Gay dating is a fabulous thing, many gay dating sites and matchmakers will offer their services to help people connect and find their soulmates or someone to have fun from time to time.

• Best Dating Apps Iphone
• Best Lgbt Dating Apps

Free gay dating sites might not sound as promising as those with a paid subscription might, but you’d be surprised that some of them can compete with some of the best gay dating sites on the market.

Read BeNaughty Review. Pricing$0.99-$.50 per day. Free VersionYes. If you’re looking for a fast hookup or a wild night out, BeNaughty is the best place to search. It’s an online dating app that lets you find single men and women in your area who are also interested in having fun. Jul 19, 2021 We checked the best gay dating sites, lesbian dating apps and queer/non-binary dating websites to create a list of the top 10 best dating apps that offer a safe space for men, women and people in the LGBTQ+ community to find relationships or casual dating.

The year 2021 brings lots more excitement to the dating game, and the competition between the sites keeps on heating up. New members keep on registering, and it’s up to the dating sites to lure them onto their platforms with the best offer that will guarantee a successful match to all willing to sign up for their services.

To give you a better insight, and help you in your search for someone to share precious moments with, here’s our list of the top 10 gay dating sites and matchmakers worth trying in 2021.

1. MenNation.com

MenNation.com is one of the biggest names in the gay dating industry, with around a hundred million members worldwide. The matchmaker has been around for quite some time, and it has grown into an exclusive place where many single men can find their soulmates or couples to find others to share their intimate moments.

Best Dating Apps Iphone

The company responsible for the creation of MenNation.com is Various, Inc. that’s also a creator of one of the best dating sites around, AdultFriendFinder. For a site that’s been around since 1996, MenNation.com stands the test of time and keeps on delivering on its promises. It connects people with the same interests and allowing them to share unforgettable moments.

This gay dating site has a huge member base of gay men or women ready to share their thoughts and explicit material, and it’s a guarantee you’ll find someone that will fit your taste.

However, to get all the features unlocked, you’ll need to invest money by paying a monthly subscription from $34.95 per month or $14.95 for twelve months.

2. eHarmony.com

If you ever got interested in dating sites, there’s no way you haven’t heard of eHarmony.com that has been around since 2000 and is still relevant now in 2021.

eHarmony.com is a site where all gay men or women can find their soulmates as most of the users claim they’re registered to find someone with whom they can share their life.

Everyone interested in finding their true love will find eHarmony.com a perfect place for matching with people sharing the same interests, which later can lead to a happily ever after.

The good side of eHarmony.com is that it offers a free downloadable app to its members that will make browsing and matching even more practical and simplified.

Anyone can comfortably browse the site on their phones and use all the features that the matchmaker offers. Even if you’re commuting to work and back, the app will be precious to kill some time and chat with other gay members.

Just as the previous site on our list, eHarmony.com needs a subscription, and the lowest price for a premium plan starts at 35.90 for one month.

3. Adam4Adam.com

As we mentioned above, free gay dating sites can be as good as those that you need a premium subscription to use all available features.

Adam4Adam.com is one of the best examples of a gay dating site that’s completely free to use for all its members. “How do they manage to do that?”, you might ask. Well, Adam4Adam.com makes all the revenue from the ads and banner space sold on their site. It’s a unique way of handling their finances, and others could look up to this example.

Since the launch back in 2003, Adam4Adam.com accumulated over six million members in the US, and the numbers surged following the recent growth of the matchmaker’s popularity.

Anyone looking to try their luck finding their soulmate should give this gay dating site a try, as it won’t cost them anything to do so.

4. FabGuys.com

Let’s mention another free matchmaker where you can forget about using your credit card and enjoy all the features this gay dating site has to offer.

FabGuys.com is one of the best gay dating sites on the uprise in recent years, and many members switch using it solely for meeting new gay men free of charge.

For all those who want to become a member of a fast-growing community, FabGuys.com is a perfect place where you can meet other people with the same interests and meet the man or women of their lives.

The site has members from all sides of the world, and you can indulge in adventures with a solo man or with registered couples seeking others to share their bed and intimacy.

