Out tonight? How to find people who want to go out now
The green dot means someone is up for plans tonight, the pink dot means they were active recently. Here’s how to use both — and the sorting buttons.
By The YesTonite team · · 4 min read
Some evenings you know you want to go out. The weather is good, the week is over, you're dressed and ready. You just don't know who with. YesTonite has two small signals that make spontaneous plans much easier: a green dot for people who are out tonight and a pink dot for people who are online right now.
This guide explains what each dot means, how to switch your own "Out tonight" status on, how to sort the feed and how to turn a quick message into an actual plan.
The green dot: out tonight
A green dot on someone's photo means they switched on Out tonight. In other words, they're up for plans this evening. It might be a drink, a gig, a walk or whatever their interest for tonight suggests.
The green dot switches off by itself in the morning. That means it always reflects tonight, not last week. You never have to remember to turn it off, and you can trust that a green dot is fresh.
Turn it on yourself
Tap Out tonight in the feed to switch it on. Once a day, the app also asks you "Out tonight?" so you can answer with a single tap. Say yes if you're in the mood, or say not tonight. There's no pressure either way, and nothing changes about your profile except the dot.
What the green dot does not mean
Being out tonight means you're open to making plans. It doesn't mean you have to say yes to anyone, reply to every message or meet someone you're unsure about. "Not tonight" is always a complete answer, even when your dot is green.
The pink dot: online
A pink dot next to "Online" means the person is active now. If they weren't, you'll see a rough hint such as "Active 2h ago" or "Active today" instead. We never show an exact time, so nobody can track when you open the app.
The pink dot is useful because it tells you who is likely to see your message soon. If you're hoping to make plans in the next hour, someone with both a pink dot and a green dot is your best bet.
Sorting the feed
The feed has two sort options, and you can switch between them at any time:
- Online first (the default) shows who was active most recently at the top.
- Out tonight first puts everyone with a green dot at the top, so you see people who are up for plans this evening before anyone else.
Filters and saved preferences
You can also filter by sign, age range and distance. Signs include man, woman, two men, two women, woman + man and other. Your sort choice and filters are saved together as your search preferences, so the feed opens the way you like it on the app and on the web.
Distance is always approximate. Nobody sees your exact location, and you don't see theirs. It's enough to know whether someone is nearby, without giving anything away.
From message to plan
On YesTonite there are no matches. One message opens the chat for both of you, and replies are always free. That makes it easy to move quickly when you're both going out. If you're curious why we did it this way, read about our dating app without matches.
Tips for spontaneous plans
- Be specific. "Fancy the jazz bar on the corner at nine?" beats "What are you up to?" A clear suggestion is easy to say yes or no to.
- Use their interest for tonight. It tells you what they're in the mood for, so build your suggestion around it.
- Suggest a public place you know. A busy bar or café is relaxed for both of you, and you know how to get there and back.
- Keep it short. One drink is a great plan. If it goes well, the evening can grow on its own.
- Share your plans with a friend. Tell someone where you're going and roughly when you'll be home.
- Share your name when you're ready. Names stay private until each person taps "Share your name" in the chat.
For more simple habits, see our guide to casual dating safety.
When nobody's around
Some nights are quiet. If you don't see many green dots, try widening your distance or age range, or switch back to Online first to see who's active. You can also start a conversation for another evening; casual plans don't have to happen tonight.
Or go out with a group instead. Members host events, both in person and online. Open events let you join instantly, and closed ones let the host approve guests. Read about how events work, including waitlists and private addresses.
Free new chats every day
YesTonite is free to use. Sign-up is free, you get free new chats every day (they refresh at local midnight), and replies are always free. If you're having a busy evening and want to start more conversations, you can buy an optional pack of extra new chats or unlimited new chats until midnight. There are no subscriptions. See what you get without paying for the details.
The green dot says "I'm up for plans". The pink dot says "I'm here now". Together, they're the quickest way to a good evening.
Get started
New here? Read how YesTonite works for a step-by-step tour, or what casual dating means if you're just getting started. When you're ready, join for free, switch on Out tonight and say hello. You need to be 18 or older to join.