If you’re looking for shemale dating sites and apps, we interpret that to mean you’re interested in transgender dating and, potentially, don’t know the lingo of this world very well.
First off, let me clue you in that the term shemale is widely considered to be derogatory term for a male-to-female (MTF) person. You may see words like shemale and ladyboy used for transgender porn and clickbait, but few trans folks actually identify that way.
Secondly, shemale dating often denotes a sexual interest in a person who presents as female but has male genitalia. If that’s the case for you, free sex sites and gay hookup apps can provide more legit options than a so-called shemale dating site.
For this article, we’ve curated a list of trans-friendly dating sites that don’t sexualize or demean trans people. That means you won’t see the term shemale in the marketing language, but you will see trans singles in the platform’s match recommendations and swiping lists.
Best Overall Shemale Dating Sites & Apps
Seeking a transgender date can be difficult in the real world, but online dating tools provide more niche support and assistance. The good news is that a lot of mainstream dating services have become more trans-inclusive in recent years, so you don’t have to go down shemale rabbit holes to find a queer date.
Whether you identify as trans or cis, these are the top dating sites and apps we recommend trying to jump on local trans dating opportunities.
1. Match
Match.com has come a long way since it launched in April 1995. This well-reputed dating site has honed its match algorithm to identify long-term compatibility and facilitate countless first dates, serious relationships, and successful marriages. Match's esteemed dating experts go to great lengths to guide singles to a seriously good match.
- Match is the world's longest running dating site
- The Discover section has search filters by interests, looks, lifestyle, and more
- Match is available in 50 countries and 15 languages
- Browse Match profiles 100% free »
Match launched in 1995 to inspire loving relationships, and its definition of love has expanded greatly since then. Back in the day, it was strictly for men meeting women and vice versa. Now Match is open to gay dating, lesbian dating, queer dating, and trans dating adventures as well.
Trans singles can join Match for free and use its free chat tools to explore new relationship possibilities. The general dating app has a lot of other personality-driven search and matching features to help romances blossom.
The Match Group investigated LGBTQ+ dating habits in 2016 and found that transgender singles had largely embraced online dating. A solid 65% of trans singles said they had used a dating app to meet new people. Match.com is working to meet this demand and provide flexible search tools that can accommodate the needs of the typical transgender man and transgender woman.
EliteSingles.com maintains a sophisticated network of young professionals seeking a relationship. Over 80% of its members hold a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree, and over 90% are over the age of 30. Elite Singles uses an intelligent matchmaking system to introduce daters to someone on their level.
- Over 2 million monthly users
- Premium members receive 20 wildcard matches a day
- Search features include age, height, education, ethnicity, and lifestyle habits
- Browse Elite Singles profiles 100% free »
Elite Singles is a top-tier dating site and app where single professionals can form serious relationships. Its sophisticated matchmaking system relies on dating profile information, not swiping, to identify long-term compatibility between two users.
Trans singles can definitely qualify for this elite network and use its search tools for free. Elite Singles has binary gender options in its profiles, but it has open-ended sections where singles can discuss their gender identity, sexual orientation, relationship goals, and anything else that comes to mind.
Elite Singles can help trans singles rise above ignorance and form deep meaningful connections. Over 80% of Elite Singles members have graduated from college, and 90% say they are looking for a serious relationship.
3. Zoosk
Zoosk is a socially savvy dating site known for its diverse membership base and behavioral matchmaking system. Over 40 million singles in 80 countries have joined the network so far, and it's growing larger every day. The platform offers many different ways to communicate and express interest in members, so it's easy to form a fast connection here.
- Send messages to premium members for free
- Over 3 million messages sent a day
- Premium perks include photo verification and sending virtual gifts
- Browse Zoosk profiles 100% free »
Zoosk offers a combination of a social networking and dating platform. All its 40 million members have identified as single and search the database for a low-key chat, casual relationship, or something more. User behavior drives potential matches on the Zoosk site and app.
Zoosk has a reputation as a legit dating service where real people can exchange messages without making a big commitment or putting themselves at risk. That’s one of the reasons we’ve included Zoosk as among the most successful shemale dating sites and apps. A trans person can browse Zoosk under an anonymous username, keep their personal details private, and wait to upload a profile picture until they feel comfortable.
