Key Takeaways
Our dating editors have tested hundreds of dating sites and apps to determine which work best for casual hookups.
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We’ve ranked NaughtyCharm as the best hookup site for no-strings chats and anonymous encounters.
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For LGBTQ+ matches or fluid dating, we recommend trying KinkyPeopleMeet.
Online dating has been around longer than I have. Match.com was born in 1993. I came along in 2000. So, the internet has always played a role in my dating life. The first app I ever tried out was Tinder.
Honestly, the first time I used Tinder, I was searching for more than just a casual fling. All of my friends (and even acquaintances) treated Tinder like a place to browse for situationships. No one really expected to find a serious relationship there.
But I figured there had to be people who were using Tinder in a more serious way. And there definitely are! I just didn’t meet them in my town.
Looking for a commitment on a casual dating app is tough in the same way that searching for a casual encounter on eharmony would be. Your intentions have to be aligned with the platform you choose.
I’ve tested each of these platforms to see how useful they are in the search for a hookup. Check out my reviews.
1. NaughtyCharm
When it comes to arranging hookups, NaughtyCharm is fast, easy, fun, and safe. This dating site has built a global network of sexy men and women who want to skip the small talk and cut right to the chase. If you’re interested in short-term romance, NaughtyCharm is the place to go and get your flirt on.
- A global network of naughty singles over 18
- Ability to blur nude and explicit content, if desired
- Advanced search filters and one-on-one messaging
- Browse NaughtyCharm profiles 100% free
NaughtyCharm is the spot for you to explore your sexuality and have some fun with no-strings-attached sex. The site is made for hookups, so you won’t have to shy away from letting others know what you want.
Pros
- Quick signup
- Anonymous browsing
- Read messages for free
Cons
- No video features
- Fewer rural profiles
NaughtyCharm keeps it discreet. No real names are required, and users don’t have to show their faces in photos. People are drawn to this site because they’re looking to be naughty in secret. Profiles are upfront about their fetishes, and the search filters include hair color, eye color, piercings, tattoos, and orientation.
When testing the hookup site, our dating app reviewer got two messages and six likes in the first week. Chatting doesn’t require a mutual match, but free members are limited in what they can do.
User Insights: The platform gets 13 million visits a month and has a balanced gender ratio, with men just slightly outnumbering women (which is common for online dating).
KinkyPeopleMeet’s motto is “anything but boring,” and its community forums live up to that promise. The hookup site is rife with sexual innuendos, explicit photos, and fantasy exploration. Kinksters are loud and proud about what they desire and expect from a potential partner, so there’s no guessing games or playing coy. Whether trading naughty photos or streaming a sex act, members have no qualms getting naughty.
- Nude photo galleries
- Video streaming by couples, singles, and groups
- Kink-based forums for like-minded adults
- Browse KinkyPeopleMeet profiles 100% free
KinkyPeopleMeet is one of the most sex-positive and kink-forward hookup sites out there. You can search by location, age, appearance, interests, and basically every fetish imaginable.
Pros
- Fetishes highlighted in profiles
- Nudes accepted
- No real names required
Cons
- No app on Google Play or App Store
- Few verification steps
KinkyPeopleMeet is a little old-school. Instead of likes, it uses winks. And I was amused to see a little store of virtual gifts that users can spend credits to send. Instant messaging is free, so I would skip the gift store if I were you.
If you’re looking to reach a wider audience, the chat rooms make it easy to connect with several people at once, giving you more options when you’re on the hunt for a fling.
User Insights: With over 49 million users, the KPM community welcomes all types of daters and has spaces for heterosexual, polyamorous, and LGBTQ+ people alike.
Ashley Madison is a breath of fresh air for single or attached folks experiencing a sex slump. This exciting dating site and app offer tons of opportunities to mingle, match, flirt, and hook up discreetly. Over 91 million profiles await you on Ashley Madison, and it’s free to create an anonymous account.
- Discreetly arranges one-night stands
- More than 91 million profiles worldwide
- Travel-friendly features for seeking matches in other cities
- Browse Ashley Madison profiles 100% free
Sure, Ashley Madison may have started out as a site for affairs, but that’s not all it’s good for. Ashley Madison’s discreet approach helps with a hookup on the low.
Lots of singles on the search for a steamy hookup are attracted to the platform’s judgment-free community. The app reported that 57% of its users are single.
Pros
- Many active members
- Photo blurring and masking tools
- Private photo galleries
Cons
- Men need credits to chat
- No video chat in the app
Ashley Madison makes match recommendations based on your specific preferences and allows advanced profile search, meaning you can find the people who fulfill your fantasies.
User Insights: Ashley Madison has over 91 million members. The gender ratio is 71% male to 29% female, making it a favorite among men and a great place for women if they want an expansive pool of matches.
