Best Gay Dating Apps in Taiwan (2026): What Locals Use

Most gay men in Taiwan use two or three apps at once. Grindr and Hornet are the long-standing grid apps, Surge is the most popular gay swipe-and-match app, and Tinder catches the expat and bi crowd. Gsland is the homegrown alternative, and HeeSay, the international version of Blued, rounds out the list. Here is what each one is like in Taipei, and which to open first.

One thing up front: Surge is made by the team behind this blog. We have tried to be as fair about the other apps as about our own, and every rating below comes from the apps' live listings on the Taiwan App Store, checked in October 2026.

Taiwan is the easiest place in Asia to be a gay man with a dating app. Same-sex marriage has been legal since 24 May 2019, the first in Asia, and Taipei hosts what is widely described as the biggest Pride march in East Asia. Around 150,000 people joined in 2025, according to Focus Taiwan. The apps are busy, and a match can turn into a date without much worry about who sees you.

The most popular gay apps in Taiwan

There is no independent market-share survey of gay apps in Taiwan, so the best public signal is the Taiwan App Store, where the number of ratings tracks how many people have used an app. Among apps built for gay men, two stand clearly ahead:

1. Surge - 4.6 stars from 11,400+ ratings. Best for dates rather than hookups, with verified profiles.
2. Grindr - 4.4 stars from 11,600+ ratings. Best for meeting someone nearby right now.
3. Hornet - 3.2 stars from 3,800+ ratings. Best for a grid plus a social feed.
4. Gsland - 4.7 stars from 3,600+ ratings. Best homegrown option, with instant meetups.
5. HeeSay (Blued) - 3.5 stars from 2,200+ ratings. Best for a social, live-stream feel.
6. Tinder - 4.1 stars from 72,000+ ratings across all users. Best mainstream fallback.

1. Surge

Best for: gay men in Taiwan who want matches that turn into dates, and want to know the guy in the photo is real.

Surge works like Tinder rather than Grindr. You swipe through men near you, you match when you both like each other, and you chat for free once you match, so your inbox only holds people you have already said yes to. On the Taiwan App Store it has 4.6 stars from over 11,400 ratings, a higher rating than Grindr's and almost as many ratings.

Photo verification is the other difference. You take a selfie, the team checks it, and your profile gets a badge, and on Premium you can choose to see only verified users. The app is available in Chinese, and its Taiwan listing promises Chinese-language customer support around the clock.

The good:

• Free to match and chat, with disappearing photos and videos.
• Verification badge for free, and a verified-only filter on Premium.
• Change location on Premium, so you can start matching in Taipei before your flight lands.
• Only mutual matches can message you, so no unsolicited flood.

The bad:

• Seeing who liked you and Private Mode are paid features.
• It is a dating app, not a hookup grid, so it is slower if you want to meet someone in the next hour.

Who it's for: locals tired of the grid, and visitors who want a real date in Taipei rather than a string of "hi".

2. Grindr

Best for: seeing who is closest to you, right now.

Grindr's Taiwan listing calls it 男同志聊天室, "gay men's chat room", and that is how most people use it. It has the largest pool of gay men in Taiwan, with 4.4 stars from over 11,600 ratings on the Taiwan App Store, and Grindr has a long tie to the country: it opened its first Asian office in Taipei in 2018, citing Taiwan's open attitudes.

The trade-offs are the same as everywhere. Anyone can message you, the free version carries ads, and the tone is more hookup than date.

The good: the biggest pool, fast, works the moment you land. The bad: ads, an open inbox, and fewer people looking for something serious.

Who it's for: meeting someone tonight, or checking the scene on arrival.

3. Hornet

Best for: a grid with a social feed, and the app many Taiwanese men have used for years.

Hornet has marketed itself as the number one gay app in Taiwan since at least 2017, when it published a survey it had commissioned, and its Taiwan listing still describes it as the leading gay app in the country. Treat that as Hornet's own claim: on the Taiwan App Store it has 3,800+ ratings, about a third of Grindr's or Surge's, at 3.2 stars. It did put real work into Taiwan, including a 2017 campaign for marriage equality with local activists.

What sets it apart is the feed. Alongside the grid of men nearby there are posts, stories and hashtags, so it feels closer to Instagram than Grindr. Profile verification is free, and the free tier is ad-supported.

The good: a social layer, free verification, a long-standing Taiwanese user base. The bad: ads, and the lowest rating of the big apps here.

Who it's for: men who want to follow people and see who is around, not only chat.

4. Gsland

Best for: a gay app made in Taiwan, by gay Taiwanese developers.

Gsland is the homegrown option. It launched in 2019, and its Taiwan listing says it is developed and run by gay people. It rates 4.7 stars from over 3,600 ratings on the Taiwan App Store, the highest rating on this list.

