IT General

Online dating as a lesbian can be a joyous experience, but it can also involve having your space invaded by straight people or seeing your ex-girlfriends (and your ex-girlfriends' ex-girlfriends) show up in your feed over and over.

Over the decades, queer women have turned to personal ads, roaming bars, and word of mouth to find love. These days, it's not too different. From trying to find a date on WLW TikTok to entrapranureal lesbians creating new apps just for them, LGBTQ women are down to get creative to find their special someone.

Thankfully, in 2025, there are both niche and general apps where queer women can find a partner — whether for one night or for life. Which ones are the best dating apps for lesbians? We tested the most popular dating sites and apps and got some insight from our Dating & Relationships writers to find out.

How to find the best dating apps for lesbians Niche lesbian dating apps aren't your only option for finding love. Credit: Stacey Zhu / Mashable

Mainstream dating apps attract the most users — including queer users. That means niche lesbian dating apps aren't your only options for finding love. These days, Hinge, Bumble, OkCupid, and even eharmony all have clear filters to help you match with people of the same gender (or any gender at all), as well as filters that acknowledge the existence of non-traditional relationships (like polyamory). Especially if you don't live in a densely populated area, going for the more popular dating apps over lesbian dating sites can often lead to more results.

With that said, there is one dating app lesbian women should try. HER is an app by and for queer women, and it's grown to have a strong user base. According to its website, the app has more than 15 million registered users worldwide. The app also emphasizes finding community and making friends, in addition to dating, providing you with numerous ways to connect with other queer women and non-binary users.

Check out our guide below for the full rundown of our recommendations and dating app reviews.

We finally have a date for the launch of the new Amazon Kindle Scribe and Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft. First announced during Amazon's Devices and Services event on Sept. 30, 2025, no purchase date was provided for the new Amazon e-readers. As of Dec. 4, Amazon has officially announced that the new Amazon Scribe and Scribe Colorsoft will be available for purchase on Wednesday, Dec. 10.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Scribe 2025 (32GB) $499.99 at Amazon
  Learn More Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft 2025 (32GB) $629.99 at Amazon
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During the Amazon Devices and Services event, Mashable's tech editor, Timothy Beck Werth, went hands-on with the new Scribe Colorsoft. The new devices are ultra-thin and lightweight, measuring just 5.4 millimeters in width and weighing just 400 grams. Additionally, Amazon developed a new chip for these e-readers, promising to be 40 percent faster. Each device features an 11-inch display with texture-molded glass, so it feels like writing on paper with the included premium pen. Both the new Scribe and Scribe Colorsoft will be available in 32GB and 64GB versions.

The new Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft finally has color displays, a game changer for avid annotators. Credit: Amazon

The Scribe Colorsoft will finally feature a color display. This means that you can now color-code your notes and annotations. Plus, both devices will have Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive integration.

Neither device is available for preorder, so if you're looking to purchase, you'll have to wait to do so on Dec. 10. But be prepared to cough up some serious dough. The Kindle Scribe and Scribe Colorsoft are the most expensive e-readers from Amazon. The new Amazon Kindle Scribe starts at $499.99, while the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft starts at $629.99.

Are you using a VPN and wondering why your internet connection feels slower than it used to? I wondered the same thing, so I set out to measure just how much a VPN affected my internet speed at home.

Keke Palmer may have a murder on her hands in the teaser for Peacock's The 'Burbs.

The upcoming mystery comedy is inspired by the 1989 film of the same name, which stars Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, and Carrie Fisher as suburbanites investigating their suspicious neighbors, who may or may not be performing ritualistic sacrifices.

SEE ALSO: 'A Thousand Blows' is back with an uppercut of a Season 2 trailer

In Peacock's take on The 'Burbs, created by Celeste Hughey and produced by Seth MacFarlane, Palmer and Jack Whitehall play a young couple who has moved back to the husband's childhood home. There, Palmer's character becomes intrigued by a house that's been vacant for 20 years. In this first teaser, she learns from her neighbors that the prior owners' daughter died in the house, adding a layer of tragic mystery to her new neighborhood.

