If you’re a member of the LGBT community who wants to start a relationship, talking to someone in real life can be a scary proposition. You may risk a painful rejection or an embarrassing outcome. Online dating sites changed the dating game for queer folks, and by joining a dating app, you can find a wide spectrum of relationships, from hookups to lifetime partnerships.

I’ve identified 15 of the best LGBT hookup sites that allow gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender daters — or anyone in between — to chat, flirt, and date on their terms. Some of the platforms began as straight dating sites and expanded to include others, while many cater exclusively to LGBT singles. You can use one of these popular dating sites to meet someone with the same sexual orientation who shares common interests, goals, and backgrounds.

Category Rating
★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • A global network of naughty singles over 18
  • Ability to blur nude and explicit content, if desired
  • Advanced search filters and one-on-one messaging

If you’re in a hurry to pick up a date for a hookup, BeNaughty offers a willing dating pool. This site welcomes sexy singles who identify as straight, gay, lesbian, or bi-curious and who are looking for sex — and many of them post sexy photos to prove it.

BeNaughty has a simple interface that offers safety to those looking for hookups and welcomes more than 40,000 new singles every week. Nearly 90% of those users find matches on the site. Women get to chat it up for free, while men have limited communication options unless they opt for a premium membership. 

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★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • Discreetly arranges one-night stands and extramarital affairs
  • More than 80 million profiles worldwide
  • Travel-friendly features for seeking matches in other cities

Ashley Madison is a casual dating site and app for those who want to explore their sexual options outside monogamy. Anyone who is single, in a relationship, separated, married, straight, gay, lesbian, and every status you can imagine is welcome. With the tagline “Life is short. Have an affair,” the platform claims to set up nearly 40,000 affairs per day among 60 million members in its database.

Given the nature of the site, security is a concern. That’s why Ashley Madison allows users to blur or mask their main profile pictures and use nicknames to browse. Additionally, the phrases “online dating” or “Ashley Madison” will not appear on your bank statement. Instead, the site uses the words “online service” to ensure everything stays vague.

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★★★★★ 4.7/5.0

For LGBT folks who want to spice up their love lives, Adult Friend Finder opens a world of possibilities, including romance, hookups, and everything in between. This sexually charged dating service launched in 1996 and, to date, has helped more than 104 million users have fun. People from any race, background, and sexual orientation are welcome in this dating pool. You only need to find someone who seeks the same thing as you.

Note that when you join the AFF community, you’ll see X-rated content, as the platform doesn’t censor nude photos or graphic images. Users with a free membership can read erotic blogs and browse profiles to set the mood. But you need a Gold Membership to engage in steamy conversations through private messages.

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★★★★ 4.3/5.0
  • Create a free profile in less than a minute
  • Search filters can identify attractive singles and couples in the area
  • Strip tease videos, revealing photos, and other adult content

LesbianPersonals is a nonjudgmental dating pool for lesbians, queer women, and bisexuals looking to find hookup partners. The site has supported the LGBTQ+ community for almost 30 years.

On this platform, you will find all types of lesbians — including unicorns, lipstick lesbians, butches, and femmes. You can find your mate with kinky search filters and connect with someone who catches your attention in a sex-positive chat room. Signing up is free, but when you upgrade to premium, you’ll receive full access to all the photos and videos, unlimited messaging, on-site contests, and a bunch of other perks. 

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★★★★ 4.0/5.0
  • Gay, bisexual, and queer men can seek hot dates on their terms
  • The Like Gallery recommends potential matches near you
  • Send a Flirtcast to all single guys who meet your dating standards

As a free hookup site, Flirt.com appeals to sexually active individuals from all orientations who want to flirt and have fun. You won’t find a matchmaking system on this platform, because members care only about desires. Flirt.com has more than 65 million users for you to browse and possibly turn your naughty chat into a real hookup.

If you want a quick conversation, you can send a FlirtCast and see who replies, but you must be a paid member to view the photos of other users. Also, when you hang out in this app, you must be aware of fake profiles to protect yourself from romance scammers.

