When you’re single, the world of online dating is either full of exciting possibilities or scary ones; a lot of times, it’s both. For the gay community, gay Craigslist alternative dating sites have definitely made singlehood in this day and age, well, gayer, and more thrilling and promising. If you’re looking for a decisive list of the best alternatives to Craigslist gay personals, then you have come to the right place!
Gay Dating Sites: The More Variety, the Gayer
It’s no wonder that the business of love is booming for online dating sites — because personal connections, relationships, and love are always in high demand. According to a MarketWatch report, online dating is the most popular form of dating for homosexuals. The profusion of gay dating sites indicate that there’s “more love” going around; it also indicates that different people are looking for different kinds of connections, not just love and romance.
Online dating has definitely influenced the wider acceptance of hookup culture, and this is just as true on gay dating sites. Casual dating, casual sex, no-strings-attached friends-with-benefits arrangements — these are now more common than they were before thanks to online dating. But while a lot of singles who are active on dating sites are just looking for fun, there’s still plenty more out there who are hoping to find something lasting and more meaningful. You just have to know where to look.
If you’re gay and looking for a gay Craigslist alternative site where you can match with people with the same needs and desires that you have, then keep reading! We have prepared a list of the best gay dating sites that cater to any and all types of connections.
Craigslist Gay Hookup Alternative Dating Sites
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Grindr
This remains the most popular gay dating app in the world — it’s so popular, in fact, that even straight people know about it. It’s available in more than 200 countries, with more than 6 million users, and it’s the go-to app for hooking up and casual sex. The app easily matches users based on geolocation, so easy access to casual and wild fun is guaranteed.
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Men Nation
The site is used by more than 100 million GBTQ men from all over the world, predominantly for casual dates and hookups. Creating an account is quick and easy, with no private information required. However, it can only be accessed via its website; there’s no app version. The website prioritizes the security of its members, with moderators available at all times.
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DoubleList
A relatively new player in the industry, the site is widely known for its inclusivity and straightforward features — making it among the best gay Craigslist alternative sites out there. It mostly caters to people looking for casual encounters and hookups, and one of its best features is the availability of a wide variety of pairings, from which members can choose more than one to filter their matches.
Gay Craigslist Alternative Dating Sites for Long-Term Relationships
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eHarmony
If you’re looking for a gay Craigslist alternative that matches people who are looking for serious relationships, eHarmony should be your first stop. Although this is not exclusively for gays, the site has become more inclusive in the past decade and it has helped many of its LGBTQ+ members find their perfect match. The dating site is popular for its elite matchmaking process, which involves an 80-question personality quiz. If you’re serious about finding a serious relationship, the site really pushes you to dig deep to give the best odds for success. However, you should also be willing to pay up for premium membership to ensure a match with someone who shares your ambitions, dreams, and values.
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Zoosk
This is the best gay Craigslist alternative for singles in their 20s who are looking for more than just hookups. The app’s design is tailored for the younger generation and to make the dating experience more hip and fun. The community is made up of 35 million members from more than 80 countries and different backgrounds. Because it caters to seekers of serious relationships, it takes additional measures to verify profiles and ensure the safety of its users.
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Elite Singles
For gay, single professionals with serious, long-term relationship goals, Elite Singles is the perfect choice. The site uses an in-depth personality test to ensure the right match for its elite members. Most of its members are high earners who are willing to spend money to find their perfect match — ideally, somebody with a similar social status and a good educational background. If it seems snobby, then it’s not for you.
Local Craigslist Alternative for Women and for Men With More Unique Tastes
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HER
HER is exclusive for gay, queer, and bisexual women, and is also among the best choices for local Craigslist alternative dating sites as it matches based on location. It offers free and unlimited messaging, but you’ll need an Instagram or Facebook account to sign up. HER is available in major cities across more than 100 countries.
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Scruff
Exclusively for men in the GTBQ community, Scruff’s community is widely diverse. This gay Craigslist alternative app uses geolocation to find nearby matches, as well as a user’s community preference/s, such as bear, bisexual, cub, daddy, discreet, drag, jock, military, muscle, otter, poz, trans, and many more. The “Scruff Travel” feature allows users to publish their travel itinerary so they can easily arrange hookups wherever they go.
Free Gay Personals to Replace Craigslist Personals
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Chappy
This is a great choice for a free gay personals to replace Craigslist, especially for gay singles who are looking for meaningful connections. Chappy is actually Bumble’s gay dating app counterpart. Members can adjust their preferences from casual friendship or serious relationship, and choose matches based on interests. The majority of Chappy members are 18 to 34 years of age. -
OKCupid
This ranks as the best heterosexual app that is highly inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community and, therefore, is a good gay Craigslist alternative. With a massive user base (more than 30 million members), it definitely has something for everyone. It’s also among the most trusted dating apps out there, for straight and LGBTQ+ folks alike. OKC has many different options for pronouns and sexualities for its users, so they can better optimize their recommendations.
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Jack’d
With a community of 5 million spread across 180 countries, this is a great gay Craigslist alternative if you’re looking for diversity, and even more so if you want an app that’s highly inclusive for gay, bi, queer, and trans people of color. Jack’s brings together LGBTQ+ people from all cultural backgrounds for friendships, meaningful connections, or serious relationships.
Gay Craigslist Alternative Dating Sites for Older Singles
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Silver Singles
This is a great gay Craigslist alternative for singles over 50 as it has the largest number of users from this age group. It’s perfect for people who are looking for friendships, casual dating, or serious relationships.
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Senior Match
For gay seniors over 60 and who are interested in meeting people locally or from other countries, Senior Match is also worth a try. It’s not exclusively for gays, but it is highly inclusive and provides a friendly and relaxed online dating experience for seniors.
Is There an Alternative to Craigslist Personals?
Tons of sites have popped up as an alternative to Craigslist personals. However, not a lot of them have actually adopted the pattern of the once-widely-popular but now-extinct personal classifieds. Craigslist personals used a simple layout so that people could easily find what they’re looking for based on specific categories. There was no AI or algorithm deciding who qualifies as a “best match.” Seekers decided for themselves based on their needs and preferences.
If you’re looking for a gay Craigslist alternative that offers the same simple functionality, DoubleList classifieds is your best bet. DoubleList is not exclusively for gays, but the site welcomes everybody — whatever your gender identity is, whatever your sexual preferences are. Whether you’re in the mood for just a friendly chat, some online flirting or something wilder and more exciting, you’ll find something worth your while on DoubleList adult personals.
DoubleList is for w4w, m4m, couples for couples, couples for him or her and vice versa, gay for straight or straight for gay, or any other type of pairing that you’re in the mood for. The site ensures discreet dating and every member’s safety; you will only be required to provide a nickname and location. DoubleList is available in most major cities in the U.S. so you have great odds of finding potential matches in your area. Sign up for a free account now!
