10 Best Gay Dating Sites & Apps for 2024

Sandra Aninwaeze
By Sandra Aninwaeze Updated on: February 13, 2024 Fact Checked by Aleksandra Gojkovic

Dating can be pretty challenging for the LGBTQ+ community, from constant judgments in real life to negative experiences on online dating sites. Luckily, gay dating sites aim to create a comfortable and supportive space for LGBTQ+ singles to find love without judgment.

We have researched, compared, and reviewed many online platforms before compiling a list of the 10 best gay dating sites and apps. Some cater specifically for this demographic, while others have a wide user-base including this niche. To get real experience, we tested their features, mobile experiences, privacy features, and matching algorithms, ensuring LGBTQ+ singles get the best services while using these sites.

No matter what gender and sexual orientation you belong to, bisexual, pansexual, queer, transgender, or other here are the 10 best gay dating sites to freely express your sexuality.

Top 10 Gay Dating Sites & Apps in 2024

  1. eHarmonyProvides an expansive list of gender options for LGBTQ+ singles.
  2. BiCupidExclusive LGBTQ+ dating platform for bisexual singles seeking casual relationships.
  3. Seeking.com Luxury dating site open to LGBTQ+ singles.
  4. EliteSingles Find and meet educated LGBTQ+ singles seeking lasting relationships.
  5. InternationalCupid Meet international LGBTQ+ singles seeking serious relationships.
  6. ZooskLGBTQ+ inclusive dating site to find casual dates or long-term relationships.
  7. SilverSinglesMeet over 50 LGBTQ+ singles.
  8. Grindr – Dating platform solely for LGBTQ+ men to find casual hookups.
  9. Gaystryst – For gay and bisexual men seeking casual hookups.
  10. OhMojo – Free gay dating site for serious relationships and friendships.

eHarmony - LGBTQ+ Friendly with Several Gender Types

Serious Love Search
4.9/5
  • Big member pool
  • Efficient matching system
  • Free version available
Enjoy Compatible Matches, even on Free Membership
Visit eHarmony
  • Free Membership
  • Allows members to suggest genders
  • Algorithm-based
  • Mobile app for iOS and Android

According to them, “At eHarmony, we believe that real love is for everyone, and we’re deeply committed to providing a platform that’s safe, inclusive and welcoming to all members, including the LGBTQ+ community.” eHarmony is not an exclusive gay dating site, but it’s LGBTQ+ inclusive.

eHarmony works closely with GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) to improve the online dating experience for LGBTQ+ singles. Aside from gay dating, it caters to other types of dating, such as:

When signing up, you’ll need to select what gender best describes you from a list that includes:

  • Agender
  • Bi-gender
  • Cisgender nonbinary
  • Gender-fluid
  • Genderqueer
  • Pangender
  • Questioning
  • Transgender nonbinary
  • Trans feminine nonbinary
  • Trans masculine nonbinary
  • Two-spirit

You can choose to add more details about your gender and whether you want to display your gender on your profile or not. You also need to select what gender you’re seeking, whether men, women, non-binary, or any combination of genders. After registering, you must take the compatibility quiz, which will be used to suggest highly compatible matches to you.

eHarmony offers two types of memberships: free and paid. The free membership allows users to create an account, take the compatibility quiz, browse through profiles, send limited private messages, Likes, and Smiles, and see who has viewed their profile.

Paid membershave unlimited access to the site’s features, such as:

  • All communication tools
  • Video Date
  • Advanced search
  • Anonymous browsing
  • Dedicated customer care

Why We Choose eHarmony: LGBTQ+ singles can suggest an additional gender, which eHarmony will review. You can do this when registering or:

  • Click on Data and Settings
  • Click on “Want to share more about your gender”
  • Click on “Suggest a gender”
  • Enter your suggestion and submit
Pros
  • ✅ Detailed sign-up process
  • Several gender options
  • Best for serious LGBTQ+ dating
  • Video date feature
  • ✅ Daily suggestions of compatible LGBTQ+ profiles
  • ✅ Shows compatibility score with each profile
Cons
  • ❌ Lengthy questionnaire
  • ❌ Not for casual daters

BiCupid - Bisexual Dating Platform

Boldly Find Love
4.4/5
  • 20 years of experience
  • Caters for many relationship types
  • Safe for all sexual orientations
Bisexual Dating Made Easy, Discover Your Match
Visit BiCupid
  • LGBTQ+ casual dating platform
  • Free Membership
  • Mobile app for iOS and Android

BiCupid is one of the largest bisexual dating platforms, with over 230,000 monthly visitors. This platform is for bisexuals and other genders seeking casual relationships. It aims to create a comfortable space for LGBTQ+ singles to explore their sexuality without judgment. Couples can also sign up on this platform to spice up their relationships.