Its features are built around how Taiwanese men actually date. 現約 (instant meetup) mode shows people nearby who want to meet right away. Group matching suggests small groups of men who all like each other, not just pairs. You can also set which relationship types you are open to, which makes it one of the few apps friendly to open relationships.

Two caveats. Browsing is free and unlimited, but ads are only removed on the paid tier. The iOS app was last updated in October 2024, so it is not moving as fast as the big international apps, and its pool is smaller.

The good: local, thoughtful features, unlimited free browsing, strong ratings. The bad: a smaller pool, ads on the free tier, and slow updates.

Who it's for: locals who want something built for Taiwan, and anyone in an open relationship.

5. HeeSay (Blued)

Best for: a social app with live streams and posts.

HeeSay is the international version of Blued, the gay app that dominates mainland China. It was rebranded from Blued International in January 2024, and its Taiwan listing is titled "HeeSay：Blued 基友聊天與交友社區". It claims 54 million LGBTQ+ users worldwide and rates 3.5 stars from 2,200+ ratings on the Taiwan App Store.

HeeSay leans social: a feed, live streams, voice rooms and following creators, with dating on top. Some Taiwanese guides point younger users toward it. Know who runs it before you sign up: Blued and HeeSay belong to BlueCity, which was bought by the Chinese company Newborn Town in 2023. Newborn Town has said that overseas users' data is stored separately from its China business.

The good: lively social features, a large international pool. The bad: more of a social network than a dating app, and Chinese ownership, which matters to some users.

Who it's for: younger users who enjoy live streams and posts as much as matching.

6. Tinder

Best for: the biggest pool of all, especially if you are an expat or bi.

Tinder is not a gay app, but it has more ratings on the Taiwan App Store than every gay app here combined: 72,000+ at 4.1 stars. Set your preferences to men and you will find a real gay crowd in Taipei, including many expats.

There are no gay-specific features, the free tier limits how many likes you send each day, and verification is optional. It is the app to keep on your phone, not the one to open first.

The good: a huge pool and an international crowd. The bad: nothing gay-specific, daily like limits.

Who it's for: expats, bi men, and anyone the gay apps have not worked for.

Gay dating apps in Taiwan apart from Grindr

If Grindr is not working for you, the right alternative depends on what is wrong with it.

• You want dates, not a stream of "hi". Surge is the swipe-and-match alternative, with verified profiles and a higher Taiwan App Store rating than Grindr.
• You like the grid but want a different crowd. Hornet has the same grid with a social feed on top, and Gsland adds instant meetups and group matching.
• You want a social app. HeeSay feels more like a social network with dating attached.
• You want a bigger, mixed pool. Tinder, especially in Taipei.

Jack'd and Scruff are also on the Taiwan App Store, but with far fewer ratings (413 and about 1,400), so expect a thin pool outside central Taipei.

How to read a Taiwanese gay profile

Profiles in Taiwan use shorthand that is easy to miss if you do not read Chinese. The common ones:

• 1, 0 and 0.5 - top, bottom and versatile. You will see these everywhere, often as the only thing in a bio. 不分 also means versatile, or not into labels.
• 葛格 (gege) and 底迪 (didi) - "big brother" and "little brother". Relationship roles, not sex roles: the gege looks after, the didi is looked after.
• 熊 (bear), 猴 (monkey), 狼 (wolf) - body types: stocky and often hairy, lean and slim, and muscular and rugged.
• 現約 - wants to meet right now.
• 約炮 and 炮友 - hookup, and a regular hookup partner.
• 純交友 - "just friends". Usually means exactly that.

Once you have hit it off, most chats move to LINE, Taiwan's default messaging app. Wait until you are sure he is who he says he is before you share yours.

Gay date spots in Taipei

Taipei is compact, the MRT goes almost everywhere, and the city is relaxed about two men on a date. Some places to take a match:

