Skip to Content

The Best Gay Dating Apps: Free Apps To Kickstart Your Lovelife 📱

The Best Gay Dating Apps: Free Apps To Kickstart Your Lovelife 📱

While walking up to a sexy dude you see during your evening stroll sounds terrific, dating apps are extremely cool and fun. It gives unlimited access to sexy and wonderful gay dudes all over the planet, and another bonus is the fact you have the option of being yourself.

Gay dating apps are a blessing because, unlike most dating apps, sexual orientation is categorized according to straight or Bi. Everyone on the app is gay, so it might interest you to know that your search is going to lead to finding potentially compatible people.

Gay dating apps are delicious, but they also have shortcomings. Not to worry, that should not discourage you. You can find some benefits and drawbacks of gay dating apps below.

free gay dating apps best gay dating apps most popular gay dating apps free gay dating apps without subscription popular gay dating apps

Pros Of Gay Dating Apps

Lots of options.

You have a swarm of people to choose from. You can find so many great options on apps. You might just find your soul mate nearby. On gay dating apps, you will only get messages from people like you.

It is easy to vet people.

Unwanted connections can be easily avoided on an app. If someone is going to share the same interest as you or would make a great match, you can know easily. For instance, the mutual friends you share, his pictures and posts, and the kind of music he listens to are great ways of knowing if he is a great match.

Gay dating apps are perfect for introverts.

If you are the shy type who chooses your TV and couch over dates, then dating apps are perfect for you. What is more convenient than a one-on-one via dating apps?

There is no doubt that walking up to people at parties, clubs, or even after meetings at the office can be very awkward, so you should download that dating app now.

free gay dating apps best gay dating apps most popular gay dating apps free gay dating apps without subscription popular gay dating apps

What is more intriguing than finding the perfect match in your neighborhood?

You can make a date with someone on the same day you saw their profile. You might even be thrilled to find your soulmate in the same restaurant or bar as you since most dating apps show location. Technology is awesome, right?

Less is more on gay dating apps.

There mostly isn’t room for long boring profiles and tons of pictures on dating apps, which I love. So every photo or word does not count. This means you do not have to go through boring paragraphs just to find the perfect dude. If you swipe quickly or quick-choice dater like me, gay dating apps are a dream come true.

free gay dating apps best gay dating apps most popular gay dating apps free gay dating apps without subscription popular gay dating apps

They are efficient and fast.

They are very easy to use on mobile phones, so you can access gay dating apps anywhere. On the bus ride home, in your office, or while waiting for a haircut.

They provide a great amount of flexibility since you can carry your phone wherever you want. Life is far easier with dating apps, trust me.

You can see the mutual friends you share with a match.

Have you ever heard of the phrase, “Everybody knows somebody”? It is a bonus to know if the hot guy you like is a friend to your ex or colleague at work.

You have a better chance of knowing if the guy is a normal interesting person you can connect with, and besides, you know you can rake your head over having something to talk about. It is easier to communicate if you guys have something in common. 

free gay dating apps best gay dating apps most popular gay dating apps free gay dating apps without subscription popular gay dating apps
Shop Gay Underwear Sale Now At Queer In The World Shop

Cons Of Gay Dating Apps

Harassment in dating.

There is a chance the connection felt while communicating online might not seem true when you meet. Users have been harassed online for various reasons ranging from their dates losing interest in them, or they might not have come out openly.

Cyberbullying.

Technology is a sweetheart, but it has provided various opportunities for cyberbullies to up their games. Gays are very prone to bullying, so bullies target gay dating sites. So members and active users of gay dating sites are easy targets.

Gender identity and privacy.

Some people open accounts using fake information and profiles. They do not reveal their real sexuality or gender online. Most times, owners of such accounts are bullies or frauds. 

Personal data security.

These dating apps have users’ personal data. If hacked, this information can be used for malicious intentions if they fall into the wrong hands. 

free gay dating apps best gay dating apps most popular gay dating apps free gay dating apps without subscription popular gay dating apps

The Best Gay Dating Apps

There are a vast number of gay dating apps out there. Choosing the most effective app might prove tedious, so I have picked out a couple of amazing gay dating apps.

Tinder

OK, we know that some may be using Tinder these days as a gay hook-up app, but let’s be honest … with many gay apps, the energy you put out is what you are going to get back. This means if you are looking for one hot night you’ll find it on most of these apps too.

