Online dating as a lesbian, for the most part, still involves having to deal with straight people.
The heteronormative weirdness got so alienating that lesbians began turning to TikTok as a means of meeting other single lesbians — turns out, it’s a damn good matchmaker.
But it’s unrealistic to expect a social media app to work like a dating app for everyone. (It’s hard for some of us to comprehend, but not everyone spends every free minute on TikTok.) Lesbians who have exhausted their local romantic options are still going to want to see who else is out there.
Up until recently, some of the nation has acted as though lesbians didn’t exist outside of porn and Ellen DeGeneres, and acted as if girls only turn to dating women if they had a bad experience with a man. When it comes to mainstream dating apps that are open to everyone, these tone-deaf assumptions still find a way to rain on the lesbian online dating experience. If it’s not a man being slipped into your feed when you specifically marked that you’re searching for women, it’s matching with a woman just to be hit with the “My boyfriend and I are looking for a threesome.” Read more…
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BEST OVERALL
HER
HER is the award-winning mix of dating and social media that lets you meet girls you know are girls.
- Price: Free
- One month of Premium: 14.99
- Six months of Premium: $11.99/month
- One year of Premium: $7.49/month
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BEST MAINSTREAM OPTION FOR QUEER WOMEN
OkCupid
Queer users are naturally drawn to OKC’s inclusivity and knowledge that politics play a part in meshing romantically.
- Free version: Yes
- One month of A-List: $9.95
- Three months of A-List: $7.95/month
- Six months of A-List: $4.95/month
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MORE SERIOUS CANDIDATES THAN TINDER
Hinge
The go-to app for millennials works to be a quality space for its queer users and is a bit more thoughtful than swiping apps.
- Free version: Yes
- One month of Preferred: $12.99
- Three months of Preferred: $6.99/month
- Six months of Preferred: $4.99/month
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BEST FOR LOTS OF OPTIONS
Tinder
It’s still a lawless land, but the huge LGBTQ+ user base and added pronouns make it a viable option.
- Free version: Yes
- One month of Tinder Gold: $29.99
- Six months of Tinder Gold: $112.99 ($18.83 per month)
- One year of Tinder Gold: $149.99 ($12.50 per month)
- One month of Tinder Plus: $9.99
- Six months of Tinder Plus: $37.99 ($6.33 per month)
- One year of Tinder Plus: $49.99 ($4.17 per month)
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BEST IF YOU HATE THE TYPICAL DATING APP DYNAMIC
Lex
This newer space for women and non-binary users throws it back to the 80s with text-based ads and no selfies.
- Free version: Yes
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MOST POLY-FRIENDLY
Feeld
Skip the wine and dine and get right to the 69 on this inclusive hookup app for singles *and* couples.
- Free version: Yes
- One month of Feeld Majestic: $11.99
- Three months of Feeld Majestic: $23.99 ($7.99 per month)
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BEST FOR PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT ASTROLOGY
NUiT
A magical app that takes care of asking for someone’s birth time, plus a truly special feature for queer people.
- Free version: Yes
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BEST FOR LEAVING YOUR COMFORT ZONE
Bumble
Bumble falls victim to the same heteronormative issues, but its 24-hour matching period eliminates dead matches.
- Basic plan : Free
- Bumble Boost: $7.99/month or $2.99/week
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BEST FOR HOOKING UP (ANONYMOUSLY)
Pure
The least obnoxious (and most hipster) hookup app out there that guarantees no-strings-attached booty calls.
- Free version: Yes (trial)
- One week: $14.99
- One month: $29.99
