What Dating Apps are Popular Where

[Guest]

Time to move this subject onto it's own thread.

 

Whilst Planet Romeo might be enough to find any number of boys in Pattaya, it is not the same all around the world. 

 

The picture below is a screenshot showing where Planet Romeo reckon they have users.

 

That might be correct, but where I am in England, there are considerably fewer Planet Romeo users in a 10 km radius, than we can see on Grindr, Jack D or Hornet.   As I posted recently, the numbers with in a 10km radius were (excluding me):

Planet Romeo 1
JackD 9
Hornet 13
Grindr 64

 

I suppose that's creative destruction.   Planet Romeo might have hurt the gogo bar trade in Thailand & maybe even cruising in other places.   Now, perhaps the new generation of Android & iOS dating apps are taking over from Planet Romeo.

 

In Portugal, Planet Romeo was very quiet, almost dead, but Grindr was the app to use. 

Planet Romeo works fine in Germany.  

Actually, as Planet Romeo has an escorts section, that's quite useful in Europe, since you know what the deal is.   In Asia, it seems irrelevant, since the escorts don't use the escort section.

 

Other members have suggested Hornet for Vietnam. 

 

Obviously, one of the objectives of this thread is so people can share experience on what works where.

 

[vinapu]

I'm surprised to see such uneven distribution in USA with Western half almost de-Romeozed with exception of coastal California 

[Guest whall]

Grindr was fine to me in Thailand.

[Alexx]

I've deleted all gay apps with the exception of Grindr and Hornet from my phone. Where I usually go, these two work best for me. I still use the web version of GayRomeo/PlanetRomeo, but mostly to keep in touch with old friends. I don't think it's very useful for making new connections around here nowadays. Well, at least that's my impression.

[GoldMember]

In accordance to what is already written here: when I travel I like to see what happens in all the apps. I usually open Grindr, Jacked, Hornet, Gay Romeo & Scruff. 

 

Considering the massive changes in trends, I think that it's safe to look back 2 years back and say that in all the places I visited* - Grindr was by far the most successful for me. 

 

*Israel, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, China, France, England, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungry, South Africa, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Spain, USA, Canada, Germany, Sweden

 

[Guest tonywill]

I have to agree with most here Grindr & Hornet are the weapons of choice if your in Thailand.

If I am home in Melbourne Australia then Grinder & JackD are the top 2 apps.

 

But I suspect JackD engages in ghost profiles which makes the app seem like there are more in the area??

 

While in Manila last December Grinder & Hornet were the most popular. Others a waste of bytes on my phone.

With Grindr filtered just for 18 years and under you can fully load the paid version of Grindr and be only 10Km out of Manila! Try doing that in Thailand!

[firecat69]

For me Hornet wins easily all over the world. Especially since it is so easy to search anywhere in the world even when you are not there without manipulations of your present location. Always the most photos so you don't waste a lot a time with 1 photo you get on Grindr and have to ask for more. In Thailand Planetromeo is first choice on my laptop but phone it is Hornet, Jack'd and never even bother with Grindr.

 

Just more proof different strokes for different folks.

[Guest]

I would also prefer not to deal with Grindr, since the free version does not have such advanced features as the free versions of the other apps. 

For several years, I didn't even have it on the phone.   This all works fine in places like Pattaya, where you can use the other apps.

 

However, when I went to Portugal, suddenly I see hardly anyone on the apps I'm using.  Then I reinstall Grindr & that's where everyone is.  So I'm kind of forced to use it.    Then I find it's now by far the most popular app where I live as well.

 

Then I'm left wondering about one or two other trips, where I didn't see many people on line, but perhaps that's just because I wasn't using the app that is popular in that country.

[firecat69]

Interesting because I am currently in the USA and searched Lisbon on Hornet and hundreds of profiles came up.

[Guest]

There is more to Portugal than Lisbon.   

That's a large city, most of the apps will have some people.   You actually need to count them in a specific radius to determine which is the most popular app.    

It MIGHT not matter too much in Lisbon, but head down the the Algarve & you notice the difference.

 

In Faro, currently

 

Hornet has 41 people with a 10 km range

Grinder has at least 100 people on line within a 10 km range.  I need to upgrade to see & count them all [or fiddle around with the  age filters......]  

   Actually, Grindr has as many people on line within a 1km range as Hornet has in 10 km.

 

Planet Romeo has 1 person within 10 km.   The next is 55km away.

Jack D has 2 people within a 10 km range.

 

That's filter off.    When I'm down there for real & filtering an interesting age range, Grindr was the only one with enough people.

 

I would rather use other apps, but the data shows Grindr is the app people use down there, so I have to fall in line.

[firecat69]

You may be right in smaller towns or places that don't have good transportation.  More then 10km never bothered me in most cities I have been in. It is just not very far. Certainly never bothered me in Pattaya, BKK, Hanoi, SP, Madrid, Barcelona and many more .

 

I don't even know where Faro is in Portugal but same thing when I plug that into Hornet I get lots of profiles but since the distance is given from my spot in the USA , it is impossible for me to tell how wide an area is covered except in general terms but I got 40 from what I assume is the center of the city 10 km out and that is at midnight.

 

You may get more on Grindr. I have no idea since I have found it close to worthless in the places that I visit compared  to Hornet.

