In 2018, U.S. law enforcement agencies cracked down on personals sites, like Backpage and Craigslist Personals, to make the online dating world a little safer and more reputable.
As a result, Backpage has permanently shut down, and Craigslist closed its personals sections, which has left many sexually active singles and couples wondering where else they can place a classified ad and pick up dates online.
Not to worry, there are over 8,000 dating sites out there, and many of them have proven effective and safe options for finding casual sex. We’ve picked out some of our favorite free classified sites to help singles who are seeking an alternative website to their old standby. Let’s get to it!
Best Sites Like Backpage & Craigslist Personals
Backpage and Craigslist closed without warning and put many sex traffickers out of business. However, the site closures also threw a lot of legit online daters temporarily off their game as they sought a new classified ad website where they could mix and mingle with their type of people — without worrying about sex trafficking.
Over the years, several top hookup platforms have emerged as the most popular alternatives to sketchy personals sites and sex job listings. You can check them out for free and permanently delete your old Craigslist ad.
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 is a scandalous dating site (and mobile app) where single and married people can explore romantic possibilities and have a romantic affair that makes them feel alive.
Since 2001, Ashley Madison has attracted millions of curious, restless, and open-minded daters. Its discreet features include a photo-masking tool, so you don’t have to bare everything in this sexually charged and fast-paced database.
As a dating site for married people or those seeking to have a discreet affair, Ashley Madison has allowed people to follow their hearts and escape their daily routines for a little while. As a Backpage replacement, Ashley Madison can discreetly connect people with a hookup partner. It’s a similar site for romance and classified advertising.
2. 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 is a sex-positive hookup website where singles can send flirty messages and create mutual matches without paying any subscription fees. We consider BeNaughty to be one of the best Backpage alternative sites because it offers free communication for all female users.
As long as you have a valid profile picture (no stock photos or nudes), you can chat with anyone who strikes your fancy on BeNaughty.
By requiring users to add photos to their personal ad, BeNaughty verifies that people are legit and willing to put themselves out there. If you do happen to see a fake profile or suspicious advertisement, you can always report that person to BeNaughty, and the moderators can block or remove that person from the classified ad website.
3. Flirt.com
If casual sex is your goal, then Flirt.com can be your wingman. This sex site offers anonymous browsing, advanced searches, and private communication, all for free, to help single men and women find a potential partner and arrange sexual encounters that satisfy their secret fantasies.
- 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
- Browse Flirt.com profiles 100% free »
Flirt.com may not be the largest dating network in the world, but it’s certainly one of the sexiest. Its personals section has a lot to offer a single person seeking quick, anonymous connections.
Flirt.com is available in 45 countries and 20 languages, and it has over 70 million dating profiles available with a simple search. You can use filters by age, location, appearance, photos, and other factors to narrow down the vast dating pool to a few choice candidates.
Or, if you’d like to keep your options open, then you can send a FlirtCast to dozens of sexy singles in your area and see if any of them send a message back.
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 »
Since 1996, AdultFriendFinder has established itself as the go-to classified website for singles, couples, and groups in need of a sexual release.
This trusted hookup site boasts the largest community of sexy singles and swingers, and it has created over 4.5 million connections so far.
The AFF adult section is more than a Backpage replacement site — it’s a safe solution that has free classified ads, group discussions, erotic blog posts, video broadcasts, and live member chatting to turn up the heat and get members in the mood to party.
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 hookup site “where good girls do bad things.” The free site offers a classified and anonymous space to explore your sexuality and arrange a casual encounter with potential love interests.
FriendFinder-X gives singles the power to find sexy dates who live close by and crave intimacy and romance. It doesn’t take much to woo someone in this thirsty dating network, which is larger than CL Personal or Backpage ever were.
As soon as you post your ad, you can enjoy a casual dating experience in private chats and discussion forums. If you want to verify that your online crush is who he/she says, you can arrange a two-way video chat on FriendFinder-X and establish a good vibe before meeting up in person.
6. SaucyDates
SaucyDates is an award-winning hookup site that takes online security seriously. The moderators check all profiles and photos before they’re posted. Erotic and revealing photos are permitted, but stock images or AI pics will be deleted. The straightforward interface makes it easy to find common ground through shared kinks and fetish. Sign up for free and get saucy!
