Free hookup apps are like the all-you-can-eat buffets of the online dating scene. You can find just about anything you want at your fingertips, and it’s a fun way to explore new cuisine, try different flavor combinations, and find something that satisfies your cravings.
If you’re in the mood to mix things up in your love life, you can join a social media site or popular dating app to encounter sexy singles while on the go. It’s an easy way to pick up a date, share a bite to eat, and dig into the local dating scene.
We highly recommend the following top-rated hookup dating apps for singles and swingers who are hankering for a midnight snack and want to bring a sweet treat to bed.
Best Overall Free Hookup Apps
Some people say good things come to those who wait. We say, why wait to have something good in your life? We’re more about a dessert-first philosophy, and so are pretty much all of our sexually active readers.
If you’re ready to get to the good stuff right now, then don’t waste time trying to meet people in the real world — take a quick spin around the following free dating apps for hookups, and you’ll encounter millions of people online.
1. 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 has the competition beat when it comes to sexy places to make a date. This free hookup site launched a companion dating app for Android users, so you always have easy access to a hot date or hookup buddy.
Flirting is a 24/7 game on BeNaughty, and the popular dating platform encourages its 13 million members to discuss their deepest desires and get intimate with strangers they met for free online.
You can find the best quality dates by using the search filters for age, location, appearance, interests and other important factors, or you can go to the Like Gallery and swiping yes or no on dating profiles that meet the dating preferences in your profile. Messaging is free on BeNaughty, but you can upgrade your online dating experience by getting the Chataholic package or Extra Security for less than a dollar a day.
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 »
Adult Friend Finder is a free-wheeling dating site with limitless romantic potential. The platform has over 100 million members in its database, and millions of people are actively seeking a sexual partner here.
Whether you’re interested in enjoying a one-night stand, a threesome, an affair, or another sexual activity, the AFF community can lay bare tons of messaging tools to help you reach potential partners and make something happen.
First, you can up your flirting game on the AFF dating forums, which currently has over 17,000 groups. Then you can get in the mood by watching live video broadcasts and strip teases. And, finally, you can turn up the heat by engaging in a private face to face video chat with an anonymous hottie online.
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 »
You can skip the pretense and straight-up ask strangers for sex on FriendFinder-X. This discreet dating site can keep your secrets as you explore your fantasies and proposition a new playmate or hookup buddy.
You can sign up anonymously as a single, and couple, or a group and then search for dating profiles in your area. It’s free to join FriendFinder-X, use the search tools, and browse for potential matches, but you’ll have to subscribe if you want to meet people and get the most bang for your buck.
As mobile-friendly dating site, FriendFinder-X can satisfy anyone seeking a fast date. And you don’t have to download anything to get started. “FriendFinder-X isn’t just a site,” the team says. “It’s a community of people looking to add a little more passion into their lives.”
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 80 million profiles await you on Ashley Madison, and it's free to create an anonymous account.
- Discreetly arranges one-night stands and extramarital affairs
- More than 80 million profiles worldwide
- Travel-friendly features for seeking matches in other cities
- Browse Ashley Madison profiles 100% free »
Ashley Madison has made headlines — sometimes in a bad way — for its bold stance on dating. The free online site and app support extramarial affairs, casual dating, poly relationships, long-distance romances, no-strings-attached hookups, and everything in between.
Since 2001, Ashley Madison has been the go-to spot for cheating spouses and curious singles seeking a discreet and exciting affair. You can live out your fantasies and pursue your pleasures in this free-wheeling space.
It’s free to create a profile on Ashley Madison and join the database, which includes over 54 million profiles, but you’ll have to upgrade to a paid membership to send and receive messages.
You can also download the Ashley Madison app and link it to your social media accounts to ensure friends of friends won’t run into you online.
5. Tinder
First impressions matter on Tinder. The dating app gives its users the chance to find romance by liking the photos and bylines of local singles. The app's casual atmosphere encourages flirty conversations that quickly lead to exchanging numbers or arranging in-person dates. Every week, Tinder facilitates over 1.5 million dates and hookups in 190+ countries.
- 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
- Browse Tinder profiles 100% free »
Tinder has a reputation as a casual hookup dating app for a reason. Its fast-paced swiping system promotes hookup culture by encouraging singles to make snap judgments about each other based largely — if not entirely — on looks.
Over the last decade, Tinder has taken the dating world by storm and empowered millions of people to follow their interests and meet people who are wanting the same things. Tinder has brought the SwipeLife phenomenon to 190 countries, and now adult singles everywhere no longer have to waste time wondering if someone likes them or not.
