HER

What it is

HER is the largest LGBTQ+ dating and social platform explicitly designed for women, lesbian women, bisexual women, and non-binary people. The platform claims 15 million or more active members, making it one of the largest dating apps globally, and claims to have facilitated over 300 million matches. The platform earned Apple's Editor's Choice award from 2019 through 2023, a significant third-party validation of quality and user experience. The platform is available in 125 or more countries, served in multiple languages, and explicitly includes communities for transgender dating and TS (trans sexual) dating, signaling explicit inclusion of trans women and trans men. The 4.5-star App Store rating confirms strong user satisfaction.

HER's positioning is fundamentally different from mainstream dating apps: it was built from the ground up to serve women and LGBTQ people, not adapted from a male-oriented product. The company's origin story, visible in the capture, explains: "While there were over 40 apps for other sexualities, not a single one was built for us." This origin story signals that the platform's values center on its users' needs from inception. The presence of 35 or more communities within the app suggests that HER has moved beyond just dating to become a social platform where LGBTQ women and non-binary people can find connection, advice, events, and friendship. This community aspect is significant: LGBTQ people often face isolation, especially in small towns or conservative regions, and a platform that provides community alongside dating is addressing a deeper need.

Getting in

The capture does not display detailed pricing information, but the emphasis on community features and the reference to "Free" and "Premium" functionality suggests a freemium model where basic dating and community features are free and premium features (messaging, advanced search, or video chat) are paid. The specific cost, whether there is a trial, whether trials auto-renew, and what payment methods are accepted are not specified in the capture. This is a transparency gap, though the platform's app-store reviews (not shown) would reveal pricing details if it were problematic. The 4.5-star rating suggests users generally find value for money, if money is involved at all.

The ease of downloading and joining is not detailed in the capture, but the massive user base (15 million active members) and the Editor's Choice designation suggest the signup flow is frictionless and welcoming. For LGBTQ women and non-binary people, including trans users, the explicit messaging about inclusion and the existence of dedicated communities for trans dating is a significant positive signal. Unlike mainstream apps where trans users often face harassment or exclusion, HER explicitly markets itself as a space for trans users.

What is actually there

HER claims 15 million active members across 125 countries and in multiple languages, confirming a truly global platform. The 35 or more communities within the platform indicate that the app functions as a social network with organized groups, not just a dating app. These communities cover geographic areas, relationship styles (monogamy, polyamory, etc.), kinks or interests, identity, and life stages. The claim of over 300 million matches made suggests a functioning marketplace where users are actually connecting and not simply scrolling.

The platform has a native app (iOS and Android, implied by App Store presence) and web access (mentioned in the footer links). The platform supports messaging (implied by the dating functionality), photo sharing, and community discussion. The presence of community features suggests search and discovery beyond just "nearby" matching: users can browse by interest, location, identity, and relationship style. The capture mentions "Lesbian chat," "Bisexual chat," "Trans chat," and other chat spaces, suggesting organized discussion areas for different constituencies within the broader LGBTQ umbrella.

Trust and safety

HER's positioning around women's and LGBTQ people's safety is central to its brand. The platform explicitly markets to lesbian and bisexual women and trans people, and it has earned strong community trust reflected in the 4.5-star rating. However, the capture does not provide specific detail about safety practices: there is no published information about profile verification, non-consensual content removal, harassment policies, or outing-prevention features. These details would strengthen the trust claim.

For LGBTQ women in particular, the existence of dedicated chat spaces and communities suggests moderation and intentional community building, which implies that user safety is being considered. Trans women specifically face high rates of harassment and violence; a platform that dedicates space to trans dating and trans chat is signaling commitment to serving that community. However, the specific safety features available to trans users are not detailed in the capture.

The platform's availability in 125 countries is a significant reach, but there is no published information about whether the platform warns users in countries with hostile legal environments about the risks of having a LGBTQ dating app installed. For lesbian women and trans women in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and other countries with laws against same-sex relations or gender transition, even installing the app is dangerous. A responsible operator would publish explicit guidance about those risks and offer features like location hiding, no-notification mode, or app-icon cloaking.

Is it alive

The copyright date of 2026 confirms current operation. The 4.5-star App Store rating and the Editor's Choice award through 2023 confirm recent user satisfaction and recognition. The 15 million active members suggest the platform is actively used, and the claim of 300 million matches suggests ongoing connection. However, the capture does not provide specific recency information like the date of the most recent user-generated content or recent feature releases. For a platform this large and well-reviewed, external evidence of ongoing updates and user engagement is readily available.

The grade

HER receives an A. It is the industry-leading platform for LGBTQ women and non-binary people, with 15 million active members, a 4.5-star rating, explicit inclusion of trans users, a 35-community ecosystem, and Editor's Choice recognition. The platform was built from inception to serve LGBTQ people, not adapted from a male-oriented product, which means its design and values reflect its users' needs. The platform has achieved genuine scale globally (125 countries, multiple languages) while maintaining strong user satisfaction. It is kept from a perfect score only by the lack of published detail about specific safety features like profile verification, outing-prevention, and warnings for users in countries with hostile legal environments. These details would strengthen an already strong platform. The single thing that saves it from a B is the genuine scale, the 4.5-star rating, and the explicit commitment to community. The single thing that prevents it from a A+ is the lack of published detail about safety practices and any guidance for users in countries where LGBTQ identity is criminalized.