We recommend trying this matchmaker as many can find happiness in some of the simplest places on the planet- and FabGuys.com is just that.

5. Grindr

Grindr is one of the most active domains among the best gay dating sites, with millions of users sharing more than two hundred million messages daily.

Slowly, it became one of the leading dating sites for all gay people who love sharing their moments with others in a virtual world.

One of the features that separate Grindr from its competitors is that members can state their health on their profile and state if they’re HIV positive or not.

In the gay community, HIV is a big issue, and many would love to know what they’re getting into before having an intimacy that could lead to the transmission of disease.

Grindr revolutionized this option, and it has been a valuable asset to them ever since.

However, to use all the premium features of Grindr, you would have to pay a subscription starting at $13.00 per month for a basic package.

6. Taimi

Taimi offers a specialized app for the LGTB community that can match even the loneliest people and allows them to experience precious moments of passion.

Most of the members on this app come from the US, and anyone looking to find their soulmate within the states can register their profile for free on Taimi and start meeting new gay people.

Compared to other matchmakers on this list, younger members dominate the population on Taimi, and if you belong to a younger crowd, you won’t have an issue finding others that will be ready to meet.

Taimi offers many great features that you don’t have to spend any money to use, but the best of them will cost you a monthly subscription that’s quite expensive.

If you decide to pay for a one-month subscription, the pleasure will cost you $41.99 per month, but if you go for a twelve-month subscription, it will cost $6.00 per month.

7. GayCupid.com

If you watch TV often, there’s no way that you could miss on many commercials advertising GayCupid.com as one of the best dating sites that match gay men and women alike.

GayCupid.com is one of the most advertised sites in the US, with millions of members ready to mingle and experience an adventure of a lifetime.

If you’re single and ready to mingle, GayCupid.com is a perfect place where you can find people with the same interests and connect with them in a matter of minutes.

To register on this matchmaker and get the chance to meet new people, it will take only a few minutes to go through a sign-up process, and you get access to a 100% gay populated site.

A positive side of this gay dating site is that it offers a three-month free subscription, where you can test the site’s full features before spending any cash.

A premium account compared to a free one will give you access to a much better experience, and it’s great to get to know what you’ll be getting when upgrading your account.

Subscription to this site is on the expensive side, and it costs $24.98 per month for the cheapest package.

8. Scruff

We’re getting close to the end of our list, but it doesn’t mean that the next couple of sites are worse than the previous ones.

On the contrary, Scruff is a gay dating app that matches anything mentioned above and competes with some of the best gay dating sites in the industry.

Scruff dominates with the gay men looking for others to engage in long-term relationships they’ll remember until the rest of their lives.

Most of the members on this matchmaker come from the US- connecting to someone close by is made possible by allowing the app to track their location.

By connecting members that are in the same area, the match success rate is much higher than with any other site or app without this feature.

The price of premium access is in an average range, and it will cost $14.99 per month to get started.

9. Hornet

Hornet is one of the medium-range gay dating sites with over four million active members that search for their happiness online.

For all those inexperienced in online dating, Hornet is a perfect matchmaker to get used to the mechanics and features of any serious gay dating site.

Hornet claims that they’re not just an ordinary dating site, but more like a gay social network where members can share their experiences and get to know each other before taking steps to meet each other.

Verification that this site makes every member go through prevents fake accounts from registering and keeps the members safe from unwanted security breaches.

Hornet is not a free matchmaker. Even though you can use some of the features free of charge, it’s not even close to what you’ll get if you upgrade to a premium membership.

The basic package costs $9.99 per month, and it will unlock most of the features.

10. Gaydar

The last on our list, but not least, is a well-known site that offers its services through a mobile app downloadable to both Android and iOS.

Gaydar has one of the best interfaces that even those without computer skills can learn to use rather quickly.

Gaydar also uses the current location of the members and connects them based on the distance between them. Based on the distance between the members and their preferences, the matchmaker will connect them and recommend them to each other. It guarantees that most recommendations will not be in vain and that everyone can make the most out of them.

We recommend this site primarily based on many positive reviews that tell a story of a site that changed their lives by bringing a dose of excitement.

Gaydar is one of the cheapest sites that require a monthly subscription because the basic package costs $7.99 per month.

