Dating is hard. There's an entire world of options right there on your phone screen (we know, we know, a vast majority of them suck), yet putting yourself out there – whether you're looking for long-lasting love or simply some casual LOLs – can be daunting, disappointing and absolutely terrifying. Yeah, dating is really hard.
But one thing's for sure: dating is much easier if you're a heterosexual, cisgender person, not least because dating sites and apps are mostly built with straight people in mind. If you're lesbian, bisexual, trans, non-binary, pansexual, or basically any LGBTQIA+ identity, the world of dating apps can be infuriatingly exclusive, inaccessible and heteronormative.
These are the best dating apps out there to help you find love in this post-lockdown world
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So, we went searching for the best dating apps out there for lesbian, queer women or non-binary people. Some of the below dating apps are specifically designed for the queer community, while others are mainstream dating apps that have recently made substantial steps towards inclusivity.
These include both Hinge Tinder, believe it or not. The obvious benefit of using these mainstream apps is simply that they are used by so many people, which is especially useful if you live in a less-populated area where matches on newer, queer-specific dating apps may be slim pickings. Plus, both apps have substantially advanced their sexual orientation and gender options, so get kudos from us.
Other options for lesbian dating apps – most of which claim to be 'the biggest/ best/ most successful LGBTQIA+ dating app', btw – include Taimi, Her, Lex, Feeld, Scissr, Zoe and Lesly, whether you're looking for casual hook-ups or a shot at longterm love. Most have also rigorous verification processes in place, to sift out any scammers, fakers or creepy men.
These are the best lesbian dating apps out there for queer women and non-binary people...
It’s no secret that dating apps are painfully heterosexual. They’re not made with LGBTQ+ people in mind and it sucks. If you’re a lesbian, queer woman or non-binary person, whether you’ve been out for 10 years or a month – finding dating apps that actually work for you can be a challenge.
But having just come out as a lesbian, I decided to do some scientific research into the best queer woman and non-binary person dating apps. So if you’re lesbian, bisexual, queer, trans, non-binary, pansexual or any LGBTQ+ person – here are the best dating apps available for you.
Here are the best lesbian dating apps, ranked:
5. Scissr
Right so, let’s just get this one out of the way. I am in Brighton which is like the gayest city in the UK, right? Well apparently not because the nearest queer woman to me was miles away.
Scissr is the lesbian version of Grindr, so if that’s what you’re looking for then I’d reccommend downloading and giving it a go. It’s free to use and the name is quite iconic.
Also when you download Scissr, you have to state what you’re looking for which is fair enough. But I think this is the campest set of options I’ve seen:
Yes, I am going to match with HorseGirlButch99 to “have a cuppa.” Oh, but on second thought what if I want a “HOOKUP”? I love how “hookup” was capitalised as though it’s really scandalous and like no women ever hook up with each other.
Oh also, word of warning, you also have to come up with a username. I didn’t know that until I completed my account under my full name and was met with about twenty WelshLesbian87’s. Not a vibe. Prepare yourself for it. I deleted my account immediately and probably won’t re-download this one.
Rating: 2/5
4. Bumble
My experience with Bumble as a queer woman was one big ol’ yikes. I matched with several women (this makes me sound like a dick, I don’t get matched often I promise) and one of them told me she was straight after we spoke for around 48 hours. I’m not saying you’re all going to have this experience, but matching with someone and being told they “only matched with you to see what it was like” can be quite annoying. Definitely put me off using Bumble in the future.
via Twitter
The whole thing about Bumble is that women have to message first, so if you’re an LGBTQ+ woman wanting to meet other women then this feature is kind of pointless. But, the app is free and it’s quite popular so you’re likely to get a few matches.
Rating: 2.5/5
3. Tinder
Ah yes, the most heterosexual app known to mankind. For some reason, I still had men popping up every now and then as I swiped. This was a bit annoying but it was good to confirm that I am still 100 per cent gay.
Anyway, putting the rogue men aside, Tinder is super popular which is why it’s got a better rating than Scissr. You can get loads of matches because of how many people use the app. However, it did take me back to the trauma of what it was like dating men but if you’re comfortable using Tinder then I’d stick with it.
Rating: 3/5
Tinder lesbians are either like “You’re dreamy” or “You’re the best place to eat out around here”. There’s no in between.
— kelso (@Tht70sHO) February 28, 2021
2. Hinge
I love Hinge, I always have and I always will. It’s an inclusive app in terms of how you register your gender. But what let’s it down is your sexuality options: “interested in men”, “interested in women”, “interested in everyone” – so in that sense it’s like a carbon copy of Tinder or Bumble.
What I like about Hinge for queer women is how often other women will interact with your bio rather than pictures. It’s like they’ll pick up on something specific and encourage a conversation. Having to answer three questions encouraged conversation more than other apps do.
Rating 4/5
1. HER
HER is the best lesbian dating app for LGBTQ+ women for a reason. It’s provides the most wholesome safe space for a community of queer, lesbian and bisexual women. It’s also open to transgender and non-binary people and it’s so inclusive.
