Unicorn hunters, swipe left: The best dating apps for bi people

Read our full review of AdultFriendFinder.

Who it's for:

Archer is the best dating app for bisexual and queer men who are looking for more than a one-night stand. Its "social-first" approach encourages users to join a community rather than solely focusing on hookups. (If you're a queer man looking for a quickie, we recommend using Grindr or Scruff instead.)

Owned by Match Group, Archer is unique in that it has a comprehensive in-app Health Hub where users can learn more about PrEP, how to talk about HIV, and get access to resources for sexual health and mental well-being.

Why we picked this:

Archer may be a newer app, but it's definitely more bi-friendly than its NSFW competitors. The app's focus on community-building and promoting healthy conversations about sexual health sets it apart from the hookup apps, and it's a safe place for bi guys to look for a relationship with guys who get it. This inclusive environment also makes it easier for HIV-positive users to, at the very least, feel open to starting a conversation about their status.

Not only is Archer completely free to download and use (which is a major plus for many), but it's also backed by Brooklyn's resident bi-man Zachary Zane, the author of Boyslut: A Memoir and Manifesto. (So you know it's legit.) The app features a Smart-Blur filter to help shield users from unwanted dick pics and explicit content until they're ready, and there's a Selfie-Verify feature to cut down on catfishing and fake profiles.

Who it's for:

HER is an award-winning app made for queer women by queer women, and it's the perfect place to go if you're tired of the only queer woman you know being your ex-girlfriend (we feel you). HER is the app that wants to "introduce you to every lesbian you've ever wanted to meet" and makes good on that promise with more than 10 million registered users worldwide. And this app isn't just for women — it also welcomes non-binary and gender-fluid folks. It's designed to be a queer space free of cis men. Hallelujah.

Why we picked this:

In the summer of 2019, HER revamped its minimalistic profiles to let users get more creative in categories like gender, sexuality, pronouns, diet preferences, and star signs — as well as a "What does this mean?" field in the sex, gender, and pronoun categories. There's also a space for a text bio where you can showcase your stand-up-worthy sense of humor, describe your job, and make clear what type of relationship you're looking for. The app has groups like "newly out," "in a relationship/finding friends," and "travelers" to help you find your people. All of this makes HER quite a well-rounded dating app platform.

"HER is a great option for bisexual women because it's inclusive," said Dr. Frankie Bashan, board-certified sex therapist, clinical psychologist, and founder of matchmaking service Little Gay Book, "but beware of lots of catfishers on this app in particular."

While it does have a problem with some bot profiles, HER's built-in features (from the profile identifiers to the community tab) ultimately make it one of the most open and inclusive apps for queer folks. For all these reasons, it's also one of the best dating apps specifically for bi women.

Who it's for:

People looking to go on a few dates with the same person — instead of everything turning into a friends-with-benefits situation — was a major blind spot for dating apps until Hinge blew up. The premise and user base might be in full-on Tinder and Bumble territory, but Hinge's unique profile criteria and algorithm set the scene for finding matches with real-life potential. When measuring user experiences during beta trials, Hinge discovered that 90 percent of users had a "great" first date, and 72 percent said they were open to a second date.

With Hinge's robust dating intention options, you'll see that not everyone is into finding their life partner on the app, but there's still an overwhelming amount of users who are team "long-term relationship."

Why we picked this:

Known for its (in)famous slogan, "the dating app designed to be deleted," Hinge actually has a ton of features that are meant to let you get to know someone on a deeper level. Cheesy questionnaires have been swapped for 100+ prompts, which are neatly organized into categories like "About me," "Storytime," "Self-Care," and "LGBTQ." The latter is a major win for all bisexuals everywhere. Hinge cleverly ditches the swipe model and requires users to like a particular part of someone's profile (which means putting some time into your profile pays off).

Olivia from Texas told us why she prefers Hinge over other apps: 

"I feel like because they place such a heavy emphasis on your personality with all the question prompts it helps it feel more romantic, which is more palatable to people who were raised to believe that the only way to meet people is some kind of meet-cute or something."

She also mentioned that she finds way more real bi girls than unicorn hunters on Hinge.

Beyond helping users make connections, Hinge makes an effort to help its LGBTQ+ user base feel supported by offering a queer-specific dating guide. As with any app, your mileage may vary while using Hinge (as Mashable writer Rachel Thompson describes in this essay), but overall, we think it's one of the best dating apps for bisexual folks.