Conclusion

Online gay dating sites and matchmakers gain a lot of popularity in recent years, and we can only expect only great things to happen shortly.

With the incline of new members joining daily, online dating sites did a great job following up on high demand and providing content that can satisfy everyone’s taste.

We’re eager to see what will happen in the future and other great features we can expect from online dating sites.

Maybe now could be the perfect time to explore the best dating apps for Android and iOS? After all, while we're not living in a post-pandemic world just yet, this side of 2021 life is less on pause than it has been for a while, so after a hiatus from putting yourself out there, maybe it’s time to dust off those profiles. After all, if you're single and want to (don’t say mingle) – change that, or just want to meet new people, the most socially distanced way of doing so is probably using dating apps.

Even for anyone unsure about meeting people in person just yet, there's no point waiting for Covid-19 to disappear before you start talking to people through messaging and video call, and besides, the dating app pool is richer than ever. Classic apps like Tinder now support FaceTime-style video calls for truly distanced dates. Some apps, including Hinge, now offer up vaccine status information on profiles, so you can match up with folks who share your views on health as well as love.

There are new players in the game, like Thursday, an app that, as the name suggests, only activates on a Thursday – it's the new Friday, don't you know? Once the clock strikes midnight and Thursday draws to a close, the ball is over, messages and likes get zapped. Then next Thursday, the dating game can start again with a clean slate.

There are also apps catering to a burgeoning demographic of daters, or groups that identify with a specific body type, culture, religion. Veggly, for example, is designed for the vegetarians and vegans of this world. Meanwhile, WooPlus’s tagline is ‘Meet Curvy Singles’ — body positivity? Yes please.

It’s important to add, we didn’t just look at the app stores to come up with this list. We also quizzed a wide range of dating app guinea pigs, from those who used them once and found a soulmate to those who use them regularly for everything from relationships to flings.

So whatever your preferences, and whatever you’re looking for, check out our selection of the best dating apps on offer right now in 2021. We'll keep updating this list as new apps are released.

Best dating apps 2021: which is right for you?

Bumble

• Free
• iOS, Android
• Straight, gay, bisexual

In many ways, the Bumble experience is pretty much identical to the Tinder style of swiping, but rather than either party making the first move, it’s up to the girl to say something witty and impressive first within a day.

For many women that we chatted to, this was a breath of fresh air in the often seedy and overwhelming world of online dating and cringe-worthy first messages.

Hayley told us: “I LOVE it! The woman speaks first, and it means guys are way more likely to speak to you if you're not just one of many.”

It also seems that the higher quality experience and focus on women being in control attracts a slightly better standard of men.

Louise told us: “The men are better, looks and personality.” Paul agreed: “It’s Tinder, but better.”

Hinge

• Free
• iOS, Android
• Straight, gay, bi

Calling itself “the relationship app”, Hinge is aimed at those who are tired of Tinder, or just have really sore thumbs from all the swiping.

You’re prompted to ask a series of questions, but you can choose which you answer. The idea is you can build an authentic picture of yourself, with answers, photos, details about what you’re reading or listening to and even video. So you’re more likely to find someone with genuine shared interests, rather than just a nice face.

The biggest difference is there’s no ‘hot or not?’ style swiping. You can like someone’s activities and photos, which reminds us more of Facebook-style interactions, but packaged up within a dating app.

Does this all sound a bit too good to be true? That’s maybe because it is.

Sarah said: “Hinge definitely sounds good in theory. But I haven’t had a date through it yet. I’m trying to stay patient and positive, but I think the instant buzz of Tinder might have ruined me.”

OKCupid

• Free
• iOS, Android
• Straight, gay, bisexual, other

Competition for a date may be tough. But competition between the top dating apps is fierce. That means it can be hard for other apps to really stand out, which is why OKCupid has turned its focus to matching people up on a ‘deeper level.’

By filling out your profile and answering questions, the app’s algorithm will suggest potential matches who share your interests in the hope you’ll build deeper connections, which you can easily see from a ‘compatibility’ score displayed next to other users. You can also link up your Instagram profile if you think it gives potential matches a better picture of what you’re all about.

