HER is a free dating and social app built by and for LGBTQ+ women, non-binary, and queer people, and after testing it I rate it 4 out of 5 as of August 2026. This HER app review covers who it is for, what it costs, whether it is safe, and how it compares, all based on my own time scrolling the feed, matching, and joining communities inside the app rather than a summary of its marketing.
What is HER?
HER is an LGBTQ+ dating and community app founded in 2013 by Robyn Exton (originally launched as Dattch), with more than 13 million members across 100-plus countries. Unlike a general app where you have to guess who is open to dating women, HER is a dedicated space for queer women and non-binary people, and it blends dating with a social feed, group chats, and local events. It runs as a mobile app only, on iOS and Android, with no desktop version.
Is HER a legit dating app?
Yes, HER is a legit dating app, and it holds around a 4.3-star rating across app stores from tens of thousands of reviews. It was built by queer women for queer women, so the values are baked in rather than bolted on, and it offers profile verification to cut down on fakes. That said, no app is scam-proof: some reviewers report bots and the occasional crypto scammer, so I stayed cautious with anyone who steered a chat toward money or another platform.
Who is HER for?
HER is for lesbian, bisexual, queer, pansexual, non-binary, and trans people who want a women-centered space to date or connect. It works whether you are looking for a relationship, a hookup, new friends, or a community while you travel, since the events and groups make it useful beyond swiping. It is intentionally not built for cisgender straight men, which is a big part of why it feels safer to its members.
How does HER work?
HER works by scrolling rather than rapid-fire swiping, so you browse a discover feed and like the profiles that stand out. When a like is mutual you match and can message, and you can also post to a social feed, join interest-based communities, and RSVP to local LGBTQ+ events. That mix of dating plus community is the core of the experience, and it takes some of the pressure off compared to a pure matchmaking app.
How do you sign up for HER?
Signing up for HER is quick, with a few options: Apple, Facebook, phone number, or Instagram. You add your name, birthday, and email, then at least three photos, along with your pronouns, gender identity, sexual orientation, relationship status, and what you are looking for. HER groups several questions onto single screens, which made setup faster than the endless one-question-per-page flow on other apps.
Is HER free?
HER is free to download, join, browse, and message people who like you, but the free tier has real limits and shows ads. On a free account I could match and chat with people who liked me first, post to communities, and attend events (tickets cost extra). What I could not do for free was search with filters, discover new people who had not liked me yet, or see who was online. The ads on the free version are also large and frequent.
How much does HER cost?
HER has two paid tiers, Gold and Platinum, and the longer the plan the cheaper it gets per month. HER Gold starts around $15 a month and drops toward roughly $7.50 a month on the annual plan (about $89.99 a year), adding advanced filters, seeing who viewed you, no ads, rewind, and incognito mode. HER Platinum starts around $25 a month and falls to about $12.50 a month annually (about $149.99 a year), adding who is nearby, a Thirst mode boost, unlimited swipes, read receipts, and seeing who is online.
What features make HER stand out?
HER's best features are the community tools tailored to queer women, which is exactly why it beats a general app for this audience. The standouts:
- Communities: interest-based groups where you meet people beyond one-on-one matching.
- Social feed: a scrollable feed that makes the app feel social, not just transactional.
- Local events: listings for LGBTQ+ meetups where online connections can turn real.
- Pride Pins: identity pins like T4T, Pillow Princess, and more to show who you are at a glance.
- Profile verification and Spotify: verify your profile to limit scammers, and link Spotify to show your taste.
Is the HER app safe?
HER is reasonably safe for a dating app, with profile verification and privacy touches like blocking screenshots of the main feed. Because it is women-centered and screens out straight men, a lot of members feel more comfortable being themselves here than on mainstream apps. Still, watch for the bots and occasional crypto scammers reviewers mention: use the block and report tools, keep financial details out of chats, and meet first dates in public. A dedicated email is a smart precaution.
What did I like and dislike about HER?
Here is the honest split after testing HER.
What I liked: the inclusivity is real, the community and events make it more than a swipe app, verification helps with trust, and the few conversations I had were genuinely fun with attractive, active members.
What I disliked: you cannot search or discover new people on the free tier, the free-version ads are heavy, and the app can be buggy or laggy at times.
Who is HER best for?
HER is best for queer women and non-binary people who want dating and community in one place, especially anyone tired of guessing who is available on general apps. It is great for travelers wanting to plug into a local queer scene and for people who value events and group chats as much as matches. It is less ideal if you want free search filters or a completely ad-free, bug-free experience without paying.
How do you cancel HER?
You cancel a HER Premium subscription in the app store you bought it from, not inside the app itself. On iPhone, open Settings, tap your Apple ID, then Subscriptions, and cancel HER; on Android, do the same under Subscriptions in Google Play. Deleting the HER app does not cancel the subscription or stop the charge. Deleting your HER account is separate and is done in the app's own settings, so cancel the subscription first if you are paying, then delete the account to remove your profile.
What are the best HER alternatives?
If HER's paywalled search or ads put you off, a few queer-friendly apps I have tested cover similar ground. Here is how the main alternatives compare:
- PinkCupid: a search-first lesbian dating site with detailed sexuality filters and a global base.
- Lex: a text-first, personals-style app popular with queer and trans communities.
- Feeld: an open-minded app strong for non-monogamy, couples, and exploring identities.
Browse more options in my LGBTQ dating sites category.
HER review: frequently asked questions
Is HER a legit dating app?
Yes, HER is a legit dating app built by queer women for LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people, with about a 4.3-star app-store rating, though it does have some bots and scammers, so stay cautious with anyone who asks for money.
Is HER free?
HER is free to join, browse, and message people who like you, but searching with filters, discovering new profiles, and seeing who is online require a paid Gold or Platinum membership, and the free tier shows ads.
How much does HER cost?
HER Gold starts around $15 a month and about $89.99 a year, while HER Platinum starts around $25 a month and about $149.99 a year, adding features like who is nearby, unlimited swipes, and read receipts.
Is the HER app safe?
HER is reasonably safe, with profile verification, a women-centered community, and privacy features like blocked feed screenshots, but you should still use block and report tools, avoid sharing financial details, and watch for bots and crypto scammers.
Is HER only for lesbians?
No, HER is for all LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people, including lesbian, bisexual, queer, pansexual, and trans users, and it also works for finding friends and community, not just dating.
How do you cancel HER Premium?
Cancel HER Premium in the App Store or Google Play under Subscriptions, not inside the app; deleting the HER app does not stop the charge, and deleting your account is a separate step in the app's settings.
My final verdict on HER
HER earns a 4 out of 5 from me because it does something most dating apps do not: it pairs real dating with a genuine queer community, in a space built by and for the people using it. The trade-offs are a free tier that locks search behind a paywall, heavy ads, and the odd bug, so budget for Gold if you want the full experience. For a women-loving-women app that feels safe and social, HER is one I plan to keep using to see who else I can connect with.