“Are sex dating apps a real legit thing?” a friend asked me on a girls night. “Because I’d be up for it if it they really work.”

A lot of people share my friend’s skepticism mixed with horny hopes, and we’ve got good news for y’all — the best sex dating apps definitely work, and they’re always open for business, if you know what I mean.

We’ve taken the most popular sites and apps for a spin to distinguish the winners from the losers, and here are our rankings for all you sex-driven adults seeking a late-night companion. The best part is you don’t even have to leave home to take advantage of these free hookup sites and apps. Enjoy!

Overall Best Sex Dating Apps

Let’s get to it. I don’t want to waste your time with a lot of hemming and hawing, and neither do the sexy singles on the following casual hookup apps. You can get matched and get laid on these adults-only platforms.

Category Rating
★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • Discreetly arranges one-night stands and extramarital affairs
  • More than 80 million profiles worldwide
  • Travel-friendly features for seeking matches in other cities

Ashley Madison is best known as the dating site for cheaters, but it’s also our pick as the best app for singles seeking hookups and casual sex.

The Ashley Madison app offers a safe, anonymous, and discreet place to explore different options in the online dating scene. Some people on the dating app and website are single, and some are in an open relationship or marriage, and of course others are seeking an affair. The key thing is they’re all hankering for the little low-key excitement of a casual fling.

Affairs happen, and Ashley Madison doesn’t judge a person for finding romance outside of marriage. This cheater’s paradise has over 54 million users worldwide, so you will never be alone here.

Category Rating
★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • 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

We’ve determined that BeNaughty is also a leading adult dating site for finding sex because it has free and fast communication tools, and tens of thousands of daily active users.

BeNaughty offers a level playing field to flirt and pick up dates — the female-to-male ratio is pretty good for a local hookup site. A new member can send private messages, profile likes, and mass texts fairly easily on the casual sex site. The dating service doesn’t have any mutual match requirements or character limits to hold you back.

Many singles post explicit content — including revealing photos — on their dating profiles to get attention, and they find many opportunities to satisfy their sexual appetites.

Category Rating
★★★★★ 4.7/5.0

Adult Friend Finder has broken records with its ever-growing membership. Over 100 million people have created a profile on this adult dating platform, and its flashy features give them a lot of bang for their buck.

Casual dating is alive and well on Adult Friend Finder. This mobile-friendly platform appeals to singles and swingers who want to spice things up in the bedroom and meet playmates online and offline.

In addition to the typical search and matching features, the AFF site offers many community spaces where singles can post erotic stories, enjoy some dirty talk, and chat with anonymous strangers for as long they like.

Category Rating
★★★★★ 4.5/5.0
  • A massive user base of over 70 million dating profiles
  • Send a free private message or Flirtcast to get something going
  • Exchange nude pics or adult videos with a Flirt member you trust

Flirt.com has been around since the 1990s, and it has amassed a global following that includes over 70 million accounts in 45 countries.

People of all ages and orientations are welcome to join Flirt.com for free and start seeking sexual adventures here. This is technically more of a hookup site than a hookup app. Flirt.com is completely mobile-friendly, so you can access it via the web browser on your iOS or Android device without having to download anything.

Free members can send up to five greetings per day for free on Flirt.com, but only paid members can chat with anyone on the casual dating website.

Category Rating
★★★★★ 4.5/5.0
  • 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

FriendFinder-X provides tons of local dating opportunities with its advanced search and screening tools. This hookup site welcomes singles, couples, and groups seeking no-strings-attached sex with a stranger.

Things often get steamy between members of this hookup site. FriendFinder-X has successfully connected people who have similar interests, expectations, and desires, and that can be a game changer in the local dating scene.

If you’re looking for a sexual encounter online, FriendFinder-X can give you direct access to date prospects and chat rooms that are available 24/7.

5. Tinder

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.4/5.0
  • The dating app of choice for millions of sexually active singles
  • Accelerating the dating process through swiping
  • Has led to over 97 billion mutual matches

Tinder is without doubt one of the most popular dating apps of all time, and a good number of Tinder users are more interested in casual sex than a serious relationship.

