Grindr is the best-known and most-used gay app all over the world with incredible features. But what about a Grindr app for straights: does it exist?
Well, the same way Grindr is targeted at gay men, several apps are having straight guys in mind.
Regardless of sexual orientation, online dating apps were already popular long before the pandemic, however, multiple lockdowns caused them to boom.
These applications are turning into a primary method for dating in the modern era, and a lot of people are using them not only to have fun but also to establish connections that lead to long-term relationships.
There you’ll find a lot of potential partners to choose from, and maybe you’ll discover the right one, regardless of whether you are looking for a date or just a casual hookup.
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If you’re a straight single, you have a lot of good dating apps and websites to choose from, either if you’re looking to just meet new people, try casual dating or sex hookups, or even to find your ideal match for a long term relationship.
Let’s take a look at some applications for straight guys.
Grindr app for straights: does it exist?
As you may be aware, Grindr is designed specifically for the gay community. Although Grindr doesn’t feature a straight dating version, there are apps out there that have been developed for that purpose.
If you’re after a similar app, keep on reading this article to check some great options.
Blendr
Key features
- Created in September 2011
- 87,000 new members per month
- Most members are from the 25-35-year-old age range
- 60% male users and 40% female users
History
Blendr was launched more than 10 years ago – in September 2011 – by its creator Joel Simkhai.
Simkhai also founded Grindr, the gay dating app, and that’s why Blendr is regarded as the “straight Grindr”.
It has been a true success since then. Less than three years later, Blender has grown to more than three million users in 192 countries.
Overview
Like the Grindr app, it is also location-based. It works only on mobile devices and uses the phone’s GPS location to identify where you are whenever you’re using the application.
What’s great with Blender is that you can find other like-minded people who are located nearby and are looking to chat and who simultaneously share your hobbies and interests.
In this so-called straight version of Grindr, the focus does not have to necessarily be on sex and hookups. It is a platform where you will be able to enjoy exchanging ideas and thoughts with others.
Blendr also takes on a more generic approach. It is often used for meeting potential long-term relationship partners, striking up great friendships, and of course casual encounters too.
Simplicity is a key aspect to consider when deciding which dating app to use.
From the registration process to the in-app navigation, everything is pretty straightforward here.
Download and set up
When you first set up Blender, there are some simple steps you need to go through such as adding photos (it is necessary in order to perform many of the app’s functions) and telling the app know what you’re looking for: making friends, chatting, dating, casual encounters, etc. You should also specify an age range.
Note that the application is entirely free to download and install and it is available for Android and iOS devices.
However, like many others of its kind, there are a variety of extra packages available as in-app purchases.
Paying an extra by subscribing to a plan will allow you to have access to many other features and tools of the application. These plans range in price from $1.99 to $69.99 depending on the package you choose and will let you be able to find people nearby, add favorites, check out who is adding you, create a personal profile, and a lot more.
Pros:
The app has a fun and engaging user interface;Fast and easy registration process;A great way to find like-minded people nearbyCons:
A lot of what you’ll want to do in the app requires paying for a package”]Happn
Key features
- Created in 2014
- Over 100 million members worldwide
- Most members are from the 25-35-year-old age range
- 60% male users and 40% female users
History
Despite this app’s main differences from the gay hookup app Grindr, we’ve decided to include it here for its different characteristics from what we’re used to in this kind of application.
Happn was founded by Didier Rappaport, Fabien Cohen and Antony Cohen. It was first launched in France back in 2014 but quickly expanded all around the world. It is also location-based, but what sets it apart from apps like Grindr is the proximity restriction.
Overview
The focus of Happn is to match users based on locations where they’ve crossed paths. It shows you potential partners who walked past your front door during the last hours.
The concept behind Happn is built around finding potential matches with people you have actually cross paths, or almost encountered during your day, or on a daily basis. Chances are you live or at least work or study around the same area, so arranging a date becomes a lot easier.
Whenever another Happn user who matched your preferences comes within a determined radius from you, their profile is shown in your timeline. You can set up a preferred radius ranging from some meters to up to 55 miles (90 kilometers). The closest members are shown up first.
Pros:
Very easy to install and setup;Profiles can be verified so you know they’re legit;You can buy extra features on their own without having to pay for a membership planCons:
Not as popular as other dating applications;Information on your matches is rather limited in the free version”]PURE
Key features
- Created in October 2014
- You have just 24h to chat with someone
- 500,000 monthly active users
History
PURE was developed by entrepreneurs Roman Sidorenko and Alexander Kukhtenko in 2012. This straight hookup app began to spread under the slogan “sex here and now” and it’s the best definition for a “Hookup app”.
Overview
If you’re a straight person after instant sex, and you have the opinion that there is no need for long conversations or lengthy and tedious dating profiles, this is the app to go for.
