We live in a world in which consumers demand a lot of any online sites and apps they use. They want rapid results, whether they are looking for products to buy, services, or information.
One of the exploding consumer-driven demands lies in online dating industry. Who would have thought in the early 90s that dating would ever be more than traditional ways of meeting someone and getting into a relationship? But here we are in the 21st century where dating online has now reached a user base of almost 400 million people worldwide.
How did this come to be? Well, people have realized the benefits of starting connections and relationships online before they spend time, energy and money on lots of date “fails” when they can get to know potential partners online first – it’s just more efficient, and we are all about efficiency these days.
Another aspect of online dating is that the LGBTQ+ population can find potential partners via dating apps that cater to them. Of course, that includes gay men.
The point of this article is to search out those dating apps that serve gay men well. If you happen to be that gay man, sit back, relax, get a snack and read away. You’ll find a host of apps that serve gay men. But, while these may be a listing of what we consider the great gay dating apps out there, not all of them will be for you. And this is where is gets complicated.
So, here’s what you can do. You can go through this list, take a look at what we present and and pick a gay dating app or two (or three or four) dating apps that fit your needs, desires, and dating style. Theres a popular gay dating (at least one but probably more) from among these most popular dating apps that is just the shape and size you want.
Some Introductory Comments First of All
A Bit of History
The gay app market was non-existent just a couple of decades ago. Dating online was for heteros only, and all of the largest gay dating apps catered only to straight people. Most gay guys still lived in the shadows, looking for compatibles in gay bars, or cruising for partners in known areas of town. There were gay tribes who socialized together, gathering in groups. But none even thought about ever being included in dating online.
What happened was that all of these “straight” dating apps began to listen to what New York Times writers discovered. The LGBTQ+ community was a rising consumer force to be reckoned with – they formed a large part of the consumer economy.
At about the same time, the dating lexicon pop culture began to be much more inclusive of the queer community.
The other major development during this time was the growth of the iPhone generation (Android too, of course), and most all players in the business of online dating realized they had to develop apps rather than stick to websites.
These three forces were not lost on the world of all the dating apps that had ignored the queer community. They began to change their tunes. What were once favorite dating apps for only heteros saw the handwriting on the wall and began to market themselves to the queer community. While it took nearly a decade tor this turnaround, all of the latest dating app features now include sections and subsections for all people on the queer spectrum, including, of course, male gays.
About Our List
We spent a lot of time researching the gay apps included on this list – their features, their user base, the dating app’s interface, the numbers of gay male users, their presence around the world, free and premium features, pros and cons, and more so that we had an honest and complete review before we generated this list of what we believe are the best dating apps for the gay male community space. Not a lot was overlooked. We found all the gay apps the world over and checked them all out. Any guy looking for a gay app today will have no problem here, no matter what type of relationship they seek.
What’s Wrong With Traditional Gay Dating?
A lot actually. First, the places on the ground to meet fellow gays have begun to dry up. Yes, there are still gay bars and clubs, but they are in decline, and the same guys show up all the time. Cruising formerly gay meeting spots have dried up too. Gays have found their increasing legitimacy in society means they don’t need to use these outdated methods. And if they do find like-minded others, they can make many dating mistakes (think time, money, and energy) before they find what they are looking for. It’s just so much easier to get online, chat up some possibles, and choose the best prospects that way without wasted effort.
With all of this in mind, it’s time to take a look at gay apps that could be winners. We’ll start with size.
Size May Matter (or Not)
There are huge, medium, and small niche dating apps for gays.
The Big Guys
Dating online first began in 1995 with a website called Match. By today’s standards, it was primitive, matching people by using common keywords. And it was fully hetero.
Match Today
Over time, things changed, and Match has become a leader in the industry, serving a huge user base that includes the LGBTQ+ community and gay men specifically. With a user base of 96 million, there is a sizeable section for the queer population, and then the pool gets smaller for the subsection for gay males, and then for gays seeking a specific type of relationship. Still, it’s worth a try. The free version will let you see who’s out there.
Plenty of Fish
Here’s another biggie with 150 million users globally. If you are a gay male looking for a specific type of relationship, you will have to dig a bit, and the pool will be narrowed down quite a bit. But the free version lets you browse your matches, so why not?
Tinder
Another huge global app. Its most distinguishing feature was the introduction of the swiping feature that the majority of other apps use today. It was an original game changer for sure. About 20% of its user base is queer, covering the entire spectrum, but about 7.8 million of them are in the US. Again, you’ll have to narrow the pool down to other gays looking for the same type of relationship you are. There is a free version that does let you explore and chat with potentials.
