5 LGBTQ+ dating apps that will help you to find the one you are looking for
Whether for dating or socialising, Grindr, Hornet, Jack’d, Her and Scissr all have a place for those seeking romance or just good company
There’s an app for everything now, and dating is no exception. Tinder may have contributed “swipe right” to the lexicon, but apps tailored to the LGBTQ+ community are in full swing, too
Grindr
For better or for worse, Grindr is the granddaddy of gay apps, boasting over six million active users worldwide and a total of nearly 30 million members. Despite its reach, the app, predominantly for men, has been unable to transcend its “hook-up first” image because of its popular geolocation feature. Since its launch in 2009, Grindr has had its share of controversies – the app has been accused of racism, hate speech and of being exploited as a tool for persecution of gay men in repressive countries, and it’s weak on the concept of boundaries – but there’s no denying its ubiquity and value to travellers and those relocating for meeting new people.
Hornet
The second-largest gay dating app after Grindr, Hornet focuses on the “social” part of social networking, and with 25 million users it’s easy to understand why it’s gaining traction. While it’s often used as a dating platform, its strengths lie in its clean interface and Hornet Feed, which curates content from around the world and keeps users plugged in to what’s going on in the community. As a bonus, its ads are relatively non-intrusive. Hornet is particularly popular in Brazil, Taiwan and France – and it maintains an office in Hong Kong – though it’s still playing catch-up to Grindr in the US and Britain. At least for now.
Jack’d