• The Red House, Ximending. The terraces around the South Plaza behind the Red House (西門紅樓) are the centre of gay Taipei. The outdoor bars there, including Café Dalida, a fixture since 2006 known for cocktails and drag, and The Garden, fill up from early evening, and are an easy first drink. Hero Bar on nearby Kunming Street is the place to dance afterwards.
• The Rainbow Six, Ximen MRT Exit 6. The rainbow-painted plaza outside the exit is Taipei's best-known Pride landmark, repainted in 2025. Everyone takes the photo.
• Elephant Mountain (象山). Take the Red Line to Xiangshan Station, Exit 2. It is a 20 to 30 minute climb up steep steps to a view straight onto Taipei 101. Go before sunset.
• A night market. Raohe Street, next to Songshan Station, is long, busy and good for sharing a dozen small things. Ningxia, a short walk from Shuanglian or Zhongshan station, is another favourite.
• Dadaocheng Wharf at sunset. Walk the old shophouse streets of Dihua Street, then watch the sun go down over the river with a drink from the container bars on the wharf.
• Maokong Gondola. From Taipei Zoo Station up to the tea houses of Maokong, best in the late afternoon. It is usually closed on Mondays.
• Daan Forest Park. Exits 2 to 5 of Daan Park Station open straight into it. Free, green and good for a long walk and a talk.
• Beitou. Hot springs at the end of the Red Line. The Beitou Hot Spring Museum is free, and many hotels in Xinbeitou offer private hot spring rooms.
• G*Star Club, Zhongshan. For a later night, Taipei's best-known gay club, with two floors, karaoke rooms and shows.

Bars open and close fast, so check a venue's own social media before you head out. For more on what makes a first date work, see our first date ideas for gay couples.

Taiwan Pride 2026

The 24th Taiwan Pride march is on Saturday 31 October 2026 in Taipei, under the theme "Our Voices, Our Journey" (聲做伙聽，路做伙行), reports CNA. It is organised by the Taiwan Rainbow Civic Action Association and starts from the plaza in front of Taipei City Hall, with northern and southern routes through the east of the city. If you are visiting for Pride, set your location to Taipei a week early and you will arrive with plans.

Gay rights and dating in Taiwan: what to know

• Marriage. Same-sex couples have been able to marry since 24 May 2019. Since January 2023, a Taiwanese citizen can marry a foreign partner even if the partner's own country does not recognise same-sex marriage, according to Focus Taiwan. Partners from mainland China are still the exception: they must first marry somewhere that recognises same-sex marriage, then register in Taiwan. Same-sex couples have also been able to adopt jointly since 2023.
• Discrimination. Taiwanese law bans discrimination based on sexual orientation at work and in schools.
• Sexual health. Taiwan's CDC offers free, anonymous HIV testing at health bureaus, contracted clinics and LGBTQ+ community health centres, plus self-test kits from vending machines or online. Its free PrEP programme is mainly for Taiwanese nationals; visitors can get PrEP at their own cost from a private clinic.
• Drugs. Taiwan's drug laws are strict. GHB, meth and cannabis are all Category 2 drugs, and both using and possessing them are crimes. Chemsex is a public-health concern on the apps, so be careful with any invitation that mentions "party" or "PnP".
• Support. The Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ+) Hotline Association, the country's oldest LGBTQ+ organisation, runs a counselling line on 02-2392-1970.

The usual app safety rules apply too: prefer verified profiles, keep the first chat in the app, never send money to a match, and meet somewhere public the first time. Our community guidelines cover the rest.

Travelling further in Asia? See our guide to the best gay dating apps in Japan, or the full ranking of the best gay dating apps worldwide. More city guides: gay dating in Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, New York and the best gay apps in Poland.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most popular gay app in Taiwan?

Grindr and Surge have the most ratings of any gay app on the Taiwan App Store, with around 11,600 and 11,400 respectively, which by that measure makes them the two most widely used. Hornet has long promoted itself as Taiwan's number one gay app, and Tinder is also popular with gay expats in Taipei.

Is Grindr popular in Taiwan?

Yes. Grindr has the largest pool of gay men in Taiwan and opened its first Asian office in Taipei in 2018. It works best for meeting someone nearby quickly; for dates and verified profiles, many men in Taiwan also use Surge.

What gay dating apps are there in Taiwan apart from Grindr?

Surge, Hornet, Gsland, HeeSay (the international version of Blued) and Tinder are all widely used in Taiwan. Surge is the swipe-and-match option with verified profiles, Hornet adds a social feed, Gsland is made in Taiwan, and Tinder has the biggest mixed pool.

What do 1, 0 and 0.5 mean on Taiwanese gay apps?

They describe sexual roles: 1 is top, 0 is bottom, and 0.5 is versatile. You will also see 不分, which means versatile or not into labels.

Is same-sex marriage legal in Taiwan?

Yes. Taiwan legalised same-sex marriage on 24 May 2019, the first country in Asia to do so. Since 2023, Taiwanese citizens can also marry foreign same-sex partners from most countries, and same-sex couples can adopt jointly.

When is Taiwan Pride 2026?

Taiwan Pride 2026 is on Saturday 31 October 2026 in Taipei, starting from the plaza in front of Taipei City Hall. The theme is "Our Voices, Our Journey".

Where is the gay area in Taipei?

Ximending is the centre of gay Taipei, especially the bars on the terraces around the South Plaza behind the Red House, near Ximen MRT Exit 6. Zhongshan district is home to G*Star, the city's best-known gay club.