Since its launch in 2012, Tinder has made over 43 billion matches, and many of those online connections led to flirtation conversations, fun first dates, and real-life hookups. All you have to do is download the app for free on Google Play or the App Store, use your social media accounts to set up a profile on Tinder, and you’re all set to start swiping on potential partners in your area.
6. OkCupid
OkCupid's free communication features make it great for singles seeking a no-strings-attached hookup. The dating site and app allow singles to create a brief profile and dive into match recommendations within minutes. Singles can swipe up a storm until they strike a good match and take the conversation to the next level.
- 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
- Browse OkCupid profiles 100% free »
The dating app OkCupid is a completely free to download and start chatting, and that’s reason enough for casual daters to give it a try. You can send unlimited messages and like as many profiles as you want without paying OkCupid a cent or having to deal with a time limit on your conversations.
OkCupid is a personality-driven dating space, and its smart matching algorithm can save adult singles a lot of time when looking for a compatible partner or hookup buddy. The app will calculate your compatibility based on a number of factors — including sexual experience and interests — and highlight profiles that jive with you.
The in-depth profiles on OkCupid pretty much remove the guessing games from the online dating scene. You can state upfront in your dating profile that you’re looking for a hookup, and you can also discuss your interests, hangups, turn-ons, and goals in the open-ended About Me section.
Pro tip: If you update your profile frequently, OkCupid will consistently put you at the top of search results and match lists.
7. Match
Match is an open-ended dating site where singles can make their own rules. Some are seeking heartfelt relationships that lead to marriage, while others just want to hook up. Sexy singles can hunt for a date by using Match's advanced search tools and live chat and video features. Unlike some other sites, Match doesn't restrict messaging to mutual matches, so you can woo anyone who strikes your fancy.
- Free profile browsing and liking
- Private chat rooms and video dates for Match members only
- Fast-working, time-tested AI match algorithm
- Browse Match profiles 100% free »
Match.com may brand itself as a relationship-oriented dating site and app, but more than a few of its 15 million members are looking for something a little more casual and relaxed.
We’ve listed Match as one of the best dating apps for hookups because its matchmaking algorithm doesn’t any waste time recommending compatible profiles and arranging face to face dates with real people.
You can go to the Discover section to swipe on Match’s top picks for you. The Match team curates this list of potential matches by using your profile information, so be sure to fill every section out accurately and thoroughly. If you see someone you’re into, click the Like button to let them know — or send a flirtatious message and see what happens.
Only premium members can send an unsolicited message to someone on Match, so forward daters may want to upgrade their profiles and take advantage of everything the Match community has to offer.
8. Zoosk
Zoosk is a fun-loving dating site where singles can let go of their inhibitions and attract dates one private message at a time. The site's varied search options and communication features facilitate fast connections in a unique social environment. Zoosk members are a chatty bunch, sending over 3 million messages a day, so you won't have to search far to find hookups here.
- 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
- Browse Zoosk profiles 100% free »
With over 40 million members, Zoosk can be an incredibly effective wingman for horny singles everywhere. The dating site and app can cut through the nonsense and provide meaningful matches in the Carousel, SmartPick section, and search tab.
Much like a social media network, Zoosk provides a lot of different ways to browse profiles and interact with online crushes. Free members can send likes or smiles to one another, or they can send icebreaker greetings and quick responses in live chats, or they can use Zoosk Coins to send a virtual gift.
Since its launch in 2007, Zoosk has pioneered a number of forward-thinking tools, including behavioral matchmaking. Instead of focusing on what you say you like, Zoosk bases its match suggestions on what you actually like — tracking online behavior to pair up compatible dates.
Plenty of Fish lowers the cost of romance by allowing casual daters to send private chats for free. It's easy to make a fast connection thanks to Plenty of Fish's free messaging system. On average, POF members send over 1 billion messages a month, and these chats often lead to romantic encounters in the real world.
- Free instant messages for all singles
- Over 150 million members in 20 countries
- The MeetMe section highlights local hotties
- Browse Plenty of Fish profiles 100% free »
Singles can get an immediate thrill by diving into the dating scene at Plenty of Fish. The free dating platform serves a diverse community of over 150 million users in 20 countries, and over 65,000 new users join its ranks every day.
Plenty of Fish’s biggest selling point is the fact that it doesn’t sell anything at all. The site is free to join, and the app is free to download, and both platforms offer unlimited free communication to everyone — no strings attached!