You can use this application when you’re feeling horny and want a one-time adventure with someone near you. This is purely to meet up with others to have casual sex.
The selling point of PURE is it’s quick and easy to meet other people. It’s one of the most efficient platforms when it comes to instant, fast, and anonymous hookups.
Such as Grindr, Pure users don’t have to share any information about themselves if they don’t want to. Having a profile photo is also optional. The creators of PURE let you know right away that this app is not for people looking for relationships, it’s targeted for the ones after a moment of pleasure.
PURE uses your device’s GPS to find out potential partners nearby. When you’re online, you can see photos of others in your area, online at the same moment.
Then, you have a limited time to “open a request” and match with someone – once that time is over, your messages automatically delete. The app allows you to check your remaining time whenever you wish.
Download and set up
Regarding costs, unless you’re a woman, PURE is not free to use. You can download it from Apple App Store and Google Play Store. and install the iPhone app or the Android app for free, but you can’t have your photo presented to women without paying. You will need to subscribe to a membership before you can get full access to the app’s features.
The dating app is highly appreciated in most big cities like New York, Los Angeles, London, Mexico City, and Moscow. Although if you’re based in a smaller town, chances are that you won’t be so lucky with this app.
PURE has excellent ratings in both App Store and Play Store. Its design is minimalistic, lightweight, and aesthetic. It’s difficult not to find it appealing or friendly.
Pros:
You don’t have to reveal any details about yourself or even use your phone number to login to the app;Quick setup time;Mobile and desktop versionCons:
Because of time limits, there may be a small number of online users each time you log in;Not ideal if you live in a small town”]Badoo
Key features
- Created in 2006
- Over 250 million users in 190 countries
- Most members are from the 25-35-year-old age range
- 65% male users and 35% female users
History
Launched in November 2006 by Andrey Andreev, Badoo is one of the oldest dating platforms still around. Its website operated through Facebook and that helped it to boom in popularity since 2012. It is regarded as social networking with a focus on dating.
Overview
Badoo has a strong presence everywhere in the world. There you’ll find all kinds of people with varied purposes. From youngsters just looking out for hookups and flings to older members that are after more committed connections.
The platform gives you two ways of meeting people: “Encounters” and “People Nearby”.
- “Encounters” performs just like Tinder, where you swipe left or right through profile cards depending on whether you liked or not some other profile or not. In Badoo, you click the heart or the X to like or dislike your potential match. Unlike Tinder, there is no limit to the number of matches you can connect within one day.
- “People Nearby” is Badoo’s primary search function. It appears as a grid of members currently in your area and allows you to find other members based on your location. You can filter the search to show just the ones that are currently online at the moment, show only new members, or display all profiles. You also have some search filters at your disposal that you can use to refine the results.
Security is a big thing in Badoo. All profiles are thoroughly verified at the beginning, along with photos. You can verify your account to give other members added confidence.
To achieve it you’ll be shown an illustration of a person in a given body position and you’ll be prompted to replicate the position in that photo.
The photo you submit won’t be visible to anyone, it’s strictly for verification purposes.
Download and set up
Badoo is available as a mobile app and you can get it through Google Play Store and Apple App Store. It also offers a web version you can comfortably access with your computer.
While there are some differences between the dating site and the app, both work very well most of the time.
A basic Badoo account is free and has a lot of potential if you’re using it on your computer.
The app shows some more limitations in the free version.
You can subscribe to the Premium membership to get access to a lot of other great options. You can pay for a Premium plan for 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and for a lifetime plan.
Pros:
You can choose between two different methods when meeting people;Great search filters;Profile verificationCons:
Because of time limits, there may be a small number of online users each time you log in;Paid plans are on the expensive side”]Wrap Up
Grind got its popularity over the years for how easy it made connecting to other queer men and having an instant and anonymous hookup. While “straight” focused dating apps tend to be more complex if you’re a straight man or a straight woman you also have a lot of great alternatives at your disposal as we’ve shown you today.
From apps targeted to instant one-time adventures like PURE to more comprehensive ones like Badoo where you’ll discover people with all kinds of purposes from hookups to long-term relationships, there is definitely one that suits you.
Check out some of our other awesome articles:
- Is there any app like Grindr designed for gay women?
- How to solve the “Unable to refresh” error on Grindr
- Websites and applications that are similar to Grindr
- Is it possible to use Grindr without the app?
- How can I unmatch on Tinder?
- How can I see my super likes in Tinder?
- My Tinder match disappeared. Why?
- What to do when meeting someone on Tinder?
- How does Tinder read receipts work?
- Tinder Top Picks – What is that?
- Why does Tinder say that I have a message when I don’t?