How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Scruff is the closest community alternative to Grindr, with an older, more relationship friendly tone and strong travel and event features.
- Jack'd offers a diverse, long running community with a similar grid style, while Hornet leans into social content and international reach.
- Taimi and Surge suit users who prefer mutual matching and verification before chatting, which cuts unwanted messages.
- Tinder and Hinge work well for gay men seeking relationships, though their queer user base is thinner than dedicated apps.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Scruff | Community alternative with travel and events | See website | Yes |
 Jack'd | Diverse long running community | See website | Yes |
 Hornet | Social network plus dating, strong abroad | See website | Yes |
 Taimi | Inclusive LGBTQ dating with verification | See website | Yes |
 Surge | Verified mutual matching for gay men | See website | Yes |
 Tinder | Largest general dating pool | See website | Yes |
 Hinge | Relationship focused profiles and prompts | See website | Yes |
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The best Grindr alternatives
#1
Scruff
Best for: Community alternative with travel and events
Visit scruff.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Scruff is the first app most Grindr users try when they want a calmer, more community oriented experience. The grid is familiar, but the tone skews more toward conversation, events and longer term connection, and the user base includes many men in their thirties and older. Venture lets users connect with locals before travelling, and event listings help turn online chats into real world meetups.
The free experience covers browsing, chatting and events, while Pro adds stealth mode, more filters, unlimited history and no fullscreen ads. Users seeking only the largest possible pool in a small town may still find Grindr bigger locally, but for city users who want a less frantic feed, Scruff is the natural primary alternative.
What we like- Large established community
- Venture travel and event features
- Strong moderation reputation
Watch out for- Skews older and bear focused in reputation, though the base is broader
- Pro needed for full filters
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Jack'd, run by the same company as Scruff, serves gay, bi, trans and queer men with an explicit focus on diversity and inclusion. The Moments feed shows photos and videos from nearby users, which gives a livelier sense of local activity than a static grid. Events, including a queer film festival, add cultural depth beyond dating alone.
Because Jack'd and Scruff share an operator, their Pro features and layouts feel similar, and some users keep both apps for slightly different crowds. Free use covers the core experience, while Pro adds more filters, history and privacy controls. For users who value a diverse, welcoming community, Jack'd deserves a place beside Scruff rather than instead of it.
What we like- Long running diverse community
- Moments feed
- Events and film festival culture
Watch out for- Interface overlaps heavily with Scruff
- Pro needed for advanced filters and history
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Hornet blends dating with a social network, combining profiles and chat with LGBTQ news, short videos, hashtags and community discussion. That mix suits users who want to follow queer culture and meet people in the same app, and it is particularly strong outside the US, in Latin America, Southeast Asia and parts of Europe where Grindr dominance is weaker.
The breadth is also the drawback. Users who only want to browse nearby profiles may find the feed and editorial content distracting, and performance can feel slower than leaner apps. Paid tiers add filters and remove ads, but the free app already covers the core social and dating experience. Travelers should put Hornet high on the list.
What we like- Very large international user base
- News and community feed
- Strong Latin America and Asia coverage
Watch out for- Interface can feel cluttered
- Dating features compete with social content
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Taimi serves the whole LGBTQ spectrum, including gay, bi, trans and queer users, with detailed identity and pronoun options on profiles. Verification, screenshot blocking on profiles and stealth mode give users more control over privacy, which matters for people who are not out everywhere. Livestreams, groups and a Finder matching tool add social depth beyond swiping.
The inclusive base means the gay male pool can feel thinner in smaller cities than on Scruff or Jack'd. Premium adds additional filters, travel mode and unlimited likes, while free use covers matching and chatting. For users who want an inclusive, safety conscious space and are open to a broader queer community, Taimi is a strong pick.
What we like- Fully inclusive across identities
- Profile verification and stealth mode
- Livestreams and groups
Watch out for- Smaller gay male pool than dedicated gay apps in some areas
- Premium needed for full features
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Surge takes a swipe and mutual match approach for gay, bi, trans and queer men, so chats only open after both users like each other. That single rule cuts much of the unwanted messaging found on grid apps. Photo verification with a selfie check, a verified only filter, disappearing photos and 48 hour report reviews add practical safety layers.
The app is mobile only, with no desktop version, and its user base, while large globally, is smaller than Tinder or Grindr in some areas. Premium adds who likes me, private mode, travel mode and power messages, but the free tier already covers the essentials. Users tired of open inboxes should try Surge first.