Although it might have been set up as a Grindr for straight people, there are now lots of gays using it; just set your preferences and enjoy the wealth of choice there. It skews a bit more toward dating though and is probably the most popular way for gay couples to meet in English-speaking countries.

The clear advantage for gay travelers is that Tinder is less likely to be banned as it doesn’t have the association with homosexuality that triggers censors in oppressive regimes. You have to match with someone before you can message, but we’re sure you will – after all, you’re so cute!

OkCupid

This is a free dating app that allows gay dudes to find a suitable match. You can enjoy unlimited messaging and have access to thousands of messages you can ask whoever you are interested in. OkCupid offers 22 options for gender identity. You can have a specific range of people reaching out to you since you can make your account invisible to straight people. It makes it easy for gay dudes to create a very intimate society. OkCupid is a very good option; it is doing better than other dating apps out there.

Grindr

This is an exclusive gay dating app, so if you want to get your groove on without stress, Grindr is perfect for you. It takes the bull by the horn since every man there is like you and is looking to hook up with other men. You can easily find gay men in your vicinity. It gives room to chat and share pictures privately. It is by far one of the most popular gay dating apps, and it is free. Although there is a premium version called Grindr XTRA where users need to pay, this version allows them to add more functionalities to the app and increase their chances of communicating with people.

Blued

Wait; what? This is the largest gay social network in the world? You’d be forgiven for thinking it was Grindr, but in terms of users, Blued pips it to the post. Why? Well, it was developed in China, and the majority of its 27 million users are there. Internet censorship is rife in China, and Blued is a way of getting around the banning of sites like Grindr.

Its founder is a former policeman and committed to LGBT rights, and we love that the network is now in partnership with Hornet. Like its partner, it’s all about creating a safe community, with verified profile features, the ability to go live with followers, and group conversations. For this reason, it’s great to tap into the gay community where you’re traveling, particularly if you’re in Asia.

Thrust

This app creates room for people from every aspect of the LGBTQ+ community. Its main aim is to create a participatory space for the queer community. You will find the man for you on this app. A major advantage of the app is that it allows you to easily block or report a user based on harassment or abuse. You are most definitely going to have a swell time on this app.

Plenty Of Fish

On this app, gay people enjoy unlimited chatting. You can easily jump into the dating scene with nothing more than your name and profile picture. Quite easy, right? another perk of the app is that it pioneers dating unfiltered. This means users have to remove filters from their photos before uploading them. Plenty of Fish advocates for authenticity in profiles. Well, you don’t have to ask for a live chat to know if the person you are chatting with is truly handsome. Plenty of Fish has done all the work for you.

Growlr

This gay dating app definitely leans on the popular side. It has over 10,000 members all over the world. This app allows only males from the age of 18 and above to open an account. It is a great step as there is much less of a chance of hooking up with an underage – a very real issue in many places. It is a fast and reliable site that guarantees users’ security. On Growlr, you can receive and send videos, live video calls, pictures, and instant messages.

Clover

This app has whatever you are looking for. If you are interested in a long-term relationship, a short-term relationship, a fling, or even strictly a one-night stand, Clover is the perfect app. It has over 8 million active users from around the globe, so there is a vast variety of people to choose from. It was named the “hottest dating app of 2020”. It provides endless opportunities for users to find the right match. I enjoy the app personally because it offers a personalized dating assistant, which makes the whole online dating process easy and fun.

Scruff

Scruff provides easy access to a friendly community that includes queer, trans, and bi folks. There is no way you would not find a partner on this app – especially if you love your partner to have a little body hair – or Scruff. It also offers a very secure experience. You would find your personal information in the wrong hands with this app since it does not sell users’ data to third-party companies. 

Taimi

Elevating the game is Taimi, a newcomer designed for gay men seeking real connections. It’s the first app that essentially combines free gay dating opportunities with a gay social network to provide you with endless opportunities to effortlessly and swiftly form quality connections – so not just hook-ups, but something more substantial – or just friends and expanding your network. Because surely it’s not just us that occasionally pines for new gay connections which don’t involve sex?

We also love that Taimi is focused on the security and safety of its users with special verification and authentication systems to keep fake accounts out. There is nothing worse than a professional catfish, right? And there is also the possibility of creating groups where users can launch discussions, organize events, cooperate and collaborate with NGOs. This is the social network aspect, and we are obsessed with it.

