TL;DR: Scruff, Jack’d and Hornet are the closest apps like Grindr for gay men. Hinge, OkCupid and eHarmony suit people who want a relationship, and HER and Lex serve queer women and the wider community. Every app here is free to download, but none is 100% free: each sells a paid upgrade.
Best Apps Like Grindr: Quick Overview
12 min read
In this article
Grindr is still the biggest app for gay men, with about 15 million monthly active users on average in 2025. But it isn’t the right fit for everyone. Many other apps like Grindr offer different features, smaller communities or a slower pace.
People look for Grindr alternatives for many reasons: better moderation, more privacy, video chat or a friendlier community. Many also want verified profiles and smarter matching. Most of the apps below run as both Android apps and iOS apps.
Quick Picks by What You Want
- Closest to Grindr for gay men: Scruff, Jack’d and Hornet.
- For bears: Growlr.
- For relationships: Hinge, OkCupid and eHarmony.
- For queer women: HER.
- Community first, for all queer people: Lex and Taimi.
- For open or non-monogamous relationships: Feeld.
- Big general apps with LGBTQ+ settings: Tinder, Bumble and Zoosk.
- Popular in Asia: Blued.
Key Features to Look For
- Smart matching: some apps suggest people based on your answers and activity.
- Video and voice chat: talking before you meet builds trust and helps with safety.
- Verification and privacy: look for photo checks, reporting tools and the option to hide your distance.
- Niche communities: some apps serve bears, queer women or people in open relationships.
- Good Android and iOS apps: the best ones work just as well on both.
What This Means for App Builders
Each app does something different. Scruff and Hornet focus on community, Feeld on open relationships, and Hinge and OkCupid on deeper matches. If you’re building a dating app, plan for smart matching, video chat, privacy controls and fast Android and iOS apps from day one.
Cross-platform frameworks like Flutter or React Native let one team ship both apps. Add identity checks and safety tools early, not after launch.
Why People Look for Grindr Alternatives
Grindr works well for quick chats with people nearby. Some users want something slower, like a casual dating app that also helps them make friends. Others want a serious relationship, or a space built for their part of the community.
Grindr is open to gay, bi, trans and queer people, and to anyone who is curious. It’s free to use, with paid plans for extra features. If it doesn’t feel right for you, the apps below are worth a look, and our list of top dating apps like Tinder has more general picks.
What Makes Grindr Popular?
Big mainstream apps like Tinder and Bumble aren’t only for straight users. Many queer people use them too, especially in smaller towns where niche apps have fewer members. OkCupid also lets you choose from a wide range of genders and orientations.
Niche apps give a more tailored experience, while big apps win on numbers. Your best choice depends on where you live and what you want. Grindr’s own strength is simple: it shows you who is nearby, right now.
Here’s what Grindr’s free version includes:
- Location-Based Matching: view the profiles of other Grindr users in your vicinity.
- Profiles: Create a profile that includes images and basic information about yourself.
- Chat: Send texts, photographs, and audio messages to the other individuals you’ve connected with.
- Grid View: Browse profiles in a grid format, ordered by distance.
- Tapping: Express your interest in someone by “tapping” on their profile.
- Blocking: Block users you do not wish to see or communicate with.
Paid plans add more.
Grindr sells two main upgrades, XTRA and Unlimited. Here’s what they add:
- No third-party ads: both paid plans remove them.
- More profiles: XTRA shows up to 600 profiles in the grid, and Unlimited has no cap.
- More filters: narrow the grid by things like relationship status.
- Incognito mode (Unlimited): browse without showing up in the grid.
- Viewed Me (Unlimited): see everyone who checked your profile.
- Unsend (Unlimited): take back messages and photos you sent.
- More video chat time: free users get about one minute a day; paid plans get far more.
Grindr was one of the first location-based apps for gay men. Today, many apps compete with it, from big names like Tinder and Hinge to apps built only for LGBTQ+ users. Here are 15 worth trying.
