So, you’re ready to take the plunge into the world of virtually hooking up.
Getting started can be both exciting and daunting, so we’ve reviewed some gay dating apps available in Australia for you to try.
Start slow, download one and ease your way into chatting. You may need help rejecting someone respectfully or some sexting tips and make sure you brush up on dating app safety.
Before you download and get in the swing of things, book yourself in for a regular sexual health test in case you get lucky! And be prepared for some fun with enough PrEP or HIV treatment meds, condoms and lube.
There are plenty of gay apps out there, with some popular among certain tribes in the gay zoo. Whether you’re a hairy bear, side pig or fem-top otter, we’ll find the right app to get you bred in captivity… or even find love — whatever you want, there’s an app for it!
Feeld
Feeld is a dating app for all genders and sexualities, focused on more meaningful connections. It is popular among non-monogamous folk (people with multiple partners or open relationships), trans and gender diverse users and bi+ communities.
Features:
- Profile swipe layout
- Partner connection tools – pair your profile with your partner’s, create group chats
- Feeld IRL — meet up with other Feeld members at events
- Free Membership — you can’t see who liked you or add private photos visible to your connections
- Majestic Membership $16.99 per month.
Best for: ethically non-monogamous couples, bi+, trans and gender diverse folk
Grindr
The melodic trill of a Grindr notification is a sure-fire way to turn heads. With over 13.5 million monthly active users, it’s no surprise that Grindr is a popular choice for gay and bi guys. It’s developed its own language of one-word questions such as ‘into?’ (what are your kinks?) or ‘hung?’ (do you have a big cock?), and love it or hate it — it’s evolved its own subculture and stereotypes. You’ll understand when you encounter these guys on there!
Features:
- Location-based grid layout
- Private picture albums to share spicy photos (with consent)
- Filters (age, online now, fresh, tags, position) and tribes (bear, jock, leather, otter, twink)
- Sexual health testing reminders every three months
- Popular for chatting and making friends, especially when travelling
- Free Membership — ads, limited profile views and filters and no expiring photos
- XTRA $29.99 per month or Grindr Unlimited $56.99 per month.
Best for: NSA (no-strings-attached) or regular fun and chat.
GROWLR
For bears and cubs looking for more fuzzy cuddles, GROWLR is an app that caters for the bear community (hairy, plus-sized gay and bi men).
Features:
- Grid-style layout for nearby and global bears
- Live feature to join streams from popular users around the world
- Galleries to view hot, new, and different tribe members
- Send a ‘shout’ to all users in a defined area for the last week (5km for $7.99)
- Free Membership — ads, limited profile views, no private videos or photos
- GROWLR Pro $22.99 per month.
Best for: bears, chubs and chasers
Hornet
Looking to whet your stinger? Hornet might be the app for you. Marketed as ‘your queer social network’, Hornet offers a different way to connect with gay and bi guys.
Features:
- The feed (like Facebook or Instagram) allows you to share posts, videos and livestream with followers, users, and influencers.
- Search the grid for users nearby and filter by age, verification status and language
- Free Membership — ads and limited photos and profiles
- Hornet Premium $19.99 per month.
Best for: social media
Jack’d
With a slightly smaller following, Jack’d is a gay dating app that promotes diversity in its users. Jack’d has more users from different backgrounds, body types and experience levels. It’s a great option for gay, bi and questioning guys from migrant backgrounds or who are not in the gay scene.
Features:
- Profile swipe-based layout
- Discover global profiles with an unpaid membership
- You can browse anonymously, which is great for discreet or questioning members.
- Free Membership — ads, limited chat history, albums, profiles and no videos or anonymous
- Jack’d Pro $19.99 per month.
Best for: BIPOC and questioning communities
Manhunt
A blast from the past, Manhunt is one of the older apps on this list, having launched in 2001. Despite its vintage, it’s still being used widely and is popular among gay and bi guys 40+. It also has an uncensored browser site that allows you to upload nudes in your profile. Its primary purpose is sex.
