The best gay dating apps of 2026: Grindr is still king, even if we wish it weren't

Read our full review of AdultFriendFinder.

Despite its name, Scruff isn't just for scruffy men. There are plenty of gay guys here, from clean-cut jocks to those with a more rugged look. Whether you're into bears, twinks, otters, or any other type of guy, Scruff has a diverse user base that's large enough to rival Grindr's.

The only difference? Scruff is a little more serious in terms of what people are looking for. Sure, it's good for hookups, but you probably won't get the same level of raunchiness (or as much) as you would on Grindr.

If Grindr is the chaotic gay bar where anything can happen, Scruff is the slightly more upscale lounge next door. We picked it because it’s a great alternative for guys who find Grindr's culture exhausting and want an app that grows with them. While you can definitely find a quick connection, Scruff has a well-earned reputation for attracting a more mature crowd that’s open to actual dating.

Scruff is also more than just a grid of faces. Its "Venture" feature (similar to Grindr's "Roam" feature) lets you connect with guys in other cities before you travel, and its events section helps you find local LGBTQ+ parties and gatherings. That said, be aware that Scruff has been following Grindr's lead in locking down features. Users on Reddit have recently complained that the free version has become much more restrictive, putting things that used to be standard behind a paywall, like viewing past message history, unrestricted filtering, and seeing your full profile visitor list. It feels like a "predatory" push to get you to upgrade to Scruff Pro (which starts around $16.99 per month).

But what truly makes Scruff stand out is its commitment to creating a more inclusive and respectful space. A point powerfully made by Dylan Thomas Cotter, a publicist, author, and transgender rights activist, shared his success story on Scruff with us. As a gay trans man, he initially found the dating pool challenging. He proactively became a Scruff brand ambassador to boost his visibility and find his "Prince Charming" (which he did!).

"I am very grateful to Scruff for building an inclusive, safe, and welcoming platform that became a success story on my end as a gay transgender man," Cotter tells Mashable. Scruff “has been substantially more inclusive of trans people and overall has excelled in the body positivity department” compared to what he describes as the “substantially superficial, less respectful of trans people” user base on Grindr.

He also offers a key safety tip for all dating app users: “I would suggest turning off your exact location on grid coordinates because an inference of proximity can possibly still be made and potentially place users' privacy at risk.”

Tired of fleeting hookups and looking for a serious relationship? Then Archer is the app you need. But don't just take our word for it; Brooklyn's resident bi-man and author of Boyslut: A Memoir and Manifesto, Zachary Zane, told Mashable he recommends downloading Archer for its inclusive and relationship-oriented approach to queer dating.

Archer is a "social-first" dating app owned by the Match Group and prioritizes building meaningful connections through shared interests and values. It's positioned as the relationship-focused alternative to hookup-heavy hitters like Grindr, targeting Gen Z and Millennial guys looking for something more substantial.

We think it's the best dating app for bisexual and queer men who are looking for more than just casual encounters and offers a safer space to explore their sexuality. Along with Grindr, it's also one of the top free gay dating apps.

Although still newer than legacy apps, Archer has firmly cemented its place as the go-to app for queer men looking for something more substantial. Unlike its NSFW competitor Grindr, Archer requires every profile to show a face, underscoring its mission to create a more respectful space for connection. As Archer's marketing lead, Michael Kaye, says, the app is about "celebration and showing your truest self."

The app's first annual "The Naked Truth" report proves this isn't just marketing speak. It found that users are nearly six times more likely to be looking for a husband than a hookup. To meet that need, Archer rolled out its "Looking For Modes" feature, which lets you toggle between "Hookup," "Date," or "Friends" mode each time you open the app. This way, you're only connecting with people who want the same thing you do in that moment.