Since its launch in 2002, BlackPeopleMeet has created an African American singles network that stretches across North America. This niche dating site has 1.5 million members who are attracted to Black and biracial people. It takes less than two minutes to create a full profile and start browsing through profiles sorted by age, location, and orientation.
- One of the largest Black singles networks in existence
- Straightforward search and matching features
- Use Tokens to appear higher in search results
- Browse BlackPeopleMeet profiles 100% free »
BlackPeopleMeet gained popularity by standing up for the minority and supporting niche dating desires, so in some ways it’s a natural ally to LGBTQ+ singles. The Black dating site welcomes any single person who wants more diverse date options.
You don’t have to be a person of color to enjoy the culture of inclusion that has been going strong in the BPM community for over 20 years. This online dating platform can help a trans single find a sense of belonging — and hopefully meet a transgender admirer to date in real life.
5. OkCupid
In 2004, OkCupid's founders decided to create a fool-proof formula for love, and they launched a free dating site to delve into what personal attributes made relationships work. OkCupid members can send unlimited messages for free. It's easy to discover mutual interests and compatibility on the platform's information-rich dating profiles.
- Free, unlimited communication for everyone
- Singles can swipe or search for a compatible date
- Over 91 million connections every year
- Browse OkCupid profiles 100% free »
OkCupid has already won over young singles by offering completely free messaging. But it didn’t stop there. The dating site and app have perfected a relationship questionnaire and personality-driven dating profile that encourage singles to express who they are and what they want.
In 2014, OkCupid upped its online dating game even further by adding dozens of gender and sexual orientation options to its profiles. The app currently has over 22 gender options, including transgender, trans man, trans woman, transsexual, and transfeminine (aka shemale).
What’s more, OkCupid allows singles to state upfront if they’re looking for friendship, casual dating, or long-term dating. That means no mixed messages if all you want is a transgender hookup or if you’re hoping for a lasting relationship.
Plenty of Fish prides itself on being one of the best dating sites for conversations. It supports 100% free and unlimited messaging for over 120 million monthly users in 20 countries. Since its launch in 2003, Plenty of Fish has developed a science-based matching system that has proven successful.
- Free registration, searches, and messaging
- The Chemistry Test creates a compatibility framework
- Over 1 billion messages sent per month
- Browse Plenty of Fish profiles 100% free »
Plenty of Fish offers a fun, free, and open-ended dating platform for all types of singles. The membership base encompasses more than 150 million people in 20 countries, including the U.S. the U.K., and Canada.
All communication is completely free on Plenty of Fish. Members do not need a paid subscription to read or send private messages via the platform.
Plenty of Fish has non-binary and transgender profile options, and users can also choose whether they want their gender identity to be visible on their profile. “We want you to feel safe and free to express your own gender identity on your Plenty of Fish profile in the way that you feel is best,” the POF tem said.
7. Tinder
In 2012, Tinder pioneered a swiping-based match system that empowered singles to connect with dates who liked them back. Tinder users can message their mutual matches for free on this fast-paced dating app. Since its launch, Tinder has created over 75 billion matches worldwide.
- Supports active daters in 190+ countries
- The swiping system creates over 12 million matches per day
- Tinder Plus members have unlimited likes and 5 Super Likes
- Browse Tinder profiles 100% free »
Tinder is an undeniably popular dating app for young people. The app has been downloaded over 530 million times since its launch in 2012. And about half its members are under 25 years old.
In 2016, Tinder added 37 gender options to its registration system in an effort to become more trans-friendly and queer-friendly. According to the app’s internal count, the More Genders feature has led to approximately 150 million matches online.
Tinder has gotten flack for deleting trans dating profiles in the past, but the online dating app has evolved and gotten much better at looking out for the interests of the trans community.
8. Bumble
Since its launch in 2014, Bumble has positioned itself as one of the queens of the online dating world. The dating app turns gender stereotype on its head by empowering women to make the first move in a conversation with a man. Once you've made that mutual match, you have up to 48 hours to respond and make a connection.
- A feminist dating app puts singles on equal footing
- 60% of Bumble matches turn into dates
- Bumble Bizz and Bumble BFF spark non-romantic connections
- Browse Bumble profiles 100% free »
As the first ever feminist dating app, Bumble is a progressive force in the online dating world. Its team continually pushes the boundaries of what a socially conscious company can do for modern singles.