Taimi
Here’s a huge app designed exclusively for the queer community. There are over 29 million users, but the majority are in the US. There is a large component of gay males seeking all types of relationships, and there is a geolocation feature to find possibles close by — which is why many people include it on lists of the best gay dating apps.
OKCupid
Over 30 million and with an LGBTQ+ user base of about 1 million. We’ll cover this in more detail later.
Adult Friend Finder
Sex sells, and here is an app with almost 100 million users. Be prepared for dick pics, graphic videos and the like. If you are a gay male into flings, hookups, kink and no strings attached dating, you’ll want to check it out.
eHarmony
This app has been in business for 25 years with about 37 million users. Like match, it has sections and subsections for the queer population. You’ll need to see if there’s enough of a pool to meet your dating goals.
No, Instagram is not a gay app for dating, but there are over a billion singles using it instead of other dating apps. DMing, also known as direct messaging, can be wholly private or a part of the public banter. Instagram private messages lets users connect under otherwise challenging situations.
Lots of Insta celebrities post publicly about their success in finding each other. One of Meghan Markle’s friends posted her picture with a fun Instagram hashtag, and it was seen by Prince Harry, another celeb user. We all know how that ended.
And Instagram is an already flirtatious online community with its methods of adding friends, telling stories that entice others, and more. It has become a vital tool for a continually growing and changing community. in popular culture.
Mid-Sized and Smaller Niche Apps for the Gay Population
These all have fewer members but are focused on queer folx, and some specifically on gay guys.
Growlr
This is specifically for gay bears and those who want to connect with bears. If this is you, then it is one of the best gay dating apps for like-mindeds.
Scruff
Specifically designed for gay, bi, trans, and others within the queer community. It is independently owned and operated by members of the queer community and provide a safe space for its 30+ million users to connect for friendships, dates, and events in their locales. It’s been around since 2010 and is for gay, bi, trans, and other queers pf any sexual orientation. It’s a good experience and may just become your favorite gay app.
Planet Romeo
This app is based in the Netherlands and Germany, but there are about 500k subscribers in the US. If images are really important to you, then you might check it out. It is really an image-obsessed app for an image obsessed gay community.
Lex
An app originally developed for gay males but has opened up for the whole queer population. Still, the majority of members are gay male. It’s a free app specializing in social networking to meet pals, dates, like-minded groups, and events nearby. Free is a good description – you can start messaging immediately, and there is a limit on how many profiles you can view without the really cheap premium version.
Skout
If you are into live broadcasting, and live interaction, you’ll like this option. Obviously, it’s not for everyone. But is you are an extrovert who loves to strut your stuff and have lots of interaction in real time, it’s a possible gay app for you.
The League
Tough to get started on this one. Your identity must be verified before membership will be approved. If you value safety and security first, you’ll want to try it, and there are potential matches and meaningful connections to be found here.
Facebook Dating Groups
If you are fully “out,” then download the app, and state your dating objectives in your profile. This is a great spot for more meaningful conversation topics than you may find elsewhere.
Best Gay Dating Apps by Type of Relationship
Perhaps your best bet is to start with the kind of relationship you are seeking and check out those that are a fit first. This may just be your best way to find those apps that serve you specifically. So, let’s have a look at what’s out there. Gay male dating is a journey of course, and the type of relationship you want may change over time. But think about what you want right now as you consider these.
Flings and Hookups
So, you are looking for a no-strings-attached relationship focused on sex and pleasure. Here are some of the best gay hookup apps for that:
Men Nation
This app has about 70 million active users on the planet, but you can narrow the pool down to those nearby. It is exclusively for gay, bi, bi-curious, and trans men. Members can arrange IRL hookups or just engage in interactive flings online, through a wide-open chat room. This is a very flirtatious online community, and even a first message can get the ball rolling quickly.
Adult Friend Finder
This is not exclusive to the gay male population, but it is large enough to accommodate connections. Gays can be unicorns, seek unicorns, set up IRL hookups, or just engage in voyeurism, by connecting to live streaming sex acts of others. – anything goes on this app. If you are a bit conservative, AFF is not for you.