4. Fling.com
Fling.com is a casual dating network with a sleek interface and fast matchmaking. The website boasts having over 2 million verified photos, ranging from car selfies to bikini pics. There’s also live video available to spice things up. Members who are feeling flirty can send pictures and videos in the private messaging windows. Fling profiles put turn-ons and kinks front and center, so members can cut right to the chase and start sexting.
- Fun video technology
- Free anonymous browsing
- No location limits on searches
- Browse Fling.com profiles 100% free
Fling.com is designed for casual dating and long-distance sexting, and the platform comes complete with live video tools, so you know you’re in for a good time. Free chatting is also part of the deal, and that’s why we rank it so highly.
Pros
- Free communication
- Online games and videos
- Active moderation and user feedback
Cons
- Smaller user base
- Unsolicited sexting
The platform lets you use an alias and tag your turn-ons to help break the ice. Profiles are often quite candid, and I suggest embracing sex positivity by openly sharing about yourself, your desires, and what you’re seeking in a connection.
You can personalize your profile to clearly convey your top desires, whether it’s BDSM or online flirting. Fling members aren’t in it for commitment, and they’re ready to share plenty of flirtatious energy.
User Insights: Fling.com sees about 4 million monthly active users, and its traffic has increased by about 56% in recent months. The team has verified more than 2.1 million photos.
Registering for an account on Adult Friend Finder (AFF) is like speeding into the fast lane of the online dating world. This hookup site puts you in the center of action and encourages sexy singles and swingers to satisfy their secret fantasies. Anyone over 18 can join AFF and browse millions of profiles for free, but only full-fledged members have access to the revealing content in the community forums and chat rooms.
- One of the largest adults-only sex communities
- Free and fast registration process
- Dating forums and live chats foster live flirtation
- Browse Adult Friend Finder profiles 100% free
AdultFriendFinder is about “the joy of being an adult”– that means you can leave any timidness at the door. On AdultFriendFinder, sexually active people express their desires without shame.
The platform is perfect for you if you’re looking for a sexually diverse, discreet, and wild dating experience. You can sign up for free and immediately dive into a vast and lively community.
Pros
- Tons of erotic content
- Video livestreams
- Kink search filters and groups
- Age verification required
Cons
- Private messaging requires an upgrade
- Overwhelming interface
If you’re just looking for sex, you can come right out and say so on AdultFriendFinder. In fact, being honest is highly encouraged. Our reviewer saw lots of explicit content on the site, and I’d recommend putting the nudity filters on if you’re not interested in seeing random private parts.
User Insights: AdultFriendFinder spans the globe and has helped over 105 million users indulge in their most alluring fantasies.
6. SparkMeets
SparkMeets keeps things real by offering singles the chance to mix and mingle without making a big commitment. They don’t even need a subscription to join the ranks of casual daters. This tried-and-true hookup website is part of a larger network of sex-positive communities that empower individuals to find local hookups more quickly and privately than they could at a bar or club.
- Safety settings ensure accountability for users
- Free login and browsing via search filters
- Profile pictures are recommended but not required
- Browse SparkMeets profiles 100% free
Looking for a special friend, just for one night? SparkMeets is the place to start your search. The platform’s name gives a big hint at what its user base is looking for– casual, fun, and no-strings-attached meetups.
Pros
- Easy, streamlined swiping
- Only email address required
- All casual daters
Cons
- Inactive profiles
- Messages auto-delete on a timer
You can use basic search filters, sort by popularity or new members, and send likes to profiles that pique your interest. You can swipe through profiles and save the most attractive ones to your favorites list.
Signing up won’t cost you a dime, but if you’re serious about increasing your hookup potential, the paid options offer some fantastic perks (like unlimited private messaging) that could really make a difference.
User Insights: The site gets more than 500,000 visits a month and offers a straightforward process to find casual dates.
FriendFinder-X offers sexy singles the gratifying experience of meeting hot dates within a few clicks. This hookup site is designed to excite people’s imaginations and fill them with sexual energy. Whether you’re chatting privately or in a group forum, singles and swingers can be upfront about their sexual desires, fetishes, and fantasies.
- A casual personals site for singles, couples, and groups
- Profiles have suggestive photos and strip tease videos
- Chat live via a two-way webcam or private messaging
- Browse FriendFinder-X profiles 100% free
FriendFinder-X is a go-to spot to find casual encounters, secret affairs, and plenty of sexy online connections. You can find hookups in your local area or expand your search radius to find people farther away.
Pros
- Explicit adult content
- Video chat and livestreaming
- Free public forums
- Fetish search filters
Cons
- Pay for private messaging
- Lots of lurkers
Discretion is at the forefront of the platform’s approach, so you can express your desires and fantasies without fear of being judged. It’s all fair game on FriendFinder-X. You can explore live webcams, spicy chat rooms, and community boards that organize in-person swinging events and sex parties.