What we like- Free swiping, matching and chatting
- Photo verification with verified only filter
- Private mode on Premium
Watch out for- Mobile only, no desktop version
- Smaller than the biggest apps in some regions
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Tinder is the largest dating app in the world, and its scale helps in smaller cities where dedicated gay apps have few users. Orientation and relationship goal settings let gay men filter for men seeking men, and features such as Passport, Double Date and photo verification add flexibility. Safety tools include face check in select markets, share my date, blocking and reporting.
The compromise is focus. Tinder was built for a general audience, so the gay experience feels secondary, and free daily likes are limited. Premium tiers cost more than most dedicated apps. Still, as a second app beside Scruff or Jack'd, Tinder widens the pool, especially for users open to dating beyond the dedicated app crowd.
What we like- Largest dating pool overall
- Passport travel mode
- Photo verification and safety tools
Watch out for- Queer pool is thinner than dedicated apps
- Free likes are limited
- Premium tiers are pricey
#7
Hinge
Best for: Relationship focused profiles and prompts
Visit hinge.co
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Hinge is built around profiles that invite conversation, with prompts, photos and voice notes replacing a bare grid. That format suits gay men looking for a relationship rather than quick connections, and matches tend to start with more substance. The app explicitly aims to get users off the app and onto dates, which shapes its design choices.
Queer users are a minority on Hinge, so matches may be fewer than on dedicated apps, especially outside large cities. Free likes are limited each day, and Hinge Plus or Premium adds unlimited likes and advanced filters at a high price. As a relationship focused complement to a dedicated app, Hinge earns its place. As a sole app for casual browsing, it will feel thin.
What we like- Thoughtful prompts encourage real conversation
- Designed for relationships
- Clean modern design
Watch out for- Smaller queer user base
- Limited free likes
- Premium is expensive for what it adds
How we chose
We compared vendor homepages, app store listings and public reviews, focusing on user base, matching style, safety and verification features, privacy controls, travel tools and pricing. Every homepage listed was opened and confirmed as belonging to that app. OkCupid was dropped because its homepage could not be opened for verification. Prices were left as See website where app store pricing varies by region and plan length.
A short safety note applies to all dating apps. Meet in public places first, tell a friend where you are going, keep personal details private until trust is established, and use in app blocking and reporting tools when needed. In countries where same sex dating carries legal risk, check local laws and use extra privacy precautions before opening any dating app.
Picking by what you want
Start with intent. For community and events, Scruff and Jack'd lead. For international travel and social content, Hornet leads. For verified mutual matching with less unwanted contact, Surge and Taimi lead. For the largest pool or a relationship focus, Tinder and Hinge complement a dedicated app well. Most active users keep two apps: one dedicated gay app for volume and community, and one general or verification led app for a different kind of match.
Check local density before paying. An app with millions of global users can still be quiet in a small town, while a smaller app can be lively in a specific city. Use free tiers for a week, note how many active nearby profiles appear, and only then pay for filters or travel mode that match real usage.
Privacy settings worth setting first
Turn on photo verification where offered, review who can see distance and online status, and use stealth or private mode when discretion matters. Avoid linking social accounts that reveal a real name or workplace until trust is established, and keep location sharing to city level rather than exact distance where the app allows it.
Meeting in person deserves extra care on any dating app. Choose a public place for a first meeting, tell a friend where you are going, keep your own transport, and trust your instincts if something feels off. You can also share your live location with a trusted contact during the meeting for added peace of mind.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Grindr?
Scruff is the closest overall alternative for most users, with a large community, travel tools and events. Jack'd is a strong second choice for diversity, while Surge suits users who prefer mutual matching before chatting.
Are these apps free?
All listed apps offer free tiers covering browsing, matching and chatting, with paid tiers adding filters, travel mode, unlimited history and privacy controls. Check app store pricing for the exact plan, since prices vary by region and subscription length.
Which app is best for relationships?
Hinge and Taimi lean most toward relationships, with prompts and detailed profiles that encourage conversation. Scruff also supports longer term connections, especially among older users, while Tinder works as a broad second pool.
Which app is safest for privacy?
Taimi, Surge and Scruff offer the strongest privacy toolkits here, including verification, stealth or private modes and screenshot protections on some features. No app guarantees safety, so combine app tools with careful meeting habits.
Do these apps work outside the US?
Yes, with variation. Hornet is strongest in Latin America and Asia, Tinder is largest globally, and Scruff, Jack'd and Taimi operate in many countries. Check local user density and local laws before travelling with a dating app.
Can I use more than one app at once?
Yes, and most active users do. A dedicated gay app plus a general or verification led app covers both community volume and a different matching style without much extra cost on free tiers.
Sources we checked (7)
- https://www.scruff.com/
- https://www.jackd.com/
- https://hornet.com/
- https://www.taimi.com/
- https://www.surgeapp.co/
- https://tinder.com/
- https://hinge.co/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.