- Verified photos
- Streamlined messaging
- Award-winning moderation
- Browse SaucyDates profiles 100% free »
SaucyDates has created a streamlined system where online conversations lead to real-life romances. It doesn’t cost anything to join the hookup site and explore new matches. Posting sexy photos is free as well.
Since 2007, SaucyDates has made a name for itself as a safe space for casual dating. The network stretches around the world with users in the U.S., the U.K., India, Australia, and South Africa.
With just an email address, singles can set up a profile, search for dates, and enjoy private chats in a safe and friendly space that’s basically a modern wingman.
7. 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 »
Since 2012, Tinder has become one of the most popular dating apps in the world because it gives singles the power to decide who shows up in their inbox. You can swipe through its profile listing to find a person who measures up to your standards.
Unlike personals sites, Tinder has matchmaking tools that help users focus on local dates. The mutual matching system speeds up the dating process and ensures singles only message people who are actively online and interested in having a casual hookup or serious relationship with them.
As of 2025, Tinder has seen over 97 billion matches and facilitates more than 1.5 million dates per week.
8. Pure
The Pure app is a sexy, anonymous place to chat up local hotties. The personal ads include kinky bios, playful pickup lines, and revealing photos with a blur option available. Everyone on this app is looking for a sexual release, so there's no need to be shy when discussing where and how you want to do it. Pure prides itself on offering a private sex club where users move quickly in pursuit of their desires.
- Chats disappear after 24 hours
- Turn-on tags include kinks and hobbies
- Add anywhere from 0 to 3 photos (no nudes)
- Browse Pure profiles 100% free »
Dynamic. Bold. Kinky. Pure is a hookup app full of kinksters who come right out and ask for casual sex. There is no playing coy here. Even though Pure doesn’t allow nudes to be posted, it has a blurring feature that can make for some steamy and suggestive profile pics.
Pure delivers fast connections based on sexual chemistry and turn-ons. You need to move quickly to secure a date because all Pure chats and matches disappear 24 hours after creation.
The anonymity and raw honesty on Pure are very reminiscent of Backpage’s vibes — but Pure does a better job at vetting new profiles and ensuring daters are on the same level.
Best LGBTQ+ Sites Like Backpage & Craigslist Personals
A few years back, Match surveyed 1,000 LGBTQ+ singles in the U.S. to find out how they felt about the modern dating scene. The results indicated that gay men love the single lifestyle.
Only 40% of gay men said they wanted to get married someday, only 36% wanted children, and about 70% of gay men said they had dated a person they met online.
If you’re gay, single, and want to play the field, I recommend trying these queer-friendly hookup sites.
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 »
First up, we have MenNation, the largest gay hookup site on the market. Millions of men have followed their libidos and found dates on this classified site, which is open 24/7 to anyone feeling horny.
As you can tell from its name, MenNation is a men-only site, and it requires users to be at least 18 years old to create a personal ad and take part in the fun. This website can escort men to a casual sex life where they’re in control.
MenNation offers a judgment-free dating zone for men only. It doesn’t matter if you’re gay, bisexual, queer, or questioning — as long as you’re looking for no-strings-attached sex with local guys. Transgender men are welcome, too, and have the ability to filter matches or go incognito to stay safe.
10. HER
The HER team believes in the unequivocal power of queer womxn, and its niche dating community lets these strong female voices ring out loud and clear. Whether you’re looking for a date, a travel buddy, or an interesting conversation, you can mingle freely and safely here.
- Welcomes women of all orientations
- Moderators patrol the app 24/7
- Location-based matches and events
- Browse HER profiles 100% free »
HER is a female-friendly app for LGBTQ+ women seeking local dates and new friends. Its newsfeed is engaging and community-driven, and it has strict guidelines to protect its users.
The HER dating app welcomes women from all walks of life. It has seen over 15 million downloads over the last 10 years, and it has a pretty good reputation among lesbians. The biggest complaints I’ve seen are about men sneaking into the app out of a desire to hook up with bisexual or lesbian ladies.
HER has moderators to remove catfish profiles upon detection. And you can always use the block button to get rid of anyone making you feel uncomfy.
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 »
Since launching in 2009, Grindr has become synonymous with the gay dating scene, and it has built a massive membership base of over 27 million men — and counting. Even in their heyday, you wouldn’t find that many gay guys mingling on Backpage or Craigslist Personals.