There is also a collaboration with The Trevor Project, meaning users can contact Trevor immediately from their profiles and the possibility of making video calls, meaning Taimi is one of the best gay apps currently out there! So get downloading now to form quality connections, stay safe, and share without being judged!

Hornet

While there are a lot of similarities between Hornet and Grindr, the newer Hornet works much more smoothly, with fewer of the irritating ads that pop up on Grindr to get in between you and your new piece of eye candy. There are also more photos, so you can check that your profile pic isn’t just an anomaly!

What makes Hornet so great for gay travelers is the community features that help users network beyond dating. You can follow people for updates, see events and stories, and search for things happening near you; it’s a good insight into the local gay scene. It’s getting bigger and bigger all over the world, particularly in Latin America, so in many countries, you might have better luck here than Grindr.

Planet Romeo (previously GayRomeo)

It started in Gay Berlin and has now spread around the world and, while heavy on hook-ups, also enables users to find friends, dates, or learn more about LGBT issues. It aims to be a safe and friendly environment where you can live your queer life to the fullest.

The app is free, and it just takes creating a quick profile to get you in touch with tonnes of guys all over the world. You can filter down a lot, so your feed won’t get full up of people who don’t get your heart racing and save your favorites. It’s popular in Europe so next time you travel there, download this first!

How To Use Gay Dating Apps Safely?

One of the greatest fears associated with using a dating app is safety! It is justified to be scared of falling in love with a psycho since it is extremely easy to lie on the internet.

A pretty profile picture and a nice write-up could easily trick you but not to worry; I have helpful tips for diving into the gay dating app world safely. The online gay dating universe is far too delicious for you to miss out on. Here are important tips to know before downloading a gay dating app.

free gay dating apps best gay dating apps most popular gay dating apps free gay dating apps without subscription popular gay dating apps

Leave your personal identity out of your profile.

Putting your full name, address, and phone number is not a great idea. It is cool to build up your profile to let the guys know the kind of dating material you are, but please, that should never include your workplace details, college, street name, zip code, college, or workplace. I would advise you to use your nickname instead of your full name. You have less chance of being a victim of cybercrime that way.

Meet in a public place.

As much as you are hot for your match, meeting in a public place is not a bad idea. No matter how many personal pictures you guys have exchanged, he is still a stranger. So don’t feel bad about saying no when he asks you to go home with him. Your safety is more important than a couple of sex rounds. 

Don’t send nude pictures with your face: if you are going to send your nudes, keep your face out of the photo. It is hot to let him have a glimpse of what he would be getting, but you reduce your chances of getting harassed by sending nudes without your face in them. The last thing you want is for your nude picture to be all over the internet. 

Ask to do a live video chat.

It is easier to know you are talking to an imposter during a video chat. There are a lot of fake profiles showing other people’s photos, so if you think he is too good to be true, there are chances he is! If you get a bad feeling when chatting with someone or if their profile seems fishy, you should suggest a live video chat. There is also a bright side to video chats; if the dude is as cute as his picture, then you can have a wonderful moment. It is much easier to talk to while seeing each other physically. People share more things about themselves when they are comfortable.

free gay dating apps best gay dating apps most popular gay dating apps free gay dating apps without subscription popular gay dating apps

Let a friend know where you are going.

This is important when going out to meet a stranger. Make sure someone knows exactly where you are going and who you are going to meet. It is better to drop a quick message than to have something bad happen to you. 

Check his social media handles.

Do not just restrict your scrutiny to his profile on the dating site. Ask for his Facebook, Instagram, or even LinkedIn usernames. One of the best ways to get a better knowledge of a guy is by checking his social media accounts. You have a better chance of seeing more pictures. You can also find out if he is truly who he says he is. You should have your tentacles ready to identify a fake Instagram account as professional frauds create fake Instagram account to match with their fake dating app profile.

Take it slow.

There isn’t a trophy for the first dude to find love on the app, so you might want to take things slowly. Do not be in a hurry to jump into bed with the first guy that drops a like on your profile. There is a lot to gain from conversations. If the person is a fraud, the chances of finding out are through your conversations. It might not sound easy. I know having a wonderful dinner date sounds a lot cooler than texting but making sure you are making the right decision is way better.

free gay dating apps best gay dating apps most popular gay dating apps free gay dating apps without subscription popular gay dating apps
The Works: Elastic Harness + Briefs + Socks Set On Sale Now At Queer In The World Shop