It’s no secret that relationships have evolved. They don’t look like they used to. And it’s not just because of social media, although that doesn’t help. In fact, the evolution of relationships has come about for a number of different reasons. Today, many people are more comfortable with talking openly about what they really want in a relationship and how they want to structure it.
And since we live in the world of smartphones and mobile apps, it makes sense that some of the best apps for open relationships would be there to meet that need. The great thing about these apps is that they exist in an environment where you can be open about what you’re looking for and connect with others who are searching for the same things as you—without judgment or embarrassment. You may find that these apps help you discover new ways to enjoy the experience of being in a relationship and give you a better understanding of what your partner wants in the long-term.
Table of Contents
Best Apps For Open Relationships
ICYMI, there are so many dating apps out there nowadays. From Hinge to Bumble to Tinder, if you’re out there in the ~dating world~ odds are that you’ve tried them all. But what about people who identify as polyamorous? It’s a little more difficult to navigate those apps when you’re poly (more on that later), which is why there are great apps out there specifically dedicated to those seeking polyamorous connections.
First things first, what does it mean to be polyamorous, exactly, and how common is polyamory? “Being polyamorous is being in a relationship with more than one person,” explains Gigi Engle, a certified sex coach, sexologist, and author of All The F*cking Mistakes: a guide to sex, love, and life. (Think of it like this: Monogamy means “one” and “poly” means many.) “These are two relationship styles, but both are equally valid,” says Engle. Polyamory basically boils down to being non-monogamous in a consensual, ethical way, partnered with opening your heart to more than just one person at a time.
So, what does the term “ethical” mean in this case, since, TBH, it can be subjective? In short, polyamorous relationships can be structured in a bunch of different ways (maybe one person is the primary partner, maybe everyone’s on an even playing field, etc.), but being ethically non-monogamous is a way to ensure that everyone involved in the relationship is comfortable with the situation, explains Women’s Health advisory board member Chloe Carmichael, PhD, a New York-based therapist and author of Dr. Chloe’s 10 Commandments of Dating.
TL;DR, it’s all about communication, transparency, and most importantly, consent in your relationship, Carmichael explains. Because polyamorous relationships involve multiple people, everyone being on the same page is crucial. That said, let’s get into the fun stuff. If you’re polyamorous and you want to spice up your dating life by hopping on some new platforms, we’ve got you covered. These are the absolute best polyamory dating apps, according to experts.
- “Traditional” Apps Like Hinge, Bumble, Tinder, etc.
If you’re planning to use one of the more traditionally “monogamous” apps like Hinge or Bumble, there are a few helpful notes for your profile to signify that you’re looking for more than one partner. First, make sure you state that you’re ethically non-monogamous (ENM) in your profile, says Janet Brito, PhD, a clinical psychologist and certified sex therapist based in Hawaii. For seeking other polyamorous individuals, you can also write that you’re seeking “like-minded folks.”
Looking to add a third party to your current duo? Just make that clear, and ensure that both you and your current partner have account access, Engle explains. It may help to even set boundaries with that partner so that you’re using it together rather than separately. “Total transparency is needed to make this work,” Engle says. “Don’t be cagey or coy, because that is coming from a place of dishonesty, which is not a good place to start.” Noted!
- Feeld
PSA: Feeld is one of the best apps out there for poly folks, according to Engle. “People have better overall experiences with this app, as it’s meant for open relationships and those looking to explore alternative-style sex, such as kinks,” Engle says.
In short, Feeld encourages you to be yourself on the platform, Brito says, even if that includes seeing several people. (AKA, it’s a breath of fresh air.)
- #Open
Ever heard of #open? “It’s a new app built on the concept of non-monogamous dating,” says Engle.
So yep, this app is literally designed for polyamorous, ENM, and open people. They have a breadth of virtual and IRL community events, too, so you can get a jump start on meeting your next crush ASAP, all while being surrounded by like-minded people.
