Looking to meet your perfect Master or want to take a new sub for a spin?
There is a growing number of BDSM hookup apps where you can mingle with likeminded kinks. And some of these apps have become incredibly popular.
In a world where mainstream dating is still dominated by apps like Tinder, Coffee Meets Bagel and Bumble, kinksters who are into BDSM may want to consider apps that are specifically targeted at BDSM and bondage lovers.
Our favorite BDSM hookup apps are Alt.com (the app is a handy extension of their excellent BDSM site), FetLife and SiN (which is likely the closest thing to a Tinder of the BDSM world – but sadly lacking in members.) FetLife has arguably the largest community for BDSM lovers to explore, however their app is Android only.
In this guide, we’ll give you a rundown of the best BDSM hookup apps you can download to find everything from munches to subs, Doms, bottoms, tops, masters and slaves.
Let’s take a look inside!
What Are The Best BDSM Hookup Apps?
Below we’ve picked the best apps to use if you are looking for a hookup or date within the BDSM community but please note: most of these are only really useful in larger cities and towns.
The majority work using geo-location data so if you are situated in the sticks then you may not find anyone local using the same app.
Alt.com
The leading alternative and fetish lifestyles dating site, Alt.com markets itself as a fetish sex dating service for masters and mistresses. It is a popular platform and attracts monthly traffic in the region of two million users.
A part of the Friend Finder Network which reaches a much wider audience, existing members of Alt.com can download the Alt Friend Finder (AFF) App.
Only available for iPhone users, the AFF app isn’t designed specifically for the BDSM community but does allow Alt.com members to use their log-in to access their account. In this way, you can use the app to stay in touch with contacts, access messaging and browse for new hook-ups.
In all honesty, the consensus of users who have downloaded this app suggests that this is far from being the best dating app on the market. It lacks many of the features that are available on the mobile-optimized site and really all you can do with it is check messages and perhaps upload some new pics to your own profile.
In summary, it’s a useful app if you are an existing Alt.com user in order to quickly check messages.
FetLife
Available for Android users only, Fetlife has developed an app so that its members can access their site on the move. However, the app is not available on Google Play, instead you will need to download the .APK file from their site and install manually.
With over 8.3 million members worldwide, FetLife is internationally recognized as the social networking platform for the BDSM, fetish and kink community. Though they are not primarily set up for dating and hook ups, the very nature of this social media style website means that many of its members do arrange to meet for munches and more over the service.
The app brings all of these familiar features to bear in a condensed and easy to use way. Get notifications on the go when you are messaged or when conversations and discussions are being added to by others and find nearby events to connect with local kinksters,
It’s certainly not a dating app but it could help you connect and meet up from within your existing communities and groups on FetLife. Definitely one to have on your Android device if you are already a member.
Whiplr
A hub for the kink and fetish community, Whiplr is one of the closest hookup and dating apps to Tinder for the BDSM world.
The platform has over 1.2 million registered users and is in use right across the United States, much of Europe and many other countries internationally.
The app users a location-based feed service so you can find playmates and friends who are nearby plus you can filter this to fine-tune your search. With more than 230 fetishes defined on the app, this means you can be incredibly specific about the kind of person you are looking to hook up with.
Whiplr’s messaging service is one of the main draws for this app and lets you stay in control of the information you are sharing, even letting you delete your messages from the recipients phone.
Of course, if they take a screen shot then they will be able to keep this data. However, general chat, call and photo sharing functions are powerful, robust and fast. There is also the option to hold a live video chat in-app so you don’t need to share contact information before you are sure you want to meet.
Whiplr isn’t just a dating and hookup app but more of a social media platform and also offers features that are more alike with Snapchat and Instagram than Facebook. With a huge community of trendsetters and leaders, you can connect with professional Dommes, artists, models and lifestyle professionals. Each offers something unique from education and support to friendship and hook ups.
Other features on the app include:
- Profiles that can store up to 100 photos
- Group Chat facility – ideal for planning munches
- Event Listing
Available to download for both Android and iOS devices, the Whiplr app is free to use but the best features are exclusive for fully paid up members. Subscription costs vary from $19.95 per month or $119.95 per annum.
Feter
A Tinder style hook up app specifically for the BDSM and kink community, Feter is available on both iOS and Android devices.
Just like Tinder, it uses geo-location to let users browse through profiles in their area; swipe right to like or left to pass (or up and down if you are an iOS user) and if that person does the same for you then you get a match. The service allows you to make contact privately and use the chat feature to get to know each other before arranging a hook up.
Aimed at alternative lifestylers and non-conformist genders and sexuality, you can find plenty of kinks catered for here as well as trans, non-binary, gay, lesbian and more.
As well as basic matching services, you can also post to a private ‘SnapFeed’ which all of your matches will be able to view; sort of like SnapChat.
Feter is mainly being used in the United States and the United Kingdom and has the best coverage in cities like Los Angeles, New York and London but word is spreading and there are active users in other parts of Europe and North America too.
