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Data reveals that most men tend to search for women in the 25 to 30 age group, while women generally prefer men between 30 and 40 years old.
26 Lakh men and 14 lakh women in India are using extra-marital dating app Gleeden in India. (Representative image: Getty)
In a country where marriage has long been viewed as sacred and lifelong, a quiet digital shift is underway. More than 40 lakh Indians have now joined Gleeden, the world’s first extramarital dating platform designed for people seeking private relationships outside their marriage or long-term relationship.
According to the platform’s data, around 65% of users are men, while 35% are women.
Bengaluru Leads India’s Secret Dating Map
Among Indian cities, Bengaluru has emerged as the biggest hub for users of the platform, accounting for nearly 18% of the total user base. The tech capital is followed closely by Hyderabad, which contributes around 17% of users.
The trend continues across other major urban centres. Delhi accounts for about 11% of users, while Mumbai contributes roughly 9%. Pune follows with around 7%.
However, the phenomenon is no longer confined to large metropolitan areas. The platform has also seen growing adoption in tier-2 cities such as Lucknow, Chandigarh, Surat, Coimbatore, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Guwahati and Raipur.
This suggests that discreet online relationships are increasingly forming beyond the country’s largest urban hubs.
Women Are Joining Fast
One of the most striking trends behind the platform’s growth is the sharp increase in female participation. Over the past two years, the number of women joining the app has grown by nearly 148%.
Sybil Shiddell, Country Manager of Gleeden India, says that the surge reflects a larger cultural shift. She describes the 4-million milestone as a significant moment for the platform in India.
“This demonstrates that digital adoption is growing rapidly and that there has been a quiet revolution in how people approach modern relationships,” she says. “Stronger growth among women especially shows rising confidence and independence in their choices.”
Lunch Break Affairs
Usage patterns reveal interesting insights into how Indians interact on discreet dating platforms. On average, members spend between one and one-and-a-half hours a day chatting.
Activity typically peaks during two windows of the day. The first is between noon and 3 PM, while the second surge occurs between 10 PM and midnight. These time slots suggest that many users log in during midday breaks or late at night when they have greater privacy.
Who Is Looking For Whom?
User preferences on the platform also show distinct patterns. Most men tend to search for women in the 25 to 30 age group, while women generally prefer men between 30 and 40 years old.
Many women also appear to favour financially stable professionals such as doctors, senior executives and chartered accountants, indicating that career stability remains an important factor in digital relationships.
A Changing Relationship Landscape
The rapid growth of platforms like Gleeden reflects broader changes in how relationships are evolving in India. While dating apps have become common over the past decade, the rise of a platform specifically built for discreet relationships signals a more complex reality of how people are navigating relationships today.
With millions of users already registered and participation rising across both metros and smaller cities, the growth of discreet dating apps hints at a subtle but significant transformation in India’s relationship landscape.
While marriage continues to hold deep cultural significance, digital platforms are opening new spaces for adults to explore companionship, emotional expression and personal choices.
March 10, 2026, 11:09 IST
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