Traditional dating isn’t for everyone. Some people want serious relationships while others want something more casual, like a hookup. The taboo around casual dating has subsided in recent years. Casual daters have plenty of options, but most opt to try hookup sites to find what (and who) they want.
Different sites cater to different tastes. A site’s speciality is not always immediately apparent. So it can be a challenge to find the right site for you. That’s where we come in. We’ve signed up for and tried the best hookup sites and apps for casual dating to get some action. We’ve also included a rating guide, tips for using hookup sites, a brief overview about hookup culture, and FAQ.
Let’s dive into the reviews and ratings.
12 Best Hookup Sites and Apps for Casual Dating in 2023
| Rank | Site | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Adult FriendFinder | Best overall hookup site |
| 2. | BuddyBang | Runner-up |
| 3. | Ashley Madison | Best for discreet hookups |
| 4. | BeNaughty | Best for flirtiest singles |
| 5. | Seeking | Best for sugar alternative relationships |
| 6. | ALT | Best for alternative and BDSM sex |
| 7. | OKCupid | Top choice for millennials |
| 8. | Hinge | Somewhat serious, but mostly FWB |
| 9. | Zoosk | Best for short-term dating |
| 10. | Bumble | Best for women |
| 11. | Plenty of Fish | Best for lots of options |
| 12. | Tinder | Most popular app |
1. Adult FriendFinder – Best overall hookup site
Pros
- Sex- and kink-positive
- Any kink you can think of (practically)
- Not difficult to find like-minded people
Cons
- Can get expensive (i.e. Gold memberships)
- Ad-heavy free version
Adult FriendFinder is one of the oldest hookup sites and remains one of the most popular. Although its name sound relatively innocent, you can think of it as being short for “Adult Friends with Benefit Finder.”
Adult FriendFinder caters primarily to people looking for FWB, swinging, non-monogamous relationships, threesomes, and other more experimental arrangements. Whether you’re looking for something with NSA (no strings attached), a one-night stand to spice up your marriage, or a quick fling, you likely won’t have to go too far to find someone who’s interested.
Once you create a profile on Adult FriendFinder, you can customize your search quite a bit to make your search more efficient and find these like-minded people more quickly.
Adult FriendFinder also has bonus content such as webcam shows and erotic stories. So, if you need a little warming up before connecting with someone, you’re covered. In some senses, you can think of Adult FriendFinder as a kind of interactive PornHub, as it really is home to a large community of kinky and sex-positive people.
Features
- One of the longest-running hookup sites
- Caters to a sexually liberated crowd
- Features bonus content like webcam shows
Pricing
| Membership Length | Price |
|---|---|
| One month | $39.95 total |
| Three months | $26.95/month ($80.85 total) |
| One year | $19.95/month ($239.40 total) |
Need a little more info before taking the plunge? Check out our in-depth Adult FriendFinder review.
2. BuddyBang – Runner-up
Pros
- Responsive users
- Straightforward people
- Advanced search and filtering functions
- Relatively affordable
Cons
- Annoying ads with the free version
- Can be hard to find anything besides hookups
As you might expect, BuddyBang is all about linking up people interested in no-strings-attached hookups or being friends with benefits. This no-judgment site operates like an express train to sex. Its goal is to be as simple as browse, chat, bang.
While you are not likely to find romance here, you will find plenty of passion. Horny adults flock to BuddyBang to chat and make new erotic connections. Ultimately, the goal is to arrange a meetup with a saucy stranger in your area. If you’re lucky, that one-night stand might turn into a longer-term arrangement.
With a relatively affordable monthly subscription and advanced search filters, getting laid on BuddyBang is fairly straightforward. In any case, it’s likely to be more efficient—and more bang for your buck (see what we did there)—than shelling out tons of cash for dinner dates that may lead nowhere.
Features
- Straightforward no-strings-attached hookup site
- Caters to a wide range of horny adults
- Memberships more affordable than some competitors
Pricing
| Membership Length | Price |
|---|---|
| One month | $39.95 total |
| Three months | $26.95/month ($80.85 total) |
| One year | $19.95/month ($239.40 total) |
3. Ashley Madison – Best for discreet casual hookups
Pros
- Free for women
- Highly discreet
- Judgment-free because most users are fine with infidelity
Cons
- Not for the faint of heart when it comes to morals
- Expensive for men to use (the Priority Man option)
Ashley Madison has the reputation of being a site for affairs and discreet married dating. Its slogan is literally “Life is short. Have an affair.” The brand has become notoriously in recent years for being a site for married people to flirt and hook up.