What I liked most about HER is that you can automatically see who liked you and who’s not liked you. Plus, you have an option to friend someone rather than match with them – which I think is a very cute touch. You can also add in your gender and sexual identity, pronouns and a bio.
You might think this is similar to other apps like Tinder or Bumble, but with HER you can also go on incognito mode which basically means you can swipe through people without your profile being seen. This is good if you want to be lowkey or if you’re not out yet and just want to get a feel for how the app works.
Rating: 5/5
Related stories recommended by this writer:
• I’m finally living and being myself’: LGBT+ students on life after coming out
• All the questions you need to stop asking LGBT+ people about their sex lives
• ‘We spoke to LGTBQ+ people about how representation on Netflix is completely necessary
Overall, when it comes to dating apps and sites, experiences in the LGBTQA+ community are generally positive. Well, as positive as online dating can be. The key benefit of lesbian dating sites and apps is that they strive to help people seeking a same-sex partner find a match in a friendly space.
A 2019 report by the Pew Research Center stated that more than 55 percent of LGBTQA+ adults had tried online dating sites at some point. This number was twice as high as the 28 percent of straight adults who have chosen this type of meet and greet.
Examining LGBTQA+ adults who are happily married, the Pew Research Center also found that 28 percent of them had met their partner online. Nearly 37 percent of LGBTQA+ singles were taking to online dating in an effort to find that special someone.
If you haven't tried online dating yet or are looking for a new app to get more matches, here are the top 10 dating sites and apps for lesbians.
10 Dating Sites and Apps for Lesbians
These days dating apps are some of the most convenient ways to find a partner. Rather than waste time at bars, nightclubs or going on a dreadful blind date that a friend might have set up with the best intentions, why not get online and skim through a list of people looking for the same thing as you?
Not all LGBTQA+ dating sites are created equal, but the ones below may give you a good chance at finding a match.
1. Lesbian Personals
A good place to start is Lesbian Personals, from Various Inc.—a company that specializes in dating sites. While the brand also owns NoStringsAttached, this one is built for the LGBTQA+ community. Lesbian Personals is one of the largest LGBTQA+ dating sites just for women interested in other lesbian and bisexual women.
This site claims that it's meant strictly for lesbian singles to chat, meet up and date. While it doesn't have a dedicated app, the website is intuitive and works well on both desktop and mobile.
The sign-up process only takes a few minutes, and you'll be able to communicate with other single lesbians right away. However, many users have a paid Gold Membership, which starts at $28 per month (or less if you buy three months at a time), but will give you the best experience on this site.
In order to browse for a match, you'll need a verified email address. You'll also need to specify your orientation, birth date, location, race, marital status and body type during setup. Some of these categories have multiple options, or you can opt not to disclose some of your information.
The website is available worldwide, and users can search specific regions, including the United States, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Germany and many more. Being available globally also means users can search for connections away from home. Most importantly, anyone from the LGBTQA+ community is welcome, not just bisexuals and lesbians.
Try it for yourself right here.
2. eHarmony
Another popular option for lesbian dating is eHarmony. What separates eHarmony from a lot of other sites is its matchmaking algorithm. Users answer a slew of questions on style, dating types and personality, then eHarmony will serve up a list of matches for you to review.
Unlike a lot of other dating services these days, eHarmony claims to have almost no fake profiles and bot accounts, meaning you may have better luck finding quality matches.
The site isn't specifically for LGBTQA+ people, but eHarmony does make LGBTQA+ filters available for those interested.
One of the best parts of eHarmony is also one of the most tedious—the lengthy sign-up process. The initial account creation is simple, but in order to get your best results and let the matchmaking algorithm work, you'll need to answer roughly 70 personal questions to get started. Good things come to those who wait, right?
Lastly, like most dating services, you'll get more features from being a paid subscriber, but there's still plenty of options with a free account.
Try it today and download the iOS or Android app.
3. PinkCupid
PinkCupid is a matchmaking and dating website for lesbian and bi-curious women with more than a million global members. The biggest age range is between 24 to 34, although there are younger members between 18 and 24 years of age. You must be over 18 to join.
There are both pros and cons to LGBTQA+ dating with PinkCupid. The registration process is quick, and you can start finding matches right after registering. The company allows users to sign up with Facebook, but uploading a type of ID is required.
Perhaps our favorite feature is the "Online Now" alert, letting you see if a potential match is online in real time. Do yourself a favor and search by "Online Now" and message a few potential matches today.
Thankfully, PinkCupid also has a mobile app, which is free to download on Android, but unfortunately, it doesn't offer an iOS app for Apple devices. If you want to message and have full conversations with potential matches, you'll need to have a premium membership, which comes in around $25 per month. You can read incoming messages as a free user, but to respond and make a connection, you'll need to get a premium plan.
4. Her
Her is an exciting dating app for lesbian users only, so you might have better luck here than with traditional dating services.
As for pros and cons, you'll be happy to hear that the base version of this app is free, even if you only get a limited number of features. The app is available on both iOS or Android, easy to use, and beautifully designed. Once you pay the $14.99 per month fee, you'll get access to more communication tools, LGBTQA+ events and news, and other members will see you're a premium member and serious about finding a match.