Sniffies
Call it digital cruising. It’s for gay, bi, trans, and straights who are exploring their sexuality. Users tap into a map to find locals in their neighborhoods who are ready for hookups on the spot. Unique and a quick way to find someone tonight. And no need for real names – stay anonymous if you want. Sniffies has changed LGBTQ nightlife a lot.
Exploration, Casual Dating, and More
Lots of gay guys are not into hookups and flings but not serious long-term relationships either. There are also straight guys who may be exploring their sexual orientation and want to start with some casual dating to “test” out their true sexuality. These may just be the best gay dating apps for them right now.
Grindr
Here is another location-based app. Grindr boats millions of users worldwide 145 million actually. Its most prominent feature is that it features a grid layout to locate like-minded gays nearby or anywhere in the world for guys who travel a lot. Guys looking for anything from friendship to having fun and sharing common interests may find a “home” here. Either the Grindr or Scruff app is great for building connections and finding a local date
Scruff
For gays who travel, here is one of the best gay dating apps. they can seek out like-minded others and set up dates in advance of their arrivals. Scruff also operates as a social networking app for guys to engage in digital dating and join networking groups, whether they ever intend to date IRL or not.
Growlr
Rugged gay guys have rejected the traditional preconceptions of what it means to be gay. They stick together and promote events, bear-friendly bars and clubs specifically for themselves. Cubs who want to connect with bears will also find this one of the best gay dating apps for themselves. One great feature is video sharing all part of our digital boom.
Long-Term Serious Partnerships
There are plenty of dating apps that exist for those seeking serious relationships. Among them, we have four that we believe to be the best.
Hinge
Hinge’s motto is that it is the dating app designed to be deleted. It uses a scientific method (algorithm) to match people based upon their profiles and a series of questions to be answered. This is not a gay-only app, but there are plenty gay men looking for love. The app got a big boost when former US Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg made it publicly known that he found his husband on Hinge. One user stated, “Almost all my connections have been meaningful and right on target. I’m looking forward to deleting the app very soon.”
Coffee Meets Bagel
Again, another app that is not gay-exclusive, but one that has 10 million members in major US cities, and that includes many gays. Registration takes time because new registrants must answer prompts to create their profiles, and then the matching system takes over. Users are presented with about 5 matches a day and profile info so they can think about it. Matches expire every 7 days, so check in often. You don’t want to be an off and on single here. Check your app every day – there will be a few dates waiting.
OKCupid
Since 2011 this app has been a platform for singles to find meaningful, serious relationships. It is not gay-specific but with 50 million current users, you’re going to find a ton. There’s a required personality quiz, the answers to which are used to generate matches, along with a percentage of compatibility provided with each match. Yu can also check out other people’s answers to those that you answered. The results of the personality quiz is a surprisingly useful indicator of dating success. You don’t want to be and OKCupid off and on user either. You will only receive a few matches each day. You can do a lot for free on the OKCupid app, so it might just be a home run for you.
eHarmony
Another “scientific” model app. To register, newbies must take a personality quiz with a variety of question types that will require time and thought. But, if you are truly looking for meaningful connections and ultimately the “one,” your time and effort is worth it. The results of your quiz are used to generate matches. eHarmony is not gay-specific but has 51 million members globally. The app knows just what you are looking for, and your matches will be spot-on. BTW, eHarmony has both a desktop and app version.
Time to Check Out Taimi
Taimi is the largest LGBTQ+-exclusive dating app on the planet, with over 29 million users, most in the US. While it supports all types of relationships, from hookups to long-term partnerships/marriage, there are a ton of active gays. It also operates as its own social media platform with groups to join. We list it as one of the best gay dating apps because of it focus on building a thriving, respectful, and totally inclusive environment. You can do a lot for free, so it’s worth you time to try it out. It just might be the best dating app for you.
You Now Have Our Favorites
Each of our choices in this article have been well-researched and have made our list of recommended dating apps for gay. They have lots to offer you as you take you life journey as a gay male. Your needs and desires may very well change, and that’s a good thing. If we all stayed stagnant, the world would be pretty boring. Be who you are right now with pride and confidence and look for the relationship that will bring you happiness and satisfaction.
And Now the Answer to the Question…
What are the best gay dating apps? They are the ones that work for you. We found gay apps all over the place, but once we did an actual review, we were not impressed, and they did not make our list.
Most important: We do not live in a “one size fits all” world. That’s for T-shirts and stretch socks. We live in a world of wonderful diversity, and you are a valuable part of it. And that means finding the dating apps that meet you expectation. Go forth and find you place!