Looking for the best gay dating apps? We’ve got them right here waiting for you. This list includes the biggest names in the LGBTQ+ dating scene as well as a few surprise additions you may not have heard of yet.
When it comes to the gay dating scene, we’ve seen a lot of big changes toward greater inclusion, community support, and pride. Today, gay singles have more date options and community support than ever before, and online dating has become an essential part of that experience. So come on out and meet gay, bisexual and queer men on the following LGBTQ-friendly dating platforms.
Best Overall Gay Dating Apps
Our dating experts have spent countless hours navigating the online dating scene (both personally and professionally), and we’ve created profiles on every online dating app and site of note, from the Surge dating app to the Romeo dating site.
Such niche dating sites for gay men can be helpful, but we find more success stories come from mainstream dating sites and apps that welcome singles of all orientations. Here are some popular dating apps for gay singles looking to mix and mingle.
1. Match
Since 1995, Match has cultivated a diverse following and welcomed singles across the spectrum of sexuality. Gay men can rely on Match to hook them up with bears, queens, twinks, and other hot dates. Match's time-tested compatibility scores and search features can help men navigate the dating scene and find a partner who is everything they're looking for.
- Proud ally to the LGBTQ community
- Millions of verified dating profiles to browse for free
- Over 20 years' worth of success stories
- Browse Match profiles 100% free »
You may not think of Match as an app for gay men or queer women, but it has evolved a lot since its launch in 1995. The dating site launched a companion app in 2014, and it has always been accepting of singles of every sexual orientation.
When you create a Match profile, you can identify as a man seeking a man or a woman seeking a woman and instantly turn the mainstream dating pool into a gays-only scene. Plus, if you’re bisexual (or just curious), you can always switch your gender preferences by going into your settings and get the best of both worlds.
Match offers a personality-driven matchmaking system where what you want and who you are matters the most. All gay singles have to do is set their preferences, swipe through potential matches, and wait for someone special to stand out.
Elite Singles has raised the bar in the online gay dating scene and become a rallying point for ambitious, intelligent, and commitment-minded singles around the world. This upscale dating site caters to gay men who are looking for more than just a one-night stand. Every month 2,500 singles find love thanks to the Elite Singles network.
- Caters to professional men in the LGBTQ community
- A smart, no-nonsense matching formula
- Over 2 million singles are active on the site every month
- Browse Elite Singles profiles 100% free »
EliteSingles is a top-tier dating site and app (available for iPhone and Android) designed to introduce professional singles who share similar lifestyles, ideals, and interests. It may cost a pretty penny to become a full member of EliteSingles, but many well-off singles say it’s worth subscribing to get access to its quality membership base.
Over 85% of EliteSingles members have graduated from college, and over 90% say they’re looking for a serious relationship. We don’t have stats on the percentage of LGBT members on EliteSingles, but the site has over 13 million singles in its database, so it’s safe to say it’s large enough to accommodate daters across the spectrum of sexuality.
In the average month, EliteSingles brings over 2,000 couples together, and its next success story could be yours.
3. Zoosk
Zoosk is a fast-growing dating site that reaches singles of all ages and orientations. This global network facilitates romantic connections between gay men with its behavioral matchmaking algorithm, advanced search filters, and premium communication tools. Every day, Zoosk members send over 3 million messages on the site and build close relationships.
- Over 40 million members of all orientations
- Seamless social media integration
- Thousands of success stories in the LGBTQ community
- Browse Zoosk profiles 100% free »
With over 40 million members, Zoosk is one of the largest and most popular gay dating apps in the world. It began in 2007 (same year as Facebook) as a combination of a social media site and a dating site, and many tech-savvy singles jumped on board and gave it a try. The Zoosk app is now available on Google Play and the App Store.
Gay singles can use the Zoosk Carousel to quickly sort through viable date options. Every swipe and like teaches Zoosk about your dating preferences, so your match recommendations and dating insights will become more accurate the more you use the dating site.
