Free chat apps make a lot of sense as an offbeat way to meet new people and find hookups. While it can be tricky to make sure that you’re talking to genuine people, not catfishers and scammers, free chat platforms are easy to use, and you’ll meet new people you probably wouldn’t encounter otherwise.
Whether you go through an anonymous chat app or test out one of the many video chat apps out there, these platforms make it easy to connect with someone new and see where things go. If nothing else, you’ll definitely get some interesting stories. Read on to find out where to go!
Best Chat Apps For Dating
While some dating sites and apps make it difficult to contact other members for free, several dating platforms give you the option to contact at least some of your potential matches and see if something sparks. These sites and apps allow everyone either limited free chat or instant message access for dating and romance, though paying members may get more perks.
1. Match
Match.com has come a long way since it launched in April 1995. This well-reputed dating site has honed its match algorithm to identify long-term compatibility and facilitate countless first dates, serious relationships, and successful marriages. Match’s esteemed dating experts go to great lengths to guide singles to a seriously good match.
- 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
- Browse Match profiles 100% free »
Match doesn’t allow unrestricted chatting on the messaging app the site hosts, but free members can contact their top picks without any restrictions whatsoever. As a free member, you can also access the first messages that other users send you, and you may have some limited ability to reply to an initial message. You can also flirt through non-verbal signals the site and app provide, though that’s far from a conversation.
If you pay for a premium membership on the dating site or app, you can message anyone you want at any time, regardless of whether they’re one of your suggested matches. You also get access to other perks, like Vibe Check, which lets you open a video call with a potential partner when you’re both ready.
EliteSingles.com maintains a sophisticated network of young professionals seeking a relationship. Over 80% of its members hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree, and over 90% are over the age of 30. Elite Singles uses an intelligent matchmaking system to introduce daters to someone on their level.
- Over 2 million monthly users
- Premium members receive 20 wildcard matches a day
- Search features include age, height, education, ethnicity, and lifestyle habits
- Browse Elite Singles profiles 100% free »
The leading dating site for educated professionals, Elite Singles offers several communications options for free members, though paid members get greater options. Free members on Elite Singles can send a “smile” to get their potential match’s attention and receive some messages from other members. You can also add interesting profiles to your favorites, which lets the other person know you might be into them.
Paid members on Elite Singles get broader options, including unlimited communication to both send and receive messages. You also get access to Icebreaker questions to start a conversation with a potential match without having to think of something original to say. Premium membership also comes with tracking tools like “message read” notifications and ways that let you know who’s looked at your dating profile.
3. Zoosk
Zoosk is a socially savvy dating site known for its diverse membership base and behavioral matchmaking system. Over 40 million singles in 80 countries have joined the network so far, and it’s growing larger every day. The platform offers many different ways to communicate and express interest in members, so it’s easy to form a fast connection here.
- Send messages to premium members for free
- Over 3 million messages sent a day
- Premium perks include photo verification and sending virtual gifts
- Browse Zoosk profiles 100% free »
Zoosk sets itself apart from a lot of dating sites and apps by offering unrestricted free messaging and communication between members. The dating platform began as a Facebook application that uses Facebook’s architecture, but now instead of Facebook messenger, users can send messages back and forth on Zoosk with no paywall.
As a popular dating platform for socializing, Zoosk also regularly offer its members new experiences and features, like the Great Dates option. Great Dates takes things a step further than the average live chat app to let users go on virtual dates in exotic locations around the world. Zoosk launched the feature just as singles started to get restless in the wake of COVID restrictions, but the positive response means it’s sticking around and available to everyone on the platform.
4. eharmony
Since its launch in 2000, eharmony has endeavored to find the formula for love. Its 32-dimension personality test uses psychological truths to identify areas of compatibility between two individuals. The dating site’s mission is to foster relationships that last, and every potential match has a reason behind it.
- Over 2 million people have found love here
- Users can filter their match recommendations by age or city
- Compatibility Quiz identifies common interests, lifestyles, and goals
- Browse eharmony profiles 100% free »
The long-term relationship site eharmony is for singles looking for that happily ever after, which is why the platform provides a lot of communication options. Everyone has options to communicate on eharmony, but there are some differences in the level of access and the number of options paid members get compared to people with free memberships.
Free membership comes with the ability to send some messages for free to your most compatible matches, take a potential match’s icebreaker quiz or send them a virtual smile to signal your interest. Premium members get a fuller range of access, including virtual dates and unlimited messaging to anyone on the online dating site or app.
Christian Mingle is a faith-based dating website for singles who want a relationship grounded in Christian values. People of all religions and backgrounds turn to this site in hopes of meeting a good Christian man or a good Christian woman. Christian Mingle’s claim to fame is that it has the highest percentage of Christian members of any dating site or app in the world.