Since the site caters to people in relationships or looking to have sex with married people, Ashley Madison is generally a place where you don’t need to fear negative judgment. It’s a great site for anyone looking to add some excitement to their life and explore the world of extramarital affairs.
Ashley Madison is the first website dedicated to helping married people have affairs, and its highly committed to discretion. Despite the backlash and its somewhat negative reputation, this site remains popular and boasts a massive database that crisscrosses the globe.
Features
- That site (you know, the “affairs” one)
- Common to find people in long-term relationships
- Features include messaging and live chatting
Pricing
| Membership Tier | Price |
|---|---|
| Basic | 100 credits at $0.59/credit |
| Classic | 500 credits at $0.34/credit |
| Elite | 1,000 credits at $0.29/credit |
You message and live chat with users in exchange for credits. It’s about 5 credits to sent a message or 50 credits/hour to live chat. For more information about credits and other aspects of the site, see our full Ashley Madison review.
4. BeNaughty – Best for flirty singles
Pros
- Multiple ways to connect
- Sex- and kink-positive
- Great for finding singles and couples
- Cheap three-day trial
Cons
- Users are often appearance-driven
- Not great without a premium membership
BeNaughty unsurprisingly attracts people who are kinky and after a good time. I mean, it’s right there in the name. Fortunately, breaking the ice is easy as BeNaughty gives users many different ways to connect. You can browse the gallery or enter a naughty chat room for potential dates. When you find someone you like, you can send a wink, a message, or start a live one-on-one chat.
BeNaughty works well because it gets right to the point. Users are looking for fast fun, leaving little time for hot and cold games. They want a hookup and they usually want it ASAP. BeNaughty uses a Tinder-type function that’s geography based, which helps keep your searches relevant. After all, who’s trying to drive (or fly) hundreds or thousands of miles for a one-night-stand?
Open-minded and discreet, BeNaughty provides many filtering options that help streamline your search, whether that’s for singles or couples to join. By adjusting your searches and filters, you can find your ideal scenario and dispense with people who aren’t a good fit for you.
Features
- Tinder-style hookup app
- Unabashedly kink userbase
- Advanced search and filtering options
Pricing
| Membership Length | Price |
|---|---|
| Three day trial | $1.05/day |
| One month | $27.01 total |
| Three months | $15.15/month ($45.45 total) |
| Six months | $12.24/month ($73.44 total) |
5. Seeking – Best for sugar-like relationships
Pros
- Very active community
- Useful filtering options
- Fairly thorough verification process
Cons
- Inactive profiles remain visible
- Gets expensive for men
Seeking may have undergone a brand transformation (fka Seeking Arrangement), but it still attracts a straightforward target audience: wealthy and experienced individuals seeking the young and attractive. This sugar daddy site is all about helping daddies and mommas find sugar babies or cubs for hookups.
There are many more women than men because the “sugar baby” focus attracts many young women to the site. In fact, Seeking claims to have four times the number of women than men in their database. The only real prerequisite for would-be sugar daddies is that they have money to throw around. They give priority to verified “elite members” who join with the sole intention of lavishing money and attention on would-be sugar babies.
While Seeking is a great site for beautiful young women looking for fun, attention, and a “daddy” to spoil them, it can be quite competitive for sugar babies. And the hopeless romantics out there are probably best avoiding sites such as Seeking in general. It’s much more geared toward hookups that may have a rather transaction-like feel.
Women who’d like to meet a well-off older man also aren’t risking much with Seeking because it’s free for women seeking men.
Features
- Formerly known as Seeking Arrangement
- Still one of the most popular sugar sites around
- Highly competitive for would-be sugar babies (especially women)
Pricing
| Membership Length | Price |
|---|---|
| One month | $89.95/month |
| Three month | $79.95/month ($239.85 total) |
| Diamond (more premium features) | $249.95/month |
Still not sure or need more information? Check out our full Seeking review.
6. ALT – Best for alternative relationships
Pros
- Easily find people that share your kink
- Lots of X-rated content to browse through
- Live cams and shows
Cons
- Too many fake profiles
- Have to buy a premium account to get the most access
ALT is a full-on casual sex website. It’s not for anyone who is on the hunt for a serious relationship. This site is all about casual sex in every form to gratify any sex-seeker! The website’s community is made up of those who are into alternative bondage, who enjoy hooking up online, live, and in-person for sex dates.
It’s a dating site that caters to people who want to find alternative, BDSM, bondage, and fetish partners who can connect online and meet in person. ALT speaks to swingers, dominatrixes, and mistresses looking for power exchange.
