The best dating apps for gay users, since meeting people IRL is hellish
Most people have at least one horror story about online dating. It's a rite of passage that single people love to hate.
But the horror stories look a little different for members of the LGBTQ community. On top of the classic awkward Hinge date anecdotes and screenshots of a corny bio seeping with secondhand embarrassment, gay singles deal with all sorts of alienating interactions. Baseless questioning of sexual history, harassment, and fetishization — most of it coming from cis straight people who shouldn't have popped up in your feed in the first place — don't exactly give one butterflies.
Still, dating apps have become crucial means of introduction for gay folks looking to settle down. A 2019 Stanford study and 2020 Pew Research survey found that meeting online has become the most popular way for U.S. couples to connect — especially for gay couples, of which 28% met their current partner online (versus 11% of straight couples). Read more...
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BEST FOR GAY WOMEN
HERThe award-winning mix of dating and social media that introduces local lesbians and filters out creepy men.
- Free version: Yes
- One month of Premium: $14.99
- Six months of Premium: $11.99/month
- One year of Premium: $7.49/month
BEST FOR GAY MEN
GrindrPutting "bi" in your profile might get you some hate here, but it's *the* place to meet experienced men.
- Free version: Yes
- Grindr Xtra: $20/month
- Grindr Unlimited: $50/month
BEST FOR LESS EMPHASIS ON HOOKING UP
OkCupidQueer users are naturally drawn to OKC's inclusivity and knowledge that politics play a part in meshing romantically.
- Free version: Yes
- OkCupid Basic: $19.99/month
- OkCupid Premium: $29.99/month
BEST GAY APP THAT HETERO FOLKS ALSO USE
Tinder- Free version: Yes
- Tinder Xtra: $20/month
- Tinder Unlimited: $50/month
MORE SERIOUS CANDIDATES THAN TINDER
HingeThe go-to app for millennials works to be a quality space for gay users and is a bit more thoughtful than swiping apps.
- Free version: Yes
- One month of Preferred: $12.99
- Three months of Preferred: $6.99/month
- Six months of Preferred: $4.99/month
BEST IF YOU HATE THE TYPICAL DATING APP DYNAMIC
LexThis novel space for queer and non-binary users throws it back with Craigslist-esque ads and no selfies.
- Free version: Yes
BEST FOR PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT ASTROLOGY
NUiTA magical app that takes care of asking for someone's birth time, plus a truly special feature for queer people.
- Free version: Yes