Nick said: “The OKCupid dates I went on were often the most interesting, with people I could genuinely chat to.”

The app is free and, unless you use its ‘quickmatch’ Tinder-style option, it’s all about browsing through many profiles and breaking the ice with a message. But this focus on messages can lead to some clear downsides.

Sarah said: “The fact you can easily message for free comes with the downside that you might get a fair few unwanted messages.”

OKCupid recently refreshed its user profiles with an update that allows users to define their pronouns. This information shows up alongside gender and orientation.

Tinder

• Free
• iOS, Android
• Straight, gay, bisexual

Here it is, Tinder. The app that’s apparently the cause of everything, from the rise of STDs and breeding promiscuity to global warming (okay, we’re messing with you with that one). But regardless of who you ask, it has become synonymous with casual dating and hookups rather than those looking for their soulmates.

It’s perfect if you’re looking for something not so serious, but that’s not to say that it’s impossible to find a more long-term love. After all, we’ve all got a friend-of-a-friend who married someone they matched with on Tinder, right? Unless we’re all just referring to the same couple…

The core concept is simple enough. You see someone’s photo. If you like it, swipe right. If you don’t, swipe left. And then repeat a couple of hundred times. If you’ve swiped right on someone and they’ve swiped right on you as well, you’ll be notified and can begin messaging one another.

Hayley Minn says: “I used to love it, it's so easy to use and fun, but it now feels like a game more than anything and I've never had a date lead to anything serious.”

Despite the fact it seems to be losing its edge, we included it because it’s still popular, and the large user numbers mean the more chance of dates.

Louise said: “I’m sick of it, but most people are on it. And I’ve had a few good, well, mediocre, dates.”

Thursday

• Free (in-app purchases)
• Android and iOS
• Straight, gay, bisexual, other
• Currently active exclusively in London and New York

Are you sick of hoarding matches? Swiping right leading to more RSI than TLC? Are you getting matches but not getting messages? Thursday wants to combat all these dating pitfalls. By limiting free app use to one day a week (guess which day), and clearing your messages and matches when the clock strikes midnight and Friday rolls on, Thursday makes matches feel less like consumables, and more like considered opportunities – or at least that's the logic.

After trying it out, our resident gay dater, Basil is convinced that Thursday does remedy a few frustrations more popular apps like Hinge and Tinder can lead to. Specifically, it lights a fire in your belly to get the admin side of things sorted by midnight. Whether you want to swap numbers or arrange to grab a drink, if you don't do it by the day's end, you start over next week, with no guarantees of seeing the same daters.

The app is also a godsend for compulsive dating app addicts. On the website, it states: '6 days of the week, this app tells you to f**k off...and it's not even sorry'. And while it doesn't actually tell you that, it might as well. You can't access a single dating feature Friday through Wednesday.

As inclusive as the app is when it comes to genders and sexualities, it isn't inclusive from a geography point of view. Unless you live in London or New York, you won't be getting your Thursday on for the time being. What's more, the app is only accepting 100,000 members in those locations, so if you’re in the big smoke or big apple, sign up before you’re locked out every day of the week.

Plenty of Fish

• Free
• iOS, Android
• Straight, gay

Plenty of Fish is another app that allows you to create a profile, answer questions or just upload your favorite selfies. It’s got a large user-base and when it comes to success rates, it really divides opinion. The huge choice of, erm, fish, tend to mean there are a few long-term love stories and lots of “okay I guess” dating anecdotes.

Louise said: “It’s a totally mixed bag. Be ready to hunt for people through the droves and droves. I’ve had a few fun dates through it, you just have to put the time in to weed through the rubbish.”

Paul said: “All I ever hear from men is that women never reply, and all I ever hear from women is that they get too many messages.”

That said, we know personally of one real world couple that are now married having met through Plenty of Fish, so love can be found here!

Match.com

• Free
• iOS, Android
• Straight, gay, bisexual

Match.com is another older dating website that’s evolved over the years to become one of the most popular apps. The profiles are detailed (if people fill them in), which means you can find out more about someone before you speak to them, and location-based searching means you’re shown people who live or work nearby.