ALT is the leading BDSM site, with almost 2 million members. You can easily customize your fetish and find someone who is into the same kinks as you! Remember that this site is all about kink, such as orgies, being humiliated, or being tortured, and not about vanilla sex. So, if you’re looking for just plain sex, opt for another option on this list.
Features
- No-holds-barred hookup site
- All about sexual liberation and fetishes (like BDSM)
- X-rated live cams and shows
Pricing
| Membership Tier | Price |
|---|---|
| Silver | $19.95/month |
| Gold | $29.95/month |
7. OKCupid – Best for millennials and young people
Pros
- Vast user base of people
- Find locals who are looking for casual sex and dating
- Affordable
Cons
- May find many looking for long-term relationships
- Will have to answer quite a few questions to see matches
OKCupid is a mainstream dating app that caters to many different kinds of relationships. It provides a multitude of choices for millennials looking not just for long-term relationships but options for short-term relationships, casual dating, and hookups. All you have to do is set that as what you are looking for, and they match you to like-minded people!
This site gears toward a generally younger audience—the age group between 18-29. This site is also one of the most inclusive mainstream dating websites that includes many gender and orientation options, helping you zero in on the particular pool of choices you want!
OKCupid may be a mainstream dating app that includes finding long-term relationships, but given its wide range of options, filters, and preferences, it’s a great app for hookups and casual sex as well. Just be up-front and be prepared to meet a great bunch of locals looking for the same things as you.
Features
- A mainstream dating site for hookups and longer-term relationships
- Relatively younger crowd
- More affordable than many competitors
Pricing
| Membership Length | Price |
|---|---|
| One month | $19.95 total |
| Six months | $9.95/month ($59.70 total) |
8. Hinge – Best for hybrid serious and FWB relationships
Pros
- Popular with millennials
- Matchmaking algorithm is great (apt for FWB)
Cons
- Created for finding long-lasting relationships
- May not find a large user base of casual sex enthusiasts
Hinge is a mainstream dating app that focuses on finding real romance—but it is also used to find casual sex and friends with benefits. The truth about Hinge is that it’s “designed to be deleted.”
But fear not! This app is incredibly popular with the younger crowd (18 to 29 years of age) and has filters to state the nature of the relationship you’re interested in. This setup is the best for friends with benefits because you have to answer questions about yourself and your preferences, which will bring you closer to meeting someone you share similar interests with and are attracted to!
Hinge is a great hookup app for those who want to find a casual relationship where you hook up with the same person a few times instead of just a one-night stand. Just be straight up with what you’re looking for—and you might just meet a new FWB with absolutely no strings attached.
Features
- Another mainstream dating site and app
- Easy to state your preferences (including if you’re looking for FWB)
- Popular with millennials but growing across the spectrum
Pricing
| Membership Length | Price |
|---|---|
| One month | $19.95 total |
| Three months | $20.99 total |
| Six months | $29.99 total |
9. Zoosk – Best for short term dating
Pros
- Very active users
- Used in over 80 countries
- Diverse selection to find what you’re looking for
Cons
- May not be the best site for casual sex
- Additional features cost extra
Zoosk is a great short-term dating site that is internationally famous. It has a community of 35 million users in 80 different countries, and it is open to singles of all ages, races, religions, and sexual orientations—making it one of the most diverse casual dating apps.
This app may not be the best for casual hookups and one-night stands, but it is a good contender for short-term dating. If you’re in your early to mid-20s, you’ll find a great selection of singles who are interested in short-term or casual relationships.
Features
- International site with huge community
- May be better for short- and long-term dating rather than hookups
- Active userbase
Pricing
| Membership Length | Price |
|---|---|
| One month | $29.95 total |
| Three months | $19.98/month ($59.94 total) |
| Six months | $12.49/month ($74.94 total) |
10. Bumble – Safest for women
Pros
- More women than men
- Women initiate contact
- Comprehensive and easy-to-use interface
Cons
- Other relationships (friendships and business networking) get in the way of potentials
Bumble has gained a reputation for being different from most other mainstream dating and hookup apps. If you haven’t heard of this app already, Bumble is one of the first and only sites where women make the first move and get to screen potential men immediately. Men simply cannot reach out to any women unless they’ve initiated contact and interest.
It is catered towards and attracts more women than men looking to mingle or find networking opportunities, friends, or hookups! Even though it has a relatively positive and clean rep, it’s a great site for educated, good-looking men who are searching for successful, bold women.