Building something similar? See our iOS app development services and mobile app development services.
The 15 Best Apps Like Grindr in 2026
Hinge
Hinge is built for people who want a relationship, not just a chat. Its slogan says it’s “designed to be deleted.” Profiles mix photos, videos and written or voice prompts, so you see someone’s personality before you match.
Instead of swiping, you like or comment on one part of a profile, such as a photo or a prompt answer. That gives you an easy way to start talking. Hinge is open to all orientations, so it works well for gay men and queer people who want something serious.
Hinge also sends a daily “Most Compatible” suggestion, the kind of feature you’d plan for in an AI dating app. It’s free to use, with paid plans for extra likes and filters.
Scruff
Scruff is one of the closest apps like Grindr. It’s made for gay, bi, trans and queer men, and it has members all over the world. You can browse people nearby or anywhere else.
Filter by age, location and interests, then send a “woof” to show interest. Scruff Match shows a daily stack of profiles and tells you when the interest is mutual. Its Venture feature helps travelers find local tips and people at their destination.
Most of Scruff’s features are free. SCRUFF Pro adds advanced search, anonymous browsing and video sharing.
Jack'd
Jack’d comes from Perry Street Software, the same company behind Scruff. It calls itself the largest dating app for queer people of color, and it’s open to the whole LGBTQ+ community.
Jack’d Match shows daily profiles and alerts you to mutual interest. Profiles support pronouns, private albums and a verification badge, and you can video chat in the app. It’s free, with a Jack’d Pro subscription for extras.
Taimi
Taimi is an LGBTQ+ dating and social app for people of all orientations and gender identities. It mixes dating with social features like feeds, groups and events. That makes it a good pick if you want community as well as dates.
Profiles can include photos, posts and prompt answers. You swipe through people, send a like, and chat once you match. Taimi is free to download, with a paid plan for extra features.
Zoosk
Zoosk is a general dating app and website that launched in 2007. It isn’t built for LGBTQ+ users, but you choose whether you want to meet men or women. It’s simple to use, which helps if you’re new to online dating.
Zoosk’s behavioral matching learns from the profiles you like and suggests similar people. One caution: its parent company, Spark Networks, has been through a financial restructuring, so check that the app is still active where you live. Related: cross-platform app development.
Growlr
Growlr is a social networking and dating app for gay bears, cubs and the men who like them. It gives a friendly space to a community that can feel left out on bigger apps. You can browse men nearby and chat.
In October 2026, Perry Street Software, the company behind Scruff, bought Growlr and announced a full rebuild planned for early 2027. The current app keeps running in the meantime.
Blued
Blued is a social and dating app for gay and bi men, with a big following in Asia. It’s owned by Newborn Town, a Hong Kong-listed company, and it also offers live streams.
Like other apps, you can browse people nearby or around the world and filter by age and interests. Note that Blued was removed from app stores in mainland China in November 2025. Check that it’s listed in your country’s app store.
Tinder
Tinder is one of the biggest dating apps in the world. You see profiles near you and swipe right if you’re interested or left if you’re not. You can show your sexual orientation and choose who you want to see.
You match when you both swipe right, then you can chat. Profiles are short: a few photos, a short bio and basics like age. Swiping and chatting are free, and paid plans add extras like seeing who liked you.
OkCupid
OkCupid matches people on shared values and interests, not just photos. You answer multiple-choice questions about your beliefs, habits and deal breakers. The app then shows a match score for each person.
OkCupid offers a wide range of gender and orientation options, which makes it popular with queer people. Profiles include written sections, so you learn more before you message. It’s free to use, with paid upgrades.
Hornet
Hornet is a social networking and dating app for gay and bi men and the wider queer community. It launched in 2011 and still runs community events in several countries.
Hornet feels more like a social network than a dating app. You can post photos and videos, follow people and browse profiles nearby. Related: hire cross-platform developers.