The house won't be vacant much longer, though. The show's synopsis reveals that Palmer and Whitehall's characters' "world is upended when new neighbors move in next door, bringing old secrets of the cul-de-sac to light, and new deadly threats shatter the illusion of their quiet little neighborhood."

Watch the full teaser above to see Palmer go full Only Murders in the Cul-de-sac, accompanied by the soundtrack of Doechii's smash hit "Anxiety."

The 'Burbs also stars Julia Duffy, Paula Pell, Mark Proksch, and Kapil Talwalkar.

The 'Burbs hits Peacock Feb. 8.

A Linux distribution known for its security and stability, Alpine Linux, has released version 3.23 with several improvements and upgrades to its package base. It's the first major point release since May, and it carries on support a wide range of computer architectures.

SAVE $82.25: The Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (gen 1) sunglasses are on sale for $246.75 in the matte black colorway with polarized gradient graphite lenses. That's a 25% discount compared to the list price of $329 and it's the lowest price we've seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ray-Ban Meta Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (gen 1) sunglasses (matte black, polarized gradient graphite) $246.75 at Amazon
$329 Save $82.25   Get Deal

Cyber Monday deals came with some seriously impressive savings this year, but most of those have vanished by now. But if you were busy on vacation or celebrating with family and missed the big deals, there's something special in store for you today.

As of Dec. 4, the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (gen 1) sunglasses are on sale at Amazon for $246.75 in the matte black colorway with polarized gradient graphite lenses. That's a savings of $82.25 compared to the standard price of $329 and a new record-low. Amazon is also tossing in a free $1.76 Amazon credit to use on a future purchase.

If you've always been intrigued by the Meta Ray-Ban sunglasses, here's your chance to get a pair that's on a serious discount. This sale price applies to both the regular and large sized Wayfarer AI sunglasses for a classic look with modern tech.

SEE ALSO: Level up your listening with a pair of Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones for their lowest price yet

Packed with a 12 megapixel camera and open-ear speakers, you'll be able to record video or tune into an epic playlist with your sunglasses. The five-mic system can also record exactly what you're hearing for a truly lifelike recording.

Donning the Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses also means you can tap into AI to get more info about your surroundings. Ask about the history of a building or find out the name of a beautiful flower. Of course, you can also make and receive calls via the sunglasses for a hands-free experience.

If you've always wanted to listen to a podcast without earbuds while wearing your sunglasses, this is a great chance to score the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (gen 1) sunglasses for a record low price.

Even after some divided reviews of the first batch of its insanely anticipated fifth and final season, Netflix’s crown jewel, Stranger Things, is still a cultural phenomenon. The iconic thriller/sci-fi series’ latest season sits at around 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. For fans who’ve been along for the ride since 2016, its mix of big coming-of-age emotions and even bigger monsters, all dripping with '80s nostalgia, is like comfort viewing at this point.

Canonical just made a massive announcement for anyone using Linux on Windows, Ubuntu Pro is now available for the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), and the best part is that it is still free for personal use. If you’re a developer or a power user who relies on WSL to get work done, this is a huge deal.

CES 2026 is just around the corner. Samsung is usually one of the companies that steals the show every year, often using the big annual consumer tech conference to make announcements regarding its line of TVs.

Well, it seems that Samsung's plans might have just leaked, courtesy of the publicly accessible European Samsung spare parts database, as first noticed by the website FlatpanelsHD.

The database lists some newer models of Samsung's most popular OLED TV sets. But, there's also a brand-new model in the database and an absolutely enormous version of Samsung's The Frame

If the leaks are accurate, new 2026 updates to Samsung's current lineup of OLED televisions are set to debut with the S85H, S90H and S95H models listed in the database. "H" denotes a new 2026 model, according to FlatpanelsHD.