- Ashley Madison
You’ve probably heard of Ashley Madison, the website known for affairs and discreet dating. “It’s popular but controversial,” says Brito. “Lots of folks use it.”
Now in app format too, the site claims that the service is legit for everyone, including polyamorous individuals specifically, Brito notes. The main tenet is that Ashley Madison is a judgment-free zone, which means it’s also a place where poly people can explore their sexuality and date, too.
- BiCupid
“This app caters to bisexual folks seeking polyamory,” Brito explains. In short, BiCupid is for everyone who’s into a wide range of relationship styles. Whether you’re looking to add a third to your current relationship, want to meet more single polyamorous people, or just want to chat with other bi-identified folks, you can do that on BiCupid. - OkCupid
No, OkCupid isn’t specifically known for its polyamorous community, but it actually does now have features that allow you to express your polyamory identity, says Brito. This means that you can search and match with other polyamorous people on the app seeking both short-term connections and longer-term relationships in your area. - Downdating
Up for hookups, specifically? Downdating is the app for you, says Brito. It allows you to select whether you’d specifically like to go on a date or just ~hook up~ with a certain person, which the company feels is a more honest and mature way to approach dating. If you’re poly, this means that you have the opportunity for a variety of different experiences at your disposal. - MoreThanOne
MoreThanOne is designed specifically for polyamorous folks. The app is for both single polyamorous people as well as for open, ethical, non-monogamous relationships. And, yes, according to the app, it’s welcoming of all genders, sexualities, and identities, in case you’re not about putting labels on any of your own identities. - PolyFinda
Another app built to fill a gap in the polyamorous dating space, PolyFinda lets you navigate dating the way you want. It was made for all genders and preferences by members of the polyamorous community, and you’re encouraged to put all of your information out there: State whether you’re in a pair and looking to add more members to your relationship, any characteristics about the people you’re looking for, or whether or not you’re in the mood for something casual.
open relationship dating app
THE BEST DATING APPS FOR OPEN RELATIONSHIPS
If you’re polyamorous, knowing the best dating apps for open relationships can sometimes be difficult.For one, you won’t be sure whether or not the app will support open relationships or even whether it will be an open minded app.
But the good news is that it is a good time to be in a non-monogamous or polyamorous relationship these days. People are more open to different lifestyle choices than they used to be, as alternative approaches to healthy relationships are more willing to be explored.
Not only that, but there are a ton of different apps out there to cater to anyone’s tastes.
And even if you are polyamorous and have had a hard time finding like-minded people on apps before, there’s no need to worry. We’ve got you covered.
WHAT IS AN OPEN RELATIONSHIP?
Before we move on to the best dating apps for open relationships, we’re going to define what an open relationship is.
In its most basic terms, it is a relationship in which you are free to have multiple romantic and/or sexual relationships at the same time, as long as everyone involved is consenting to the idea.
The nature of those relationships depends on each individual, and there are no limits to the types out there. But there are definitely several differences between a polyamorous relationship and a monogamous one.
We go into detail about the differences here.
As with any type of relationship though, it is important that you and your partner are both happy and consenting to what’s going on. The point of relationships of any kind is to be content after all.
If you and your partner are new to polyamory, why not check out these fascinating stories from real people who have experienced both sides of the coin. Hearing from real people will help you both discover if this really is the lifestyle for you.
Now, let’s move on to the best dating apps for open relationships.
THE BEST DATING APPS FOR OPEN RELATIONSHIPS
FANTASY
Started in 2017 as a dating app, it has since evolved into something much bigger, and has become, in our opinion, one of the best dating apps for open relationships out there.
The main conceit behind Fantasy is to inspire people to be themselves in their relationships and their sexuality without fear of judgement. That includes open relationships.
They pride themselves on providing a platform that offers people from all walks of life a safe, inclusive, open-minded space the opportunity to share their desires. This allows everyone to learn, explore, and discover different sexual fantasies, all while making exciting new connections.