Features:
- Location-based ‘men grid’
- Buddy list to keep track of your favourite fb
- Video chat for virtually hooking up
- Explicit gay content and porn
- Free membership — limited video chat, photos and buddies list
- Manhunt VIP $23.99 per month.
Best for: NSA fun for guys over 40
Recon
With its crimson and black app design, Recon creates a darkroom online environment for gay and bi men with fetishes. Whether you’re a pup or pig, into leather or bondage, Recon has all kinksters in the LGBTQ community begging for more.
Features:
- Browse the recon feed to see who had cruised you and keep up with Recon’s fetish magazine
- Add followers and message profiles nearby and online
- Describe your kinks and position by level of passivity or activeness.
- Free membership — limited profiles, gallery photos, and no premium search
- Recon Premium $19.99 per month.
Best for: people with kinks
Scruff
Not just for pup lovers, Scruff is another popular preference for gay dating. As the name suggests, it celebrates guys with beards and body hair. It is also more popular with guys who are 35+.
Features:
- Profile swipe layout — match with people you both want to meet
- Discover nearby and most popular guys and usage in cities around the world
- Explore LGBTQ events near you
- Free Membership — limited blocks, profiles, woofs, looks, match stacks, password options, and no profile notes or insights
- Scruff Pro $19.99 per month.
Best for: travellers (‘visiting’ profiles) and hairy dudes
Taimi
Taimi is a dating app for all LGBTQ+ identities, which values the fluidity and diversity of sexuality. It does not have an ‘ideal’ user like many other apps but has specific chats for gay and bi dating.
Features:
- Profile swipe layout
- Taimi cards allow you to create a profile with photos (both private spicy and public ones) and your Instagram and Spotify
- Diamond dates — a weekly selection of profiles chosen for you
- Free membership — limited diamond dates, like views, actions, rainbow likes, skips and global explore
- Taimi Bronze $5.99 per month, Taimi Silver $14.99 per month, Taimi Gold $34.99 per month.
Best for: nonbinary folk, queer and trans guys into guys
Now, the next few are websites rather than mobile apps. They’re too spicy for the app store, but do allow saucy pics in your profile! Definitely for more sexually adventurous guys.
BBRTS
Be warned, you might be reaching for a pillow if you look this one up. BBRTS is a hook-up site for gay and bi men looking for bareback sex (anal without condoms). While it is focused on barebacking, there are profile options for guys who only do oral or hand jobs. It’s popular amongst gay and bi men 40+ and guys living with HIV.
Features:
- Choose between a profile list or thumbnail grid layout
- Check out local sex parties
- Add regular buddies
- BBRT online sex shop
- Free membership — limited text edits, approvals, blocks, buddy list, and no quick connect ads, local parties or oinks
- Subscription contributor $10.59 AUD (USD 6.95) per 30 days.
Best for: bareback sex
Sniffies
Only recently launched in Australia (but quickly growing), Sniffies is a unique cruising app. The name ‘Sniffies’ hopes to inspire all to explore their fetishes.
Features:
- Immersive map style layout — profiles appear on a map of your area (they don’t show your exact location)
- Cruising locations and gay areas report ‘Sniffies’ at location
- Makes it easier to host group activities.
- Free membership — ads, no cruising updates, multiple profile photos, pin chats or profiles, host groups, travel mode, discreet mode, add places
- Sniffies plus $21.99 per month.
Best for: NSA kinky fun and groups
Squirt
Squirt is an uncensored cruising and hook-up site for gay, bi and curious guys. It is popular in Australia among bi and questioning users. They also report double the amount of tops and versatile users than bottoms.
Features:
- Grid style layout, showing headless eggplants and peaches in your area!
- The cruise feature allows you to see nearby cruising locations and tell cruisers you’re there
- Public or private NSFW videos can be uploaded
- Popular among guys 35+
- Free membership — limited profile views, buddy list, blocks, chat history, video chats, and ads
- Fan Club $15.19 (9.97 USD) per month.
Best for: NSA kinky fun for bi and curious guys
Before you jump onto the apps, make sure you’ve got a handle on some online skills for gay dating:
Happy hunting, gays!