- For singles interested in God-centered relationships
- Over 3.5 million monthly users around the world
- Available as an app on Google Play and the App Store
- Browse Christian Mingle profiles 100% free »
Christian Mingle is more than just the top dating site for Christian singles in the U.S. The site and dating app that goes with it also provide a platform for Christians who just want to talk to people who share the same faith and want to find friends. For Christians living in rural areas who want to expand their social circles while staying within the faith, Christian Mingle makes it easy to connect with people who share the same values and beliefs, no matter where in the world they might be,
It’s free to sign up for Christian Mingle and build your profile to let other faith-centered people find you. You can also browse matches and send “likes” to other Christian Mingle users all without paying a dime. But if you want to send messages back and forth with an interesting new person, you’ll need a premium membership, which starts at $14.99 per month. Our full review discusses the free membership and paid perks in more detail.
Best Chat Apps For Casual Hookups
These apps help anyone looking for a casual hookup or a bit of naughty fun communicate and connect with other like-minded people. Take in the fun, flirty atmosphere and get down to business to satisfy your fantasies, whether you do that in person or virtually.
6. BeNaughty
When it comes to arranging hookups, BeNaughty 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, BeNaughty 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 BeNaughty profiles 100% free »
BeNaughty frequently takes top marks among the hookup apps and sites out there because it offers everything you need to chat up sexy thrill seekers for free. The app is only available for Android users, but if you’re an iOS user, you can still access the mobile-friendly site, even though App Store adult content restrictions keep BeNaughty out. Unlike a lot of chat sites for people seeking hookups, BeNaughty offers some free communication, albeit with some restrictions.
All BeNaughty users have access to public chat rooms, where you can flirt and get spicy with local singles. But once it comes to private messaging, the differences between free and paid membership stand out. Male BeNaughty users can only send five direct messages per day on the free membership. Paid membership options like the Chataholic and the Premium Dater give men access to unlimited messages, read receipts, video chat, and other perks.
Ashley Madison is an extramarital dating site with over 80 million profiles in its private database, and it is full of temptation. The site and app offer a judgment-free zone where married people can consider their options and chat with singles who are willing to get together on the down-low.
- A uniquely open-minded dating network
- Privacy-conscious features
- Over 1.4 million matches per month
- Browse Ashley Madison profiles 100% free »
Ashley Madison is a dating platform where people can indulge their fantasies, whether they keep things to the virtual world or meet up in person. The site launched as a dating service for affair seekers, but a surprising number of singles use Ashley Madison because the platform is discreet, keeps information private, and offers a lot of options for communication.
Women on Ashley Madison don’t have to pay anything to message other members on this top-rated dating site. Men who use Ashley Madison have to buy credits to send or reply to messages they receive, but those same credits also unlock a lot of creative options for online communication. Push your messages to the top of your potential partner’s inbox, plan a fantasy date, or let the site reach out on your behalf to contact anyone you’re interested in.
OneNightFriend has been designed to offer fun browsing, speedy matches, and flirty chats between singles with few inhibitions. The casual hookup site and app help new members keep things light and look for opportunities to meet a sexy partner for a one-night stand. In addition to chat rooms and private messaging, OneNightFriend provides Safe Mode browsing to protect user privacy in a fast-paced, sex-positive online space.
- Quick signup for single men and women
- Free no-strings browsing of local personals
- Be the gatekeeper of your inbox with Safe Mode
- Browse OneNightFriend profiles 100% free »
OneNightFriend is a relative newcomer to the world of hookup sites and apps, but the platform makes up for it by incorporating some of the best features from the competition. Unlike many casual encounter services, OneNightFriend lets all users send at least five messages per day for free.
Of course, there are benefits to premium membership, including more options for contact and unrestricted messaging to any user on the platform. Premium membership comes with some other perks as well, like higher visibility and automatic browser history clearing, as well as read receipts.
Our dating experts put together a OneNightFriend review to break down the costs, popularity, and features that make it a favorite hookup site.
9. Tinder
Tinder shook up the online dating scene with swipe-based matching, but the free messaging the dating app offers is almost as rare. Tinder lets any two people who have both swiped right on each other’s profiles contact each other for free, without any restrictions or cutoffs. You can keep the chat going as long as you want, and Tinder won’t cut you off.
Tinder also offers alternative communications options, like video chat and voice calling, in case you’re not great with the written word or feel more comfortable getting to know your potential match or new friend in a different way.
10. DOWN
The DOWN app is all about communication and honesty, so it’s a natural fit for anyone seeking free chat apps. The sex-positive atmosphere on DOWN keeps real talk at its core and creates a judgment-free atmosphere for talking to other members on the platform. The very first thing you do when signing up for DOWN is choose between two categories: Are you down to date, or down to hook up?