Her claims to have a strictly monitored sign-up process to filter out fake accounts, which is always encouraging to know. Unfortunately, Her doesn't let you "swipe" through matches without being a premium member.
Uploading an ID is required upon registration for safety purposes. The rating of this app is 4.2 on Apple's App Store and 3.5 on the Google Play Store.
5. Tinder
Tinder is an app for anyone and everyone to use, and that includes LGBTQA+ singles. It's one of the more popular options in the United States, but it's not strictly for lesbian dating, so expect a mixed variety of matches. The "swipe" feature of Tinder can be addictive and entertaining while also very convenient to use. You simply swipe left or right to "like'' or "pass" on a match.
The starting price of the premium membership for this app is $19.99 per month. A free version is also available but comes with certain restrictions. Tinder's main features include a wide array of free profiles, although eventually, you might want to become a paid member for added features like video chatting and verified accounts.
Tinder is available for Android and iOS devices, but you can also use it on your desktop.
6. Plenty of Fish (POF)
POF was founded in 2003 and stands for Plenty of Fish. It claims to be one of the world's most popular dating sites, with more than 90 million registered users globally. You can browse freely and find a match based on your criteria, or you can use the "Ultra Match" feature to see your 50 best matches. "Ultra Match" is reserved for paid users.
While POF's interface might not be as user-friendly as Tinder, it's still a great way to meet LGBTQA+ singles. You can receive matches daily and choose your top match once per day.
More men use POF that women, according to Statista, and the age range of users is between 25 and 34. The users are mainly from the U.S. The site recommends mentioning hobbies, favorite games, music, movies or other interests to help spur conversations and find suitable matches.
We like that POF has a messaging system that's fast and easy to use, and it even has integrated personality assessment tools similar to eHarmony's. Get POF today for iOS or Android devices.
7. Zoe
With a rating of 9.9 on the Apple App Store, Zoe is a newer dating app mainly for LGBTQA+ singles looking to mingle. The app states that it's a great place to find a serious lesbian relationship.
The registration process should only take around 5 minutes of your time. You must be at least 18 years of age to use the app, and "Login With Facebook" is not an option here. Instead, you'll need to verify an email address to get started.
However, once you do, you can message potential matches with ease, take part in video chats with members in your inbox and more. Zoe offers a lot of customization inside the apps, too, so you can turn the features you want the most on or off.
Most Zoe members are interested in more serious relationships, and the personality questions at the registration process will help identify your best matches in line with your preferences. Messaging anyone at Zoe is entirely free, but video chats and other features are only for paying members.
The price for premium membership is $15.99 for a month, $39.99 for three months, and $119.99 for a yearly subscription. Get it today for iOS or Android devices.
8. Bumble
Bumble is all about women and puts the power in their hands. Created by a Tinder co-founder and using the same popular swipe system as Tinder, Bumble lets women make the first move. The gender you use during setup will determine your choices. Obviously, you'll also want to be honest and upfront if you're looking for love.
Additionally, Bumble offers both an opposite-sex matching system and a same-sex "meet friends" tab, giving you more options to find friends, casual hookups or potentially a relationship.
Available for both iOS and Android devices, this dating app prefers logins via Facebook, even though you can register with your mobile number, as well. You need to state your age, sex, name and upload a photo during the registration process to get started.
Video chat is available, and the interface is inclusive and fun. The starting price for the premium membership of this dating app is $24.99 per month. You can choose between a significant number of gender identities here, and everyone is welcome.
9. Hinge
Founded in 2012, Hinge aims to help people find serious relationships rather than just casual hookups. It even encourages people to delete their accounts once they have found their perfect match rather than making it hard to erase your profile.
It prides itself on having very few fake profiles and a high number of fully filled-out and promising accounts. Perhaps the best part, though, is that contacting others is completely free. You don't need to be a paying member to have conversations.
There are over 5 million Hinge users from all over the world, mostly between ages 24 and 32. Most are based in the U.S., too. So fill out an account and search for your perfect match. Get it now for iOS or Android devices.
10. Taimi
Living in a pandemic can make dating hard. If you are from the LGBTQA+ community, it can be even more challenging, unless, of course, you're on an app like Taimi.
With over 8 million lesbian, gay, transgender, and bisexual singles on Taimi, you might feel right at home. You can make video and audio calls on this platform, create stories and posts, all for free.
Taimi says it's the top-rated online gay dating app, which makes it great for anyone in the LGBTQA+ crowd. The service offers a free chat messaging system and will find real users close to your physical location. Like most apps, setup only takes a few minutes, and you'll be browsing candidates in no time. We also like that Taimi is privacy focused and won't show you anything when the app is opened without a pin, password, fingerprint or face recognition. Get it now for iOS or Android and get to searching.
Whether you're tired of trying to meet lesbian and LGBTQA+ singles using older, more traditional methods, or aren't having good luck on the app you're currently using, give these top 10 sites and apps a try today.
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