Gay dating apps in the UK: from free apps to serious dating

Gay dating apps cover a wide range, from apps that show who is nearby right now to services built for long-term relationships. Which one suits you depends on what you want: a chat, a date or a partner. This page sets out the options for gay and bi men in the UK, what each lets you do for free and how to protect your privacy.

Grindr: the best-known gay app

Grindr is on the UK App Store, developed by Grindr LLC, and describes itself as a free dating app for the LGBTQ community. It is for adults 18 and over. The free version includes adverts; the paid tiers, XTRA and Unlimited, remove them and add features such as more profiles, filters and incognito browsing, according to the listing. Grindr shows people near you and is used for everything from chatting to relationships, so be clear in your profile about what you want.

Free apps where you set who you see

• Hinge is free to use and built around prompts, which makes it a good option for gay men who want a relationship. Read our Hinge review.
• Bumble is free to use and says it welcomes straight, gay, lesbian and queer users. Read our Bumble review.
• Tinder is free to use, and you choose who you want to see in the settings.

If you mainly want free gay dating sites and apps, these and Grindr are the obvious starting points. See also our page on free dating apps.

Serious dating: Match, eharmony and Ourtime

Ourtime (over 50)

On the Ourtime UK website, “man seeking a man” is one of the options at sign-up, and the site has a page for mature gay dating. It suits gay men over 50 who want companionship or a relationship. Read our Ourtime review.

eharmony

On eharmony’s UK site you choose your gender and who you are looking for, and eharmony has its own gay dating page. The compatibility quiz suggests people based on your answers, and the Basic Membership is free. Read our eharmony review.

Match

Match asks for your gender and who you are looking for when you sign up. Check the options on the first screen and your search settings once your profile is live. Profiles are detailed, which helps if you want a relationship. Read our Match review.

Gay dating apps compared

• Grindr: free with adverts, XTRA and Unlimited paid, 18+, location-based.
• Hinge: free, prompt-based, relationship-focused.
• Bumble, Tinder: free, set who you want to see.
• eharmony: same-gender search possible, compatibility matching, free Basic Membership.
• Match: choose who you are looking for at sign-up, detailed profiles.
• Ourtime: man seeking man at sign-up, over 50s only.

Privacy and safety

1. Control your visibility. Think about which photos you use, and use incognito or private modes if you do not want everyone to see you.
2. Be careful with distance. Location-based apps can reveal roughly where you are. Check the settings.
3. Meet in public first and tell a friend where you are going.
4. Never send money and do not share intimate images with people you do not know. Blackmail and threats should be reported to the police.

More tips in our dating app safety guide. For support and advice, see Stonewall.

Setting expectations

Because location-based apps are used for many different things, it saves time to be clear. If you want a relationship, say so in your profile and early in the conversation, and consider adding a service built for long-term dating such as Match or eharmony. If you want to make friends in a new city first, say that too. A clear, recent face photo, a few lines about your life and a question in your first message work better than a blank profile. Our dating app bio examples and the guide to the first message help with both.

Outside the big cities, fewer people are active on each app. Widening your search distance and using two services side by side often makes a real difference. See our dating apps by city guides.

Which app suits you?

You want a long-term relationship with a man

Match or eharmony, with Hinge as a free option. Free tip: say in your profile that you are looking for a relationship.

You want to meet people nearby

Grindr shows who is close to you. Free tip: check your distance and visibility settings first.

You are over 50

Ourtime offers man seeking man at sign-up. Free tip: suggest a phone call before you meet.

You do not want to pay

Grindr, Hinge and Tinder all have free versions. Free tip: a clear, recent face photo gets more replies.