Key Takeaways
Our dating experts created profiles and tested the features on the following casual dating sites.
-
Our top pick for anonymous dating is Ashley Madison.
-
NaughtyCharm has the fastest signup with minimal info required.
-
For poly dating and LGBTQ+ matches, we recommend Adult Friend Finder.
Many sex seekers were disheartened by the shutdown of Backpage and Craigslist Personals in 2018. With the U.S. government cracking down on platforms that facilitated sex trafficking, the Craigslist team decided they couldn’t take the risk. However, the loss of this free classified ad space didn’t deter people for long.
Sites like Doublelist quickly emerged to fill the gap and arrange anonymous encounters — but with enhanced safety measures.
Doublelist isn’t the only option for posting an ad for sex partners. Several dating platforms cater to singles (and even couples) looking for adult relationships. These sites and apps make it easy to stay anonymous while searching for romance, even if it’s just for one night.
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 is well-known as the world’s first affair dating site, but it’s worth a try for anyone seeking a casual, discreet encounter. The privacy and security features allow users to browse and match without anyone finding out who they are — unless that’s what they want.
Pros
- Minimal personal details on display
- Photo blurring and masking tools
- No-strings casual dating
Cons
- Requires a phone number or email
- No video tools
The platform features a straightforward credit system. Men using Ashley Madison buy credits to message women on the app. This pay-as-you-go model is ideal for those who want to avoid recurring charges appearing on their credit card statements.
Using Ashley Madison is completely free for women, with full access to messaging, matching tools, and advanced search options. This setup provides plenty of motivation for women to explore the platform, as they have nothing to lose and potentially exciting encounters to gain!
VictoriaMilan is an affair dating site where sexting is common. Members come feeling lonely, horny, or bored, and they find a lot of eye candy to excite their curiosity. Profiles can state their desires and even if they have a love nest. The site offers photo blurring and masking tools to keep an air of mystery alive and protect individual privacy.
- Profiles state their turn-ons.
- No real names needed.
- Filters by height, weight, body type, and looks.
- Browse Victoria Milan profiles 100% free
Victoria Milan is an affair dating site for horny people seeking immediate gratification. The fast signup and instant messaging system encourage moving quickly to sexy talk. Users are motivated to get their flirt on and stay anonymous while testing the flirting waters.
Pros
- Browse with a username
- Photos are optional
- Search filters by appearance
Cons
- Binary gender options
- Secretive matches
New members do not need to use their real names or add photos of their faces, so it’s easy to discreetly lurk, sext, and see what’s out there.
One key difference between Doublelist and Victoria Milan is how they handle moderation. The Victoria Milan team thoroughly checks and approves every new profile and photo, making it highly unlikely for a scam artist to slip past.
3. NaughtyCharm
NaughtyCharm 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 flirty photos, and many profiles go by a nickname because they 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 NaughtyCharm profiles 100% free
NaughtyCharm is a sex-positive hookup site, so users can get right to the point about what they’re looking for. The site functions like a classified ad page with members operating under a username, a photo, and basic information.
Pros
- Extremely fast signup
- No names or identifying details
- Free unlimited likes
Cons
- Sparse profiles
- A photo is required
It’s easy to maintain your anonymity on NaughtyCharm because it only asks for your age, ZIP code, gender, and email. It has useful search filters by things like piercings, tattoos, and height. And it has a fun photo-swiping game with local profiles at the top of the list.
A free membership includes unlimited browsing and full access to the search filters. You can show interest by sending likes and reading any incoming messages (which autodestruct after a day). Users need to sign up for a premium membership to send private chats.
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 been around almost as long as Craigslist, and it remains a popular choice for people seeking adult adventures. The website lets users post personal ads or event invites for free in the forums, and it has group chats organized by kink.
Pros
- X-rated pics and videos
- Open to all sexual proclivities
- Free to post and comment in the forum
Cons
- Some videos cost money
- A lot of tabs to navigate
But it isn’t all classified ads. You can browse written erotica, look at steamy pictures in the photo gallery, or watch videos created and posted by other users to keep your motor running while you seek your next hookup.
Basic membership grants a person access to the public areas of the site, including the forums and chat rooms, but if you want to respond to your private messages, you’ll need a premium account on AFF.
