The best dating apps for gay men

If you’re talking gay hookup apps, you have to talk Grindr. It’s the gay hookup app, and for very good reason. Grindr is an integral part of modern gay culture, particularly for gay and bi men who are looking for action ASAP. The app’s signature location-based grid is still the most efficient way to see who's nearby and ready to connect. And there’s no shortage of options. Grindr has a user base of over 14.5 million guys who log on to get it on every month.

It’s free to get started but it’s absolutely worth subscribing to Grindr Xtra due to the sheer number of ads on the free version. If you’re keen to save some cash though, we recommend saving Grindr Xtra for special occasions, like when you're traveling or in the mood for a specific type of hookup. And quick, casual hookups are what Grindr is all about — it’s a brilliant tool for that very purpose — though a lot of men actually meet long term partners on Grindr.

It’s also worth noting that guys in smaller towns with a meager queer population are more likely to find a connection here than on Tinder or OkCupid. Grindr is best used in densely populated places. In fact, it goes beyond hookups and can also plug you into the local gay scene, which is particularly handy if you’re travelling somewhere new.

Other features include "Right Now", which shows you a collage of available guys who are ready to talk, plus a "Taken on Grindr" camera feature than verifies the authenticity of photos and helps you avoid catfishing. Grindr has also announced it's becoming an "AI-first company" via its new proprietary AI, gAI. The first feature, "A-List," has already been rolled out to subscribers, offering chat summaries and personalised recommendations.

Although trans and queer people are welcome on the app, the majority of users are still gay and bisexual men.

Read our full review of AdultFriendFinder.

Young people looking to at least go on a few dates with the same person — as opposed to just beelining for a horny friends-with-benefits situation — was something of a blind spot for swiping apps until Hinge blew up. Hinge's unique profile criteria and algorithm based on that criteria set matches up for real-life potential. Some 90 percent say the first date was great and 72 percent are down for a second date.

That’s what makes Hinge great for the guy who’s tired of Grindr and is ready to find an actual boyfriend. Sure, Hinge isn’t made specifically for gay men, but it goes by a "designed to be deleted" philosophy. That means its user base and mostly looking for the same thing. In other words: Hinge — with its always-growing user base — is a solid first step towards getting serious. Lots of men have met their forever person on Hinge. It's particularly good for young professionals living in well-populated cities.

Instead of just swiping on a face, Hinge makes you engage with profiles through specific prompts — and by liking or commenting on another person's answers or photos — which immediately gives you more to talk about. Prompts range from "Two truths and a lie" to "Does hiking on a Sunday morning seem viable to you too?" Conversations are hidden after a period of inactivity, keeping the focus on matches who take it seriously.

There are also features designed for a better, safer experience. "Hidden Words" lets you filter out specific words or phrases from your DMs — that will eliminate Grindr-style sex chat —and "Your Turn Limits" nudges you to reply to messages, cutting down on ghosting. The app has also launched the "Follow-Through Formula," a research-backed method to stimulate clear, enthusiastic follow-up messages.

Feeld is for open-minded singles looking to explore kink, threesomes, and alternative relationship styles such as non-monogamy. The app is also a safe, comfortable place for men who are feeling out their sexuality and seeing what fits. According to recent Feeld data, the app is a place where many men (even those who identify as straight) feel happy exploring connections that go beyond traditional labels.

The Feeld community is all about platforming "freedom, consent, and radical equality" within matches, which is part of what marks it as an alternative to mainstream apps. The app offers over 20 sexuality and 15 gender options. There’s also a "Desires" section that allows you to really drill down into your sexual preferences, with tags that include "BDSM", "Threesomes", and "Sexting." Yep, there’s something from every kink — even "Cuddling" (which is always underrated).

The user experience can be a bit lacking, however, The app's biggest frustration is its filtering — or lack thereof. Feeld offers all kinds of identity options, but you can't filter your main feed (which it calls the "stack") to exclude groups and profiles you're not interested in, such as straight people. Some users have resorted to "hacks," like changing their listed gender to "other," which will put more queer profiles in the feed.

Even the paid "Majestic" tier only lets you filter your likes, not the profiles you swipe through. That might be a deal breaker for some potential users. Others have reported that inactive profiles can clutter the feed, though signing up for Majestic allows you to filter out inactive profiles by selecting "recently online."

Those little wrinkles aside, it’s still the best app for exploring new and alternatives sexy times, and users have said that connections of Feeld are of a higher quality compared to other, more mainstream apps. It just might take a little while to make those initial connections.

Read our review of Tinder Platinum.

There are 75 million reasons to sign up to Tinder. That’s the number of people who use the app, which is now synonymous with online dating. Not all of those 75 million are gay, but it’s still a top choice for authentic queer connections.

If you’re into dating apps you almost certainly know Tinder already. It’s the OG swiping app and revolutionised the entire phenomenon. Not to mention the fact that Tinder has made notable efforts to be more inclusive (40+ gender options and personalised swiping) and it's always launching features that go beyond hookups. We couldn't not include Tinder on this list.

One of its latest features is "Modes", a new navigation bar that allows you to jump into specialised spaces for different kinds of connections. For instance, instead of sifting through one endless feed, you can switch to "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."

Elsewhere you’ll find a Relationship Goals feature. This lets you pin a badge on your profile to effectively signpost what you’re looking for, such as "Long-term", "Casual", or "New friends". It’s a lowkey game changer, because if we’ve learned one thing about dating apps over the years, it’s that being upfront helps both you and your potential matches.

Tinder has also got more serious about verification, with tools to curb inappropriate messages and ID verification. Now Tinder is rolling out mandatory facial recognition scans ("Face Check"). New users have to take a video selfie within the app, which Tinder then uses to verify new signees are real people and that photos are legit. This means fewer duplicate or bot accounts. The app claims this has led to a "more than 40 percent decrease in reports of bad actors" in areas where it's being tested.

Don’t be fooled by the name. Scruff isn't just for scruffy men. It had a wide range of gay guys, whether you’re after clean cut twinks or rugged bears. In fact, Scruff has a user base that's diverse enough to rival the big boy of gay hookups, Grindr. 

The difference is that it skews a little more serious. And you won’t find the same level of raunchy chat as you do on Grindr. Indeed, it’s a great alternative for guys who find the whole Grindr culture a bit much. You can still find quick connections, but you’ll also find matches are more mature. Scruff is more likely to lead to actual dating rather than hookups — as much fun as hookups are. 

Scruff boasts a "Venture" feature that connects with guys in new places before you travel. You can also scope out local LGBTQ+ parties and gatherings. Be warned that some features are disappearing behind the app’s Scruff Pro paywall. But that’s becoming standard on good quality dating and hookup apps. And Scruff has been credited for being inclusive, safe, and welcoming for all users, including trans men.