I think we can all agree that, for the most part, dating apps suck. We all have to sift through the mirror selfies, the bots, and the “not here for a long time, here for a good time” profiles hoping to find something—anything!—worth pursuing.
But if you are queer, finding love on dating apps is significantly harder. Your dating pool seriously shrinks, and less options = less opportunity to meet someone special.
For that reason, it’s super important to make sure you’re downloading dating apps that are LGBTQ+ friendly. This makes it so that you can be more intentional about who or what you’re looking for.
And luckily for you, I’ve compiled a list of the le best queer dating apps. Not only can these apps help you potentially find love, but they can also help you find a sense of belonging.
For your pleasure, here’s what you should download right now:
1. Thurst
Who it’s for: Queer community as a whole
Thurst functions similarly to the mainstream heteronormative dating apps, as in you see people’s profiles one at a time and can decide if you like them or not. The major benefit of Thurst is that there is an array of options when choosing how you identify. In terms of sexuality, you can choose anything from abrosexual to iculasexual, and most things in between. Along with that, gender is a blank space that you can fill in however you choose on your profile. (We love to see it.)
These settings make it one of the most inclusive dating apps in terms of how you define yourself. However, the app itself operates at a less than revolutionary standard. It often freezes and can be buggy. Le sigh.
2. Lex
Who it’s for: Queer community as a whole
Unlike other dating apps, Lex doesn’t allow you to post photos. You can connect to your Instagram, but it’s not required. So in other words, it’s basically like a queer Twitter where you can see what’s happening globally or just in your local area. You can use Lex for any type of relationship: dating, fuck buddies, friends, business partners. There’s a big focus on community building, and no tolerance for hate. The app can be buggy at times, but overall, it’s a solid option.
3. Her
Who it’s for: Womxn
Cisgender, heterosexual people are basically the only people excluded. Though it was made as a dating app, it in some way functions as a social media app. It has a feed—much like Facebook’s, that allows you to see what others on the app are doing. For example, there’s an event page to view upcoming queer events in your area and there is also a function to join “communities,” which allows you to meet people with similar interests. Of course, HER can also be used to swipe left or right for a soul mate, but its extra functions make it so much more than that.
Here’s the bad news: The major drawback with Her is the paywall. If you want to see someone who has swiped right on you: paywall. If you want to chat with someone who is online near you, but you haven’t matched yet: paywall. If you want to have a decently lengthened conversation with someone you already matched with: paywall. If you have an extra $25.99 a month you will have a great time. But for those single ladies on a budget, this one may not be The Move.
4. Scruff
Who it’s for: Mxn
Please, please, please say goodbye to Grindr. Scruff works similarly, but is focused on more than just hookups. It also includes a global feature, so you can get access to men far away from you, and that makes it easy to meet people in different cities when you want to travel. Plus, the app even shows you queer events near you so you can connect in person (back when people are allowed outside).
JSYK though, Scruff is primarily targeted toward hairy men (otters, bears, and cubs specifically). It also recently added a paywall ($20 a month), which makes access to its features annoying at best.
5. BiCupid
Who it’s for: Bisexuals and Pansexuals
This app does not care how you identify in terms of gender, ethnicity, ability etc., as long as you are bisexual or pansexual. This helps make a safe space for those who are attracted to multiple genders to find each other. It also includes a space for you to list almost anything else about yourself: hair color, eye color, height, religion, star sign, education, political beliefs, pets, body type, etc.
While these descriptions lean on the side of superficiality, especially given you can only choose from their list of options, they also make it easier for finding a partner who you share beliefs with. BiCupid functions like a cross between Tinder and Grindr, where you can swipe left or right, or you can peruse profiles of others on the app.
6. Ace Dating
Who it’s for: Asexual community
Most other dating apps either implicitly or explicitly include some form of sexualization, but Ace Dating aims to create a space for asexual people to connect and form a community. Plus, it offers the opportunity to video chat with your potential partners.
It’s great in theory, but be prepared for some bugs: You can enter search parameters, but they don’t work, and users also reported an overwhelming number of bots, making it difficult to connect with real people.
7. Transdr
Who it’s for: Transgender community
Though its target audience is those who identify as transgender, anyone can use Transdr to find someone. Transdr also includes a “Lifestyle” page where you can post pictures and updates of what’s going on in your life, similar to how Facebook functions. This helps create communities among the app’s user base. The downside of this app is that a lot of its users are cis men, which can lead to the fetishization of the trans community. In theory this app is great, but in practice, be wary about your time spent here.
8. Tinder
Who it’s for: Everyone
Is tinder a garbage hole full of fuck boys? Yeah. But everyone is on it, so it’s much easier to meet someone. Specialized dating apps have limited pools of users, but if you want to play a numbers game, Tinder is the right option. You will have to evade couples looking for thirds, but overall, it’s great. You have access to the whole community, and you’ll have better odds at finding a partner—or maybe just a hookup if that’s what you want.
9. Hinge
Who it’s for: Everyone
As we all know, Hinge is similar to Tinder in that your surrounded by the straights. But it also, like Tinder, has the benefit of everyone being on it. It is targeted specifically at dating so it’s perfect for those looking for a relationship. They also added a video chat function during the pandemic so you can do a virtual first date. You’re also much less likely to run into fetishizing straights than you are on Tinder. Sometimes the best queer dating app is the one designed for straight people.
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