User Insights: The site sees 1.2 million visits every month and maintains a gender ratio of 64% male users and 36% female users, making it a slightly more attractive choice for women looking to get it on.
8. Feeld
Ethical non-monogamy is having a moment, and there’s an app for that. If you’re interested in threesomes, group play, or any kind of non-monogamous arrangement, Feeld is where you belong.
The app allows you to link your profile with up to five other members, making it easy for people in open or polyamorous relationships to find connections alongside their partner(s).
You can browse profiles without the pressure of having to swipe one way or another.
Pros
- Inclusive, nonjudgmental community
- Profiles can be linked to up to 5 people
- Filter by desire, age, or distance
Cons
- Can be too niche
- Frequent app crashes
- Difficult to contact customer support
I really like that Feeld offers more than 20 sexuality and gender options. That’s not something I see on most apps. The team goes out of their way to be inclusive and empower people who are often marginalized on mainstream apps.
Operating on a freemium model, Feeld lets users send and receive unlimited likes. Mutual matches can chat for free. Profile boosts, incognito browsing, and seeing who’s like you are paid features.
User Insights: Feeld has seen a 200% spike in users over the past five years. It sees about 1.5 million monthly active users, and only 55% of users identify as straight.
9. Kasual
Kasual, formerly Yumi, connects you to nearby singles looking for a casual hookup. You don’t have to put any of your personal information on your profile when you’re signing up (nope, not even an email address), meaning you can stay truly anonymous.
Photos are required to sign up, but the app doesn’t require you to put your face in your profile pic. It’s up to you to decide how much you want to protect your privacy here.
Pros
- Location-based matching
- Fun pick-a-card game
- Verification removes fake pics
Cons
- Paywalls on some features
- Inactive profiles
The app doesn’t have a swiping interface. Instead, it shows four profile cards and asks you to choose one. These are all local matches, not long-distance pen pals. The app promises a 50% chance of finding a match in each stack. I’ll take those odds!
User Insights: The Kasual app has been downloaded over 6 million times, and approximately 415,000 users flirt daily here.
10. HUD
HUD gives you the chance to step into someone’s bedroom, without ever leaving your own.
You can find flings, casual relationships, and hot hookups using HUD’s extensive features designed for young and open-minded daters.
HUD’s My Bedroom™ feature gives you a glimpse into what other users are into. You can choose a Bedroom Archetype for your profile and create a space that expresses your style.
Pros
- Video chat tools
- Inclusive of all kinks and desires
- Highlights match commonalities
Cons
- Fewer active members
- Must download the app to access
- A little glitchy
Your Bedroom Archetype lets other users know what turns you on in the bedroom, making it simple to find sexually compatible partners.
User Insights: HUD is a casual dating community with about 18 million users spread across 166 countries. Its users send 1.5 million messages every week.
11. DOWN
Getting started on DOWN is simple. You create your profile, verify you’re a real person, and then explore the swipe list.
Instead of just swiping left for yes and right for no thanks, you have three choices. Tap “Date” if you want to explore something more serious, tap “DOWN” if you’re in the mood for a hookup, or swipe left if there’s no spark.
Pros
- Clear user intent
- Simple, intuitive design
Cons
- Fewer active profiles
- No video features
Swiping by intention is a fun and interesting way to go about it. I’ve got to say I liked it a lot. It ensures all DOWN matches know what the expectations are from the get-go.
User Insights: DOWN has 17 million users, so it’s not as crazy busy as Tinder, but it has decent reach for a niche app.
How We Ranked the Best Casual Hookup Apps
This list did not happen by random chance. A lot of thought, investigation, and discussion went into it. I’ll pull back the curtain a little to show you our criteria for ranking and reviewing dating apps.
It starts with five basic tenets that we feel make an online dating platform effective.
- The user base must be big enough (or niche enough) to meet the user intent.
- The safety features ought to be robust and do a reasonable job at catching catfish.
- Ease of use simply means it’s not glitchy, slow, or confusing.
- Free features should provide a good experience, and paid features should be affordable.
- A good success rate should be apparent in multiple testimonials and user reviews.
We test the app and give it a score on these five factors. We take the average of those scores to calculate the overall rating and ranking.
Reputation matters in our rankings, but we weigh our own testing experience the most heavily.
Ashley Madison is a big name, so obviously it deserves a shoutout on this list, but I saw more conversations and opportunities to connect on KinkyPeopleMeet, which, in my opinion, is a better option for seeking casual hookups (especially if you’ve got secret kinks).
FAQs: Do Casual Hookup Apps Work?
This really depends on what you mean by “work.” The apps will get you in a match pool, but no matter what crazy features they offer, no app can wave a magic wand and send you on IRL dates. Your job is to turn those virtual likes into real connections.