Since its launch in 2012, Tinder has created over 75 billion matches, and over 530 million people have downloaded it on Google Play or the App Store. Tinder is now available in 190 countries and 40 languages.

Tinder’s swipe-based matching system can certainly get fast results, and over half its members are under 25 and looking for a fun distraction to fill their days — and their nights.

7. Match

Category Rating
★★★★ 3.9/5.0
  • Free profile browsing and liking
  • Private chat rooms and video dates for Match members only
  • Fast-working, time-tested AI match algorithm

Match isn’t explicitly for casual dating, but that doesn’t stop some single people from finding a hookup on the platform. Since its launch in 1995, Match has led to more first dates than any of its competitors, and not all those romantic connections were all about love and marriage. In fact, some only lasted for one night and left both parties satisfied.

According to user demographic data, the majority of Match users are single professionals over 30 years old. These single people are not willing to waste time on dead-end dates, so they often get straight to the point and state their intentions as either a serious relationship seeker or a sex seeker.

8. Zoosk

Category Rating
★★★★ 3.8/5.0
  • Fast-paced dating scene available in 80 countries
  • Full members can send unlimited messages
  • Advanced search filters help you zero in on the hottest dates

Zoosk operates a dating network with over 40 million singles of all ages, races, orientations, and sexual drives. This online dating app can be a wonderful place to create a free profile and find a casual encounter on your terms.

The Zoosk matching system pays attention to where users go and who they like and view, and that determines which profiles show up in the Carousel and potential match recommendations. Zoosk has pioneered behavioral matchmaking to make sure it’s giving users what they want, and this process is constantly improving to meet your unspoken needs.

You can chat, like, and match with people for free on Zoosk and see where the conversation takes you.

Category Rating
★★★★ 3.7/5.0

Since 2003, Plenty of Fish has made a name for itself as a free, fun, and casual dating platform for singles who want to meet new people and see what happens.

Plenty of Fish offers a commitment-free sex messenger with no subscriptions, fees, or mutual match requirements reining users in. As long as you are respectful and follow the community guidelines, you can chat with anyone you want for as long as you want on this dating site and app.

Sex isn’t a dirty word on Plenty of Fish. Truth be told, plenty of its users are looking for a fast track to the bedroom for a one night stand, and these single adults enjoy the open forum provided on the free dating app.

Best LGBT Sex Dating Apps

The LGBTQ+ dating scene has been strengthened and fueled by the rise of gay dating apps. Today’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer person doesn’t have to go outside their comfort zone to meet new romantic partner. They can simply sign up to a casual dating app and start swiping on gay men, lesbian women, and people across the sexuality spectrum.

The following sex-positive apps allow adults to get real with one another and enjoy being fluid, curious, and adventurous together. After all, there’s strength in numbers.

10. MenNation

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.4/5.0
  • 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

MenNation is a straightforward men-only hookup site made for guys who are thirsty, horny, and just plain frisky. Men of any sexual orientation can create a personal ad for free and browse profiles to get a feel for how things work here.

As a hookup platform, MenNation offers adult dating prospects on demand with few hassles and no intrusive matchmaking features. Gay men come in search of an instant hookup, and the private chats often become sexually charged.

MenNation sees over 77,000 daily active users, and it’s a positively raunchy place to meet gay singles and couples online.

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.3/5.0
  • Create a free profile in less than a minute
  • Search filters can identify attractive singles and couples in the area
  • Strip tease videos, revealing photos, and other adult content

LesbianPersonals invites sexy ladies to enjoy love, lust, and romance without getting too serious about anyone. This casual dating platform welcomes lesbian singles, lesbian couples, straight couples, and groups of active daters seeking a sexual encounter.

People can turn to LesbianPersonals to find a potential partner and relish sexting in a wild atmosphere. Lesbian Personals doesn’t have a mobile app, but it is a mobile-friendly site, so it should work just as effectively on your iPhone or Android device.