The signup process takes about 3–5 minutes. New members can sign up manually by providing details on their gender, gender of interest, age, email address, mobile number, name, username, password, location, height, ethnicity, and relationship status. You can also sign up through Facebook or email to save time.

Next, you will have to upload a photo from your gallery. BiCupid will pull an image from your account if you signed up through Facebook. The site will take a while to verify your photo.

The next step is to fill out the ‘About You’ section.

Here, you will add a creative headline, a description of yourself, what you like, and your ideal person. After this, BiCupid will send a verification code to verify your email, so it does seem like they aim to create a secure platform with minimal fake profiles.

BiCupid offers a free and paid membership. Free members can not read messages but can send messages to paid users, send Likes and Winks, participate in blogs and forums, send Winks, upload photos, add members to their Favorite list, basic search filters, limited access to First Date Ideas, and Spark features.

Paid members have access to these features plus others like:

  • Unlimited messaging
  • Rewinds
  • Advanced search
  • Change username
  • See members’ photos’ and videos
  • Reverse matches

Why We Choose BiCupid: The Spark feature shows you several members’ photos from which you can choose yes or pass. It accelerates the dating process, since you’re seeing multiple members without manually searching for them.

Pros
  • ✅ For casual daters
  • Detailed profiles
  • Dating tips available on the site
  • Add members to a Favorite list
  • ✅ Members’ blogs and forums
Cons
  • ❌ Not ideal for serious relationships
  • ❌ Complaints of fake profiles

Seeking.com - Send Virtual Gifts to Your Sugar Babies

4.5/5
  • Profile Customization
  • Verification options
  • Detailed profiles
Discover Exceptional Connections, Explore Premium Dating
Visit Seeking.com
  • Free Membership
  • Mobile app for Android only
  • LGBTQ+ friendly

Seeking.com is the “largest luxury dating site for the beautiful, wealthy, and successful, with over 46+ million members worldwide.”  Although not an exclusive gay dating site, it opens its doors to the LGBTQ+ singles, allowing them to experience the luxury life.

To create an account, you must provide personal details, including your gender and gender of interest. So, from the signup process, the platform helps LGBTQ+ users discover appropriate matches.

Seeking.com offers free and paid memberships.

Using the free membership, you can create an account, send messages, browse profiles, add profiles to your Favorite list, receive suggested matches, and match with profiles. With a paid membership, you have unlimited access to features like:

  • Profile boosts
  • Sending virtual gifts
  • Read receipts
  • Advanced search filters
  • Ad-free browsing

Why We Choose Seeking.com: If you verify your account within 24 hours of registration, your profile will get a free boost. It will increase your profile visibility to other LGBTQ+ members.

Pros
  • ✅ Send virtual gifts to your sugar babies
  • Free messaging for LGBTQ+ women
  • Free boost when you verify your profile
  • Advanced search filters to find more LGBTQ+ members
Cons
  • ❌ Not focused on serious relationships
  • ❌ Subscription is a bit expensive

EliteSingles - For Meaningful LGBTQ+ Dating

4.7/5
  • Personality test to support matching
  • Information rich
  • Smart design
Discover Elite Matches, Pursue Serious Relationships
Visit EliteSingles
  • Free Membership
  • LGBTQ+ friendly
  • Mobile app for Android and iOS

EliteSingles is not an exclusive gay dating site, but you can use this platform to find other LGBTQ+ singles seeking meaningful and long-lasting relationships. Many of its members are educated; hence, it’s deemed the site for educated and professional singles.

The signup process is lengthy due to the detailed personality test that all members must take. The results of this test will be used to match you with like-minded LGBTQ+ singles.

