At the dawn of the online dating industry, there weren’t many dating sites for the LGBTQ community, and it was difficult to find the one that was both safe and effective for finding compatible matches.
But times have changed — today’s market is flooded with new LGBTQ dating apps, and it can be difficult to choose the right one from such a big variety.
Today, we’ll talk about the most popular dating apps and discuss their premium features, free versions, overall safety, and effectiveness. It will help you find an answer to the question: what is the best dating app for lgbtq community?
Taimi is probably the most inclusive dating app with one of the most diverse user bases. Here, you can meet people of all gender identities and sexual orientations — and everyone feels equal and valued.
Taimi is a community space free of judgment and harassment. Queer folks come to this platform to meet like-minded individuals and discuss topics that resonate with them — they join chat rooms and participate in live streams to find answers and share personal experiences.
For those who feel awkward starting a conversation, Taimi offers conversation starters — pre-written messages that are fun and engaging. Instead of feeling frustrated about what to write in your first message, you can simply click on one of the starters and start a meaningful chat.
Taimi puts user security and privacy first, continuously improving its algorithms to detect fake profiles and block explicit content. Whether you’re a free or premium user, you can be sure that your personal data won’t be stolen or transferred to third parties.
Unlike many other dating apps that fall into just one category — hookup apps or apps for serious relationships — Taimi can be used for various purposes. On Taimi, you can find friends and connect with the community, look for a casual fling, or even develop a romantic connection that last a lifetime.
Source: Taimi.
Scruff
Scruff is one of the most popular gay dating apps. It attracts gay, trans, and bisexual men with its welcoming atmosphere and features that create more opportunities for developing authentic connections.
Scruff can be used not just as a dating app but also as a social app — you can join to meet new friends and learn about upcoming LGBTQ events.
On this platform, users can create detailed profiles, add multiple pictures and private albums, and share information about their interests. You get enough information to learn about a person before sending a Woof (similar to a “like” on other apps) or a message.
Another great thing about Scruff is its strong safety features. For instance, the Traveler Safety Alerts system informs users about potential risks when they travel to countries with anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
The major drawback of Scruff is that the free version has too many limitations. You can’t see the full list of people who viewed your profile or sent you a Woof. Free users can also view only the 16 most recent conversations and the 25 most recent messages within those chats, which makes it difficult to maintain meaningful communication.
HER
HER is a lesbian dating app with the largest online sapphic community. It unites lesbians and queer women, helping them find love and build meaningful connections.
Beyond dating, HER focuses on building a sense of belonging within the community. This sapphic dating app has a genuinely welcoming atmosphere and promotes safety and inclusivity while maintaining a social, low-pressure vibe.
Here, you can be your most authentic self, explore profiles of fellow queer women, and use both free and premium features to achieve your relationship goals — whether you’re looking for a casual encounter or a romantic connection.
There are over 35 active communities on the platform, covering topics from gardening (Green Thumbs) and astrology (Astrology and Tarot) to parenting (Single Queer Parents). You can also find information about upcoming community events, making it easy to meet people who are on the same page in life as you.
HER is a great lesbian dating app, though it does have a few technical drawbacks.
For example, some users report that receiving comments on profiles only works properly as the iOS app and tends to glitch on Android. However, a premium membership is almost essential, as the free version has too many limitations.
OkCupid
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OkCupid is a mainstream dating app, yet it’s inclusive and can be successfully used by queer people looking for authentic connections.
There are 60 identity options for LGBTQ+ users, so everyone can be themselves without pressure or judgment.
While other apps define potential matches through swiping, OkCupid’s matching system uses an in-depth questionnaire to calculate compatibility scores — from interests in art and crafts to favorite sports teams and political views.
LGBTQ+ users can also answer specific questions designed to help them connect with the right queer person.
To optimize search results and improve the queer dating experience, OkCupid offers “deal-breaker” filters. You can set parameters to filter out users you don’t want to interact with — for instance, straight people or those with political views very different from yours.
OkCupid’s user base is huge, mainly because the app has existed for over a decade. However, this also means there are quite a few inactive or “ghost” profiles still visible, which can be frustrating. The free version also displays too many ads, making the overall experience a bit interrupted.