This smart matchmaking process has helped countless queer people explore their LGBT dating options and grow more confident in their flirtation skills by sending likes, smiles, virtual gifts, and messages.
4. OkCupid
OkCupid is a staunch ally of the LGBTQ+ community. The dating site and app made headlines in 2013 when it introduced 22 gender options and 13 orientation options to dating profiles. Few dating platforms have gone to such lengths to ensure that it represents everyone across the sexuality spectrum, and we give it props for connecting gay, bi, and queer men around the world.
- Gay men can express themselves in lengthy profiles
- Expanded orientation options includes pansexual and demisexual men
- Match lists only show guys who meet your criteria
- Browse OkCupid profiles 100% free »
OkCupid operates under the motto “Dating deserves better,” and the team truly means it. Since its launch in 2004, OkCupid has endeavored to create meaningful connections by identifying common ground through a combination of profile prompts and personal questions.
The dating site and app provide a compatibility rating this is honestly scary accurate — assuming you’veboth been honest in your dating profiles — and it can help gay singles quickly discover potential matches who line up with them on all the major issues, including gay rights. Every year, OkCupid is responsible for creating over 91 million love connections.
Over the years, OkCupid has distinguished itself as an inclusive, friendly, and quirky dating space. In 2014, the platform even created 22 gender options and 13 sexual orientation options on its profiles, thus encouraging LGBTQ+ members to be who they are and find dates who love that about them.
5. eharmony
When it launched in 2000, eharmony was on a mission to find the formula for love. It started with straight couples, and now has expanded its algorithm to pair up same-sex couples. Gay men who can join the eharmony network to get serious about online dating and commit more time and effort into forming a long-term relationship.
- Has search options for same-sex relationships
- An 80-question personality test available for free
- Paid features include unlimited live messaging and video chat
- Browse eharmony profiles 100% free »
It’s true that eharmony wasn’t always known as the best gay dating site or app, but the service has come a long way in the last two decades.
Today, eharmony is considered gay-friendly because it is open to same-sex matches and has marketed toward LGBTQ folk who want to make a meaningful connection. The dating platform welcomes people of all ages, races, orientations, and backgrounds, and experts estimate eharmony is responsible for over 2 million marriages in the U.S.
It’s pretty easy to get the hang of eharmony’s compatibility matching system, which has proven effective for couples of all types. The potential match list can help a gay guy find his Mr. Right based on shared interests and values.
Plenty of Fish is a gay-friendly dating site and app with free communication features and match recommendations. The site takes your dating standards and personality traits into account as it suggests viable dates. If you identify as a "man seeking men" on Plenty of Fish, the sea of date prospects will only include gay men in your area.
- Gay men connect over common interests
- A smart match system based on psychological principles
- POF members send over 1 billion messages a month
- Browse Plenty of Fish profiles 100% free »
Budget-conscious singles flock to Plenty of Fish to get their flirt on and send messages without restraint. The POF community supports a dating free-for-all where anyone can chat at any time — no mutual matching, no game playing, and no subscriptions required. You don’t have to sign up through Facebook either.
Plenty of Fish boasts having a global dating network of over 150 million members, and over 4 million people are active on the site and app every day.
LGBT singles can feel comfortable setting up profiles and making introductions on this friendly platform. Plenty of Fish only asks its members to follow four simple rules: Be kind, be respectful, be safe, and be real. If you can do that, then you’ll always be welcome on POF.
7. Tinder
Tinder has helped millions of singles in the LGBTQ+ community mingle and pick up dates. The app has generated over 97 billion matches since 2012, and a good chunk of those were same-sex connections. Gay men can take advantage of Tinder's simple swiping system to up their flirting games.
- Fosters same-sex relationships between gay men in 190 countries
- Tinder gender settings include "just men" or "men and women"
- Premium members have unlimited likes and 5 Super Likes
- Browse Tinder profiles 100% free »
If you’ve been single for a minute, you’ve almost certainly heard of Tinder. This dating app is by far one of the most famous (maybe even infamous) in the online dating scene, and it has seen phenomenal success by promoting #SwipeLife. Other LGBT dating apps can’t compete with this online dating giant.