EliteSingles has free and paid memberships. Free members can take the personality test, send limited Likes and Smiles, receive match suggestions, and add members to their Favorite list. Paid members have unlimited access to these features plus others like:

  • Advanced search
  • Wildcard
  • Have You Met
  • See members’ photos
  • See profile visitors

Why We Choose EliteSingles: Premium members get featured for more visibility on the platform, attracting more LGBTQ+ members to their profiles.

Pros
  • ✅ Diverse dating pool
  • Dating tips from experts
  • Best for long-term relationships
  • Large number of active members
Cons
  • ❌ Not for casual daters

InternationalCupid - Participate in The Members’ Chat Rooms

True Love Journey
4.5/5
  • Large multinational audience
  • Advanced search options
  • Quick registration
Ø Useful experience for matching people from abroad
Visit InternationalCupid
  • Free Membership
  • LGBTQ+ friendly
  • Mobile app for Android only

InternationalCupid is an international dating site with most members seeking sincere and committed relationships. InternationalCupid is open to the LGBTQ community and you can sign up on this platform to find love and deep connections.

To create an account on InternationalCupid, state your gender, gender of interest, first name, country, email address, and password.

There are free and paid membership options available on InternationalCupid. Free members can only send messages to premium members, send Hearts to show interest, participate in the chat rooms, translate profiles, and match with profiles. Some premium features include:

  • Sending unlimited messages
  • Customize profile visibility
  • Cupid Tag
  • Translator
  • Advanced search filter
  • Profile highlight

Why We Choose InternationalCupid: Profiles are very detailed. The ‘About Me’ tab shows a detailed description of the profile where you can add your gender and gender of interest for other LGBTQ+ members to see.

Pros
  • ✅ Diverse member base
  • Large number of active members
  • Customize profile visibility
  • Chat rooms for free and paid users
Cons
  • ❌ Not for casual hookups

Zoosk - Go Live with Zoosk Live!

Smart Worldwide Matches
4.7/5
  • Enormous dating pool
  • Various types of matching
  • Quick onboarding
Smart Dating, Discover Your Perfect Match
Visit Zoosk
  • Free Membership
  • LGBTQ+ friendly
  • Mobile app for Android and iOS

Zoosk is a diverse dating LGBTQ+ inclusive website, providing you with a unique platform to find love, casual dates, and friendships. It employs a behavioral matching system or swipe function to find potential matches. Zoosk is available in 25 languages and in over 80 countries.

You can sign up through Facebook, Email, or manually by stating your gender, gender of interest, birthday, email address, and password. Next, you’ll add your location and upload a photo. You also add details of your body type, ethnicity, and education level, resulting in helpful information to compare possible matches.

Zoosk offers a free and paid membership. With a free membership, you can create a profile, send Smiles and Hearts to show interest, use the Carousel feature, and see profile visitors. Free members can not send or receive messages. Paid members have access to features such as:

  • Unlimited messaging
  • Incognito mode
  • SmartPick
  • Zoosk Great Dates

Why We Choose Zoosk: The Zoosk Great Dates is a unique feature for members, including LGBTQ+ singles, to go on dates with their matches to virtual locations.

Pros
  • ✅ Behavioral matching system
  • Dating tips and advice on the site
  • Send virtual gifts
  • Go on dates with Zoosk Great Date
Cons
  • ❌ Free members can not chat with other members

SilverSingles - Primarily for Over 50 LGBTQ+ Singles

Meaningful Mature Connections
4/5
  • Appealing design
  • Clear profile structure
  • Receive daily list of matches
Exclusive Senior Dating, Find Companionable Silver Love
Visit SilverSingles
  • Free Membership
  • Mobile app for iOS and Android
  • LGBTQ+ friendly

SilverSingles is a senior dating site for singles over 50, irrespective of their sexual orientation, to find long-term relationships, casual dates, and friendships. New members must take the platform’s personality test to suggest three to seven like-minded matches daily.

Free members can take the personality test and send limited messages, Smiles, and Likes. Paid members have unlimited access to features such as:

  • Unlimited messaging
  • Unlimited access to profiles
  • Read receipts
  • Access to members’ photos
  • Access to the mobile app
  • See profile visitors

Why We Choose SilverSingles: This dating site caters to older LGBTQ+ demographics.

