Once upon a time, singles would publish personal ads in the local paper when they wanted to meet someone new. The classified ad could read something like “Single man seeking a woman who likes to go camping and drink beer” or “Single woman seeking a man interested in Jeopardy marathons and weekend getaways.”
However, today’s newspapers have historically low circulation rates, so singles will find few date opportunities in its pages. Fortunately, local dating sites can fill that gap and provide the romantic avenues once available in the classifieds and personals sections.
Instead of writing a classified ad in the lonely hearts column, singles can create a free ad on dating sites and apps that attract a diverse and international dating pool. We’ve listed some of our favorite modern alternatives to dating personal ads to help you get out there and make something happen.
Best Personals Ad Alternatives
We’re going to start with the best of the best in the online dating scene. Regardless of your age, orientation, or background, the following mainstream dating sites cater to everyone. And, best of all, these sites are free to join, so they’re a cost-friendly alternative to paying to put a personal ad in the paper.
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 is our #1 pick for singles seeking a local date. This dating website has been around since 1995, and the team has perfected its matchmaking system by studying how people connect online and offline.
Setting up a dating profile on Match is similar to writing a personal ad because you have a lot of space to describe yourself in your own words. The Summary section lets singles talk about anything they want, while the Topics section provides more pointed prompts, including “For fun I like to” and “Right now I am reading.”
Singles can also fill in demographic information about themselves and their ideal partner. For instance, if you’re a never-married grad student seeking a well-educated and liberal atheist, you can put all that information down in your Match profile.
2. 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
Every 14 minutes, someone finds love on eharmony. This time-tested dating site has been inspiring deep relationships and marriages since 2000, and it has over 2 million success stories to its name.
The foundation of eharmony’s success lies in its Compatibility Quiz, which includes questions about your daily habits, temperament, family values, relationship goals, and more. The purpose of this in-depth questionnaire is to get to the heart of who you are and what you want.
The Compatibility Quiz is optional and takes about 30 minutes to complete. Once completed, it forms the crux of eharmony’s match algorithm. If you answer the questions honestly, you’ll find your match recommendations and compatibility ratings will become more accurate as a result.
Plenty of Fish prides itself on being one of the best dating sites for conversations. It supports 100% free and unlimited messaging for over 120 million monthly users in 20 countries. Since its launch in 2003, Plenty of Fish has developed a science-based matching system that has proven successful.
- Free registration, searches, and messaging
- The Chemistry Test creates a compatibility framework
- Over 1 billion messages sent per month
- Browse Plenty of Fish profiles 100% free
As a totally free dating site, Plenty of Fish can reach much farther than a newspaper personal and offer singles virtually endless opportunities to connect. Plenty of Fish has over 150 million members, and it sees over 4 million daily views.
The POF community is a fun, diverse, and flirtatious place to meet new people. As long as you follow the rules and behave in a respectful manner, you can message anyone on the dating site and build an online rapport before meeting in person.
If you want proof that POF actually works, take a look at its heartwarming success stories, which include many newlyweds starting a life together after meeting on Plenty of Fish.
4. OkCupid
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
OkCupid is a forever free dating site and app where friendships and relationships can blossom naturally.
The OkCupid platform includes advanced search filters (by age, ethnicity, orientation, interests, and other key factors) as well as a swiping section called DoubleTake where users can view and match with highly compatible profiles.
Since launching in 2004, OkCupid has collected thousands of success stories, and it currently boasts creating 91 million matches per year. It’s free to join OkCupid and send messages to anyone you like, and you can always upgrade your account to appear higher in search results and see who’s liked your profile.
5. Tinder
In 2012, Tinder pioneered a swiping-based match system that empowered singles to connect with dates who liked them back. Tinder users can message their mutual matches for free on this fast-paced dating app. Since its launch, Tinder has created over 97 billion matches worldwide.
- Supports active daters in 190+ countries
- The swiping system creates over 12 million matches per day
- Tinder Plus members have unlimited likes and 5 Super Likes
- Browse Tinder profiles 100% free
Tinder made a huge splash in the dating scene in 2012 when it created mutual matching and swiping tools to help singles find dates faster than ever.
Instead of reading long paragraphs of dry information, singles can simply look at a photo and decide if they can see a future with that person. Only when two people swipe right on each other can they exchange messages and arrange a date.
Today, Tinder is responsible for over 30 billion matches in 190 countries, and conversations on the app lead to over 1 million dates per week.
6. Bumble
Since its launch in 2014, Bumble has positioned itself as one of the queens of the online dating world. The dating app turns gender stereotype on its head by empowering women to make the first move in a conversation with a man. Once you've made that mutual match, you have up to 48 hours to respond and make a connection.
- A feminist dating app puts singles on equal footing
- 60% of Bumble matches turn into dates
- Bumble Bizz and Bumble BFF spark non-romantic connections
- Browse Bumble profiles 100% free
Launched in 2014, Bumble is relatively new in the online dating scene, but it has already made a name for itself as the first feminist dating app.
Entrepreneur Whitney Wolfe-Herd founded Bumble as a female-friendly solution to the superficial hookup culture perpetuated by some swiping apps. She wanted to protect women from unsolicited dick pics and creepy messages, and she wanted to save men the frustration of sending messages to unresponsive women.
Bumble empowers women to send the first message to the men they match with (either gender can message first in a same-sex match), and it also puts a 24-hour time limit on the conversation, so they have an added incentive to say hi.
In a recent survey, 85% of Bumble users said they want to find a serious relationship, and just over 25% of users said they had gone on a Bumble date within the last month.
Best Senior Personals Ad Alternatives
Some seniors may have fond memories of newspaper personal ads, drive-in movie dates, and pen pal romances, but these old-fashioned dating tropes miss the mark in the 21st century. According to a 2017 survey of newlyweds, brides meet their spouses online more often than they do through friends or at work.
