It’s no secret that now is a great time to date casually. With new apps popping up every week to help you find a local hookup, and the stigma surrounding hookup culture at an all-time low, you might wonder how to pick the best hookup app for you.
Our experts agree: these 9 apps and sites combine the best tools and features for anyone seeking casual encounters. Whether you’re looking for fun outside your marriage or want to meet the right people for some exciting adventures, these platforms are perfect for bringing your plans to life.
Overall Best Hookup Apps That Work
The casual dating scene can be a whirlwind of excitement, especially when you have the right app or site to guide you through the myriad of options. These hookup apps are known for delivering results and fostering a sex-positive environment for daters.
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 »
Ashley Madison has a long-standing reputation as an affair site, but both the site and the app that goes with it are just as valuable for singles looking to keep their sex lives discreet. Tools to help users keep their presence on the platform guarded include photo blurring, browser history clearing, and even a vault to stash your more risqué photos in, with a password to control who can access them. Users get a panic button to instantly navigate away from the app or site in case someone walks into the room.
Over 80 million people have joined Ashley Madison to flirt and find romance, and many of them are no stranger to long-term relationships and marriages. If you’re looking for an experienced partner who wants to keep things casual and light, then Ashley Madison could be the right dating pool for you.
Women on Ashley Madison get full access to the core features of the app without having to pay, but men must buy credits to receive the full benefits. Fortunately, Ashley Madison uses discreet billing codes, and if you really want to keep things private you can use a variety of payment methods, including gift cards.
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 has more fame as a hookup site than as a hookup app, but make no mistake, the app has proved its effectiveness in online dating. You can’t install the app through Google Play or the App Store, but you can download it directly to your device of choice from AFF. Whether you download the app or stick with the mobile-friendly site, it’s easy to see why Adult Friend Finder is a powerhouse in the hookup world. The casual encounter service boasts millions of members around the world, and keeps things simple and sexy.
Free users on the platform have access to all the public areas, like chat rooms and forums. As a basic member at AFF, you can chat with others, watch video content and browse erotic stories and photos. If you want to take things one-on-one, however, you’ll need a premium membership to send private messages.
3. 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 »
You can’t have a list of hookup apps without mentioning Tinder. Regardless of whether it’s the best hookup app, the swipe-based dating service is definitely the one to beat when it comes to free hookup apps. Tinder boasts 75 million active monthly users around the world, making it one of the biggest dating platforms around, so you’re just about guaranteed to find someone on the app, no matter where you are.
In addition to its popularity, a major draw for people seeking casual encounters is the fact that Tinder is free. You can sign up, swipe, and send and receive unlimited messages with any mutual match without paying a single penny. Premium subscriptions like Tinder Plus, Tinder Gold, and Tinder Platinum all add valuable perks like Super Likes and visibility boosts, but most users don’t need them to get what they’re looking for.
Best Hookup Apps for Gay Singles
Some may not feel comfortable on mainstream dating apps built by and for straight people – and that’s why we recommend the following platforms that are known for making gay and queer matches.
4. 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 »
It takes a lot to stand out from the crowd when it comes to hookup apps for gay men, but MenNation definitely brings its own flavor to the table. The casual dating platform doesn’t shy away from adult content, including nude photos, explicit forum posts, video chat, and erotic livestreams. MenNation also provides a welcome sense of community for gay, bisexual, and queer men. The poly dating website welcomes couples as well as singles for sexual adventures.
As a basic member on MenNation, you can browse user profiles and soak up adult content, and even post to the forums to share in the spicy, sexy fun. But if you want access to advanced perks like Buzzmode, which lets you remotely control a livestream performer’s sex toy, you’ll need the premium membership.
5. 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 »
Grindr is a keystone of the gay hookup ecosystem, and the massive popularity of the casual dating app makes it the go-to source for online dating and a community for queer men. Grindr welcomes all men to the app, whatever their sexual orientation, transgender and cisgender alike. Although casual sex is the name of the game on Grindr, the online dating platform also functions as a digital community for men, whether gay, bisexual, questioning, or straight.
As a free member on Grindr, you can participate in most of what the app has to offer, including swiping and finding a potential match in your area, at any time. Grindr Xtra comes with some important perks, however, including the ability to swipe and match outside of your area.
Best Casual Dating Apps for Seniors
As you get into your senior years, you may worry that your dating days are behind you. But senior dating apps and chat rooms have something to say about that. Millions of senior citizens have gone online and found meaningful connections, and even new relationships, thanks to the swiping tools designed for their benefit.
6. DateMyAge
Maturity is at the heart of DateMyAge. Since its launch, the dating site has endeavored to create genuine relationships that can weather life’s ups and downs. Many of its users have been married or in a long-term relationship before, and they’re looking to write a new love story in their later years.
- Profile verification with an ID check.