Grindr uses location-based data to find hot dates that are within walking distance. The gay dating app is particularly useful to singles who are out on the town and looking to meet up immediately. Your mutual match could be at the bar next door or dancing at a club down the street, and all it takes is a few messages to make something happen.
“It’s like fishing. Find a good spot. Put your bait out,” said a Grindr user named Chris. “Some days it’s hard, and no one bites, but another day you may find three encounters in the same day.”
FAQs: Which App Is Best for One-Night Stands?
The aptly named OneNightFriend offers easy access to easy dates, so it’s the best classified website for arranging a one-night stand.
The service encourages users to let go of their inhibitions and pursue their desires online. OneNightFriend does exactly what the name promises and helps people find sexy friends for the night. Think of it like a personals site without all the shady sex worker business.
You don’t have to put in much effort to find a date. As soon as you post your profile, you can begin swiping, searching, and messaging in this sexy community.
The site will do some work behind the scenes to vet new profiles, so you won’t be accosted by unsavory folks upon signup.
What Is Doublelist?
Launched in 2018, Doublelist is a personals site aiming to fill the gap left by Backpage and Craigslist — except without the sex trafficking, drug deals, prostitution rings, and other scams that got those businesses in trouble. It’s a new Backpage, basically, but with better verification.
The personals section advertises real people, and trustworthy moderators will remove a fake profile upon detection.
The Doublelist site double-verifies its users (hence the name) by requiring an email address and phone number upon signing up.
Whether you’re looking for straight-up dating, hookups, chatting, or entertainment, Doublelist has a secure forum for you to share your thoughts and meet like-minded people (not sex workers) in your area. The website is currently available in 240+ cities, and it is rapidly growing its reputation as a Backpage replacement.
What Is CasualX?
CasualX is a hookup app that markets itself as “Tinder minus marriage-minded daters.” Naturally, its service appeals to sex-oriented singles looking for casual encounters online and offline.
One of the biggest perks of CasualX is the locking feature. You can set an unlock pattern to make sure prying eyes can’t access your dating profile on your smartphone. It is for your eyes only.
CasualX is a good Backpage alternative because it can be accessed on the go, and the website does not support any criminal activity.
Can Singles Still Use Craigslist to Find Casual Sex?
While it’s true that Craigslist officially closed its personals section in 2018, it’s also true that some creative online daters have continued to use its classified ads to meet potential dates. They just can’t do it directly.
Instead of posting a personal ad that they’re looking for a casual hookup, a single person may enter the community forums or strike up a flirty chat with a local dog sitter or handyman. The conversation could still lead to a hookup.
The classified website has banned people from posting about romantic interests or adult services, but it can’t stop the suggestive connections, flirty conversations, and friendships that grow into something more personal.
Which Hookup App Has a Similar Backpage Look & Feel?
The PURE hookup app has a lot of similarities to the Backpage website. Both offer classified advertising for sex-driven people, and both provide anonymous and no-strings browsing of profiles. Some people have even called PURE “the new Backpage” in reviews.
But there is a main distinction between a PURE profile and a Backpage posting, and it’s an important one: PURE facilitates sexting and hookups without crossing the line into illegal activity.
PURE is a hookup app, not an escort site. That means its matches are between consenting adults who are looking for casual sex. The ads on PURE say things like “I’m looking for friends with benefits” or “I’d like to meet for coffee and see where things go.” They do not seek money or gifts for sexual favors.
Setting up a free ad on PURE takes less than a minute, and it will only be visible to other PURE members if you are actively patrolling for casual dates.
Personals Sites Can Offer Direct Access to Local Singles
Backpage and Craigslist Personals may be gone for good, but online dating continues to grow in popularity, particularly among casual daters. Singles can seek hot dates and arrange steamy encounters on dating sites — and we recommend starting with the ones on this list. They have proven successes and solid reputations.
I’ve listed several good alternatives to shady personals full of sex workers, so singles don’t have to worry about fake ads, human trafficking, or a law enforcement crackdown ruining their online dating experience.
These adult services are free to join, so there’s no harm in creating a profile and seeing who’s out there.
If you’re interested in exploring the casual dating scene, then create a profile on two or more dating sites and keep an open mind as you browse, message, and match with people. You never know who you’ll meet online, and that’s part of the fun!
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