Free to download and browse with, you do need an active paid subscription in order to send messages in-app to other members. However, there are in-app purchases available to upgrade your account to Premier; or, you can earn ‘Premier’ status by inviting 3 friends to register for Feter. As soon as they sign up, you will get one month’s subscription for free.
Overall, the app is being well received by the community and has gained a good rating on the App Store and Google Play store.
KNKI
A new social networking and adult dating app for the BDSM and leather community, KNKI was created by fetish lifestylers.
Free to use and offering instant access to communicate with fellow bondage enthusiasts, there are plenty of kinky friends (masters, mistresses, slave and subs) who want to get social, meet for a munch or hook up for some casual play.
The app allows you to tailor your search so that you know in advance what kind of people you are connecting with and be certain that they are into your kinks.
KNKI isn’t just a simple swipe left/right, up/down kind of platform but has been developed with social networking in mind.
As a result, you can expect all the functionality of some of the main social media platforms and follow your friends via the app. Search for hashtags, comment on photos, post status updates and join events. There are no community forums however, so the only interaction is one-on-one with those users you make connections with.
Privacy is key to this service and you are in control of who sees what, how much and what to share with whom.
The app is available for free for both iOS and Android users via the App Store and Google Play. Advanced features such as private photo buckets, expanded message history and the ability to view more profiles do cost and you will need to be a paid subscriber to access these functions.
The current monthly charges that get billed via your app service are $9.99 per month or $89.99 for a full year. The benefit of upgrading is so you can view who likes your profile as well as getting rid of those annoying ads.
The app is in use globally and some people will struggle to find local connections on this platform if they aren’t in a metropolitan area but it does offer an international way to hook up and network with people if you are.
Kinkoo
Another Tinder style dating app for the BDSM community, Kinkoo is one of the fastest growing apps of its kind. It’s pretty simple in its design which might be one of the reasons it’s so popular. It doesn’t have any social networking features or community forums/groups and the focus is very much on dating and hook ups only.
Which is a good thing if that’s all you are looking for.
Judging by the profiles we could browse through, around 80-90% of users are based in the United States and around 10% being in the United Kingdom. Several other nationalities and countries were scattered in among these but largely those two nations are where you’re going to find the action.
The app can be downloaded from Google Play (for Android) and the App Store (for iOS) for free but if you want to access the advanced features then you will need to upgrade your membership. A subscription costs around $15 per month and with this you get:
- Unlimited swipes
- Access to see who likes you
- The ability to filter users by city
- Chat with members online
- Access to privacy settings
- See VIP members
- The ability to recall users whose profile(s) you accidentally swiped left on
- The ability to block other users
Overall, the app is well designed and easy to use with simplicity being its main selling point.
KinkD
KinkD offers a similar service to many other of the apps on our list; you get to browse thumbnails of local kinksters in your area and swipe left or right to show an interest. It’s all very straightforward and there is good coverage in the United States and Western Europe for the app.
What is great about KinkD is the extra level of security that has been included within the development. All users on the app must have been verified with Photo ID.
It’s a manual process which does delay your registration a little but moderators work full time to make sure that everyone who has a profile on KinkD is real…so no catfishing. The app has also got plenty of privacy and security settings to ensure that your pics and albums remain viewable only by those you grant access to.
That’s a big plus for hook up apps and these two key features may have helped the service recruit more female members. Certainly, you can be assured that everyone on the app is genuine.
KinkD is free to download and you can use certain features without subscribing to the Gold Membership; however (as with most of these services) if you want to be able to contact others and see who likes your profile etc etc then you will need to pay. Current rates of subscription are:
- $14.99 per month
- $35.99 for three months
- $54.99 for six months
If you have a large social media following and don’t mind marketing the app then you can get free Gold Membership by sharing KinkD on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or other public kink community forum.
The app doesn’t have many other features other than a simple swipe and connect with in-app chat but that is one of the selling points; it’s easy and fast to use.
BDSM Hook Up Apps for Men Seeking Men/TG/TS/NB & More
We’ve listed some additional hook up apps that are in use across the BDSM community that may also be worth looking at. These particular ones are more for gay or trans men looking for other men and are not all specifically aimed at BDSM lifestylers.
However, they do cater for leather fetishes and members of the BDSM community:
- DaddyHunt – ‘The No. 1 mobile social networking app for gay, bi and curious Daddies and guys that love Daddies’
- Scruff – Top rated social networking and dating app for gay, bisexual and TG men
- Recon – exclusively for men interested in fetishes who are looking for gay, bisexual and TG guys. Pups and handlers, masters and slaves, bondage, leather and rubber all catered for.
- Grindr – The world’s largest social networking app for the gay, bi, queer and trans community, Grindr is very much a mainstream app but does also cater for some fetishes.
Another app you may be interested in once you’ve found your play partner is the Obedience Habit Tracker app – a popular BDSM tool for rewarding your sub.
To stay up to date with the latest apps that are taking over the space, consider joining a BDSM discussion forum where you’ll hear about it before it gets hot!
Featured image of the model Miss Dizzy Duveaux with a blindfold and bondage collar via Wikipedia/Ropemarks at Deviant Art.