And to help you get the conversation started, Archer recently rolled out "Ice Breakers." This new feature lets you add fun, flirty, or even cleverly "unhinged" questions to your profile (kind of like Hinge prompts) that potential matches can answer to kickstart a more engaging chat. Examples include "Describe your favorite sex position using only emojis" and "If you had to lip-sync for your life, which song would you choose?"

If you want more, there's Archer Gold, a premium subscription option. This paid tier unlocks several features, such as "Private Mode" (to browse incognito), "Teleport Mode" (to change your location and explore profiles elsewhere), and advanced filters for more targeted searches. You'll also get read receipts on messages, the ability to see who's viewed or "liked" your profile, and a daily allowance of DMs you can send before matching.

Bonus: Its in-app Health Hub provides easy-to-access resources and education on STIs, HIV status, PrEP, and other essential topics.

Hinge is for the guy who's tired of Grindr and is ready to find an actual boyfriend. While it's a mainstream app and not specifically for gay men, its "designed to be deleted" philosophy and prompt-based matching help weed out the low-effort players. You'll probably see a lot of the same faces from other apps (as many guys on Reddit point out), but Hinge is a solid first stop when you're ready to get serious.

While Archer is our top pick for an app built specifically for gay men seeking relationships, Hinge's growing user base means it's still a top contender. Tons of gay men have met their forever person on Hinge, and it's an especially smart option for young professionals living in a big city.

We picked Hinge because it’s the best option for when you’re ready to get serious. The app is "designed to be deleted," which is a welcome change of pace from the endless grid of torsos on the more hookup-focused apps. Instead of just swiping on a face, Hinge makes you engage with profiles through specific prompts, which immediately gives you more to talk about.

The app is also packed with features designed for a better, safer experience. The "Hidden Words" tool lets you filter out specific words or phrases from your DMs (a godsend for guys tired of raunchy Grindr messages), and "Match Note" lets you privately share important info with a new match before you even start chatting. The "Your Turn Limits" feature nudges you to respond to messages, which helps cut down on the ghosting that's rampant on other apps.

And to help you move from a great first date to a second, Hinge recently launched its "Follow-Through Formula," a research-backed method to encourage clear and enthusiastic follow-up messages. It's features like these that keep Hinge at the top of several of our "best" lists.

You may know Sniffies as the gay dating app so risqué it got banned from the App Store. So if you're looking for the best gay dating sites (emphasis on site), then try this hookup app for men seeking men.

Sniffies is a map-based meetup site for gay and bi cruisers who are looking to add a little fun to their day. This site isn't for finding a relationship; it's for men who are interested in casual encounters.

A word of caution: There are reports that police officers are using Sniffies to arrest gay men for cruising in public locations, so cruise accordingly, guys.

Tinder and Grindr aren't the only ways to get laid in the gay community. For men looking for casual, anonymous, and raunchy encounters without the pretense of "dating," there's Sniffies — a platform so direct that, even Zane has noted, you're more likely to get a message like "Chilling. Here, just trying to get fisted" than a vanilla DM.

Its primary home is the website, Sniffies.com, which the company emphasizes remains fully operational and uncensored. After launching an iOS app in March 2025, Apple removed it in May, citing "ongoing content restrictions." Sniffies called it a "temporary setback," arguing that apps like Tinder and Grindr promote the same casual meetups "under a more sanitized 'dating' pretense." If you were lucky enough to download the iOS app before its removal, it should still work, but for everyone else, the website is the place to be.

But for many users, the fact that Sniffies isn't an app is its biggest feature. You "can't just passively have it running on [your] phone. People who are on are actually actively looking to f***," one Reddit user wrote in the r/askgaybros thread. This might explain why some guys report having much better luck on Sniffies than on Grindr.

Its map-based interface shows you who is nearby and looking for action right now. To narrow your search, you can use the "Cruiser Filters" to sort by age, body type, endowment size, and even preferred sexual positions. It's free to use, but a premium membership will get you extra features like unlimited messaging and advanced search options. Some safety features, like cruising spots, are also in place, so you don't have to meet up somewhere private with a stranger you don't know.

