Looking For Love: The Best Dating Apps For The LGBTQ Community
Her
Her, formerly known as Dattch, is a dating app that targets queer, bisexual, and gay women. Her is supposed to act like a “best friend” and set you up on dates. The app also offers updates concerning lesbian news and other events in your area. Kind of a one-stop shop!
Some tips for using the app include sign up on a Sunday around 9 pm when you are 20% more likely to get a like and 15% more likely to get a message. Another tip is to upload lots of photos, which is pretty standard for any dating app. A study focusing on the app also suggested waiting 44 messages before asking for a number, and you are more likely to get a positive response. The more you know!
Hornet
Hornet is a social network aimed at gay, bi-sexual, and bi-curious men who are looking to meet one another. It was founded in 2011 and refers to itself as the second largest gay social network. In November of 2016, it was reported that Hornet scored big time with $8 million in institution funding, which basically means they got some super-wealthy companies to invest in them.
Hornet said they will use the money to fund the rapid growth they have been experiencing. Another thing about Hornet is you can also use it from your laptop or desktop computer, it doesn’t just have to be on your phone to connect with other men!
Grindr
Grindr is probably one of the most well-known and popular dating apps for gay, bi-sexual, and bi-curious men. It was launched in 2009 and is available in 192 countries. Grindr works by letting men know when other men who are using the app are nearby. Men claim this is used mostly as a hookup app and not necessarily for those looking for a long term relationship.
Like many dating apps and various online dating tools, it is not without its pitfalls. In a recent murder case in the UK, a meth-addicted man named Stefano Brizzi used the app to meet police officer Gordon Semple and later murdered him. Brizzi was apparently inspired by the character Walter White from Breaking Bad and used acid to dissolve the body. Yikes! Be careful out there!
Wing Ma’am
In 2013, Wing Ma’am started an IndieGogo attempting to kickstart the app. They were successful and the app is now considered one of the best apps for lesbian women. Wing Ma’am is a location based app and because of this has been called the lesbian version of Grindr for this reason.
The app also purports to strive to build a stronger community. Software developer Ariella Furman told the Huffington Post, “It opens up the circle for dating and friendships in the community and creates a sense of unity and impact in numbers, because our hope is that anyone who is a gay woman will be on this.”
Jack’d
Jack’d is a dating app aimed at gay men. It includes a location-based feature similar to Grindr, where you can locate other users who are nearby. Although, users claim that is used more for dating than just random hookups.
In 2016, Jack’d made headlines in quite an unsavory way when the horrible Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida took place. Shooter Omar Mateen was said to have used the app to meet men. Reports conflicted on his reasoning for the shooting. Some say he was radicalized by terrorist organizations online while others report that was merely a front for his own struggle with his sexual identity.
Findhrr
Findhrr is an app aimed towards gay, bisexual, and queer women. And the name Findhrr is clearly a play on the gay men’s app Grindr. One tenet of the app is that you must upload a photo or your profile will be deleted. The app also says that they have a gay woman team behind its creation, which they say aids them in knowing exactly how to navigate the lesbian dating world.
They also include a swipe feature, like Tinder, to choose who you want to match with. London club promoter and founder Rebecca Paisis said, “Users can post reviews of places they’ve been. It’ll be like a lesbian Trip Advisor combined with a social network.” If that sounds good to you, it’s available on both Android and iPhone.
Mench’d
Mench’d is an app for men primarily and is aimed at finding someone to have a long-term relationship with or to casually date. Often men have voiced displeasure about not being able to find real relationships through dating apps, and Mench’d aims to fix that. Mench’d creator Justin Maxx told the Huffington Post, “The other dating apps on the market are amazing for playful, fun, communication, but there is definitely a need for an app focused on finding love.
There are so many apps for “encounters” and one-night stands, and this is what I’ve focused on staying away from. The casualness is cool, but it doesn’t allow for a dating life. We all deserve to be loved sexually and emotionally and the truth is, it’s hard to find that! At the end of the day, we are all looking for a best friend and a life partner, and you can find this on Mench’d.”
Atraf Girls
Atraf Girls is an app that is available worldwide to help connect lesbian women to hookups, friendships, or relationships. This app attempts to set itself apart by saying that you can find love locally or even while traveling which means it also uses geolocation.
You can update your travel location as you go, which makes it possible to meet new women in every city. It may not be as popular as some of the other apps, but it is available worldwide which opens it up to meeting women everywhere. This app tries to reach everyone, so it is available for download on both Android and iPhone.
Thurst
Thurst claims to be the first queer dating app for people of all genders. Queer often refers to non-heterosexual or cisgender (someone whose gender identity matches up with sex and gender with which they were assigned at birth) and includes those who identify outside of the gender binary. Thurst was founded in 2016 by a woman of color named Morgen Brommel. One of the chief complaints of using dating apps are complaints of racism and Morgen seeks to end that issue as well by creating a safe space.
Morgen says, “There isn’t a place for marginalized queer people to connect and date online. I think one of the great violences of our generation has been denying marginalized people, whether you’re queer, black, or both, platform and spaces to see ourselves and others like us. I think Thurst is just one of the projects arising out of the desire to see ourselves online, to make our own space.”
Bristlr
Bristlr is open to all genders and sexual orientations and is for people who love beards. Yes, you read that correctly. This is a beard admiration app. CNBC has said that Bristler is, “Tinder for beards”.
The app claims, “There are many people with beards who like to have them stroked. And there are many people who don’t have beards, but would like to stroke them. Bristlr is the link between the two.” They also claim that there aim is to focus more on lighthearted friendships, think meeting for coffee rather than hooking up. There is something for everyone out there!