The most important thing you need to know about Bumble is that it puts female users first. Literally. A man can only message a woman on Bumble after she likes his profile and messages him first. Bumble gives women 24 hours to send a message to her match on the app. After that, the conversation disappears (unless a user hits the Extend button).
Transgender singles can rely on Bumble to keep them safe from unsolicited messages and sexual come-ons. The dating app encourages singles to keep things clean and show respect for each other. The photo guidelines ensure lewd, threatening, and inappropriate images have no place on the app.
Bumble has over 100 million members around the world, and it is responsible for countless relationships.
Best Senior Shemale Dating Sites & Apps
Senior singles often have more self-knowledge and dating experience than younger singles — and all they need is the right dating network to strut their stuff. A traditional dating app will typically favor 20-somethings, so senior dating sites have become necessary to put the over-50 crowd first.
If you’re looking for an older partner or mentor in the trans community, the following platforms are a great place to start.
SilverSingles is serious about helping singles over 50 meet one another, and its network stretches across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The secure signup process includes profile verification and fraud detection, so new members must portray themselves accurately to gain access to the platform. By fostering a safe environment, SilverSingles helps men and women meet mature dates in their area.
- An exclusively senior membership base
- Over 800,000 monthly users worldwide
- App available for free on Google Play
- Browse SilverSingles profiles 100% free »
Silver Singles is a premier senior dating site with a lot of love to give to the trans community. The network is backed by robust security features, including automated fraud detection and private photos.
It’s free to set up a Silver Singles profile and swipe through age-appropriate dates that are within a certain mile radius. A transgender individual will have to identify as either male or female upon registration, but they can also explain their identity further in the About Me section.
Silver Singles does not tolerate online harassment, nor does it take online dating safety concerns lightly. In fact, senior singles must upgrade to a paid membership before they can send a message or view profile pictures in this senior dating network.
10. OurTime
OurTime is an over-50 dating site with a lot of helpful features to facilitate friendships and relationships. Senior singles can look for dates themselves using the search tools, or they can view a curated list of matches to find compatible folks. Singles can send likes, flirts, and faves for free, but they have to subscribe to send messages to their online crushes.
- Open to straight, gay, and lesbian singles over 50
- Free match recommendations and conversation starters
- Use Tokens to promote your profile and send virtual gifts
- Browse OurTime profiles 100% free »
Over the last decade, OurTime has established an active senior dating platform that operates under the motto “It’s never too late for love.” The senior dating site (and its companion app) foster mature conversations and sincere relationships between folks who have been around the block a few times.
Again, OurTime does not overtly cater to transgender dating, but a fair amount of that goes on anyway. A transgender admirer need only conduct a keyword search for “transgender” or “transsexual” or even “crossdresser” to find viable date options. OurTime members can also search within a 100-mile radius of their ZIP code, or search by state or province, to zero in on the ideal match.
11. SeniorMatch
Since 2003, SeniorMatch has built its reputation as one of the world's leading senior dating sites. The site offers free communication and searches to help singles over 50 find companionship and love. If you're interested in a mature dating experience, this dating site can meet your needs.
- Doesn't allow members under 45
- Available as a dating app in Google Play
- Dating advice and safety tips shared by senior daters
- Browse SeniorMatch profiles 100% free »
When SeniorMatch launched in 2003, its motto was “you don’t have to be alone.” That message resonates with single people in the senior community and the transgender community, so it’s no wonder that so many older trans singles have sought out this mature dating space.
The SeniorMatch platform has shared over 36,000 success stories about its members forming new friendships, relationships, and marriages. The senior dating site provides an open-ended forum where singles can join interest-based groups, engage in discussion topics, and send icebreakers to get to know one another. It’s a low-pressure environment for a straight man and a trans woman to connect
Taken as a whole, SeniorMatch has over 1 million members, all of whom have certified that they are at least 50 years of age.
Best LGBT Shemale Dating Sites & Apps
Transgender is a gender identity, not a sexual orientation, so it’s possible for a trans person to identify with two letters in the LGBTQ community. Trans people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or queer can join same-sex dating sites to make a promising connection.
12. MenNation
Since 1996, MenNation has connected over 93 million men around the globe. This men-only dating site measures its success by the number of conversations and dates it facilitates with its intuitive matching system. Gay men love having a site to call their own, and its helpful features keep members engaged and entertained as they look for a hot date.