However, an OLED TV model S99H is also listed, coming in sizes ranging from 55 inches to 83 inches. Based on the model number, this appears to even be a more premium version of Samsung's S95H line, which starts at just under $2,000 for a 55-inch model. It's unclear exactly what Samsung will add to make a more premium version of its current high-end TV line.

On the opposite side of the pricing spectrum, Samsung also seems poised to reveal new, more affordable lower-end models too with the S82H and S83H. The current cheapest models in this lineup are the 65-inch S84H and the 55-inch S85H, coming in at around $1,000 each. It's unclear what the newer models will be priced at, but are likely to be cheaper (yet still not "budget" priced).

And, finally, the database points to a new gigantic 98-inch version of Samsung's The Frame TV. The Samsung TV that is meant to look like a framed piece of art currently maxes out at 85-inches. Samsung may have felt that was still too small and decided to bring an even larger model to the market in 2026.

We'll find out more details when Samsung officially unveils its new products at CES.

Earlier this week, we learned all about Samsung's highly anticipated update to One UI 8.5 (based on Android 16) thanks to a huge leak, and one feature in particular caught my attention. Samsung is gearing up to release a new setting that'll stop apps from blowing up your phone with ads.

Audi’s newest compact sedan is reshaping one of the most iconic rivalries in the luxury market, and it’s aiming straight at the BMW 3-Series. With the arrival of the 2025 A5 sedan, the competition has become more intense than it’s been in years. The latest model introduces a sportier character, sharper driving dynamics, and a level of refinement that puts real pressure on its German counterpart.

Threads is testing a new way for users to manipulate their own recommendation algorithm.

The feature, aptly called "Dear algo," allows users to post a message to the algorithm with the note "dear algo" asking to see more or less of a certain thing. For instance, you might post "Dear algo, show me more book recommendations" or "Dear algo, stop showing me basketball updates my team is bad and it makes me sad."

Conor Hayes, the head of Threads, said in a post on the site on Dec. 3 that the platform is "testing a new AI feature to help you personalize your feed."

"When people add 'Dear Algo' to a post, it will tell your feed what you want to see more or less of for up to three days. If your profile is public, people can see your request, connect with you about it, or repost it," Hayes wrote. "This is just a test, so not everyone will have access now, but we're working on rolling it out more broadly soon."

Then, the feed responds by showing you what you asked for for the next three days. This won't change your feed entirely (or forever) but the temporary change will allow you to engage with content you like and that engagement will help refine your algorithm in the long term.

It's important to note that these posts are public — so it also informs all your friends and followers what you want to see more or less of.

Mark Zuckerberg, the head of Meta, wrote that the new feature was "inspired" by people on the app "who started 'dear threads algo' requests."

Home Assistant is amazing because it’s free, but it’s not always the easiest platform in the world to use. Though you can choose to pay for remote access by signing up to Home Assistant Cloud or go it alone with VPN access, there’s actually another easy way to add remote access to your smart home.

Something smells delicious today. The pumpkin pie from Thanksgiving is gone and we haven't started on the Christmas baking just yet, but we're all in line for a sweet treat today because it's National Cookie Day.

Cookie Monster is celebrating today with friends on Sesame Street and here in the outside world, we have some sweet deals in store. Just like National Coffee Day, this cookie celebration means brands and popular cookie bakeries are serving up some excellent opportunities to snack on something sweet for free. Here are some of our favorite cookie deals on offer today.

Crumbl

Like it or not, Crumbl is paying homage to the "6-7" trend on Dec. 4. Order a six-pack of cookies in store and get a seventh item for free while supplies last. There's a sticky toffee pudding cookie on the menu this week if you need extra incentive to visit today.