You probably know how its mutual-matching system works. You swipe, you match, and you chat — and then repeat. It’s a fast and fun way to sort through the local dating scene, and we can’t think of a more surefire way to fill your calendar with hot dates.
Since its launch in 2012, Tinder has been responsible for more than 43 billion matches, and it is currently active in over 190 countries so you can mingle with gay singles wherever you go.
In 2016, Christian Mingle opened its doors to the LGBTQ community and began fostering same-sex relationships on the site. This was a big step forward and paved the way for many heartfelt love stories. Gay men can now mingle freely on Christian Mingle and find gay date prospects who line up with their values and lifestyle.
- Supports straight and same-sex relationships
- Nearly 4 million monthly users
- Discover attractive men in the LookBook
- Browse Christian Mingle profiles 100% free »
Christian Mingle is one of the leading Christian dating sites in the world, and it’s perfect for gay singles seeking a God-centered relationship.
Shared faith means everything to the singles in the Christian Mingle community. By and large, Christian Mingle members tend to be true believers who want a partner to accompany them to church on Sundays. Christian Mingle members don’t have to be baptized or practicing Christians, but they have to be open to the idea of a Christian marriage and raising a Christian family.
If religion is a dealbreaker for you, then Christian Mingle can set your heart at ease and introduce you to good, faithful companions who have the same vision for the future.
9. Bumble
Bumble isn't just a female-friendly dating app — it's also a gay-friendly dating app. The platform's swiping system works just as well for men seeking men. There aren't any rules about who can send the first message, but the chat will expire in 24 hours, so you don't want to wait too long to say hi.
- Gay users seeking dates and relationships
- Curated match suggestions based on mutual compatibility
- Over 10 billion swipes a month
- Browse Bumble profiles 100% free »
Bumble made a splash in the dating scene in 2014 with two simple words: Ladies first. The progressive dating app characterized itself as the female-friendly alternative to Tinder, but we’d say it’s a gay-friendly alternative too.
The Bumble interface is sleek, its matching system is simple, and its success rate is way up there. You don’t have to worry about the women-message-first rule as a gay dater matching on Bumble — anyone can message anyone first once a same-sex match is created. Whether you’re looking for a new friend, a hot date, or a long-term partner, you can use Bumble as a safe and nonjudgmental starting ground for LGBTQ dating.
“Healthy relationships are central to living a positive, productive life,” the Bumble team says. “Bumble is a social network that allows you to feel empowered while you make those connections.”
Best Senior Gay Dating Apps
Once you reach a certain age, dating can seem like an impossible chore. NYPost author Erin Quinlan called it “hell on earth for middle-aged and senior singles.” We think that’s a bit extreme, and we’d encourage seniors who feel uncertain about dating sites and apps like Grindr and Tinder to seek out a more senior-friendly online community like the ones listed below. If you embrace the process, do your research, and give it your all, you could find yourself surrounded by romantic possibilities.
10. SilverSingles
SilverSingles uses new-school technology to help old-school daters find love. Since its launch, this senior dating site has welcomed over-50 singles of all races and orientations. Once you identify as a "man seeking men" on the site, you'll find yourself surrounded by people who want the same things in life.
- Identify as "man seeking men" in your profile
- Free personality quiz and mature partner suggestions
- Over 20 daily matches in the "Have You Met?" section
- Browse SilverSingles profiles 100% free »
We rank SilverSingles as the best senior dating site for gay singles because it’s got the numbers, the safety features, and the matchmaking tools to inspire genuine relationships.
This isn’t a sugar dating site, and it’s not for cougars or cubs — SilverSingles introduces seniors to dates who share similar life experiences and values. The platform uses an in-depth personality test to identify areas of compatibility and recommend three to seven profiles per day. Gay singles can sort through these potential matches or use the search filters to find their Mr. Right on their own terms.