5. SparkMeets
SparkMeets is designed to offer fun browsing, speedy matches, and flirty chats between singles with few inhibitions. The casual hookup site helps new members keep things light and look for opportunities to meet a sexy partner for a one-night stand. In addition to private messaging, SparkMeets 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
- Easy swiping through profiles in the Like Gallery
- Browse SparkMeets profiles 100% free
Although it’s a relative newcomer to the hookup space, SparkMeets is a solid alternative to sites like Doublelist. The online dating site keeps things simple and anonymous, and it has local search tools to make it easy to find a one-night stand on your terms.
SparkMeets isn’t your usual personal ad site, but users treat it like one by posting brief descriptions of what they’re seeking, along with a photo or two. You don’t have to share much about yourself, only gender, age, and location are required details. The bio is optional.
Pros
- Quick registration
- No real names needed
- Casual no-strings dating
Cons
- Not good for LGBTQ+ dates
SparkMeets has a Like Gallery for swiping and sending likes (no daily limits). Basic membership comes with some limited communication options. When you’re a free member, you can send a Flirtcast and reach out to multiple members simultaneously with a pre-written message.
Premium users enjoy unlimited messaging access, incognito browsing, and enhanced visibility in search results. There are optional profile verification tools as well to keep things on the up and up.
6. Fling.com
Fling.com is a casual dating network with a sleek interface and fast matchmaking. The website boasts having over 2 million verified photos, ranging from car selfies to bikini pics. There’s also live video available. Members can send pictures, gifs, and videos in the private messaging windows. Fling profiles put turn-ons and kinks front and center, so members can cut to the chase and start sexting.
- Fun video technology
- Free anonymous browsing
- No location limits on searches
- Browse Fling.com profiles 100% free
Fling.com is a free hookup site where adults can explore their fantasies and indulge their secret desires. Sexual content is everywhere on this site, from the photo galleries to the video livestreams.
Pros
- Photos and actual names are optional
- Sexually explicit content
- Free private messaging
Cons
- Old-school, crowded interface
- Video chats are paid features
Unlike the typical personals site, Fling.com has a ton of search filters to help individuals find exactly their type. You can filter by who’s online now or verified profiles only, and you can set preferences by location, eye color, body type, height, profession, income, and more.
Very little personal information is required on Fling.com, but there are optional sections for folks who like to share. Some people go into detail about who they are and what they’re seeking, while others stick to the basics and let their photos do the talking.
KinkyPeopleMeet is a hookup site with naughty chat rooms, photo galleries, and video feeds. Members can add kinky tags to their profiles and describe their fantasies in the bio section. People who want to get immediate action can go to the Online Now section and view live profiles.
- Free messaging, with some limits
- Active users earn credits to unlock extra perks
- Verification tools and member chat feedback
- Browse KinkyPeopleMeet profiles 100% free
KinkyPeopleMeet is more of a hookup site than a classified ad space, but the free messaging and sexy profiles make it a good alternative to personals. Plus, it has multiple verification features to give members greater peace of mind.
Pros
- Anonymous free browsing
- Private sext messaging
- Kink tags and search filters
Cons
- Video chat rooms require credits
- Some pop-up ads
Much like a personals site, KinkyPeopleMeet doesn’t require real names or even photos to join the fun. Users can choose to talk about their fetishes and fantasies, or they can keep profile information to a minimum. KinkyPeopleMeet has private photos and video chat rooms to satisfy sexual curiosities, and all of it can be viewed anonymously.
Once you find a profile that piques your interest, you can send a message for free. No mutual matching is required.
8. MenNation
MenNation boasts having one of the world’s largest men-only hookup community, and it has 93 million dating profiles to back up its claim. Since 1997, this gay dating site has made inroads in the LGBTQ community and supported sexually active singles and couples who want to find a partner for the night.
- Free registration and unlimited profile browsing
- Add online crushes to the Hotlist or My Network
- Enjoy private conversations in the Message Center
- Browse MenNation profiles 100% free
MenNation has been around since the 1990s, and it has outlasted Craigslist Personals by catering to men’s sexual needs without jeopardizing online safety. The gay hookup site actively promotes sexual content, but all users have to pass an age verification step to enter.
Pros
- Naked photos and videos of men
- Age verification required
- Free profiles don’t need a photo or real name
Cons
- Videos load slowly
- Some catfishing straight couples
No matter how you identify — whether you’re gay, bisexual, pansexual, or just curious—MenNation is eager to welcome you (as long as you’re over 18). You can explore your sexual interests, post for free in the community forum, and arrange a hookup in real life.
MenNation doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to adult content. Any member can access the racy pictures and videos, but live cam content is only open to premium subscribers. Buzzmode is a unique feature that sets MenNation apart from other hookup sites. This premium feature allows cam viewers to remotely operate a sex toy that the streamer is using.