Plenty of Fish offers a safe space full of conversation starters and romantic opportunities. As long as casual daters follow the POF Community Guidelines, they can seek dates and arrange hookups for as long as they want in this free online community.
Best LGBT Free Hookup Apps
You may be single for a lot of reasons, but none of those reasons are insurmountable with the right tools and mindset. LGBTQ+ daters often have difficulty spotting one another in the mainstream dating scene, so they flock to gay-friendly dating apps where they are surrounded by their own kind.
Here are our favorite gay hookup apps that are free to download and safe to use.
9. 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 »
MenNation boasts being the world’s largest gay hookup site because its membership base reaches millions of people worldwide. Every day, tens of thousands of gay dudes log into the MenNation network to get their flirting on.
MenNation is a gay-men-only dating scene, so “looking for men” is your online option when creating an account. Gay singles and couples can register for free by using a valid email address (this is how MenNation verifies your identity) and then browse the adult hookup network anonymously under a username of no more than 16 characters.
This popular hookup dating site can give a helping hand to LGBT singles and couples looking for a conversation starter that leads to sex.
10. LesbianPersonals
As part of Friend Finder Networks, LesbianPersonals is a fast-paced hookup site built to satisfy. The dating platform caters to women, straight couples, lesbian couples, and groups who are looking to enjoy lesbian sex. LesbianPersonals members can find romance in live video chats or instant message conversations and take things to the next level by exchanging contact information.
- 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
- Browse LesbianPersonals profiles 100% free »
LesbianPersonals has everything lesbians could want and then some in its female-friendly sex network. The dating site emboldens women seeking women, and it also has options for couples seeking a unicorn — a bisexual woman who enjoys threesomes.
The sex-positive environment on LesbianPersonals can support women who want to explore their sexuality and put some notches on the bedpost.
It’s free to create a personal ad on LesbianPersonals and solicit sex by exchanging messages or pictures in a lustful, ladies-first dating scene. Users can also enjoy the video chat feature, which is a popular dating tool for adult singles meeting strangers online.
11. Grindr
Grindr facilitates hookups by telling local singles where the hottest guys in town are and giving them a direct line of communication. It's easy to jump into this active dating pool and start flirting with gay and bisexual men near you.
- Sexually active men can create free profiles
- Matching system uses GPS information to find local dates
- Millions of prospects available in 192 countries
- Browse Grindr profiles 100% free »
If you’re a gay man, you’ve almost certainly heard of Grindr, maybe you’ve even tried using it before, so it should come as no surprise that it’s among the top gay hookup apps for men wanting to get down and dirty.
Since 2009, Grindr has given gay and bisexual singles easy access to the hottest guys in the area, and its location-driven matches naturally facilitate hookups. All you have to do is whip out Grindr while you’re at a bar, club, or coffee shop and scan dating profiles in your immediate vicinity.
Grindr offers mutual matching and live chatting tools to help adult singles go from online connection to offline date as quickly as possible.
Is Tinder Just a Hookup App?
Tinder has a lot more than just hookups to offer singles. The open-ended social media network can introduce singles to new friends, hot dates, pen pals, and potential partners — and it can even rekindle a romance with an ex.
Men and women can use Tinder’s matching system to pursue a variety of social and dating goals, and it can be a good practice ground for singles who are unsure about what they want.
Not all Tinder users are only interested in sex. In fact, one survey found that 80% of Tinder users are looking for meaningful relationships. Some of these relationships may last for a season, others for a lifetime, but they all have to start somewhere, and that’s where Tinder comes in. A new personal connection is just a swipe away on Tinder.
Does Craigslist Not Have Personals Anymore?
No, sadly Craigslist shut down its personals section in March 2018. The website owners took this step after the U.S. Congress passed an online sex trafficking bill stating that websites could be held liable for the unlawful activity of its users.
“We can’t take such risk without jeopardizing all our other services,” according to Craigslist’s official statement. “To the millions of spouses, partners, and couples who met through Craigslist, we wish you every happiness!”
Even though Craigslist closed its personals section, many singles still use it as a dating avenue and post ads for dates or sex in the Missed Connections or other local community forums.
What is the Best Alternative to Craigslist Personals?
A lot of dating apps and sites have positioned themselves as an effective alternative to Craigslist Personals, but only a handful have the large membership bases, simple search tools, and sex-driven personals to back up their online services.