The SilverSingles team understands that many of its users are advanced in age and perhaps not the most tech-savvy people in the world, so they have a responsive Customer Care team and Help Centre to answer any questions singles have along the way.
11. OurTime
OurTime is a People Media site designed to satisfy straight, gay, and lesbian singles in their 50s and older. Many of these singles have been in serious relationships before and are looking for a second chance at love. Gay singles can take advantage of this senior-friendly network to land a date who has it all going on.
- A unique network of gay men over 50
- Straightforward mutual matching and searches
- Send flirts and likes for free
- Browse OurTime profiles 100% free »
The People Media dating company has created many well-known and well-liked brands in the online dating scene, and OurTime has to be one of its most successful and popular gay dating apps for LGBT people of a certain age.
OurTime has over 1 million singles in its network, and it has sparked countless friendships and relationships between singles of a certain age.
You can identify as gay in your profile and immediately narrow your date options to age-appropriate LGBT singles in your area. OurTime gives its members the search tools and match suggestions they need to discover romance within a few clicks.
12. SeniorMatch
SeniorMatch offers mature gay men a quality-driven alternative to Grindr, Tinder, and other hookup apps. Singles must be over 45 to join this senior dating site, so it's easy to meet an age-appropriate date. Check out SeniorMatch's blogs and forums for tips regarding online dating as a senior citizen.
- Identify as a man seeking men on your SeniorMatch profile
- Free messaging via the site and app
- Online dating forums create a community atmosphere
- Browse SeniorMatch profiles 100% free »
Last but not least, SeniorMatch is a wonderful place for seniors seeking authentic connections. Since 2003, this dating site (and its companion dating app) has given singles a second chance at first love, and you don’t have to pay anything to see what it’s all about.
SeniorMatch has over 1 million users, and all of them have been verified as genuine over-50 daters. This is one of the most helpful dating communities for gay seniors. The site hosts about 1.6 million conversations in the average month, and it has over 36,600 success stories to its name.
“We are dating and enjoying our moments together,” said one happy SeniorMatch couple. “We will take our time, and let it grow to the next level.”
Best Gay Hookup Apps
Hey, it’s great that so many countries are recognizing gay marriages and upholding gay rights, but just because you can get married, that doesn’t mean you have to rush down the aisle, right?
According to a Match survey, 25% of gay and lesbian singles don’t want to get married, and the typical gay man has had over 30 sexual partners in his lifetime. Hookup culture is alive and well in the gay dating scene, and you can dive into this fast-paced world by creating a free profile on the following gay hookup apps and sites.
13. BeNaughty
BeNaughty is open to singles of all sexual orientations, and it doesn't require new members to define themselves as anything other than "seeking men" or "seeking women." If you fall in the "seeking men" category, you're in good company on this hookup site. Men can explore their interests and discover romance on this free-wheeling, fun-loving, fully X-rated dating site.
- Single men in the U.S., Canada, and Europe
- Fast-working and time-saving match and communication tools
- Gay men can sign up for free to find matches
- Browse BeNaughty profiles 100% free »
No one can deny that BeNaughty is a wild, raunchy, and flirtatious place to pick up a date. This dating site has tons of sexually active members, many of whom post explicit content and dick pics to get attention.
BeNaughty is available to people who are gay, straight, lesbian, trans, queer, bi, fluid, poly, and just about anything else you can think of. Basically, if you want sex, you are welcome here.
You never have to play it coy on BeNaughty — the gay dating website encourages people to be open about their desires and give themselves over to the pleasure of the moment. Whether you’re sexting anonymously online or arranging a steamy hookup offline, you can use BeNaughty as your go-to dating ground and mix things up 24/7.
14. MenNation
MenNation boasts having one of the world's largest men-only hookup community, and it has 93 million dating profiles to back up its claim. Since 1997, this gay dating site has made inroads in the LGBTQ community and supported sexually active singles and couples who want to find a partner for the night.