6. Tinder

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★★★★ 3.9/5.0
  • 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

A list of the best LGBT hookup sites wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Tinder. It is undeniably the most popular dating app in the world, with more than 530 million downloads. Since launching in 2012, Tinder has become more LGBTQ+ friendly by providing nine sexual orientation options, resulting in more than 80 million same-sex or nonbinary matches.

Queer people can set their Tinder preferences to “women seek women” or “men seek men” to find a potential match. Then the swiping game begins. When you like someone on Tinder, the app learns a little bit about your preferences and starts recommending similar profiles. This learning algorithm provides users with a pleasurable online dating experience, leading to more than 75 billion mutual matches and 1.5 million dates per week.

7. Grindr

Category Rating
★★★ 3.4/5.0
  • 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

Whether you’re gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or a man who is still exploring your sexual orientation, you can join Grindr to meet non-straight men who live nearby and want to hook up. Grindr users tend to move from “Hey, good to see you” to “Your place or mine?” pretty quickly, so you don’t need to be shy or waste your time on small talk.

You should find someone interesting among the platform’s more than 27 million total users. When you spend time on Grindr, always be mindful of fake profiles and keep your identity vague until you trust the other person. You can use this app for free, but if you want to unsend messages or swipe on profiles in different cities, states, or countries, you must join Grindr Xtra.

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★★★ 3.4/5.0
  • All sugar babies can explore the network for free
  • Fielding matches in 139 countries
  • Background checks and income verification badges available

Seeking.com is an elite sugar dating site that has been around for a while and was formerly known as SeekingArrangement. Lesbians will love this dating site because it has four times more women than men. That means once queer women set their profile as “women seeking women,” they have plenty of potential partners to choose from.

You must complete a screening process to verify your identity and join Seeking. If you do stumble into a fake profile or scammer or feel uncomfortable with the message thread, Seeking makes it easy to report. The best thing about finding sugar relationships on this platform is that Seeking checks into the income of a sugar mama or daddy, including a credit check. In case your hookup moment turns into a long-term connection, you know you’re with someone who can take care of you.

9. HER

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★★★★ 3.5/5.0
  • A quirky and unapologetic womxn-only dating community
  • Queer events get users connecting IRL
  • The constantly updated Feed facilitates social networking

HER is a popular app for lesbian, bisexual, and queer women. Since its launch in 2013, the dating platform has gained more than 5 million members worldwide, and it continues to grow. HER offers a newsfeed, event calendar, and free chat features, to help lesbians and queer women build new local connections.

All new HER members must verify their accounts through Facebook to confirm their identities. Moderators will promptly remove very straight people, male users, and couples, as well as anyone who breaks the community guidelines. HER encourages its members to post stories, comment on photos, and RSVP to events to support inclusive experiences.

10. SCRUFF

If you’re a gay male traveler or a queer man seeking adventure, SCRUFF is an ideal dating app to find your partner. The platform was launched in 2010 by Johnny Skandros and Eric Silverberg and has gained more than 20 million verified members.

SCRUFF homepage
SCRUFF connects gay and bisexual men around the world.

As you travel the world, you can find a local date in your destination before your flight lands thanks to the Venture feature. This will make your experience more exciting because you can set up local dates to show you around. Using SCRUFF, you can have fun and flings all around the world without letting distance hold you back.

Still on the fence about giving SCRUFF a try? Let’s read what app user Bukouras said about the app. “I recommend this app for scruff guys and all guys of every kind. I don’t view it as a ‘hook-up’ site and believe although the option is there, it’s also a great place to make new friends. If you plan on traveling, I definitely suggest utilizing the Venture feature to meet guys online before you arrive. This allows you to learn about the good spots friendly to our sexuality!”

11. Taimi

Taimi is a truly LGBTQ+-centered dating app. The platform curates flexible dating and sexual experiences for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and queer individuals. Its smart features help users socialize one-on-one or in a group setting. 