FAQs: Is Doublelist a Good Hookup Site?
Yes, Doublelist is a fitting successor to Craigslist Personals, offering similar anonymity and ease of use. As the name says, it double-verifies members on its list with an email address and phone number.
However, Doublelist is not a perfect dating tool. Our experts consider dedicated hookup sites and apps a better way to go if you want to avoid shady folks. Hookup sites have a block button and reporting tools to add an extra layer of safety.
Personals sites like Doublelist tend to have a lot of spammy content. This is just the nature of the beast. Not a lot of verification goes on after the text authentication on Doublelist. People can make up random names and set whatever location they feel like.
We’ve seen reports of bots and fake profiles on virtually all websites. If you’re willing to put in more work to filter out scammy responses to your ads, Doublelist is a good place to look for casual sex. But if you want less legwork, sticking with one of the hookup sites on this list is a better option.
Which Doublelist Alternative Is Best for LGBTQ+ Daters?
Some dating sites can seem kind of binary and limiting. Even as open-ended as Doublelist is, it doesn’t have gender identifiers beyond “men and women.”
If you want a simple Doublelist alternative for queer dating, take your pick from this list.
| Best For | Dating Site | Claim to Fame |
|---|---|---|
| Gay Hookups | MenNation | Largest male hookup site with X-rated content. |
| Lesbian Dating | HER | All-female membership, swiping, and events. |
| Transgender Dates | MyTransgenderDate | Designed to help trans women meet cis men. |
| Bisexual Singles | Fling.com | Free messaging with no matches required. |
| Poly Dating | Adult Friend Finder | Kink filters, couples signup, videos, free discussion forum. |
What I love about the LGBTQ+ sites listed above is that they don’t pen people in. They go way beyond the gender binary and offer sexual orientation options that cover everybody in the queer community.
Are Sites Like Doublelist Safe?
Not as safe as traditional dating sites, if we’re being really honest. Personal ad sites require very little information and often don’t verify much beyond an email address (if that!), so it’s pretty easy for liars, scammers, and catfish to slip by.
Personals sites have gotten a bad reputation for facilitating pay-for-play activity as well. Sex workers use these sites to put literal adverts out for their services and attract customers without having to go on a street corner.
The U.S. government has been cracking down on this online underworld, though. In April 2018, the feds seized Backpage and arrested its top executives for facilitating sex trafficking. Backpage’s founders were charged with money laundering and illegal prostitution.
In 2023, Backpage executives pleaded guilty and were convicted for promoting prostitution. This was a warning shot for all personals sites, and some, like Doublelist, have responded by adding some more moderation and security protocols.
Even so, the fact that personals sites often don’t require photos or real names makes them less secure than the typical mainstream dating app.
Are There Any Free Sites Like Doublelist?
If not paying for your online dating activity is a high priority, then it makes sense that Doublelist came onto your radar. But given how small the user base is (about 3 million people total), I’d point to other free alternatives to get a better (but still free) experience.
| Free Dating Site | Best Deal | Why We Like It |
|---|---|---|
| Ashley Madison | Free for women. | It’s discreet and masks faces in photos. |
| Adult Friend Finder | Free discussion forum. | X-rated photos and videos are available to all members. |
| Fling.com | Free messaging without matching. | Lots of kink search filters and active chat rooms. |
| Tinder | Free to chat with matches. | Extremely popular app with verified profiles. |
When it comes to sheer numbers, I can’t deny that Tinder is at the top. The app has been downloaded over 630 million times, created over 100 billion matches, and is responsible for about 1.5 million dates every week.
Of course, all these stats don’t guarantee success for you. Your online dating success depends on who you are, where you are, and what you want. Take this quiz to get a personalized recommendation:
This interactive calculator requires JavaScript to function. Please enable JavaScript in your browser to use the Match Finder.
Doublelist Isn’t The Only Website With Local Personal Ads
Even though nearly 10 years have passed since the shutdown, many singles still mourn the loss of Craigslist Personals and turn to sites like Doublelist to fill the void.
A lot of dating sites have X-rated tools, and it’s worth taking the time to do the research and identify ones that are safe and effective. The sites on this list can help you stay discreet while facilitating casual encounters and maintaining your security all at the same time.
If you’re looking for a one-night stand, why not skip the usual bar and club scene? Creating a personal ad can improve your chances of connecting with someone nearby. Good luck!
