Howlr

Are you after a furry dating app that focuses on local connection for Android? Howlr does just this – a location-based furry chat platform that exposes users to fellow community members nearby, for dating, friendship and meetups. This tool skips the generic swipe options and opts for fandom-focused matchmaking. As a result, it connects you directly to furries with shared interests, preference for a species and event calendars. It’s a Grindr alternative for furries.

Secret tools you probably missed.

Most users never venture beyond the match feed and Howlr is fleshed out with several clever features to supercharge your networking. To start, the detailed profile system goes way beyond a bio and photo. You can showcase your species, list conventions you attend, link your creative work, and flag specific interests or kinks. This greater level of detail means better matches from get-go.

Furthermore, this system works as a low-pressure icebreaker; you tap to express interest before having the pressure of a message. It’s private, fast, and there’s no confusion about whether or not someone wants to talk.

Third, filter by events and groups. If you stop scrolling, you can search for people going to the same con, people who are active in a local community, or someone who shares your unique interest.

Howlr is now more than just a dating app. It has evolved into a furry social network.

Five Little-known Tricks to Get More Matches.

• It’s a good idea to front-load your species and interests in your profile for best results. Most users tend to skim fast, so the more definitive you can be, the better.
• Become part of multiple event communities even if you are not fully sure. The more visibility you have inside communities, the better the matches; you will be sure.
• Provide regular updates to your current location whenever you travel to a con or new city for instant local density.
• After you Like, actively start using the chat system. Don’t wait. Howlr rewards this.
• Don’t use dormant users after shutting down the page. Check their profile timestamps.

Join group events in seconds.

The event and community architecture of Howlr is unique. You can tap on convention groups, local meetups or thematic groups (art, gaming or other species) in a single tap. When you get in, other members will see your profile. You can filter discovery to show group members only. This makes every con and meetup a built-in dating pool. You get profile-based furry connections without the algorithmic feel of Tinder.

Once you match or connect via groups, the inbuilt messaging works just fine. Everything is done inside the app, so you don’t have to share any external handles or hop on Discord.

Privacy, open code, and no ads.

Howlr separates from the pack by being completely free, no ads and no in-app purchases. Every feature is unlocked for every user. We don’t have any premium tiers that limit messaging or profile visibility or provide access to advanced filters. The construction of the competitor furry app Barq and its community first is not engagement first which shows distinctly

This software is open-source, meaning the code is available for audits, forks and self-hosting. Users who value privacy find this transparency a huge win.

Important caveat:

You can still run the older APKs off self-hosted instances or community-managed servers. Be careful and check the source for trustworthiness when downloading from a third-party repository. Expect variable user density depending on your region and their local revivals.