Dairy Queen

Swing by Dairy Queen today where DQ Rewards members can save $3 on any small Blizzard through Dec. 7. The chain launched the December Blizzard of the month earlier this week and went all-in on the holiday theme with the Frosted Sugar Cookie Blizzard Treat. You can also score a free mini Frosted Sugar Cookie Blizzard Treat with purchase of a six-piece chicken strip basket or a Signature Stackburger combo.

Nestlé Toll House

Set an alarm because at 2 p.m. ET today, you can snag a free Nestlé Toll House Cookie Tacos kit while supplies last. The kit includes ingredients you'll need to bake up your own cookie taco at home to celebrate the day. We expect this deal to vanish quicker than homemade cookies fresh out of the oven, so be sure to have fast fingers come 2 p.m.

Panera Bread

Sign up for a frew MyPanera loyalty program account and then stop in to snag a free cookie with purchase of a cookie. Two cookies is always better than one.

Insomnia Cookies

Sign up for the Insomnia Cookies Rewards loyalty program and then be one of the first 100 members to visit any store today. You'll be rewarded with a free Snowball Classic cookie and you might be in for something extra sweet. One special Snowball cookie at each location is filled with purple buttercream. That signifies your golden ticket to free cookies for a year.

View this post on Instagram Jimmy John's

Get a free Holiday Magic Cookie, which is packed with red and green M&M's, today with any digital order of $5 or more. Be sure you're logged into your JJ Rewards account on mobile or the app before placing your purchase to be sure you're in line for a free cookie.

Milk Bar

If you're lucky enough to visit the Milk Bar flagship location in Los Angeles, New York, or the West Village location in New York or Logan Circle in D.C., you can score a free McCormick x Milk Bar Eggnog English Toffee Cookie. Each location will hand over this free offering to the first 50 to 100 customers, so get there early for this National Cookie Day celebration. If you're not able to snag a free cookie, you can order it online through the Milk Bar website or make them at home with the recipe listed at McCormick.

Pepperidge Farm

Early this morning, Pepperidge Farm offered to send a free Holiday Cookie Courier to anyone you love. The kit included a pack of Milano Mint Chocolate and a pack of Chessmen Butter Cookies in a lovely holiday box with a personalized note. The offering is currently sold out, but it's worth checking back later today in case Pepperidge Farms is feeling extra generous on this sweet day.

Deals for the home baker

Don't feel like heading out to take advantage of any of these free cookie deals? Today is a great excuse to bake up a few dozen cookies at home. In honor of National Cookie Day, check out these at-home baker deals that'll seriously up your baking game this holiday season.

• Gorilla Grip Stainless Steel Cookie Scoop — $14.99 $19.99 (save $5)

• Nordic Ware Holiday Cookie Stamps (Set of 3) — $22.50 $33 (save $10.50)

• Nordic Ware Naturals Sheet Pan (3 Piece Set) — $30 $41 (save $11)

• KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer — $254.99 $399.99 (save $145)

Microsoft is currently investigating a serious service issue preventing customers from downloading Microsoft 365 desktop applications directly from the service homepage. The company has tagged the problem as an "Incident," which means it’s a critical service issue with noticeable user impact.

I've been using Raspberry Pi devices and similar single-board computers for years. They all have in common their ARM processors, just like most desktop computers are x86-64 processors, but I'm getting an SBC with a RISC-V chip.

Google is rolling out its Android 16 Quarterly Platform Release (QPR) 2, meaning your device could be due for an update.

The Android 16 QPR2 update comes with a number of new features that should improve performance, ease of use, and more. Here are three new features to check out.

Add widgets to your lock screen

The updated Android 16 allows you to add widgets that appear on your lock screen when you swipe left. Tech site 9to5Google notes you can enable the feature by navigating to "Settings > Display & touch > Lock screen > Widgets on lock screen."

That means you'll be able to easily access things like your calendar, camera, and more.