- One of the largest gay hookup sites in the world
- Search filters for age, location, physical attributes, and more
- Available in 12 languages and counting
- Browse MenNation profiles 100% free »
MenNation is a gay dating site with a scandalous reputation in the online world. The platform hosts sexually charged conversations and encourages adult men to bare their secret pleasures and fantasies.
The men who join MenNation may come from different backgrounds, but they share a common desire for gay sex. A trans man can be his most authentic self on this hookup site and mingle with drag queens, gay couples, bisexual swingers, and other sexually active men.
13. LesbianPersonals
LesbianPersonals.com is powered by Friend Finder Networks, so it encompasses a vast network of sexually active women. The female-friendly dating site allows women, couples, and groups to create a profile and find online and offline romance. With over 2 million women in its community, LesbianPersonals is fast becoming one of the most popular lesbian dating sites around.
- Free membership includes viewing profiles and sending likes
- Exchange revealing photos and videos privately online
- Simple search filters by interests and appearance
- Browse LesbianPersonals profiles 100% free »
For over 20 years now, LesbianPersonals has provided a liberating space for women seeking women in the local dating scene. The lesbian sex site has members who identify across the sexuality spectrum. Some are bi-curious women seeking a hot lady date, and others are swinging couples looking for a no-strings threesome.
LesbianPersonals can help a transgender woman meet single women and couples for casual sex. From the kinky groups to the video streaming, LesbianPersonals has a lot of fun networking tools to support promiscuous behavior.
14. HER
HER is a women-only (or "womxn" as the team says) dating app that helps cis, trans, and non-binary identified singles come into their own. This is a strict no-boys-allowed zone. HER encourages LGBTQ+ women to mingle by commenting on photos or events in the Feed, or they can like profiles to initiate a private conversation with a mutual match.
- A quirky and unapologetic womxn-only dating community
- Queer events get users connecting IRL
- The constantly updated Feed facilitates social networking
- Browse HER profiles 100% free »
HER is open to any person who identifies as a woman — including a trans woman or transsexual woman. Over 10 million users have downloaded the free dating app and joined its all-female network. HER validates all new profiles through Facebook to ensure scammers, creepers, and unicorn hunters do not make the cut.
The HER app was created by a lesbian woman in 2013, and it has sparked countless friendships and relationships since then. The HER community offers a friendly and safe space for lesbian dating and trans dating. Plus, members can search for queer events by city or ZIP code.
15. Grindr
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 easily ranked among the top gay dating apps of all time. Its online man party has been raging since 2009, and it’s not going to slow down anytime soon. The Grindr network currently includes over 27 million men in 190 countries, so you’re pretty much guaranteed to meet a local guy wherever you go.
Transgender men can identify as trans on the Grindr app. The platform also welcomes singles who are non-binary, queer, or gender fluid. Basically, the Grindr app is a matchmaker for any single person interested in dating men in the LGBTQ+ community. Its swipe lists lead to some of the hottest hookups and relationships in the gay dating world.
FAQs: What Does Shemale Mean?
A shemale refers to a transgender person who is transitioning or has transitioned from male to female. The term has derogatory and demeaning connotations, and it is definitely not for use in polite society.
Trans people have been called a lot of names that are less than flattering, so it’s important for cis allies to be aware of the connotations behind their words. Calling a person a shemale is disrespectful to his, her, or their gender identity.
The only instance where it’s appropriate to call someone a shemale is if that person self-identifies as shemale. Do not assume that anyone who looks androgynous or trans is all right with the shemale label.
Other potentially offensive terms for transgender people include ladyboy, tranny, sissy boy. A trans person may playfully self-identify as one of these labels, but you should not assume that is the case for every transgender woman. Don’t alienate a date by using the wrong language.
What’s the Difference Between Transgender and Transsexual?
Transgender is an umbrella term for a person who has a gender identity that is different from their biological sex at birth. A transgender person may style their hair or wear clothes to express their gender identity, but they do not have to make physical changes to their bodies to be transgender.
The term transsexual refers a person who is transgender and has undergone surgery to physically alter their sexual organs.
How Do Shemale Dating Sites and Apps Actually Work?