You can even filter out people based on sex, sexuality, age, and sexual fantasies – meaning that you are always looking at like-minded people whenever you sign in.
It is a great place for you and your partner to connect with other polyamorous couples and individuals, and perhaps even learn from those who are more experienced at it.
It is for this very reason that I rate it as one of the best dating apps for open relationships for both newcomers and old pros alike.
OKCUPID
OKCupid is another decent app for open relationships.
It has been around for years now and has a wide range of different people on it. This means that there is also a wide range of potential matches for you – if you can find someone that you can get along with.
It offers a few features for open relationships, including being able to filter out people who are non-monogamous, something that it has going for it over Tinder.
It also gives you the chance to get to know people through their profiles, which are usually incredibly lengthy and detailed.
OKCupid has a few downsides though, one of the biggest of which is the fact that anyone can message you at any time. This usually leads to a deluge of messages from people you would otherwise never talk to and can make it a huge chore to have to sort through to find the good ones.
Overall, it is a decent app for open relationships and is probably worth a try.
TINDER
Ah, Tinder, what can we say about you?
Most people may not think of Tinder as one of the better apps for open relationships, but there is some gold in this one.
It is definitely one of the most popular dating apps out there. Almost everyone has probably heard of it and it has even infiltrated pop-culture. However, it does tend to be more of a heteronormative type of app.
That aside, some polyamorous people do have luck on the app. The sheer number of people mean that there is at least a chance of meeting like-minded people. Besides, no one can deny that simply wiling away the hours swiping is actually pretty fun.
It does have its problems. For one, unlike Fantasy, you can’t filter out your matches. Tinder’s filtering simply extends to whether you’re looking for a male or a female, meaning other genders are kind of stuck with the gender binary choice.
Profiles also tend to be shorter, meaning you usually have to match to find out about a person, and there are a ton of bots on the site for some reason.
Still, worth a try if you’ve had no luck finding people on other dating apps for open relationships.
FEELD
And now we get to the naughty dating app for open relationships.
Feeld isn’t so much for finding relationships as it is for finding hook-ups, but sometimes you do just want that (although it isn’t really any good for single straight guys, sorry!).
It’s generally a good app for single women and couples, but straight guys are unlikely to have any luck at all for various reasons.
Other than that, though, it is an app designed for groups and couples, or single women looking for couples looking for a bit of no-strings naughty fun – so if you fit into that category give it a whirl.
It’s definitely not the best dating app for open relationships, but as they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
BUMBLE
There was a lot of buzz about Bumble when it first came out, most of it focused on the fact that for straight matches, the lady must message first within 24 hours, or the connection is lost. Similarly, it is lost if the guy doesn’t respond in 24 hours.
Now, we are putting it forward as another one of the decent dating apps for open relationships.
Let’s get this out of the way first – no you can’t specifically select non-monogamous relationships on here, and neither is it the most queer-friendly app out there. Which are two big points against it, but hear us out.
For one, it seems to attract the best-looking people in general, so maybe give it a download just to have a look. Like Tinder, it has a swiping system, but if it’s a match between straights, the woman has to initiate. In same-sex matches, either side can initiate.
In either case, you have 24hrs to respond before the match is lost. This is supposed to cut down on the ghosting that Tinder users have reported having issues with sometimes, according to Bumble’s CEO.
Worth a try if you’re looking for another dating app for open relationships to add to your library, but we would try Fantasy over this first.
And there we have it, some of the best dating apps for open relationships out there.
By far Fantasy is the most open-minded one, while the others are less-queer friendly. OKCupid is also the only one besides Fantasy that allows you to filter out monogamous people.
Either way, you’re sure to have a blast looking for a dating app for open relationships!
Conclusion
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Check out other publications to gain access to more digital resources if you are just starting out with Flux Resource.
Also contact us today to optimize your business(s)/Brand(s) for Search Engines