Who it's for:

Tinder isn't exactly new in the dating game, but a classic is a classic. However, the Tinder experience is a mixed bag if you're a queer swiper. Every bi woman we talked to for this piece immediately brought up being scouted by other women users who were, of course, straight, in a relationship, and just looking to find a third for a threesome, aka unicorn hunting, the scourge of the bisexual dating community. The real kicker is that most of them conveniently don't mention their motive right away.

All things considered, you can't deny Tinder's role in connecting queer people who may not have signed up for a dating app otherwise. Despite an onslaught of gross opening lines from men who were simply blown away by the "bi" in her bio, Megan from Virginia found her current partner on Tinder. This isn't as uncommon a story as you might think — regardless of how awkward it is to tell your grandma or your wedding guests that you met your LOML on an app primarily used for hookups.

Keep in mind that because Tinder is the dating app of the masses, you'll get users with all sorts of beliefs and attitudes toward bisexuality. If you encounter anyone that's disrespectful, don't be afraid to report them for violating Tinder's community guidelines.

Why we picked this:

Tinder has helped many people explore their bisexuality and practice same-sex flirting for the first time. The now-ubiquitous swiping function gets shitted on for being shallow, but The Cut spoke to two people who said that the low-stakes vibe (less pressure than hitting up your first-ever gay bar) made it easy to explore their sexuality after years of dating one gender exclusively.

Since June 2019, Tinder's orientation options have included bisexual, asexual, pansexual, and six more. Users can decide whether or not that's made public and can also opt to be shown people of the same orientation first. Problematic daters can still work around this if they're that devoted, but it's an appreciated step toward making Tinder a safer space for LGBTQ+ users — something that should be at the top of every dating app's priorities list.

Who it's for:

If you're looking for something slightly more serious than Tinder — albeit with an eerily similar user base — Bumble's the dating app for you. Its famous "women send the first message" model can be especially reassuring for bi women who are tired of creepy messages from men (anyone can start the convo in a same-sex pairing, BTW).

Why we picked this:

In terms of the bi experience on Bumble, it's easy to look at people of all genders at the same time. However, profiles don't come with a tag to signify your own sexual orientation, so if you want people to know your bi, you'll have to throw it in your bio alongside some fitting emojis or make it known through one of the prompts. Bumble is one of the most popular dating apps in the game, so the chances you'll find someone good are high. And if you're looking for queer pals, Bumble BFF does have some LGBTQ-focused profile tags.

This app ups the stakes and discourages the type of dating app behavior everyone, not just bisexuals, is all too familiar with: Conversations taking months (and in-person meetings even longer to arrange), mainly because people are using the app more like a boredom buster and less like a genuine way to find a potential partner. Bumble matches go dead after 24 hours of no first messages — if you don't send a first message or your match fails to respond to your first message within 24 hours, the time for talk is over.

Who's it for:

Already on our roundup of best dating apps for lesbians and gay women, Lex is like a 2024 version of Craigslist personals (RIP) for the LGBTQ community. 

Lex originally started as an Instagram account called Personals, meant for sapphic people to find each other. It was inspired by personal ads in On Our Backs, a women-run lesbian erotica magazine that ran from the 1980s to the early 2000s.

Over time, it evolved into a community app for LGBTQ people. On Lex, you can find a date — or someone to go to an art show with, or a pet sitter, or a new potential friend.

Why we picked this:

"Apps like Lex often fly under the radar, but I adore its old-school Craigslist vibe," LMFT relationship therapist and writer at sugar daddy site Private Sugar Club, Hannah Reeves, told Mashable. "There's no endless swiping, just raw, unfiltered 'this is who I am, take it or leave it' energy. It's like meeting someone at a coffee shop instead of a nightclub, refreshing and a little nostalgic."

Lex is a great option if you're, say, someone new to queer dating and want to dip your toe into it. You can even find your queer "people" first — maybe someone to go out to the local lesbian bar with to scope out hotties. Lex also alleviates the pressure of picking out your six best photos (that some other apps require).

Lex is also free to use unless you want to check out posts in other locations. To do this, you must pay for "Lexplore," but the options are pretty affordable ($3.99 for one week or $5.99 for one month).