The online dating process starts with a free account. A new member registers by providing some basic information about themselves (age, location, sexual orientation, etc.) and submitting an email address to link to the new account. Note: A trans app may require a phone number or Facebook login to verify the user’s identity.
Once the dating profile is complete, users can start browsing the database by conducting a simple search or swiping on a curated list of profiles. Every dating platform will have a match algorithm to direct users to compatible date prospects, usually based on commonalities in age, education, and background.
Transgender dating sites don’t always have the best reputations when it comes to safety features and a large user base, so that’s why many of our recommended dating sites are for the general population.
For example, Elite Singles is a dating website and app where personal information and photos are kept private within the community, so it’s safe for a transgender person looking for a real life connection.
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 »
The communication rules will differ from platform to platform as well. You may need to form a mutual match before you can send messages to another person. Or you may need to pay for a monthly subscription to even read incoming messages from trans women on paid dating sites.
Free dating sites offer greater leeway to live chat and make romantic connections, but they do not always have security systems in place to stop spam and fake profiles from running rampant. That’s why our experts recommend setting up a video date to ensure your chat buddy is the real deal.
Are Shemale Dating Sites and Apps Safe to Use?
The sad truth is that transgender singles — and particularly transgender women — face significantly more challenges and dangers in the dating world. It isn’t always safe to meet and come out to a potential match in person. Transgender individuals should exercise caution and have those conversations about gender identity via text first to get a read on how the other person feels about it.
If you are feeling anxious, alone, or hopeless, you can always reach out to help lines to talk to a trans person who understands your struggle and can offer advice and support to get you through difficult times.
How Do I Know How to Choose the Best Shemale Dating Site or App?
You have to read between the lines to figure out which transgender dating site or app will suit your interests. Not every online dating platform has the database to back its promises, and some support a downright toxic environment in the name of trans dating.
If you identify as a trans person, you should be wary about joining a transgender hookup site. These niche spaces often attract more creeps and pervs than genuine online daters, and the overly sexualized climate can dehumanize a trans single.
One other thing to think about is if you’re interested in paid dating sites or free dating apps. On the surface, a free dating site or app may sound like a good deal, but sometimes the best way to find a trans relationship will be behind the safety of a paywall.
Is TS Scene a Popular Trans Hookup App?
Popular? Yes. Effective? Not so much. TS Scene is a transgender dating site that outwardly promotes itself as a trans community, yet it lumps all trans members into one category. TS Scene categorizes its members as either a man, a woman, a couple, or a TS/TV/TG (transsexual, transvestite, or transgender). It does not ask members to identify as male-to-female, female-to-male, or nonbinary. The search filters are similarly reductive.
All in all, we’re not that impressed by TS Scene as a trans hookup app for some people. The platform seems to use trans personals as a signup ploy, and it’s unclear how many real members are online. The highly insensitive and stereotyping way the site discusses trans singles has led us to believe that its main goal isn’t to serve its trans members, but instead to serve them up as kinky sexual bait.
Is TS Singles a Good Trans Dating Site?
TS Singles is a respectable option in the trans dating scene. This transsexual dating site maintains high privacy and safety standards. Members can choose which information about themselves is visible in their profile. The free registration process doesn’t ask members to use their real names and doesn’t collect credit card information.
TS Singles can help adventurous singles find a transsexual date.
All it takes is an email address to create a TS Singles dating profile and browse its trans dating list.
Free members can view profiles, upload photos, send virtual flirts, and join the TS Singles chat room; however, they cannot send private messages until they upgrade to a premium membership.
The downside to joining TS Singles is how small it is in comparison to other online dating platforms. The niche database is not as large as that of a more traditional dating app, so it may take longer to find a local date here.
The Trans Dating Scene Is More Than a Shemale Kink
The online world can inspire greater connectivity and foster like-minded communities of all shapes, sizes, and identities. You just have to know who you are and what you want.
You came to this article looking for shemale dating sites and apps, and we hope it’s because you’re genuinely curious and passionate about dating trans people. Not as a fetish. Not for a laugh. Transgender singles have real feelings and insecurities just like anybody else, and they deserve to be treated with respect — especially by a potential partner.
An online dating site or mobile app can introduce you to LGBTQ+ singles who are your type, but it’s up to you to turn your online matches into real-life dates and relationships. Good luck!