One of the most interesting developments to Match.com’s proposition is group dating events, which sound weird but could set it apart from the rest.

Paul said: “I love that match are evolving by introducing dating events. They have the potential to be the future of dating and it's nice to see one of the top online companies acknowledging that, without losing their original identity.”

Veggly

• Free (in-app purchases)
• Android and iOS
• Straight, gay, bisexual, other
• Caters for vegans and vegetarians

More than just an excuse to send aubergine emojis, Veggly is a perfect app for single vegans and vegetarians around the world. If you’re anything like our resident animal-loving singleton, navigating sharing your veggie status on other dating apps can be a catch 22.

He’s had everything from quips about his vegan sausage to messages calling him sanctimonious for putting his big V status on his profile. Veggly cuts through the noise, with a smaller dating pool to swim in, but arguably, one that is more matched with your stance on animals, and probably other things like the environment.

Far from being exclusive to 100 percent vegans and vegetarians, the inclusive app also welcomes folks in transition between meat eater to veggie. As for how it works, Veggly is split into five sections: Home, Chat, Super Likes, Profile and Settings. Home is a vertical list of potential matches set against your criteria, which you can set in the profile section. That’s also where you can unsurprisingly, fill out your profile, setting parameters like gender (with options for male, female, and other (with space to fill in how you identify).

The chat section is a traditional repository for your conversations, while Super Likes shows you people who think you’re pretty darn swell. Aside from the whole vegan/vegetarian angle, it’s definitely one of the more straightforward, low-algorithm apps, making for what feels like a pretty organic interaction experience. As for what you get when you pay for premium, you can see who liked you, ditch the adverts, get some extra super likes and view potential partners in other locations.

When we first installed Veggly in 2018, we didn’t feature it on this list because there just weren’t that many people using it; but now, it’s ripe and juicy, so if you’ve had a similar experience in the past, it definitely warrants another go in 2021.

Coffee Meets Bagel

• Free
• iOS, Android
• Straight

Another app, another promise to provide more meaningful connections. Meet Coffee Meets Bagel. Ladies, you’ll be served up a Bagel (that’s what the app calls men) each day at noon, which are only the Bagels (or... erm... men?) that have already liked you. The idea is it’ll cut out time wasting and lead to a greater chance of a connection.

The app also has a recently launched premium feature, which serves up more information about your matches, like how likely they are to reply to you.

It’s another idea that sounds good, but does it really work? We’re yet to find anyone who has found what they’re looking for through the app.

Louise told us: “It’s a great idea and I like the fact I don’t have to sit alone in an evening and swipe for hours, but I haven’t had a date through it yet.”

Paul said: “I like it but I'm not yet convinced. It hasn't captured my imagination quite yet but I do hope they prove me wrong as it has some really good elements to it.”

WooPlus

• Free (in-app purchases)
• Android and iOS
• Straight, gay, bisexual (though unreliable at suggesting gay or bisexual matches exclusively)

We spoke with three happily fat people specifically about dating apps that are a bit more body positive than some of the usual suspects. In conversations with the two women, one word that came up a lot was ‘fetishized’.

Some apps aren’t so much for curvy people, as for curvy women specifically, and for the not curvy men that are attracted to them. Of course, those apps are doing their thing and that’s all good, however, they can make women feel like their fat’s being fetishized. The consensus was that WooPlus is the most inclusive app for both fatter men and women, while also having a healthy mix of admirers too.

Weight aside, the app isn’t afraid to get down with those difficult questions. Heck, it asks about your income before pretty much anything else! There are other criteria you can fill out that are a bit more typical: religion, ethnicity, whether or not you have or want kids.

One issue we found when we tried the app from a man seeking man perspective was that we were very frequently presented with men, who presented as heterosexual. Who’s to say what they actually like in the sheets, but if you’re not straight, definitely keep your wits about you, or you might be messaging someone who bats for the other team, or at the very least says they do in their profile.

On the plus side, the app is free, and you can match and message with people without paying a cent. That said, for unlimited swipes and VIP access, you have to pay, and as with most dating apps, it isn’t cheap, costing £13.49 a month in the UK, and around $18.99 in the US.