Pros
  • ✅ For over 50 LGBTQ+ singles
  • Dating tips by experts available on the site
  • Daily suggestions of like-minded singles
  • Easy-to-use platform
Cons
  • ❌ Limited communication tools for free members
  • ❌ Lengthy signup

Grindr - For Casual Hookups

  • Exclusive gay dating site
  • Mobile app for iOS and Android
  • Free Membership

Established in 2009, Grindr claims to be the “largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people.” Men primarily use this location-based gay dating platform to find casual hookups within your location. If you’re looking for serious relationships, rather check out our other recommendations.

Grindr offers free and paid membership. With a free membership, you can view up to 100 profiles within your area, to which you can swipe right or left to indicate whether you’re interested. You can also search profiles, add members to your Favorite list, share photos, and send and receive messages.

Paid membership has two tiers, XTRA and Unlimited. Some XTRA features include:

  • Ad-free browsing
  • Global chat with Explore
  • View up to 600 profiles
  • Read receipts
  • 5 expiring photos per day
  • Advanced filters

Some Unlimited features include:

  • All features that come with XTRA
  • Unsend
  • View unlimited profiles
  • See who viewed you
  • Incognito
  • Chat Translate
  • Typing status

Why We Choose Grindr: With the Unsend feature, you can remove any message you regret sending or sent to the wrong person. It also supports Gaymojis, to make communication more interesting and relevant.

Pros
  • ✅ Video chat
  • Exclusive LGBTQ+ dating site
  • Large member base
  • Free membership includes several features
Cons
  • ❌ Complaints of fake profiles
  • ❌ Not for serious relationships

Gaystryst - For Gay Men Seeking Casual Hookups

  • Free Membership
  • For men only
  • No mobile app

Gaystryst offers a safe place for gay men seeking casual dating and hookups. To sign up, enter your email address, password, sex, location, and age. Next, enter the verification code sent to you and build your profile.

Free members can not send messages but can send Winks, view profiles, search with basic filters, and add members to their Favorite list. Premium members enjoy features such as:

  • Messaging
  • Advanced search
  • Premium customer support
  • Send photos and videos

Why We Choose Gaystryst: The Like Gallery is similar to the swipe function. It allows users to browse multiple profiles, one at a time, to which they can select the heart icon or X icons.

Pros
  • ✅ For casual hookups
  • Video chat
  • Daily subscription available
Cons
  • ❌ Free members can not send messages

OhMojo - Completely Free Gay Dating Site

  • 100% free
  • No mobile app
  • Exclusive gay dating site

OhMojo is a gay and lesbian dating platform for singles seeking serious relationships and friendships. To register, enter your name, email address, password, and date of birth. You can then upload several photos to your profile.

The site is completely free to use. Features such as sending private messages, adding members to the Favorite list, searching profiles, and checking who’s online are available at no additional fee.

Unfortunately, since this site is free, there are numerous fake profiles, so do be on the lookout for suspicious behavior when trying out this one.

Why We Choose OhMojo: 100% free gay dating site with no limitations.

Pros
  • ✅ Features are free
  • Exclusive gay and lesbian dating site
  • For friendships and serious relationships
Cons
  • ❌ Lots of fake profiles
  • ❌ Website looks cluttered

Dating Sites and Apps for Gay Dating Detailed Comparison

App/SiteBest forRegistered UsersMen/Women RatioFocusFree VersionSubscriptionMobile friendly?Verified ProfilesSocial Media IntegrationMatching System
eHarmonyAll singlesOver 30 millionM: 48%
F: 52%
Serious relationshipsCompatibility quiz
BiCupidLGBTQ+ singlesOver 2 millionM: 65%
F: 35%
Casual hookups, Serious relationshipsAge, Location, Interests
Seeking.comSuccessful and Attractive SinglesOver 40 millionM: 40%
F: 60%
Sugar relationshipsAge, Location, Body Type, Income, Net Worth
EliteSinglesEducated seniorsOver 13 millionM: 44%
F: 56%
Sugar relationshipsPersonality test
InternationalCupidAll singlesOver 4 millionM: 44%
F: 56%
Serious relationships, FriendshipsAge, Gender, Location
* Note: Stats are aggregated via SimilarWeb, extracting data from trusted websites including Online Dating Statistics by Forbes Health, Pew Research Center and FinancesOnline

How We Rate Dating Sites and Apps 

We rate each dating site after an in-depth review process that includes fact-checking and to align with our editorial policy, our feedback is based on real-life testing of each platform. We do have advertising partners, which is explained in our advertising disclosure, but we deliver unbiased information and update content regularly. For your peace of mind, learn more about our process in our detailed ranking guide.