SEE ALSO: Android 16 is out now. Here are the new features. Notification organizer and summaries

Listen, we all get overwhelmed with notifications. Android 16 QPR2 promises to leverage AI capabilities to keep those pesky notifications in check. The updated software will summarize notifications — a long message in a group chat, for instance — and automatically prioritize more important notifications.

"Notification organizer automatically groups and silences your lower-priority notifications (such as promotions, news, and social alerts), making it easier for you to stay focused on what matters with fewer distractions. Notification organizer is rolling out in stages and will be available in the coming weeks," wrote Google.

Improved parental controls

Android 16 QPR2 introduces a "parental controls" option within settings, which means parents can keep tabs on their kids' devices from a single location. It'll allow parents to remotely set screen-time limits, control app usage, and set a schedule for when a kid's device locks.

If you want further details on updates with Android 16 QPR2 you can head over to Google's blog.

SAVE $100.99: As of Dec. 4, get the Ninja Luxe Café for $499 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $599.99. That's a discount of 17%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Ninja Luxe Café $499 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $100.99   Get Deal

If you spend too much for baristas to whip up hot coffee drinks for you on the daily, there's a solution: a home espresso maker. Yes, you can get absolutely fantastic coffee at home without paying an arm and a leg. Or if you do have the initial arm and leg payment, additional savings will pay for itself when you find a machine that you love. We've found one to help you out so you can start saving and cutting back on those pricey morning drinks.

As of Dec. 4, get the Ninja Luxe Café for $499 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $599.99. That's $100.99 off and a discount of 17%.

SEE ALSO: Our favorite Ninja gifts are still on sale for Cyber Week — save 43% on blenders, air fryers, and ice cream makers

Ninja is a brand you likely already recognize from its line of air fryers and other countertop appliances, but they handle espresso makers, too. This triple threat can do it all, too: espresso, drip coffee, cold brew, and more. Specifically, it can handle two different kinds of espresso, three kinds of drip coffee, and two cold brews.

It features additional options that you can use to customize your drink further as well. You can alter the grind, pressure, temperature, and flavor of each brew, so if you want to make something as close to what a barista might, you've got the option. You can even add milk with the included milk frother and steam wand, to lend to the overall cafe drink authenticity.

There's plenty of reasons to grab the machine for yourself or get it as a gift for the coffee lover in your life, but you'll mainly want to because of easy it is to use and all the savings you'll rack up. Grab yours before this deal grows cold.

Apple's recent iOS 26 overhaul included a plethora of major additions and complete system makeovers, but there were even more tweaks, settings, and customization settings that flew under the radar for many users.

One of those was a subtle update to a feature known as Vehicle Motion Cues, launched last year as part of a new suite of accessibility tools, including eye-tracking powered by machine learning, music haptics, and vocal shortcuts controlled using not just whole words, but sounds and utterances as well.

SEE ALSO: Apple iOS 27: Everything we know so far

Using on-device sensors, Vehicle Motion Cues battle the kind of motion sickness commonly experienced by people staring at their screens while in cars, buses, and trains. When turned on, users will see an animated border of dots along the edge of your iPhone, iPad, or (in an update released earlier this year) MacBook screen. The dots move according to the movement of the vehicle, lessening the sensory conflict that leads to motion sickness.

On iOS 26, those features have gotten even better. Now, users can choose between a regular or "dynamic" pattern for those moving dots. The former displays consistent, repeating animations, while "dynamic" turns the dots into a more free-form, sensory-specific spectacle. Users can also now adjust the color and size of the on-screen dots, making it more adaptable to the user's vision needs and the way they use their device while on the move.

Vehicle Motion Cues can be added to the device's control center and automatically sense when in motion, so it's easy to activate as soon as you get in the car.

And it's super simple to turn on.

Power banks are the easiest gadget to neglect. You charge them, stick them in a drawer and then only pull them out when you need to travel or when the power's out. Which is why it's easy to miss when your power banks are outdated or no longer suitable to have your back when you need them most.