Golo

Golo is a free dating and chat application designed specifically for gay and bisexual men aged 18 and over in India. It operates without profile photos, relying instead on text-based profiles that include a name, position, and a short bio. The app uses approximate distance-based discovery and includes features like one-to-one messaging, voice and video calls, and an app lock using a PIN or fingerprint.

To get started, users must sign in using their Indian mobile number and a 4-digit code sent via SMS, bypassing the need for an email, password, or social media login. After entering their date of birth once to confirm they are 18 or older, they can fill in their profile with words and immediately begin browsing nearby men. The process requires no photograph, focusing entirely on text-based interaction from the very first step.

The app displays a rough distance rather than an exact location, showing values like ~1.2 km or >100 km to protect user privacy. Your exact location is only used internally to calculate this distance and is never shown to other users. This approach ensures that while you can find people nearby, your precise whereabouts remain hidden.

Every message sent in the app automatically deletes itself after 30 days through a nightly clean-up process. Additionally, any photo sent in a chat can only be opened once; after that initial view, the servers delete it permanently. These measures ensure that digital traces of conversations and images are temporary and do not accumulate.

Users can secure their app by enabling App Lock in Settings, which requires a 4-digit PIN or fingerprint to open. They can choose how soon the app locks after they leave, with options ranging from straight away to after 5 minutes. This feature prevents unauthorized access to the app when it is not in use.

Golo blocks screenshots and screen recording on every screen of the app, resulting in a black capture. This prevents others from easily saving or sharing images of a user's profile or chat content. The combination of text-only profiles and blocked screenshots adds another layer of privacy control.

The app is completely free with no subscription tiers or advertisements, ensuring a consistent user experience. It supports nine different languages and operates across various cities in India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Lucknow, and Goa. Users can filter their search by state or online status to find relevant connections.

One-to-one messaging is the primary communication method, supplemented by free voice and video calls between two users. Golo explicitly states that it does not record these calls, providing a private space for conversation. The chat interface also allows users to react to messages with emojis, adding a simple interactive element to text exchanges.

The profile display includes a letter where a photo would typically appear, reinforcing the text-only design. Users can sort their browse list by Nearby or Most liked, and they can filter results by state or show only men who are currently online. This allows for flexible discovery based on activity and proximity.

The app is designed for adults only, with a strict age verification step during sign-up. If a user enters a date of birth that makes them under 18, the account creation is blocked and the date cannot be changed later. This ensures that the platform remains strictly for users aged 18 and over.

Golo compares itself to other apps like Polo, Grindr, Blued, and Stick by emphasizing its unique text-only profile structure. The website also provides specific guides on topics such as getting unbanned from Grindr, common Grindr scams in India, and how the 'Viewed Me' blocking feature works on Grindr. These articles highlight its focus on specific user pain points.

The app is made in India and includes a dedicated section for different languages and cities, catering to diverse regional preferences. It operates without any subscription tiers or ads, keeping the experience free for all users. The platform is built with a focus on privacy, using text-only profiles and approximate distances as core features.

Users can contact the business through the provided links to their Facebook and Instagram pages, or by using the contact form on the website. The website footer includes links to legal documents like the Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and Community Guidelines. There is no direct phone number or personal email address listed for individual support.

You can reach Golo by e-mail at support@goloapp.co.

The official website of Golo is goloapp.co.