DOWN also offers options outside of text-based chatting, including voice chats with other members and a voicemail advice system that offers coaching on your romantic pursuits.
Best Apps for LGBTQ+ Chatting
Members of the LGBTQ+ community often have a challenging time on mainstream chat sites and apps. A mainstream chat room app may come with harassment and trolling, and even if it doesn’t, finding other members of the community to talk to for support is important. These LGBTQ+ apps and sites make it easy for gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, trans, and other members of the rainbow community to connect in a safe space.
11. MenNation
Since 1996, MenNation has connected over 93 million men around the globe. This men-only dating site measures its success by the number of conversations and dates it facilitates with its intuitive matching system. Gay men love having a site to call their own, and its helpful features keep members engaged and entertained as they look for a hot date.
- One of the largest gay hookup sites in the world
- Search filters for age, location, physical attributes, and more
- Available in 12 languages and counting
- Browse MenNation profiles 100% free »
If you like to get sexy with your chatting, MenNation provides a very open and welcoming space for spicy content. The dating platform puts erotic video, photos, and messages right at the forefront, so be ready. Best of all, MenNation makes a lot of communications available to everyone on the casual sex site, whether you have a free membership or a premium one.
MenNation is among the top gay personals sites for men who are down to get frisky and flirty.
Free members can participate in the public chat rooms, send basic messages, and watch livestreams without putting any money in. Premium members get next-level access, with features like BuzzMode, which let you remotely control the toys that someone performing on livestream uses.
12. LesbianPersonals
LesbianPersonals.com is powered by Friend Finder Networks, so it encompasses a vast network of sexually active women. The female-friendly dating site allows women, couples, and groups to create a profile and find online and offline romance. With over 2 million women in its community, LesbianPersonals is fast becoming one of the most popular lesbian dating sites around.
- Free membership includes viewing profiles and sending likes
- Exchange revealing photos and videos privately online
- Simple search filters by interests and appearance
- Browse LesbianPersonals profiles 100% free »
LesbianPersonals is much more than a personals ad site for woman-loving women. The platform functions as a complete community resource for lesbians, bisexual, pansexual, and otherwise queer women. Beyond just posting personal ads, you can participate in public chat rooms and even get in on events coordinated by the membership.
Free members get access to the chat rooms and limited private messaging, but paid memberships come with the full run of the platform, and the ability to contact anyone, at any time. You’ll also get access to video content and photos.
13. HER
HER is a women-only (or “womxn” as the team says) dating app that helps cis, trans, and non-binary identified singles come into their own. This is a strict no-boys-allowed zone. HER encourages LGBTQ+ women to mingle by commenting on photos or events in the Feed, or they can like profiles to initiate a private conversation with a mutual match.
- A quirky and unapologetic womxn-only dating community
- Queer events get users connecting IRL
- The constantly updated Feed facilitates social networking
- Browse HER profiles 100% free »
Like LesbianPersonals, HER is all about community. The dating app for queer women is open and inclusive, welcoming trans women as well as cisgender women, and even holding space for nonbinary people who prefer a femme-identifying space. It’s a platform made for talking, building your community of safe people, and exploring your identity as a queer woman.
Because HER is so much about community, the differences between free and paid memberships are minor: free members get all of the basic functions, including full communication. Premium members gain access to read receipts, incognito mode, and an ad-free experience.
14. Grindr
Grindr became the world’s first gay geosocial app in 2009, and it continues growing its all-male user base more than a decade later. The app uses real-time GPS data to locate nearby date prospects and give gay and bisexual singles a chance to connect while they’re out on the town.
- Social networking for gay, bi, trans, and queer men
- Location-based matches spark instant chemistry
- Grindr Equality advocates for LGBTQ+ interests on the global stage
- Browse Grindr profiles 100% free »
Grindr launched three years before Tinder, making it the first dating app to use swipe-based matching mechanics. But among the most important features on Grindr are the free chatting and instant messaging the platform provides. Free and premium members alike can find each other, connect, and chat, making it a major community platform as well as a dating app.
Paid members do get perks, including some enhanced searching tools and the ability to send more photos. But if you’re just interested in chatting up local gay men, you never have to pay a thing to get access.
FAQs: Do I Have to Pay to Meet New People Online?
All of the apps and sites on this list offer a free subscription option, so you don’t have to pay to create your profile, browse, or find opportunities to meet new people. Many of the platforms on this list, however, place restrictions on how free members can communicate with the people they find.
Many dating sites and apps find that requiring a premium subscription to get full access to perks, like unlimited instant messaging, video conferencing, or text messaging, weeds out fake profiles and scammers. It also tends to make users more serious and intentional about who they contact.
