If you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ 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 by offerings a wide spectrum of same-sex relationships, from hookups to lifetime partnerships.
I’ve identified the best 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, while others cater exclusively to LGBTQ+ singles. You can use one of these popular dating sites to meet someone who shares common interests, goals, and backgrounds.
1. NaughtyCharm
When it comes to arranging hookups, NaughtyCharm is fast, easy, fun, and safe. This dating site has built a global network of sexy men and women who want to skip the small talk and cut right to the chase. If you’re interested in short-term romance, NaughtyCharm is the place to go and get your flirt on.
- 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
- Browse NaughtyCharm profiles 100% free
If you’re in a hurry to pick up a date for a hookup, NaughtyCharm 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.
NaughtyCharm 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.
Ashley Madison is a breath of fresh air for single or attached folks experiencing a sex slump. This exciting dating site and app offer tons of opportunities to mingle, match, flirt, and hook up discreetly. Over 91 million profiles await you on Ashley Madison, and it’s free to create an anonymous account.
- Discreetly arranges one-night stands
- More than 91 million profiles worldwide
- Travel-friendly features for seeking matches in other cities
- Browse Ashley Madison profiles 100% free
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 “Where discretion meets desire,” the platform has staked its reputation on no-strings connections and added over 80 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.
Registering for an account on Adult Friend Finder (AFF) is like speeding into the fast lane of the online dating world. This hookup site puts you in the center of action and encourages sexy singles and swingers to satisfy their secret fantasies. Anyone over 18 can join AFF and browse millions of profiles for free, but only full-fledged members have access to the revealing content in the community forums and chat rooms.
- One of the largest adults-only sex communities
- Free and fast registration process
- Dating forums and live chats foster live flirtation
- Browse Adult Friend Finder profiles 100% free
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.
When you join the AFF community, you’ll notice uncensored X-rated content, as the platform doesn’t filter out nude photos or graphic images. With a free membership, you can dive into erotic blogs and browse profiles to set the mood. However, a Gold Membership is needed to engage in those steamy conversations through private messages.
KinkyPeopleMeet is open to people of all identities, orientations, and fetishes. Whether you’re a furry, a submissive, or just curious, you can find plenty of potential sex partners willing to talk about fantasies and see where it goes. The forums include kink-based spaces and ads for local meetups, so it’s easy to connect with men who are sexually active and looking to play.
- Live video streaming and other explicit content
- Anonymous browsing and posting
- Kink-based spaces for people with particular tastes
- Browse KinkyPeopleMeet profiles 100% free
KinkyPeopleMeet 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. It’s easy to turn your naughty chat into a real hookup.
If you want a quick conversation, you can post an ad or photo and see who replies. Video streaming and photo galleries are also available. And, naturally, kink-based filters ensure people can find the fantasy they so desire.
5. Tinder
Tinder has helped millions of singles in the LGBTQ+ community mingle and pick up dates. The app has generated over 100 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
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 630 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 individuals can tailor their Tinder preferences to “women seeking women” or “men seeking men” to find a suitable match. Once that’s set, the swiping game kicks off. When you express interest in someone, Tinder picks up on your tastes and starts suggesting similar profiles.
This learning algorithm provides users with a pleasurable online dating experience, leading to more than 97 billion mutual matches and 1.5 million dates per week.
6. 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
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 approximately 145 million total registered 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.
7. 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 a popular app for lesbian, bisexual, and queer women. Since its launch in 2013, the dating platform has gained more than 15 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.
8. 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.
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!”
9. 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.
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.
10. Hinge
American politician Pete Buttigieg (the first openly gay man to run for President) met his husband Chasten on Hinge. That alone should inspire many LGBTQ+ folks to sign up.
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.
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.
11. 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.
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.”
12. 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.
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.”
13. 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.
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?
Choosing the right app really depends on what you’re after. Grindr is a favorite among gay men for finding hookup partners. But remember, there’s no universal solution in online dating. If you’ve given Grindr a shot and are ready for something new, go for it! Sometimes you just need to try things out to see what suits you best.
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
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.
Is it Safe to Find a Hookup Online?
In general, it’s safe for LGBTQ+ folks to find hookups online. In a 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!