Features
- Mainstream dating app catering toward women
- Women make the first move
- May be better for short- and long-term dating than hookups
Pricing
| Membership Tier | Price |
|---|---|
| Premium | $8.99/month |
11. Plenty of Fish – Best for lots of options
Pros
- Multiple search filters
- Largest user base of profiles
Cons
- May come across bots or fake accounts
Plenty of Fish has the largest user base. POF was launched in 2003, being one of the oldest dating sites. Since it’s free and easy to sign up, you’re going to be exposed to a lot of different types of people, looking for different things, so you’ll have to filter through them all.
Since it’s been around for a long time, it has gained a reputation as a matchmaker site that will ask questions about your family, career, and interests to match you with similar users. It’s catered for people who want to dip their toes into dating and hookup sites to explore options.
Plenty of Fish may or may not have people looking for casual sex, depending on your luck. It’s a matchmaker site that is geared more for a long-term commitment. So you have to be prepared to screen different kinds of people.
Features
- One of the longer-established dating sites
- One of the largest userbases
- You may find more interest in long-term dating than hookups
Pricing
| Membership Length | Price |
|---|---|
| One month | $19.99/month |
| Three months | $9.80/month ($29.40/total) |
| One year | $5.95/month ($71.40 total) |
12. Tinder – Most popular app
Pros
- Best starter app for quick sex
- Lots of escorts
Cons
- Lots of fake profiles
- Very superficial and appearance-focused
You didn’t think this list was going to end without this sex gem of an app, did you? Tinder is the most widely known hookup app of this generation. It has an infamous rep for finding casual sex ASAP.
Tinder caters to men and women looking to get laid based on appearance. It’s known for its classic swiping left to reject and swiping right to like someone’s profile. If you’re looking for sex, Tinder has a huge user base and a large number of locals, meaning you can probably secure a sex date tonight—but the catch is that your profile needs to stand out. If you’re not conventionally attractive, you’re going to struggle to find dates.
For men who can’t seem to find dates, Tinder has a large user base of escorts who will private message their rates. If you’re horny and want it—then maybe you can meet a potential escort on Tinder.
Features
- The hookup site par excellence
- While it’s gotten more mainstream, it’s still at top option for hookup seekers
- The userbase is riddled with escorts, some of which may be scammers
Pricing
| Membership Length/Tier | Price |
|---|---|
| Limited Swipes | Free |
| One month | $9.99 total if you’re under 30 |
| One month | $19.99 total if you’re over 30 |
How We Rated These Sites and Apps
When ranking the top adult hookup sites, there are numerous criteria to keep in mind. Here are some of the key factors that our reviews have considered:
- User-friendliness: The top dating sites and apps are a breeze to use. They have interfaces that are intuitive. If they are particularly excellent, they will be both simple while also having high customization and functionality. Ideally, there is both a web (i.e. browser) version and a mobile app. If only one or the other is available, a mobile app is preferable in our opinion.
- Userbase: A dating app is only as good as the people on it. If you find that there are hardly any people in your area on a given dating app or site, then you may need to use one with a bigger userbase. Our reviews have factored in the number of users to give a sense of how popular an app is, which also makes it more likely you will find attractive people in your area.
- Pricing: Unfortunately, many dating apps and sites began free (or cheap) and have gotten much more expensive as they grew. (We’re looking at you Tinder.) At the end of the day, however, can you really put a price on finding great hookups—or who knows, maybe even a potential spouse one day? As long as the pricing fits with the value that the app is delivering, then that’s fine. Sadly, many hookup sites don’t necessarily provide a high amount of value.
- Safety and discretion: The last thing anyone wants when using a dating site is to be exposed to dangerous people and have their data and private information at risk. It’s important to ensure that the dating platform you select has high standards for security, including encryption of your sensitive personal and financial information. They should also have protocols in place to prevent spams, bots, and other bad actors from infiltrating the site. Finally, there should be clear and easy-to-find privacy options that you can easily toggle on.
- User reviews: User reviews have become critical for just about every online business nowadays, and hookup apps are no different. We’ve scoured tons of online reviews to add more integrity and comprehensiveness to our reviews.
Tips to Have the Best Experience on Hookup Sites and Apps
What defines the best hookup apps?
The “best” hookup site/app will depend on your own needs and preferences. Certain key factors you may want to consider are outlined in the section above, including but not limited to the following: user-friendliness, userbase size, pricing, safety, and user reviews.
Knowing what you want beforehand is really the single best way of narrowing things down, however.
Let’s say, for example, that you want a super quick one night stand. Why would you spend three hours on an in-depth OkCupid profile only to find that most the people on there want something more long term?