Main Features to Consider When Choosing a Gay Dating Site

The best gay dating sites should include features that enable users to meet compatible individuals and feel safe finding these matches, rather than experiencing prejudice. To simplify your search, look for these features when comparing LGBTQ+ friendly dating sites before choosing:

  • Suitable Match Algorithm: The dating site should employ suitable and advanced matching algorithms to help users match with compatible profiles. It should also let users search for profiles using advanced search criteria such as body type, interests, lifestyle, hobbies, age, etc. At eHarmony, members must take a compatibility quiz to receive daily suggestions of highly compatible profiles based on the quiz results. This type of algorithm is best for people seeking serious relationships.
  • User Base: Choose gay dating sites with the right member pool for your desired relationship. For example, many eHarmony are focused on serious relationships. BiCupid members are seeking casual relationships, while some are seeking casual hookups. Seeking.com members usually look for sugar dating.
  • Communication Tools: The gay dating site should provide several communication tools such as Winks, Hearts, Smiles, Likes, and Icebreakers. The site should also have a chat feature with a modern interface alongside emojis, GIFs, stickers, and voice messages. The tools can easily convey your message without the need to type and a tool like Grindr’s gaymojis are especially helpful for this niche.
  • Video Call: Consider gay dating sites with an in-app video call feature. This tool helps matches to get to know each other better. You can easily go on virtual dates with your match if you’re in different locations. It is also essential to confirm your match’s identity using this tool. Also, for people who have received abuse because of their sexuality, such a tool brings a sense of safety about online dating
  • Security Features: Choose dating sites with SSL encryption, ensuring users’ safety while on the site. Also, the site should encourage members to verify their profiles with photos, phone numbers, IDs, emails, etc. For example, Seeking.com asks wealthy members to verify their annual income. This verification policy discourages scammers from using the site, offering a safer environment to the LGBTQ+ community.

Important Tips for Safety & Success on Gay Dating Sites

We can’t say for sure that you won’t encounter scammers while using gay dating sites. But you can take measures to ensure that you do not become a victim of romance scams or online abusers. Here are a few tips on being successful and safe on dating sites.

  1. Choose Dating Sites Wisely: Choose dating sites with the right member pool for your desired relationship. Start off by making sure a site caters for the LGBTQ+ community. Then, choose the most relevant platforms. For example, dating sites like eHarmony and EliteSingles if you want a serious relationship. If you’re looking for casual hookups, sign up at Grindr or Gaystryst.
  2. Be Open-Minded: Like they say, don’t judge a book by its cover. Just because someone isn’t your ideal physical type doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give them a chance. Stay open-minded and get to know them better before making your final decision. You may be compatible in other aspects and they could be the one you’ve been looking for.
  3. Get to Know Each Other: Get more information about who you are texting. You can ask questions about their hobbies, likes, dislikes, or an interesting story about their life. But don’t get too personal and pry into their private lives, as this can make someone feel uncomfortable and block you. Ask for their social media handles and if they do share the information, use these platforms to discover more about them.
  4. Don’t Reveal Too Much Information: Don’t feel obligated to share sensitive information about yourself. Information like your full name, work or home address, children’s identity, and phone number should be kept private until you feel the need to share. If they show too much interest in your personal information, it could be a scammer wanting to take advantage or access your bank account. Stop texting them and report such accounts.
  5. Request A Video Call: If a platform offers the feature, request a video call to see if their face matches their profile picture. Stop texting them immediately if they always reject the request or give excuses, as this is a common characteristic with scammers.
  6. Meet in A Public Place: With many people still being prejudiced against gay dating, you may think a private meetup is best for a first date, especially if you only recently came out. But with online dating it’s vital to always meet up in a public place on a first date. This is essential to ensure your own safety.
  7. Tell Someone: Whether it’s a friend or family member, it is important to let someone know who you are meeting, and where you are meeting them. Also, keep them in the loop if anything happens; they can send for help.
  8. Trust Your Guts: Always trust your guts. If you notice anything suspicious about them or are uncomfortable around them, you can always choose to end the date. Don’t worry about being rude because your safety is the main priority. 
  9. Take It Slow: Don’t rush into making big decisions; be patient and take things slow before committing to a relationship. It might take a while to really get to know someone, but it’s the only way you discover the real characteristics of someone. If it leads to your ultimate match, it’s worth the wait.
  10. Beware of Fake Photos: Some users may use fake photographs for their profiles and pretend to be someone they’re not. You can check a picture’s authenticity using Google Photo search to avoid being catfished.
  11. Don’t Send Money to Anyone: Scammers with fake profiles will tell you lies that might sound believable, but they’re only created to make you feel sorry for them, or obligated to help. Never send money to anyone, no matter what sad story they tell.