Tinder
Tinder claims to be an app for everyone including straight, gay, and bi-sexual people. Although they claim the app is for everyone, the CEO Sean Rad conceded, “The product works for the gay community, but we need to do a better job of sort of calling it out.” Many queer users find the app not useful for finding successful matches.
Those who have attempted to use it claim it often glitches when looking for gay or lesbian matches the app will often show people outside of your selected preferences. This includes lesbians who have had men pop up on their screen or straight women shown to them. Neither one will be a great start for a match! So while this is one super popular app it might be best to skip if your LGBTQ looking for love!
Scruff
Scruff is an app launched in 2010 aimed at gay and bisexual men. The year 2013 was a landmark year for the app as they were the first to include a community for HIV-positive men, military men, and transgender men. In 2014, they launched something called BenevolAds which are ads as usually found on apps but instead all revenue goes to charities benefiting the LGBTQ community and HIV/AIDS organizations.
This app also claims to be more focused on relationships than hookups like it’s predecessor Grindr. Founder Johnny Skandros wrote in a piece on the Huffington Post, “Apps can provide one of the best ways to meet other guys. There’s this stigma that apps in the gay community are merely for hookups, but I’ve seen guys who have built solid, long-lasting relationships and even gone onto become married as a result.”
SCISSR
SCISSR is an app that says it is for “all – dyke, queer, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and bi-curious” women. According to an article on The Guardian, it is referred to as “the lesbian equivalent of Grindr, but “classier”. Climbing instructor Allison Ullrich founded the app after being disappointed with gay offerings on other apps like OKCupid, Match.com, and Tinder.
The app also wanted to protect women from men who make fake profiles in an attempt to speak or meet them. They also say, “It’s time for a lesbian dating app where women can connect, share, and chat about their local cultural interests and relationship needs.” SCISSR was launched in 2014 and while it never found Grindr type success, the more apps for women the better!
GuySpy
GuySpy is another app for gay and bisexual men. This is another one that uses geolocation features where you can find other users near you. The app is available for mobile download on Android and iPhone but is also accessible by computer. It only takes a quick glance to tell that this app is more hookup than relationship oriented. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
They also have a video chat feature which is obviously intended to use to make suggestiving texting even more creative and visual. You can also use the chat voice feature, which makes it feel like you’re actually talking to someone instead of just chatting over text.
Distinc.tt
Distinc.tt is another app that purports to be for the entire LGBTQ community. The app claims to be more of a social network than a dating app and opens up its registration to users 13 years and older. Yikes! This doesn’t sound like such a great idea to let such young ages on an app like this. Paging Chris Hansen.
Although Queerty, the leading gay and lesbian news site does claim, “it is in a different league from it’s randier counterparts.” The app claims to want to create a community and friendships rather than just hookups. Apple actually approved this app even with the young age ranges so hey it must be on to something!
Mr X
Mr X is an app for men looking to chat and meet other men. Mr X purports that unlike other apps they encourage users to show their faces and be respectful with one another. The app is accessible on your phone and on your computer. Mr X actually came up with a code that users must follow or risk getting banned.
The code states, “Maturity: Misters act like adults. No games. No attitude. Integrity: Misters live authentically and honestly. Safety: Misters protect themselves and their partners, emotionally and physically. Truth: Misters represent themselves accurately in their profiles. Enjoyment: Misters value mutually pleasurable experiences. Respect: Misters treat each other with respect.” Sounds like a code to live by not just for online dating!
Growlr
Growlr is an app for a particular type of gay man: bears and those seeking bears. Within gay male culture, bears are often larger, hairier men who project an image of rugged masculinity. Growlr claims to have 8 million followers.
Many claim that this app is more for those looking to hookup and not necessarily get into a relationship or date. But hey if you are into that kind of thing, why not?! Growlr is kind of the sexual version of Bristlr. It also includes a geolocation and a check-in feature, so you can meet people in your area, or use to your pleasure on the go.
Moovz
Moovz claims to be an app for the whole LGBT community. Moovz is equal parts social network and dating app. You can post your updates of what you are doing and photos like on Facebook but also use a geolocation tool like Tinder or Grindr. The app also updates with news from the community, featuring everything from Drag Race superstars to information about World AIDS Day.
The community is said to seek to form lasting relationships. Originally the app only catered to gay men but has since apparently branched out. In 2014, Liav Eliash, Moovz’s co-founder and CEO told the Huffington Post, “Through recent years, with the growth of the gay population worldwide, we have realized that there is a need for this community. We wanted to build Moovz to provide gay men from around the world with the ability to connect like never before.” In a piece in Slate in 2015, writer Mark Stern purported that the use of avatars is like, “combining Grindr with the Sims.”
Bro
Bro is an app for men to meet other men. The difference between this app and others is that it also targets “straight” men that might be interested in exploring their sexuality.
Creator Scott Kutler told the Huffington Post, “Human sexuality is complex and nuanced — more so than our society’s vision of it comprehends. In our culture, we have a tradition of identifying people through particular categories: straight, gay, or bi (and it is rare that we accept that men can be bisexual at all). BRO is an app that honors this complexity by giving men the opportunity to think about their sexuality without feeling the need to fall into any particular group or category.” This sounds like a good ide. What do you think?
Brenda
Brenda is app aimed towards lesbian and bisexual women. First off many jokingly disparage the name, with the site saying, “It’s the least sexy name ever.” This app is another that uses the geolocation feature so you can find those close to you. It also offers a new feature of video messages, you can send and record messages up to one minute long.
As many Facebook lovers would want, you can also view the last 50 viewers of your profile. Because you can chat with women all over the world, the app even offers a translator so you can hold a conversation even if someone speaks a different language than you. Wow! You’ve got to admit that, they offer some pretty cool features.