The company's also leaned hard into becoming a lifestyle brand, dropping merch collabs with edgy designers like Barragán and FANG, partnering with major events like Folsom Street Fair, and even producing its own podcast, Sniffies' Cruising Confessions.

Feeld is a go-to platform for queer people and open-minded singles who want to explore kink, threesomes, and alternative relationship styles like non-monogamy. It's also a welcoming space for men who are questioning or exploring the gray areas of their own sexuality. According to recent Feeld data, the app is a place where many men (including those who identify as straight) feel comfortable exploring connections that fall outside of traditional labels.

The Feeld community champions a love that's grounded in "freedom, consent, and radical equality," which is a welcome change from the often rigid boxes of other apps. For guys looking to explore, Feeld’s features seem hard to beat. The app offers over 20 sexuality and 15 gender options, and its "Desires" section lets you get hyper-specific about what you're into, with tags ranging from "BDSM" and "Threesome" to "Cuddling" and "Sexting."

But the user experience can be a mixed bag, especially for men. The app's biggest frustration is its filtering — or lack thereof. While Feeld offers tons of identity options, you can't filter your main feed (the "stack") to exclude groups you're not interested in, like straight people. Some users resort to "hacks," like changing their listed gender to "other," just to see more queer profiles in their feed. Even the paid "Majestic" subscription only lets you filter your likes, not the profiles you swipe through.

Free users also complain about inactive profiles cluttering the feed — paying lets you filter by "recently online." On the plus side, some users find that the connections they do make are higher quality compared to other apps. Just be prepared for a potentially slow burn.

Read our review of Tinder Platinum.

Of the 75 million people who actively use Tinder each month, not all are straight dudes holding up fish. Queer and trans folks head to Tinder because its dating pool is colossal — almost as colossal as queer people's collective yearning for authentic connection (real).

Tinder is the OG swiping app. It revolutionized the world of online dating and now there are billions of users swiping left and right each day. You'll probably see your neighbor or even someone you work with on the app. (Awkward! Predictable!) However, if you've exhausted your chances with all of the queer people you know in real life, this is probably where you can find the highest number of gay locals — especially in smaller towns.

We couldn't not include Tinder on this list. While it's not a dedicated LGBTQ+ app, Tinder has made notable efforts to be more inclusive (40+ gender options and personalized swiping) and is actively launching features that offer more than its hookup reputation would suggest.

Its latest feature, "Modes" (a revamped version of "Double Date"), launched in September 2025 and is a perfect example. This new navigation bar lets you switch into dedicated spaces for different kinds of connections. So, instead of one endless feed, you can jump into "Double Date Mode" to team up with a friend or "College Mode" to connect with other students. According to Tinder, it's all part of an effort to give Gen Z "easier, low-pressure ways to connect" and find "better matches, not just more of them."

This adds to other features that give you more control over your experience. For example, the Relationship Goals feature lets you display a badge on your profile (think: "Long-term," "Casual," or "New friends") to set clear intentions from the start.

On the safety front, Tinder is getting more serious about verification. The app already has tools to curb inappropriate messages and offers ID verification options. But as of late 2025, Tinder is rolling out mandatory facial recognition scans ("Face Check") for all new users across the U.S. New users will have to take a video selfie within the app, which Tinder uses to verify they're real, match their profile photos, and prevent duplicate or fake accounts. The app claims this has already led to a "more than 40 percent decrease in reports of bad actors" in areas where it's been tested.

Read our full review of OkCupid.

OkCupid's slogan is "Dating deserves better," and they're damn right — especially for the gays and the theys. Though it's open to straight people too, the veteran dating site has shed the heteronormativity that still somewhat plagues eharmony and Match. It's a hip, well-informed space that maintains a more intentional atmosphere than quick-hit apps like Grindr or Tinder.