We’d say BeNaughty is one of the best alternatives to Craigslist Personals because it has a straightforward hookup culture that has proven to work for singles of all ages, backgrounds, and orientations.
BeNaughty invites singles to walk on the wild side and explore their sexuality in a fun, free-wheeling environment. This adults-only dating site is full of X-rated content, but users can blur nude photos if they'd prefer to leave some things to the imagination. Premium subscribers get the most bang for the buck because they can send messages, browse incognito, and receive alerts when their messages have been read by someone special.
- Sexually active adults in 10 countries
- Browse the Like Gallery for hot singles
- Stimulate conversation in intimate private messages
- Browse BeNaughty profiles 100% free »
Much like Craigslist, BeNaughty has a location-based matching system that allows casual daters to find one another online and arrange hookups offline.
Anyone on the rebound after the Craigslist Personals shutdown can turn to BeNaughty to get them flirting again in no time.
Is Hinge a Hookup App?
No, not really. Hinge markets itself as the relationship app that’s “designed to be deleted.” Sure, some of its users are looking for hookups and short-term dating, but the vast majority are serious daters looking for a serious commitment and marriage.
Hinge requires users to put more time and effort into their dating profiles and online conversations, and it matches users based on common interests and shared lifestyles. The quality-driven matchmaking app encourages singles to get to know each other and build genuine connections based on more than just physical attraction.
With all that being said, 90% of Hinge users are between 25 and 35 years old, and 72% of first dates lead to second dates, so it’s not exactly a terrible place to seek a sexual partner and see where the connection takes you. Just keep in mind that you may have to dodge a few commitment-oriented dates to find someone playing it fast and loose like you.
Can an App Like Tinder Lead to Relationships?
Actually, surprisingly, yes. Apps like Tinder may have a reputation for being more about hookups and casual dating than forming meaningful connections, but their fast-paced swiping and matching tools can lead singles to fall in love with a special someone. It’s not guaranteed, but it’s definitely possible.
People may say #SwipeLife is all about hitting it and quitting it, but sometimes casual daters can wind up committing to it as well. Tinder leads to over 1.5 million first dates every week, and not all of those lead straight to the bedroom. Sometimes a coffee date can lead to a dinner date and an exclusive dating situation. I’ve seen it happen for my friends, and a Tinder love story could be in your future as well.
Tinder’s trademark swiping tools allow singles to go after what they want — whether that’s sex, relationships, conversations, or just good times — and pursue who they want in the online dating scene. That’s a powerful thing for anyone looking to meet people and form meaningful connections.
At the end of the day, apps like Tinder bring people together and offer a conversation starter so they can share their stories, explore common interests, and build relationships that could last a night or could last a lifetime. You never know until you swipe right and give someone a chance to hit it off with you.
What is Facebook Dating & Should I Join It?
Facebook Dating is a new dating service attached to the Facebook app, and you can only use it if you have a valid Facebook account and have downloaded the Facebook app on your smartphone or mobile device. Your Facebook Dating profile is kept completely separate from your public profile and friends list, so no one in your newsfeed will see your dating activity or know that you’re using Facebook Dating to meet people.
The Facebook Dating service works similarly to traditional apps like Tinder and Bumble — you swipe on profiles and can only chat with mutual matches — but it also has the added advantage of using friends of friends and secret crushes to spark connections.
As a free member of Facebook Dating, you can identify which of your Facebook friends you have a secret crush on, and the app will notify you if that person say he or she also has a crush on you. That’s pretty exciting if you’ve been too shy to tell a friend you like him or her, but would like to get something going.
Facebook Dating is still new on the dating scene, so it doesn’t have the largest or most active user base ever — but our dating experts do think it shows promise and can help online daters who are tired of swiping on the same profiles on other apps and sites.
You can switch things up on Facebook Dating, and it’s completely free to set up a profile, swipe on matches, send chats, identify crushes, and use the app to land local dates. So you’ve really got nothing to lose by giving Facebook Dating a try.
Free Hookup Apps Can Satisfy Your Appetites
We’ve ranked the top sex-oriented apps to help singles and couples enjoy a wild dating experience from the privacy of their smartphones. From the moment you download a hookup app, you’re in for a treat. You can fill your plate with goodies by swiping through profiles and enjoy sampling the best local fare.
Free hookup apps can help you satisfy your cravings and meet like-minded single people who have similar appetites, interests, and goals.
If you’re hungry for a casual hookup, a threesome, or a one-night stand, you can check out any of the dating apps and sites on this list to get something going. Good luck!