Is a Free Gay Dating Site Legit?

Typically, dating sites will offer their members free and paid memberships. A dating site with free features is still legit, but the free membership usually only allows access to limited features. For example, free members on eHarmony have limited access to features such as messaging, browsing profiles, seeing who viewed their profile, and sending limited Likes and Smiles. Free members at BiCupid can send Winks, browse profiles with a basic search filter, and upload photos.

Free versions of dating sites are a great way to test out a dating site, assess its quality, and then decide if it’s right for you. If you want to have more access to features such as advanced search criteria, unlimited messaging, and a larger member pool, we advise that you make an investment in your gay dating life and get a paid membership. The reputable sites above offer various contract options, including one-month, three-month, six-month, or one-year plans.

Bisexual Dating Made Easy, Discover Your Match
Visit BiCupid
Enjoy Compatible Matches, even on Free Membership
Visit eHarmony

Resources for Gay Singles Seeking Love

For more options to find other gay singles, check out these Facebook groups and social events specifically for LGBTQ+ singles.

Conclusion: What is the Best Gay Dating Site?

The best gay dating site depends on how much you’re willing to spend on a dating site and what type of relationship you hope to find.

After reviewing and comparing several sites, we have found the best dating sites to be eHarmony and BiCupid. Most people on eHarmony are looking for serious relationships, while BiCupid members are either looking for serious relationships or casual hookups. So, pick the one most appropriate to your dating goals.

Thanks to free memberships, you can even sign up to multiple sites and see which ones suit you best.

FAQ

What Are the Best Free Gay Dating Sites?

The best free dating sites are eHarmony, BiCupid, Seeking.com and InternationalCupid. They have large dating pools and offer useful features for free, although they’re limited.

For example, free users on eHarmony can send and receive limited messages, send Likes and Winks, and even see who has viewed their profiles. These free features are enough to start a connection with a match, and it becomes even better when you pay for a subscription.

What is the Best Gay Dating Site for Serious Relationships?

What Are the Best Gay Dating Sites for Hookups?

What Are the Most Popular Gay Dating Sites?

The most popular gay dating sites are BiCupid, Grindr, and Gaystryst. Heterosexual dating sites like eHarmony, EliteSingles, and Zoosk are LGBTQ+ inclusive, so you can try them to get access to a larger dating pool.

Are Gay Dating Sites Different from Heterosexual Dating Sites?

Gay and heterosexual dating sites are similar in functionality. However, one major difference is that gay dating sites are more focused on LGBTQ+ users. The member pools mostly contain profiles of people from the LGBTQ+ community.

What Are the Benefits of Using Gay Dating Sites?

Gay dating sites create a safer space for LGBTQ+ singles to express their sexuality compared to some heterosexual dating sites. The chances of receiving online abuse for your sexual orientation is small because most users are from the LGBTQ+ community. Also, you’ll find more singles with similar sexual orientations than on heterosexual dating sites.

Sandra Aninwaeze
Author Sandra Aninwaeze

Sandra, a 28-year-old Dating Coach and Author, specializes in relationship and dating advice, with a background in healthcare advising and therapy. She is dedicated to helping individuals build meaningful relationships and find true love. Sandra offers personalized coaching, providing tailored advice for everything from first dates to long-term commitments.