There are several popular sites and dating platforms that allow unlimited free messaging, including OkCupid and Plenty of Fish.
In 2004, OkCupid’s founders decided to create a fool-proof formula for love, and they launched a free dating site to delve into what personal attributes made relationships work. OkCupid members can send unlimited messages for free. It’s easy to discover mutual interests and compatibility on the platform’s information-rich dating profiles.
- Free, unlimited communication for everyone
- Singles can swipe or search for a compatible date
- Over 91 million connections every year
- Browse OkCupid profiles 100% free »
However, you’re likely to find that competition for other people’s attention is stiff when anyone can message anyone else at any time. You’re also more likely to encounter time wasters — those casual people who just want to chat and aren’t interested in meeting up IRL (in real life).
Which Chat Apps Should I Use to Meet Senior Singles?
Mainstream mobile app dating platforms like Tinder and Bumble tend to favor younger singles, up to about age 35 on average. For seniors who want to get out there and make a new friend or find love, our dating experts recommend sing niche uplatforms that cater specifically to older daters.
SilverSingles is part of the Spark Network group of dating sites, and it incorporates a lot of safety and security features to help seniors who are new to online dating connect with confidence. Free members can build a profile, take the personality test, and browse matches. but you need a premium membership to have full access to communications options like text message and email.
SilverSingles is serious about helping singles over 50 meet one another, and its network stretches across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The secure signup process includes profile verification and fraud detection, so new members must portray themselves accurately to gain access to the platform. By fostering a safe environment, SilverSingles helps men and women meet mature dates in their area.
- An exclusively senior membership base
- Over 800,000 monthly users worldwide
- App available for free on Google Play
- Browse SilverSingles profiles 100% free »
SeniorMatch bridges the gap for lonely senior singles who want to meet someone new by combining an online platform and in-person events like a Senior Summer Camp. Reviews on the Google Play Store reference the high-quality customer support, and the site version of the platform got even more attention after the film “Daddy’s Home 2” referenced it in 2017.
OurTime has been around since 2001, and with more than 8.9 million website visitors monthly, it’s definitely one of the biggest online dating platforms for seniors seeking love. The site and app are one of the few platforms for dating that can boast a majority female user base, with 52% female members. And the customer service team is robust, friendly, and easy to reach out to.
Is WhatsApp a Good Chat App for Dating?
No. Unfortunately, free chat apps like WhatsApp are major hunting grounds for a lot of international scammers because they cost nothing and have no membership restrictions, which makes it easy to connect with potential victims. Our dating experts definitely don’t recommend trying to use these kinds of platforms for finding love or dates.
Our experts recommend that online daters chat within the dating platform rather than moving to a text messaging app. Anyone you find on dating sites or apps who tries to get you to move the conversation to another platform, such as lGoogle Hangouts, Google Chat or Google Meet, Yahoo Messenger, Skype, Snapchat, or Facebook messenger, is likely to be a scammer. While some genuine people may want to move things to less moderated free chat apps, it’s easier and safer to stay on the platform you started on.
Do Free Chat Rooms Still Exist?
Yes! There are several anonymous chat rooms, random chat apps, and other platforms out there that help people reach out to strangers. Some of these pure chat options also remain popular with singles, who use them to coordinate hookups or just meet people without any expectations.
Chatrooms.site is a newly launched chat room website with a space dedicated for young adults under 35 and a separate mature chat room open for the over-35 crowd.
FreeChatNow, 321Chat, and OnlineFreeChat all use similar chat software to let adults meet up and get to know each other in a group chat setting, with some options to take things one-on-one as well. If you want to get your motor running, each platform offers a spicy Adult/Sex chat room, along with more mundane options if you’re more interested in just meeting random people.

Some dating sites, like Adult Friend Finder, incorporate a public chat feature as one of the tools that members can use to find someone they want to meet in person. The chat widget is open to anyone and everyone on the site for platforms like Adult Friend Finder, but you usually have to pay extra to access instant messaging or a person-to-person chat tool.
Which Live Chat App Has Video Features?
The pandemic and restrictions around it led a lot of dating services to offer video chat and voice call options to help singles connect. By far, our experts agree that the Snack app is the best option for people who make video calling and video content a major cornerstone of their dating strategy.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, eharmony worked fast to develop a video chat feature that has facilitated a virtual dating experience.
Some more conventional dating apps and sites also offer video and voice messages. The dating app Hinge offers options for users to start a video call or voice call with potential matches.
Downloading a Chat App is an Easy Way to Start Dating
Whether you’re just looking to build up your social life by meeting new people or you want to find The One, free chat apps can be your ticket to new experiences. With so many options out there, you can choose to go after people who are looking for love or just meet people with similar interests.
Meet a new person in a chat room and maybe you’ll spark romance!