It’s important to manage your expectations when diving into the swipe world. You might need to explore quite a bit and experience some misses before finding a strategy that fits you.
Casual dating apps can help people be adventurous in the dating scene. They’re not a quick fix; they’re a tool that you have to wield effectively.
Some of the challenges in this world include:
- Inactive profiles
- Flaky chats
- High competition
I’ve heard many casual daters worry over running into bots, but if you’re on an app with secure verification tools, that shouldn’t be an issue for you.
You can absolutely find sexual encounters online. People do it every day! Apps and sites are excellent at connecting you with others looking for a hookup, but it’s up to you to make it happen.
What Are the Best Hookup Apps for LGBTQ+ Dates?
If you’re a gay, lesbian, or queer dater, you should consider using an LGBTQ+ app to find hookups. While nearly all dating sites welcome LGBTQ+ users, you’re going to have the best experience when you use an app that’s been designed for queer daters.
1. MenNation
MenNation has tons of X-rated content to arouse the senses and stimulate conversation. The hookup site attracts single men and gay couples all over the world and has grown its network to include over 93 million people. Free members can browse these profiles for as long as they want and send flirts to anyone who catches their eye.
- A massive men-only sex and swinger community
- Browse profiles and send private messages to your favorites
- Profiles feature erotic videos and sexually explicit blogs
- Browse MenNation profiles 100% free
The MenNation user base is full of gay and bisexual men looking for a fun, casual hookup. The site boasts 79 million members and 780,000 monthly visitors.
You can connect with men in your local area with a targeted search, or you can go into the community page or video streaming to meet guys a little further out of town.
MenNation keeps things discreet with anonymous profiles that don’t require real names. The extensive communication features have no rules against nudity or sexting, so guys are pretty blunt about what they want.
2. Grindr
Grindr is known for its simple interface and engaged user base. It is one of the most iconic gay dating apps out there. The app was founded in 2009 and was one of the first of its kind to use location-based matching.
The app has age verification, HIV health information, and other safety systems in place to keep LGBTQ+ singles out of trouble.
3. SCRUFF
SCRUFF’s user base is smaller than Grindr’s, but the platform still packs a big punch. The app serves over 20 million users across 180 countries and uses a location-based matching system that should be familiar to anyone who’s ever used a dating app.
You can use customizable filters to swipe through potential matches, and if location-based swiping isn’t your thing, you can also browse users who live in different areas.
You can publish your travel agenda on your profile before you leave, so by the time you get to your destination, you’ve already had the opportunity to connect with locals.
4. HER
HER was launched in 2013 to meet a growing need in the lesbian dating scene. It’s a dating app for queer women, designed by queer women.
The platform welcomes lesbian, gender-diverse, and trans users to explore their identities and make new connections.
HER uses a standard swiping method, which makes it easy to filter through plenty of profiles in one sitting. While HER is definitely a place where you can find a hookup, the app focuses heavily on community building and outreach, so it also attracts serious daters.
You can still look for a hookup, just be honest and match mindfully.
5. Lex
Similar to HER, the Lex app focuses on the LGBTQ+ community and building online connections that go beyond superficial chats.
The app combines elements of online dating with more far-reaching social media and event planning features to create a unique women-first experience that’s hard to find elsewhere.
Lex can spark a variety of relationships, not just romantic or sexual ones, so just know you’ll have to vet matches to see who’s down for no-strings fun.
Don’t be surprised if most users aren’t looking for a one-night stand. You could wind up making a good friend and evolve the connection into a friends-with-benefits situation, but that’s hardly guaranteed.
Is Tinder Good for Finding Sex?
You may have noticed that Tinder didn’t make it on this best-of list. No shade, mostly we assume if you’re looking for hookup apps, you’ve thought of Tinder already. It’s decent, but as I found out, people have mixed intentions here.
Tinder’s popularity stems from its effectiveness in making quick matches. The platform is loaded with features and appeals to a younger crowd. It’s one of the largest platforms globally, having facilitated over 100 billion matches since 2012.
Tinder hosts a mix of people looking for flings, friends, commitment, and everything in between, so being upfront about your intentions and expectations is important.
Be upfront about your desires and set your relationship preference to “casual.” Use the relationship type filter to refine profiles, and focus on swiping right on those who are also open to something casual.
Prioritize Safety & Honesty in Each Hookup
If you’re heading online in search of a hookup, be upfront about it. There’s no shame in exploring your sexuality, and the online world has many safe spaces to help you get started.
Choose a platform that caters to your specific needs, whether that’s LGBTQ+ dating or anonymous matching. Explore all the different features to find the platform that offers the ones you want.
Most importantly, pick a dating app that embraces a sex-positive attitude. You shouldn’t have to hide your fantasies or shy away from what you’re truly seeking, especially if your main goal is to find casual sex. Dive into the apps and sites that offer the features—and the users—to make a memorable hookup happen.