Grindr
While OkCupid focuses on compatibility and shared interests, Grindr takes a very different approach — quick, location-based connections.
Grindr is considered one of the best gay dating apps on the market today. It works perfectly for gay men seeking casual sex and wanting to meet potential matches the same day. However, it’s not the best choice for gay guys looking for meaningful conversations or long-term relationships.
Grindr was one of the first gay dating apps to set trends and shape modern queer dating culture. It pioneered the use of geosocial matching — the app displays a location-based grid that allows users to see nearby profiles in real time.
The user base of Grindr is one of the largest in the gay dating niche. If you live in an area with a smaller LGBTQ+ community, this app can give you access to a much broader dating pool compared to smaller or newer dating apps.
One of Grindr’s most debated aspects is its moderation policy. The app doesn’t strictly filter or monitor all activity, which gives users more freedom to express themselves and communicate openly.
However, this also means that instances of bigotry, harassment, and unsolicited explicit content can occur.
Source: Depositphotos.
Hinge
Hinge is one of the few dating apps on the market that removed the swipe feature from its interface to prioritize meaningful connections over casual encounters.
Everyone who joins this dating site is encouraged to create a detailed profile and genuinely engage with other queer users.
Since many people struggle to move beyond small talk, Hinge introduced a unique prompt-based profile format to spark conversation naturally.
The app also created dedicated queer resources, including NFAQ (Not-So-Frequently-Asked Questions) — a guide designed to help users navigate unique queer dating experiences.
While Hinge can’t be called the best gay dating app since it’s more of a mainstream platform, it remains very popular among gay men.
The app actively supports the LGBTQ+ community and even runs funds to increase therapy access for queer daters, which many users truly appreciate. Hinge has become a go-to choice for both lesbian dating and gay dating, standing out among other “inclusive” apps that make claims but take few real steps to support the community.
According to App Store reviews, the main drawbacks of Hinge are that you must pay a monthly fee to unlock core features like advanced filters and the ability to see who liked you. Also, unlike many other dating apps, Hinge doesn’t offer video chat functionality.
Tser
Tser is a niche dating app designed for trans people and their friends and allies.
The main advantages of this online dating app are its inclusivity, global reach, and strong sense of community support.
Here, you can meet trans people from all over the world and communicate freely, knowing you won’t face judgment or harassment. If we compare two apps: Tser and any mainstream app, Tser will be 100% a safer option.
However, Tser does have some drawbacks. The user base is smaller compared to more popular apps, and the moderation system isn’t perfect — fake profiles and bots are still quite common on the dating site.
Bumble
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Bumble is a popular dating app that works for both heterosexual and same-sex matches, though it offers slightly different rules and features for each.
To stand out from other best dating apps and make online dating safer for women, Bumble introduced the “women make the first move” feature.
When Bumble expanded its inclusivity policies, this rule was adjusted for same-sex matches. Now, either person can send the first message, and the other user has 24 hours to reply before the connection expires.
Like many most dating apps, Bumble offers video chat, interest badges, and the ability to link your dating profile to your Instagram and Spotify accounts.
However, most of Bumble’s core features are paid features, and the subscription can be quite expensive. This makes the dating app less appealing for queer and gay daters.
If your gender identity or sexual orientation doesn’t fit neatly into binary or heterosexual categories, you might prefer more affordable Android or iOS apps designed specifically for the LGBTQ+ community.
Conclusion
Source: Unsplash.
Modern dating apps are great tools for meeting new friends, partners, or flings.
By choosing an app that perfectly matches your dating goals, you can explore your sexual orientation and gender identity, connect with like-minded users, and get support from the community you belong to — whether that’s gay men, queer women, or the broader LGBTQ+ spectrum.
All the dating apps mentioned on this list are worth your attention and trust. You can download them from the App Store or Play Market and explore their free versions, as well as paid features that unlock more possibilities.
If you’re looking for something more than just a dating app — a platform that brings interesting people together, promotes well-being, and builds a true sense of community — choose Taimi. It’s the only one fully inclusive dating platform, and not all dating apps can say the same.
Whether you’re into older guys, someone who’s gender-fluid, or partners who share your specific kinks, you can find them here. The basic features are free, so you can start your dating journey right away.
Disclaimer:
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