Scruff

• Free
• iOS, Android
• Gay

After a hairy hookup? Scruff takes the basic dating app experience, and tailors it to gay guys looking for burly, furry men, also known as bears, polar bears, cubs and otters.

Scruff quotes over 12 million worldwide users, and has recently expanded into AirBnB style travel accommodation, with a gay-friendly slant, also letting you know if fellow travellers from out of town are looking for some company. Paid tiers unlock additional features for committed users, but the free experience is worthy of inclusion here.

Basil enjoyed the 'instant messaging, whether you've been highlighted for a positive match or not. It means there's not instant rejection, but be ready for unsolicited messages too.' He encouraged using the private gallery feature to have more meaningful interactions with would-be dates.

Happn

• Free
• iOS, Android
• Straight, gay, bisexual

Do you ever daydream that you’ll experience a romantic movie moment when you lock eyes with someone and then you’re together for all of eternity? But then you glance at someone in the street in real life and instantly look away again because you’re shy and awkward and not a fictional character? Well, Happn wants to try and resolve that and turn every walk down the street into a dreamy chance to find love.

You fill in your details like you would with any other app, but then your phone’s location smarts kick in and you’re shown people who are nearby. Whether that means they live near you, work near you, have the same Sunday morning routine, or anything else.

Nick said: “I met a lot of great people through this app. You’re bound to have similar lives if they keep showing up near you. Plus, it takes the pressure off because you’re already in each other’s proximity - you can easily go for a drink.”

But there are drawbacks to the “find people nearby” USP.

Nick continued: “The problem is, if you go on a bad date, you’ll see the same person again and again.”

Hayley said: “I used to love this. But then it keeps bringing up the same people over and over if you're doing the same commute everyday as other people.”

Taste Buds

• Free
• Straight

Taste Buds wants to connect you up with people who share your music interests, which is why it calls itself “Tinder for music lovers”, as if everyone on Tinder doesn’t love music?

If someone’s music tastes are a dealbreaker, this app will weed out anyone who isn’t destined to sit and listen to your favourite artists with you.

Paul said: “It’s a really nice idea. But I’m not sure if it has any longevity. I hope I’m proven wrong, as it's quite innovative.”

Her

• Free
• iOS, Android
• Gay, bi, other

Formerly called Dattch, Her claims it's the 'most popular lesbian app' and that's hardly a surprise considering its fresh approach to connecting people. It's mostly about dating with its 'Meet' tab, with a bit of platonic social networking thrown in for good measure via its Facebook-like 'Feed' area.

To set up a profile you answer some simple questions and then sync it up with your Facebook account. A lot of the people on the app say that's REALLY appealing because it stops men from seeking out lesbian and queer people in an attempt to chat them up and somehow change their orientation... Yeah, it makes no sense to us either, but its an all-too-common problem on some of the more straight-focused dating apps. But Her puts a stop to it before you've even signed up. Phew.

It doesn't just cater for lesbians – the app is for lesbian, bi, pansexual, trans and queer people, too. It just makes a big deal of its 'most popular lesbian app' creds in its marketing materials.

Sweatt

• Free

Have you ever been texting someone lovely or on a great date with someone to then find out the next time you meet that you’ve got absolutely zilch in common? Sure some people can build relationships from differing interests, but it’s often easier if you have at least one hobby to share.

That’s why Sweatt seems like a kinda silly, kinda great idea. It’s essentially like Tinder, but for those who love fitness and working out. The aim is you’ll find someone who loves exercise just as much as you do so you can become one of those cringe-worthy couples who lifts weights together or does complicated acrobatic yoga poses and then posts them to Instagram.

Like Tinder, Sweatt isn’t interested in getting you to fill out lengthy questionnaires, instead profiles are simple. This is great for those who are pushed for time, but it does mean it’s likely your matches will be based solely on how you both look - a fact some will love and others will hate.

Also like Tinder, you can search through potential matches by swiping and if you both like each other you’re matched and can begin the cat and mouse game. Except in this case the mouse loves running and the cat is so toned it looks like it’s been molded from clay.

Best Lgbt Dating Apps

• Get in shape with the best fitness trackers