Taimi offers an abundance of pronoun and gender options for dating profiles.

In 2020, Taimi introduced video live-streaming features to allow users to arrange socially distant meetups. With more than 13 million users, Taimi can help you not only find a date but also build a social circle of people who understand you.

“I came to NYC without any contacts a couple of months ago and have found a good circle of people. It’s also easy to put the profile together so you specify what you’re looking for,” said user Akash N in an online review.

12. Hinge

US Transportation Secretary, and one-time presidential candidate, Pete Buttigieg met his husband Chasten on Hinge. That alone should inspire many LGBTQ+ folks to find their special someone through online dating. Hinge is one of the most popular dating apps for relationship-minded singles who want to not only swipe left and right based on appearance but also get a glimpse of the other individual’s personality in the profile prompt.

Hinge logo
Hinge is a successful dating app with detailed profiles on demand.

When creating your Hinge dating profile on, you must upload at least six photos. Our experts suggest that you upload close-up photos, travel photos, and photos of you engaging in other activities to show different aspects of your life. These photos will be useful in sparking a conversation and getting the ball rolling.

13. Les

Les is a new player in the dating app and social networking space, and caters to only lesbian, bisexual, and queer women. It offers a great community for lesbians to meet and chat with people nearby or around the world.

Les logo
The Les app is a good alternative for lesbian and queer women.

Whether you are looking for a serious relationship or searching for a meetup with other lesbians, the Les app can help.

All LGBT women are welcome to create profiles for free in Les. Every registered member is rigorously vetted to eliminate scams or fake profiles. This will make your love quest both entertaining and safe. Once you’re in, you can use a filter to narrow down your choices, swipe, and chat to build connections with other queer women around you.

App user Monreal Englebert Vevine wrote a glowing review of Les on the Google app store. “Although I used this lesbian dating free app for a short time, it immediately impressed me. It won my trust from the beginning, especially because there is a photo verification function to ensure that you are actually a woman. The settings are good and the configuration file is easy to navigate.”

14. Feeld

If you’re looking for a more adventurous sexual experience, Feeld may work for you. This app, which was launched in 2014, welcomes everyone, including out-and-proud gay men, nonbinary individuals who are still figuring out what they like, straight couples looking for a threesome, and lesbians seeking partners.

Feeld screenshot
Feeld offers open-ended matchmaking for poly people.

Members must verify their accounts through Facebook authentication to weed out fake profiles. You can browse in incognito mode to window-shop without being noticed.

More than 1.8 million curious people have downloaded Feeld on Google Play and the Apple App Store, resulting in 2 million-plus monthly connections. Queer people seem to love this app, with one reviewer writing, “First, it’s better than most apps, particularly if you’re LGBTQ+, queer, neurodivergent, kinky, and poly. There’s more space here for different loving, and if you fall under that umbrella, it’s really refreshing.”

15. Bumble

Bumble doesn’t completely fit into the same-sex dating app category, but the platform gives women full control by allowing them to decide who they contact. This makes it a safe atmosphere for queer women seeking relationships. 

Bumble screenshots
Bumble is widely known as a feminist dating app for young singles.

When you create a dating profile, Bumble requires Facebook authentication, which helps ensure that everyone is authentic. Lesbians will love Bumble for sure, but how about gay men? Luckily, they don’t have to worry about a gender power play. Here, once they get a match, they can message or not message within 24 hours. After that, the chat will disappear unless there’s a new chat or one of the matches decides to extend the deadline for another day.

FAQs: Is There an LGBT Hookup App Better Than Grindr?

The answer to this question depends on what you’re looking for. Grindr is a popular app among gay men seeking hookup partners. But in terms of online dating, there is no one-size-fits-all choice. If you have already tried Grindr and want to move on to something else, feel free to do that. After all, you may need first-hand experience to decide which dating app works best for you.