 

But like I said different strokes for different folks.

[Guest whall]

Grindr worked the best for me in Bangkok and Pattaya.

[Guest tonywill]

Hornet may have the top App at the moment. Grindr app has been going through a major update / re-write and very buggy but tonight my comparison as follows: At 500 Metres middle of Melbourne and online

Grindr = 61

JackD = 83

Hornet = 6

Note JackD online could have been an hour ago so results are skewed, not to say Grindr is guilty of the same programing manipulation. Results @ 500 M off line are similar ratios to above. 134, 160, 24

No matter how you look at it Hornet users in Melb are 1/10 of Grindr & JackD.

No doubt the users vary from country to country between apps but why not have all 3 running !!!        

[firecat69]

Exactly what I do. Was not looking on my last trip to Sydney  so have no idea .. Everywhere else I have been in the last 2 years Hornet wins easily but I do like the multiple photos and the ability to easily look when thousands of miles away with out having to use fake GPS.

 

I almost always have some possibilities  before I ever arrive.  But certainly it all revolves around how successful you have been in the past.  

[bucknaway]

When I was on www.gaypatong.com doing some research...  I came across this and liked it so much I thought I would post it here.

 

Meet online

Times have changed quickly also here in Thailand. Just yesterday the hook-up world was very different. 
For a forty+ year old, the physical world is the real world.
The digital world is mostly an annoyance that vibrates in your pocket.
For a twenty year old it is just the opposite, the digital world is the real world.
Gay's just don't hook up in the "old" real world anymore - They hook up in the apps and then meet in the physical world.

If youʼre looking to maximize your interactions with locals and other tourists start now. 
The most popular ways to meet is by these apps. You can even line up your persons of interest before you start travel.

- Grindr
- Planet Romeo
- Hornet
- Growlr

[Guest abang1961]

I was in Penang this past 5 days and boy, I got quite a few "can we meet" messages on Hornet and "zero" from Grindr.

I used "Blued" too..a gay app for those who reads Chinese.

[faranglaw]

For me Hornet wins easily all over the world. Especially since it is so easy to search anywhere in the world even when you are not there without manipulations of your present location. Always the most photos so you don't waste a lot a time with 1 photo you get on Grindr and have to ask for more. In Thailand Planetromeo is first choice on my laptop but phone it is Hornet, Jack'd and never even bother with Grindr.

 

Just more proof different strokes for different folks.

Sitting here in Vancouver looking forward to my next trip to LOS in December. I also find Hornet useful and appreciate their "Explore option. I can hone in on Silom or On Nuch or Suan Phlu easily from here in Canada and have already made some tentative dates.

[Guest jones]

Sitting here in Vancouver looking forward to my next trip to LOS in December. I also find Hornet useful and appreciate their "Explore option. I can hone in on Silom or On Nuch or Suan Phlu easily from here in Canada and have already made some tentative dates.

I do the same. And save my favourites ready for my arrival to Los.

[Guest jones]

Bit of a random one but does anyone use camfrog in thailand to meet boys? I know a lot of thais use it and it comes as an app now!

[Guest whall]

Camfrog? Never heard of it.

[ChristianPFC]

I played camfrog extensively in 2012 when I was living near Paris, to get in contact with Thai boys. Made some good contacts at that time, and am still friends with some of them. But afterwards, the quality went down. The few occasions I looked at camfrog this year and last year, general problem is only few people show their face (statistics somewhere on my blog), which I don't like.

 

With paid version you can open many cams, then it might be worth playing, but with free version, waiting 10 seconds for a video to open, and then noting of interest, is disappointing.

 

Didn't know it's available as app now.

[Guest]

The old Planet Romeo set up still has it's advantages.

 

Prior to a trip, I can use the PC based version & assemble a secret favourites list.   With most of the apps, they immediately get a notification when added to favourites.

 

Then the filter options are better.  With one of them, I can tick the "Gay" option & not the "Transgender" one, which gets rid of most of the ladyboys on the site.  A particularly welcome feature.

 

Finally, I fired up Grindr.     Not only is the free version sadly lacking in features, but it sometimes has pop up ads which play music even if my damn phone is set to silent.     Of course, is some regions, this is the dominant app, so there is no choice but to use it.   Thankfully, Pattaya isn't one of those locations. 

[Guest EdASD]

Some years ago camfrog was very popular in Thailand but now it isn;t (camfrog is not same as it used to be unfortunatly)

[Guest]

In Hua Hin, only 2 Gay Romeo users on line within a 2km range. Several on Hornet, but JackD is quiet.

[aussie_]

I use Grindr, Hornet and JackD in my travels throughout Asia. I run all three at the same time everywhere in Thailand, Malaysia,Vietnam and Taiwan. Blued is best for China but Grindr etc will run with and most times without a VPN. All have provided some great meets with guys for fun and long term friends. It pays to check the other apps like Gaydar, Scruff and Planet Romeo etc occasionally for some hidden gems. I rarely use Gaydar but found one of my best looking and reliable friends on there. Keep your options open when it comes to the apps. And you don't need to speak/read Chinese to use Blued. Messages can be translated within the app. I have met Chinese tourists visiting Pattaya and Bangkok from the Blued app. Most Chinese contacts will add you to their Wechat app which also translates Chinese.