HER
HER is a dating and community app for lesbian, bi and queer women and the wider LGBTQIA+ community. It isn’t aimed at gay men, but it’s one of the best-known apps for queer people outside the gay male scene.
You can pick from many gender and orientation options. Besides dating, HER has community feeds and groups for making friends. Core features are free, and an optional Premium plan adds more control.
eHarmony
eHarmony is for people who want a long-term partner. It matches you on values, interests and goals rather than quick swipes. Same-sex matching used to run on a separate site, but it’s now part of the main platform.
Sign-up includes a long questionnaire about your personality and what you want in a relationship. eHarmony then suggests people it thinks fit you well. It’s a slower, more serious option than most apps on this list.
Bumble
Bumble is a general dating app that works for queer people too. In same-sex matches, either person can send the first message. Its Opening Moves feature lets you set a question that matches can answer to start a chat.
Matches expire if nobody starts a conversation in time, which keeps things moving. Bumble also offers photo verification and tools to report bad behavior.
Feeld
Feeld is for people who want to explore relationships outside strict monogamy. Singles and couples use it, including many queer people. It welcomes open, polyamorous and other non-traditional relationships.
Profiles use tags, so you can say what you’re looking for up front. You decide how much to share, and you can browse more privately if you want. It’s free to use, with a paid membership for extras.
Lex
Lex is a text-first social app for LGBTQ+ people. It began as a space for queer women and trans and nonbinary people, and it’s now open to the whole community. You can post, find friends, look for dates or find local events.
Lex puts words before photos, so posts read like short personal ads. It’s free to download, but free users can only post a few times a month. A paid plan removes that limit.
Free vs Paid: Are There 100% Free Apps Like Grindr?
Short answer: no. Every app on this list is free to download and lets you chat for free, but each one sells a paid upgrade. Free plans usually limit how many profiles you see or which filters you can use.
Scruff and HER keep most of their core features free. Hinge, OkCupid and eHarmony are the best fits if you want a relationship rather than a casual dating app.
Dating as a couple? Our guide to the best apps for couples has more ideas. And if you just want to chat with new people, try these Omegle alternatives.
Conclusion
There’s no single best app like Grindr. Scruff, Jack’d and Hornet are closest for gay men, Growlr suits bears, and HER and Lex serve queer women and the wider community. Hinge, OkCupid and eHarmony fit people who want a relationship.
Try two or three and see where you feel at home. Read recent app store reviews, check the safety tools, and meet new people in public places first.
Planning your own dating or social app? EchoInnovate IT can help you build it, with safety and privacy features from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Grindr alternative?
For most gay men, Scruff is the best Grindr alternative. It offers nearby browsing like Grindr, plus daily matches and a travel feature. Jack’d and Hornet are close seconds. If you want a relationship rather than quick chats, Hinge or OkCupid is a better fit. The right pick depends on where you live.
Are there free apps like Grindr?
Yes, but none is 100% free. Scruff, Jack’d, Hornet, Taimi, HER, Lex and OkCupid are all free to download and let you chat without paying. Each sells a paid plan that adds things like more profiles, extra filters or private browsing. Free plans are enough for most people to get started.
Which apps like Grindr are for relationships, not hookups?
Hinge, OkCupid and eHarmony are built for relationships. Hinge uses prompts to start real conversations, OkCupid matches on values through its questions, and eHarmony uses a long questionnaire. All three are open to gay men and queer people. Scruff and HER also have plenty of users looking for something serious.
Is Scruff better than Grindr?
It depends on what you want. Grindr has the bigger user base, with about 15 million monthly active users on average in 2025, so you will usually see more people nearby. Scruff adds daily matches, a travel feature and a community feel that many users prefer. Both are free to use, with paid upgrades.
Are apps like Grindr safe?
Most have safety tools like blocking, reporting and photo verification, but you still need to be careful. Don’t share your home address or money details early on. Meet in a public place the first time and tell a friend where you will be. Many apps also let you hide your distance from others.
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