OkCupid has long been a pioneer in inclusivity, but it continues to evolve beyond just its impressive list of over 60 gender and orientation options. The app uses its famous question-matching system to filter for what really matters to queer men. This focus on shared values helps you find someone you'll not only have chemistry with but also see eye-to-eye with on the issues that count. However, recent user experiences suggest the reality might not live up to the promise.

OkCupid did get a fun facelift during its last redesign, and its focus on sharing perspectives on social and political issues still feels relevant. The app's filters are decent, letting you search for same-sex matches and filter by interests, views on topics like gun control, and more — and many of these filters are usable on the free version, which is a plus. The profiles also encourage showcasing personality beyond just looks.

But honestly? For many gay men, OkCupid seems to be past its prime. A recent Reddit thread was filled with complaints about the quality of matches, describing the feed as full of "furries," "dudes dressed up like hookers," low-effort profiles with just "edgy labels," and messages asking only "top or bottom?" One user flat-out called it a "bad app in general" that "doesn't work for anyone, gay or straight," even suggesting you'd have "better luck with Grindr, even for serious dating." While it used to be great for finding specific niches, the general consensus now seems to be that the pool of "decent, respectable gay men" has shrunk significantly. You might still find your person here, especially if you value shared politics, but be prepared to sift through a lot of duds.

While it may not have the same massive scale as Grindr, Jack’d has carved out a space for itself by being, in the words of Marketing Director Camilo Restrepo, "the most diverse community for gay, bi, trans, and queer people." This isn't just a talking point; for many queer men of color who feel overlooked on other apps (we know Grindr has had its share of issues with race-related discrimination), Jack'd is the default choice.

"At Jack’d, diversity isn’t just a buzzword — it’s our foundation," Restrepo recently told So.Gay. He explains that the app's strong connection with queer Black users comes from actively supporting and promoting community initiatives (like Pride celebrations, non-profits, etc.).

We chose Jack’d because it intentionally cultivates one of the most diverse communities in gay dating, making it a standout alternative for queer men of color. While other apps have struggled with inclusivity, Jack’d has made it its "foundation," creating a more welcoming space where BIPOC users are prioritized, not tokenized. According to a Reddit thread, it’s the place to be if you’re “into black, Latino, and Asian dudes.”

This focus on community provides a different, and often safer-feeling, user experience. The free version lets you search for other users by specific hashtags (like #daddy, #twink, #bear), making it easier to find your niche. A Pro subscription will get you unlimited private albums, the ability to unsend messages, ad-free browsing, and other perks.

There are fewer users on Jack'd compared to the bigger apps, so your experience will vary depending on where you live. If you’re in a big city, you'll likely find a decent pool of potential matches on Jack'd.

We think Reddit said it best: “Think of Jack'd as that one gay bar across town that's not in the main gay neighborhood and is open to everybody but preferred by people of color.”

As the name implies, GROWLR is a gay dating app for bears and bear lovers. Although not as popular as Grindr or Scruff, GROWLR provides a niche platform for men interested in bear culture.

It also has more than 10 million users, so you're bound to find someone to roughhouse with or snuggle up to.

Most dating apps are superficial and focus on appearance, but GROWLR is for bears who appreciate a more rugged and traditionally masculine aesthetic. That's not to say you can't find other types of guys on GROWLR, but it definitely caters to a specific subset of the gay community.

GROWLR offers live streaming, a unique feature most dating apps don't offer (and you can use this feature for free). The platform uses this tool to create community events, like its June 2025 Pride celebration, which was headlined by Megami from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 16. The app also has some paid features, like SHOUT!, which allows you to send customized messages to multiple users in one go. (The app also says you can promote your business via this feature, but that seems kind of cringe on a dating app.)

The only thing we'd like to mention is that the GROWLR interface is super dated, and thus not as user-friendly as the other apps on this list. But if you're looking for a community of hot, hairy men, GROWLR is definitely worth checking out.