Fortunately, we’ve reviewed a ton of the best hookup sites and apps above, so you can scroll those to quickly see which one (or two or three) might be best for your specific needs and preferences.
Ultimately, the best dating apps are easy to use, fun to use, safe, secure, boast a large userbase, and offer competitive pricing.
How Do You Find a Hookup On Hookup Sites?
If you’re not used to using a hookup app or site, then you may be a bit uncomfortable when you start using one. That’s okay! It can take some time, but you’ll be fine.
First off, you need to find people to start communicating with. This is the natural first step that enables you to see if you vibe with the other person (or people).
Depending on the energy you feel, and the type of site it is, you may want to be more or less forward with your approach. On many hookup sites, people are there for just that—a hookup. Ideally, people will be straightforward on their profile and how they message you so you know exactly where you stand and what to expect.
As with any relationship, communication is key. Be sure to communicate your preferences so you can be on the same page with would-be hookups.
Finally, stay safe out there. Refrain from sharing explicit content with someone you haven’t met in person (especially if it shows your face), and when you do meet in person for the first time, take precautions to ensure your safety.
How To Be Successful
- Pick your apps accordingly: As mentioned above, the right app for you will be specific to your needs and preferences. It doesn’t make sense to waste your time downloading them all or downloading ones that don’t make sense for you. Take a second to consider what you’re looking for, then assess the right app or site for you. Our reviews above should help. Choosing the right app for you is a bit like choosing the right partner. It should correspond to your needs and interests.
- Be a straight shooter: Be straightforward. Please. It’s so much better for everyone involved, especially on hookup-specific sites. No one likes wasting time, so make sure your profile and your communication is clear and to the point. You’ll be much more likely to find people who you vibe with that way.
- Work on your profile: Your dating app profile is your virtual first impression. Do you want people to click on it and match with you, or swipe the other way? We’re guessing the former, right? In that case, pick a good picture of yourself, not one where you’re one of fifteen people. Take some time as well to come up with a short (and ideally funny or clever) profile. This will help you stand out.
- Be open minded: While you should definitely have your preferences and priorities in mind, don’t be too judgmental. After all, does it really make sense not to hook up with someone because they don’t appreciate the same food or music as you?
- Keep conversations relatively brief: A common pitfall of online dating and hooking up is talking too much. Yes, it’s important to start a conversation, but it doesn’t have to drag on for hours. The sooner you meet, the better. It helps keep things exciting and everyone knows in-person conversations are simply better. Of course, everyone is different, so you or the other person may prefer more conversation rather than less.
- Have fun! At the end of the day, you’re using a given site or app to hookup and enjoy yourself. It shouldn’t be causing you more stress than joy, so take a step back when needed.
FAQs
Q: Are hookup sites safe?
Like any online dating platform, reputable hookup sites have embedded safety features that still require user discretion. It can be dangerous if you don’t take proper safety measures. Generally, these sites and apps regulate safety by banning bots and scammers and have options to report any bad or suspicious behavior. So if you’re planning on joining, be aware and try your best not to be too gullible—you can never be sure who you will come across online!
Q: Are there any completely free hookup sites?
It sucks that most dating apps and casual sex apps require you to subscribe to get optimum results. But sites like Reddit R4R and Craigslist Activities offer a free platform to chat, flirt, and arrange sex dates. But the only downside is that there is no moderation and you won’t be talking to a verified profile and have to be extra cautious.
Q: What hookup sites are free for women?
The reality is that dating apps make it very easy for women to find sex. Most high-rated dating sites offer women free memberships (mostly to balance out the male/female ratio on their site). Sex sites that are free for women include Bumble, OkCupid, Tinder, Seeking, Hinge, Her, and Pure.
Q: What is the best LGBTQ+ option?
Though there are a few options, only two rise to the top. HER is the best for women seeking women and Grindr is best for men seeking for men. These two sites also cater to non-binary people.
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for some action tonight, welcome to the world of casual sex sites and apps.
The best hookup sites are on top for a reason—everyone on there is eager to find sex and casual flings just like you! More than mainstream dating apps that cater to a plethora of things such as long-term dating, friendships, and so on, hookup apps are catered only towards sex and NSA fun!
The best hookup site is Adult FriendFinder (AFF) followed closely by BuddyBang. AFF emphasizes anonymity, safety, a massive user base, and a brand name that is verified. Most people on this site are looking for a good time with so many different types of kinks and fantasies. So what are you waiting for?
Hopefully, this list gives you an idea of what sex app is the best for you to get started on today.