pretty dated, it still has the necessary features to chat with your match, and also live stream. But things can get a bit raunchy here, so I wouldn’t recommend using it in the office setting. There are some paid features here but I feel you can do without them in the free version of the app. It’s a good destination if you have a particular liking to be dominated by big hairy men.
Pros Cons Pretty large user base for a niche app The UI is pretty outdated Chat with users on the app Live streaming in also available as a feature
Price: Free, in-app purchases available
8. Jack’d
Who Should Use This App: Gay, Bi and Queer Men
To discover a good gay or bisexual partner, “Jack’d” is highly recommended. The app provides tons of customization options so that you can present your profile in style and have more chances of being liked. With multiple customizable profile sections, you can express more about your passion and what turns you on. There is an option to share some private photos on the profile as well so that your prospective partner can easily spot your true charm.
Just like many other dating apps, it has a handy messaging feature to chat freely. If you can spend some money, you can use this app without ads and have more chances of seeing smart guys. Furthermore, the pro version also lets you see who has shown interest in you.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Good variety of people | Can be quite buggy and unresponsive |
| Interface is quite easy to use | |
| Direct messaging feature |
Price: Free, starts at $3.99 per week
9. BiCupid
Who Should Use This App: Bisexual and Pansexual People
As the name of the app suggests, BiCupid is solely dedicated for bisexual and pansexual folks to find like-minded people who are attracted to multiple genders and ethnicities. It lets you fill in an extensive questionnaire similar to eharmony to help you find partners with similar interests. It’s like Tinder where you swipe left or right on someone’s profile, and follow if you are interested in them.
But it also lets you provide a physical description of yourself, which can help the app find people near you who are looking for the same attributes in their match. The only issue with the app is that it doesn’t have a large user base much like other popular apps, and there are limited gender identities to choose from which I feel is something they should work on.
Pros Cons Dating app for Bi and pansexual people Limited gender categories Find people with common interests Search people based on their physical attributes
Price: Free, premium starts at $9.99
10. Tinder
Who Should Use This App: Anyone
I know, I know… Tinder is the last place you want to go, but here’s the thing. Some of the apps in this list are not even available outside of the U.S. If you are not a New Yorker or live in LA, then chances of finding a match get pretty slim but everyone has Tinder installed on their phone making it a best bet to find a match.
The platform has also become quite inclusive catering to the LGBTQ+ community and offers several safety features. It lets you pick your preference whether you are looking for gay, bi, or queer men, there is something for everyone on this app. We are all already familiar with its right and left swipe interface and I feel it is one of those apps whose premium plans actually offer something useful. Though you may have a hard time here finding the right person.
Pros Cons Largest user base across the globe Finding matches can take a while LGBTQ+ friendly filters Easy to use interface
Price: Free, Tinder Plus starts at $9.99 per month
So these are all the best dating apps that we could manage to find, and I have to say, the online space has become quite inclusive for gay, bisexual, and queer men. There are a lot more people who understand the struggles of finding a partner for people with a different orientation and it is good to see there are so many apps and sites that help others find their special someone.
If there is an app or a site that we missed then let us know in the comment section below.