- Values-driven members focus on serious dating.
- Communication features include messaging and calling.
- Browse DateMyAge profiles 100% free »
Senior singles can have a hard time standing out in a traditional online dating site, whether they’re looking for a casual hookup or something more serious. DateMyAge provides over-50 singles with the right tools and the right atmosphere to find companionship, love, and even casual sex without judgment. Both the site and the app offer user-friendly features without complicated bells and whistles, and customer service and tech support are readily available if you run into issues.
DateMyAge also recognizes the threat that fake profiles and scammers represent to the vulnerable over-50 daters on the platform. That’s why user verification and other features are constantly at work to keep seniors on the site and app safe. Free membership allows you to sign up, browse profiles, and send unlimited “smiles” to the other users who catch your fancy, but you’ll need the premium membership package to send private messages to other members.
7. OurTime
OurTime gives singles over 50 a confidence boost by introducing them to age-appropriate dates online. The dating site offers multiple ways to connect and discover commonality, and it has led to thousands of success stories in the last few years. Whether you’re looking for a pen pal, a friend, or a relationship, OurTime has got it covered.
- Thousands of success stories from all over the world
- Find senior dates using advanced search filters and match suggestions
- The Help Center offers quick tips and guidance
- Browse OurTime profiles 100% free »
OurTime is a solid platform that welcomes any and every single over the age of 50 looking to mingle without making a commitment. Every OurTime member on this dating site is looking for something different, from casual dating and sexual encounters to friendship and romance. So whatever your needs, you’re likely to find someone who wants to help you satisfy them. The dating site and app are both user-friendly and safe for older daters who may not be as confident using online dating platforms. OurTime offers singles over 50 user support from the very beginning, taking you step-by-step through the signup process.
Although the features and tools on OurTime are simple and user-friendly, the platform offers a lot of perks geared toward helping seniors connect in a safe and fun environment. Premium members gain access to perks like a private phone number for texting and phone calls, along with video chat options. You’ll also need a premium membership to send private messages to other users. But all members can browse profiles and receive potential matches, and even participate in live events in the real world.
FAQs: Is There a Truly Free Hookup Site?
Women tend to have a lot more options than men when it comes to hookup sites and apps that don’t charge a fee. NaughtyCharm offers the full range of perks and benefits to women on the site, so if you’re a woman, you don’t have to get out the credit card to send messages or get perks.
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 »
Men on NaughtyCharm can choose from three premium membership packages to get the features they want the most. The Chataholic package includes unlimited messages, read receipts, and other tools that help you communicate more efficiently on the platform. Extra Security gives you access to incognito mode, full encryption, and browser history clearing. If you want the best of both worlds, you’ll have to pay for the Premium Dater, which grants you all of the tools of the other two packages.
Facebook Dating is probably the best option for people of any gender in search of a fully free hookup app experience. Facebook dating suggests matches based on the extended networks of your Facebook friends, but doesn’t out you to your friends. The platform also incorporates unlimited free messages, so you can contact as many people as you like.
Can I Use Match or eharmony for Casual Dating?
This is a tricky question. Technically, most people on Match joined the dating pool for a more serious commitment. In fact, more than 75% of Match users said in a poll that they are looking for a long-term relationship, not just a casual hookup. So you’re going to run into a lot of single people who want to tie you down on Match.
The eharmony dating service is likewise famous for catering to serious relationships, not short-term hookups, so it’s not the best dating site if you’re only interested in casual dating. After all, the entire purpose of the eharmony platform is for users to find lasting love and marriage.
That said, both eharmony and Match have open memberships that can include singles who want something more casual, despite their stated purpose of finding commitment. It’s not impossible to find a casual hookup on either eharmony or Match, but our dating experts counsel against it, especially since the membership fees can make it a pricey proposition with a lot of frustration.
Instead, it’s best to focus your efforts on hookup dating sites where you’re more likely to find people who also want to keep things casual.
Is Online Dating a Safe & Legit Way to Meet People?
Yes, as long as you take some basic precautions, it’s perfectly safe to meet people through online dating. Be aware of the risk of fake profiles and scammers on dating sites and apps, and don’t reveal any personal information you don’t have to. Basic safety precautions, like meeting your date in a public place and scheduling a voice or video chat before you meet in person for the first time, all help to make online dating safer.
And although jokes about meeting online continue to make the rounds, there are plenty of online dating success stories out there to back up the legitimacy of finding love on apps and sites.
Download a Hookup App to Act as Your Nightly Wingman
With so many apps and sites catering to busy singles who aren’t ready to settle down, it’s a golden age for hookup culture and casual encounters in general. These dating apps and sites make it easy to meet compatible people, connect, and get right down to business, no matter where you are.
Download one of these hookup apps that work, and satisfy your secret fantasies the quick and easy way!