- Free registration and unlimited profile browsing
- Add online crushes to the Hotlist or My Network
- Enjoy private conversations in the Message Center
- Browse MenNation profiles 100% free »
MenNation is a men-only dating site geared toward casual sex. Gay singles and gay couples can join the network for free and explore a sex-positive environment full of X-rated dating profiles, blogs, chat rooms, and videos.
With millions of profiles online, MenNation claims to be the world’s largest gay hookup site, and that alone is reason enough to give it a go. All you have to do is supply a valid email address and location — no last names, credit card numbers, Facebook profile, or addresses required — and you’ll be ready to search for hot dates on MenNation.
Adult Friend Finder has become a go-to dating resource for gay singles looking for no-strings-attached sex. The hookup site's erotic atmosphere and open-minded approach to dating has been a game changer for sexy singles and swingers all over the world. Whether you're gay, bisexual, or just curious, you can flirt with hot guys on the AFF network.
- Gay singles and couples can create profiles for free
- Enjoy live chat rooms and dating forums
- Flirt anonymously under a username
- Browse Adult Friend Finder profiles 100% free »
Adult Friend Finder has been around since the 1990s, and it has surged in popularity as sex-driven daters become bolder in their search for excitement and stimulation. Today, the AFF community encompasses over 97 million profiles — and counting!
We can’t think of a more thrilling place for gay singles and swingers to explore their options, practice their pickup lines, and find sexy playmates in the LGBT community.
The AFF site has more than 19 million blog posts where queer people share their sexual experiences and fantasies without fear of judgment. It doesn’t matter if you’re a giver or receiver in the bedroom — on AFF, you’ll get a lot of attention just by being yourself.
16. Grindr
Grindr is one of the top dogs in the gay dating scene. It's the name everyone recognizes, and many gay men choose it as their go-to dating app. The location-based matching system satisfies the desires of guys who want to hook up on the fly.
- Among the most popular gay social networks in the world
- Men connect via private and group chats
- View nearby profiles using real-time GPS data
- Browse Grindr profiles 100% free »
Since its launch in 2009, Grindr has made a name for itself as the premier dating app for gay and bisexual men. This app is definitely more about hookups than relationships. While the app is technically open to singles with all sorts of dating goals, Grindr users tend to use it to find a one-night stand or eff buddy. The dating app Grindr actually uses your phone’s location (works on both iPhones and Android devices) to find nearby singles in the gay community.
“Grindr is for basically gay guys who are not pretending it’s for anything other than meeting up to have sex,” said comedian Billy Eichner, who’s gay and has used the app in the past.
The app Grindr relies on GPS data from your Android or iPhone to locate the closest and hottest dating profiles in real time. It’s a great wingman if you’re prowling the bars and clubs, and it’s also useful for singles sitting at home and wishing they could flirt with some hotties.
17. FriendFinder-X
FriendFinder-X gives gay, bisexual, queer, and transgender men the chance to find romance in their area. The hookup site excels at connecting singles and couples who have similar sexual desires, and its live chat rooms often lead to stimulating sexual encounters in the real world. Anyone interested in meeting hot men can create a profile for free on FriendFinder-X and start chatting guys up.
- Singles, couples, and groups across the spectrum of sexuality
- Free membership includes unlimited profile browsing
- Helping millions of gay men hook up
- Browse FriendFinder-X profiles 100% free »
FriendFinder-X is a sex-positive dating platform where anything goes. During the signup process, you can identify yourself as a gay man, a gay couple, a straight couple, a lesbian couple, a group, or a trans person, and FriendFinder-X won’t bat an eye.
Hooking up is the name of the game here, and it doesn’t matter where you fall along the sexuality spectrum as long as you’re willing to be honest about it and get intimate with someone.
This discreet LGBT dating site has done a great job of introducing promiscuous people online, and it’s a fun place to spend a horny afternoon or evening.
What are the Most Popular Gay Dating Apps?