12. Grindr

Category Rating
★★★★ 3.8/5.0
  • Sexually active men can create free profiles
  • Matching system uses GPS information to find local dates
  • Millions of prospects available in 192 countries

As a gay hookup app, Grindr has sparked many sexy chats, casual hookups, and low-key relationships since its launch in 2009. Today, Grindr has over 27 million users in almost every corner of the world — and it’s still growing.

Location-based matching is the name of the game on Grindr. The app highlights the dating profiles of guys near you, and it encourages mutual matches to start chatting and arranging a sexual encounter immediately.

Grindr is a popular wingman for guys hitting the club and bar scene, and many reviews sing its praises as a hookup app. “Great for meeting new people when you’re new to the area,” said a Grindr user named Christopher. “From chatting to friendships to people just looking for fun!”

What is the Best Sex Dating Site?

That’s an easy one. Just scroll to the top of this list and you’ll see — the best sex dating site is BeNaughty. It offers free communication as soon as you create your profile and upload an attractive and authentic picture. You must have an approved photo of yourself to send messages, but you need not get a subscription if all you want to do is chat.

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.1/5.0

BeNaughty doesn’t waste time or beat around the bush in the online dating scene. The search for a casual fling or a romantic partner can begin on a high note if you peruse the potential match list in the Carousel feature.

BeNaughty creates thousands of romantic connections every day, and it takes very little effort to meet sexually active singles on this adult dating platform.

Which Dating Apps are Completely Free?

Unlike some of its competitors, Plenty of Fish is 100% free to use for everyone at all times. Free members can send unlimited messages on this dating site and app, and they can also benefit from match recommendations and  advanced search filters as well.

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.1/5.0

Hookup culture is alive and well on Plenty of Fish, but this platform is more than just a hookup app. Singles can use its powerful matchmaking tools to arrange a casual encounter or build a serious relationship. The free communication feature makes anything possible, and the POF community puts 150 million profiles at your fingertips.

Which Dating Apps Actually Work?

A lot of dating apps actually, truly, and honestly work. I met my husband on an online dating app called Hinge aka the dating app designed to be deleted — and we did both delete it within a week of meeting each other.

Many of my female friends say they prefer to use Bumble as their go-to dating and sex app because it gives them more control over their experience.

If you want a dating app with time-tested features and a decades-long track record, there’s really only one option: Match. This esteemed dating site and app has led to more dates and relationships than any other dating website or Android app on the market.

Category Rating
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Match is the world's longest running dating site
  • The Discover section has search filters by interests, looks, lifestyle, and more
  • Match is available in 50 countries and 15 languages

Match is one of our favorite dating platforms for people of all ages and intentions (and every sexual orientation too). The online dating can offer a casual channel to meet new people, or it could put a serious dater on the fast-track to love. You never know who will pop up and claim your heart in your Match recommendations, so a potential partner could be a mere swipe away.

Do I Need a Facebook Account to Join a Dating Site or App?

No, plenty of dating sites and apps will allow users to forgo a Facebook or social media login when signing up — but you will typically have to provide either an email address or phone number to verify your identity. This registration rule will vary from one dating platform to another.

For instance, the eharmony signup process includes an in-depth profile and personality test, which can take up to 20 minutes, but a casual hookup platform like Adult Friend Finder or Seeking is more lenient and asks only for the user’s gender, sexual orientation, age, and email address. You don’t even need to upload a photo right away to start perusing the AFF community.

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.0/5.0

Adult Friend Finder doesn’t require a Facebook login — it’s not even an option — because its goal is to keep things light and casual. The sex-positive site helps people search anonymously for dates, and it keeps their secret forays from becoming public knowledge.

A lot of singles worry that if they connect their dating profile to their Facebook profile that their Facebook friends will suddenly know that they’re on a dating site or app, but that’s actually not the case. The main reason a dating site or Android app will ask for your Facebook information is so it can verify your identity. The app may also speed up the signup process and pull your photos and personal details from your Facebook profile — but it will not out you by posting anything on your Facebook page.

Still, if you’d prefer to hedge your best and sign up without a Facebook profile, plenty of dating platforms can meet your wishes. To my knowledge, the only dating app that absolutely requires a Facebook profile is Facebook Dating, which launched in 2019.