Category Rating
★★★ 3.4/5.0
  • 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

Our list of the 15 best LGBT hookup sites should give you plenty of alternatives to try. If you’re on a straight dating app, as long as you set your account preferences to the type of LGBTQ+ relationship you seek, you’re good to go. You may get quick results, but if things move a little bit slowly, you can use multiple dating apps to see which one yields the most matches.

What is the Difference Between Grindr and Blued?

Blued is popular in Asia and has a larger LGBTQ+ user base in general. This app is directed more toward those who want to build a network of followers than those who are looking for potential dates.

Here, you can follow other users, share status updates, upload photos and videos to your profile, and even start a live video stream. The app also lets you send voice messages, pictures, and stickers to anyone around the world. In short, Blued is more of a social media app for the LGBTQ+ community.

With 27 million users, Blued is useful when it comes to socializing with other gay men. Being a non-straight man can feel lonely sometimes, so it’s no wonder that many queer men love to hang out on this app. 

Meanwhile, Grindr is hands down the largest and most popular dating app for gay men, with more than 2 million daily users online from 196 countries. The platform’s free features include the ability to show up to 100 guys at the nearest location, chat and share private photos, customize searches, and save and block users. The best part is that everyone you meet through Grindr is 100% guaranteed to be gay, so flirting in real life can be easier than before.

Can I Find a Gay Hookup on SilverSingles? 

Yes, you can! SilverSingles has more than two decades of experience in the online dating scene and has established itself as one of the most trusted senior dating sites in the industry. 

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.0/5.0
  • Quick registration process with options to add private photos.
  • The majority of users are single adults with experience.
  • Fraud Detection Systems ensure online dating safety.

Moderators review every profile to remove any youngsters, phonies, scammers, and fakes. This establishes the SilverSingles dating pool as a safe space for LGBTQ+ singles to flirt and build connections. The site also uses a personality test to recommend compatible individuals to chat with and hopefully spark real relationships down the line.

Today, SilverSingles is available in almost all English-speaking countries such as the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia. Around 800,000 people visit this platform every month for its simple navigation and signup process. LGBTQ+ singles can find serious relationships to hook up on this platform, as long as they communicate what they’re looking for. 

Older singles cannot view photos or send messages unless they pay for a monthly subscription. This premium fee ensures everyone you talk to is someone who wants to invest in meeting someone — for hookups or relationships.

Is it Safe to Find a Hookup Online?

In general, it’s safe for LGBTQ+ folks to find hookups online. In a 2022 Pew Research Center survey, 51% of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer people in America said they had used a dating site or app to find dates. 

Unfortunately, LGBTQ+ singles still become targets for abuse on dating platforms. Anytime you feel uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to use the block or report button in an app. Your safety comes first, but you need to be on the lookout. Here are examples of suspicious behavior:

  • Asking for money or donations.
  • Requesting photographs.
  • Sending harassing or offensive messages or emails.
  • Behaving inappropriately during or after meeting in person.
  • Seeing a potentially fake profile.
  • Sending spam or solicitation requests, such as invitations to call 900 numbers or offers to buy products or services.

In addition, you must take reasonable precautions. For example, don’t ever put your full name or address in your profile. Use common sense when chatting and be on the alert for false information from other individuals. And when you finally agree to meet someone in person, set the meeting in a public place at a reasonable hour.

Online Dating Sites Pave the Way for Casual LGBT Encounters

Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and queer people have embraced online dating in the last decade to find friendships, hookups, and long-term relationships. The idea of meeting strangers online may seem intimidating if you’ve never done it before. But with a little practice to perfect your technique, you’ll become a pro and enjoy your love quest.

The LGBT hookup sites on this list provide the opportunity and community to be yourself and find people who understand you. On the right platform, queer folks can have flirtatious conversations, find hookups, get first dates, or even start decades of love stories.

You never know what will happen unless you give it a fair shot. As long as you put in the work, the possibilities are endless, so get out there and get your match. Have fun!

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