There are a lot of popular gay dating sites and lesbian dating apps out there, and we’ve reviewed the best ones for your benefit. We’ve tested the features, read customer reviews, and done a lot of research to ascertain which ones work and which ones are all hype and no matches.
If you’re looking for the most popular dating apps for gay men, then apps like Grindr or SCRUFF should be on your radar (gaydar?) for making a meaningful connection.
As of 2017, the Grindr app had over 27 million users, and you can bet it’s only grown since then.
Grindr became the world's first gay geosocial app in 2009, and it continues growing its all-male user base more than a decade later. The app uses real-time GPS data to locate nearby date prospects and give gay and bisexual singles a chance to connect while they're out on the town.
- Social networking for gay, bi, trans, and queer men
- Location-based matches spark instant chemistry
- Grindr Equality advocates for LGBTQ+ interests on the global stage
- Browse Grindr profiles 100% free »
Grindr is a gay hookup app that excels at closing the distance between two men and creating romantic opportunities that are sometimes literally around the corner. That’s why we consider it one of the best gay dating apps of all time.
Is There a Grindr App for Straight Singles?
No, Grindr is exclusively a gay men’s thing. There are straight dating apps like Grindr that use your phone’s location to create potential matches — Tinder comes to mind — but these alternatives aren’t made by the same company and therefore won’t have the exact same match algorithm or swiping interface. And they won’t have as many LGBTQ+ people online either.
The dating app Grindr is easily among the most popular dating apps for flirtatious gay guys, and that’s why we highly recommend it to the LGBT community.
How Much Does Grindr Cost?
Grindr is one of the rare free gay hookup apps where you can swipe, match, and chat without paying anything. However, some guys want to up their flirtation game, so they start looking for extra advantages. That’s where Grindr XTRA comes in.
This premium subscription plan allows Grindr users to see more profiles (up to 600), use more search filters, send chat phrases, and favorite or block as many profiles as they want. Another subscription option is called Grindr XTRA Lite, which removes banner ads and lets Grindr users to view up to 300 gay men’s profiles.
While Grindr XTRA is great for expanding your search for LGBTQ people, it’s not a sure thing, and many users say they were able to make matches and chat just fine without it.
Is Jack’d a Good App for Gay Men?
Jack’d launched in 2010 as a dating app for gay, bisexual, bi-curious, and queer guys, and it quickly attracted attention with its fast-working, location-based features. Today, the gay men’s app supports a diverse network of over 5 million men in 2,000 cities worldwide.
The Jack’d app offers an anonymous swiping scene where you can chat up local guys and arrange dates while on your iPhone or Android device. These short-but-sweet dating profiles tell you everything you need to know before striking up a mutual match — you can even see how often he responds to messages in his inbox!
In 2019, Jack’d was bought by Perry Street Software, which also owns the gay hookup app SCRUFF. The software company has worked hard to make these LGBT dating apps more reliable, secure, and user-friendly for the gay community.
“Perry Street Software will work with Jack’d members to create a platform that enables them to create authentic connections on their own terms, whether they are looking for friends, dates, a hookup, or more,” said Eric Silverberg, CEO of Perry Street Software.
The Top LGBTQ+ Dating Apps Make Magic Happen Online
The LGBTQ+ community has embraced online dating in a big way. Approximately 20% of online daters identify as gay, whereas only 4% of the general population identify as gay.
The gay dating scene was once dominated by underground, private, and guilt-ridden affairs, but now it’s more known for rainbow jewelry, spunky haircuts, and sassy attitudes. Today’s gay singles have more acceptance in society, and they have more support from technology, so they can pursue the dates they desire and build meaningful relationships.
The best gay dating apps and sites can foster love connections between queer people who may never have met one another in real life, and that’s an exciting prospect for active online daters. We’ve listed some of our favorite gay dating sites and hookup apps to give you a head start as you search for a compatible partner. Don’t be afraid to use more than one gay dating app at a time — after all, dating is all about putting yourself out there and seeing what happens. Good luck!