Where Can Gay Men Find a Casual Fling?

Grindr didn’t gain its reputation as one of the best gay dating apps by accident. Since 2009, this app has diligently worked on behalf of gay, bisexual, queer, and curious guys seeking a special man in their lives, and its membership base currently reaches just about every country and territory in the world.

One of our favorite features on Grindr is the location-based matching system, which prioritizes dating profiles based on recent activity and current proximity to you. The most active and nearby dates will be at your fingertips as soon as you whip out the Grindr app, and that makes it much easier to charm a guy into meeting up on the spot and forming a casual relationship.

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.1/5.0
  • Among the most popular gay social networks in the world
  • Men connect via private and group chats
  • View nearby profiles using real-time GPS data

The Grindr app is the fastest way for gay men to meet hot dates and arrange an instant hookup. Plus, the mutual matching system means only guys you like and who like you back can send your flirty messages, so you don’t really have to worry about running into creepers or fake profiles. Even if you get bad vibes from a single guy, you can always unmatch or block the profile to remove it from your online dating universe.

Grindr looks out for single men seeking men in the dating scene, and it provides a fast-paced, all-dude flirting zone to help anyone up their game simply by going to the App Store or Google Play.

Best Dating Site or App for a Single Woman?

Single women can become inundated with messages, likes, and matches upon signing up for an adult dating site or app, and it can be difficult for them to weed out the winners from the losers under such a constant flood of interest. Fortunately, some dating platforms put the power in women’s hands and offer filtering or matching tools to help them find their way.

The Bumble dating app gives women “first move privileges,” which means only a woman can message a man first on the app. Once an opposite-sex match has been formed, the woman will receive a notification that she has 24 hours to send a first message or the conversation with disappear entirely.

The eharmony dating site is another good option for single women because it has a personality test and rigorous matching tools to make compatible profiles stand out.

Category Rating
★★★★★ 4.7/5.0
  • Designed to satisfy marriage-minded single women
  • In-depth compatibility quiz generates high-quality matches
  • Personalized Match Preferences on gender, age, income, religion, education, and more

Our dating experts have ranked eharmony as the overall best dating site and app for women seeking high-quality dates and real relationships, but you don’t have to take our word for it. You can create an eharmony for free and browse the database in search of a perfect match.

Even if eharmony isn’t the best hookup app, it offers a pure app for forming close connections, and that’s worth applauding too.

Is OkCupid a Sex App?

OkCupid offers a completely free online dating experience, so it’s no wonder that so many casual daters have chosen to mix and mingle here. This dating site and app have a quirky, personality-driven interface with compatibility ratings to help singles find a good match.

The OkCupid match algorithm takes your date preferences, sexual boundaries, and lifestyle into account, and it highlights nearby dates with similar qualities and goals. It’s totally free to send a message to anyone you like on this free dating app; although only mutual matches can engage in conversations on the platform (don’t worry, that’s also free).

6. OkCupid

Category Rating
★★★★ 3.9/5.0
  • Free private messaging available to all members
  • Users can state that they're seeking hookups on their profiles
  • Responsible for 50,000 dates per week

While OkCupid isn’t explicitly a sex app, many singles use this free dating app to find casual sex with a romantic partner who share similar personality quirks and relationship goals.

“Focus on the ones who list casual sex or short term relationships in their profile,” recommends Rob on Reddit. “Same rules apply within OkCupid as in real life.”

The Most Popular Sex Apps Can Work Like a Charm

As you can see, sex dating apps are most definitely a thing, and they’re a big part of the reason single friends of mine can have sex on a regular basis. You don’t have to prowl the bar or club anymore to pick up hot dates — simply go online to a top-rated dating site or sex app to meet people and arrange a casual encounter.

The dating platforms on this list can guide you to sexy singles and couples who want to skip the small talk and create intimate connections as quickly as possible.

Whether you consider yourself a smooth talker, a casual dater, or an online dating newbie, you can start exploring the local dating scene with a free profile and a little flirtatious energy. Good luck!

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