Online dating has become an unstoppable force in the lives of singles of all ages, and we’d encourage seniors to give it a try if they’re feeling lonely and want to find someone special.
7. OurTime
OurTime is an over-50 dating site with a lot of helpful features to facilitate friendships and relationships. Senior singles can look for dates themselves using the search tools, or they can view a curated list of matches to find compatible folks. Singles can send likes, flirts, and faves for free, but they have to subscribe to send messages to their online crushes.
- Open to straight, gay, and lesbian singles over 50
- Free match recommendations and conversation starters
- Use Tokens to promote your profile and send virtual gifts
- Browse OurTime profiles 100% free
OurTime is another premium dating site built to serve seniors in the dating scene. Its free basic membership includes unlimited flirting and searching, and you can also edit your personal ad and upload photos to your personal gallery.
As a People Media site, OurTime has an extensive user base that grows by almost 20,000 members every week. The team supports online matches as well as live members-only events to help seniors come out of their shell.
Many of OurTime’s members are divorced or widowed and use the dating site to start fresh in a new relationship. “I would recommend your site to everyone and anyone,” said a 70-year-old woman who found love on OurTime. “Thank you for sending me the best man in the world.”
8. SeniorMatch
Since 2003, SeniorMatch has built its reputation as one of the world's leading senior dating sites. The site offers free communication and searches to help singles over 50 find companionship and love. If you're interested in a mature dating experience, this dating site can meet your needs.
- Doesn't allow members under 45
- Available as a dating app in Google Play
- Dating advice and safety tips shared by senior daters
- Browse SeniorMatch profiles 100% free
When you have a dating site like SeniorMatch on your side, you can find date prospects, pen pals, and new friends in just a few clicks. The dating site’s motto is “you don’t have to be alone,” and it lives up to that by fostering a thriving senior-friendly community.
SeniorMatch has over 1 million members, all of whom have been verified as over 50, and it facilitates over 1.6 million conversations each month. What’s more, the dating site has more than 36,600 success stories to its name. You can rest assured you’ll have plenty of options on this bustling dating platform.
“We met on your wonderful site, and it was literally love at first site — or sight,” said a SeniorMatch member in a testimonial.
Best LGBT Personals Ad Alternatives
Back in the days of the paper’s personal ads section, gay and lesbian singles couldn’t really take part in the fun because it would mean outing themselves and risking harassment from homophobic people. Instead of a free ad in the newspaper, locals had to build underground spaces (gay bars, softball leagues, etc.) where the LGBTQ+ community could thrive.
Online dating has offered a less public and more targeted way to meet LGBTQ+ singles in town, and many queer singles have jumped on it. Today, 65% of gay couples meet online, and the following dating sites and apps support singles across the sexuality spectrum with free classified ads.
9. 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
With over 98 million members, MenNation has declared itself the largest gay dating and hookup site in existence. This all-male casual dating network is open to gay, bi, and questioning guys from all walks of life.
MenNation sees over 70,000 monthly visitors, so it should be the go-to Backpage alternative or Craigslist replacement for gay men seeking casual sex.
Whether you’re a single seeking a hookup or a couple seeking a threesome, you can pursue your desires freely on the MenNation site. All it takes is an email address to get started. You can choose a unique username, browse anonymously, and pick up dates who are interested in no-strings-attached relationships.
10. 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
Designed by a queer woman on behalf of queer womxn, HER is less about facilitating hookups and more about building relationships. The dating app has over 4 million members worldwide, and 100% of its members are female. HER verifies its user base through Facebook, Instagram, or other social media platforms so fake ads are not a problem here.
HER provides a safe, dude-free zone for lesbian, bisexual, queer, and trans womxn seeking new friends, hot dates, and potential partners. The Community Guidelines urge members to be supportive, inclusive, and loving throughout the online dating experience.
The HER community spreads positivity by sharing stories, posting photos, and creating local events geared toward LGBTQ+ singles. You can see HER’s impact by viewing #WeMetOnHER Instagram posts and Twitter stories created by couples who are blissfully in love.
11. 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
Last but not least, Grindr is the ultimate gay dating app known for its powerful location-based matching. The app can help gay singles find dates who are in the same bar or on the same block as one another and want to enjoy casual encounters.
Grindr’s real-time matching and chatting often lead to a casual hookup, but we’ve also heard of a few Grindr relationships that have gone the distance. In fact, about 84% of Grindr users have fallen in love with a user they met on the app, and 56.5% say they believe love is possible here.
“My boyfriend and I met on Grindr while he was visiting on vacation,” said a Reddit user. “Relationship is still fresh and long-distance is hard, but we are talking about the future.”
Best Hookup Personals Ad Alternatives
Dating sites geared toward relationships can be a major drag for singles who just want to fool around and have a casual hookup. Casual daters and serious daters often have different expectations regarding intimacy and long-term commitments, and that can lead to a rocky dating experience where neither party is satisfied.
If you’d rather skip the small talk and get right down to business, then a hookup site — not a dating site — is going to be the best place for you. We’ve listed some of our top choices for singles and swingers interested in finding a Craigslist personals alternative and exploring the raunchy side of dating.
12. 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
As a casual hookup site, NaughtyCharm keeps things casual and empowers singles to flirt outside the lines. A user can browse by age, gender, and location whenever they want to scope for dates and casual encounters.
Highly selective singles can also use advanced search parameters for orientation, ethnicity, body type, hair color, and eye color. We’d recommend sorting the dating profiles by popularity or last activity because that’ll mean the most actively monthly visitors show up at the top of your list.
If you want to get the ball rolling quickly, you can send a mass text message to everyone who falls within your search parameters. NaughtyCharm can recommend a flirty message that has proven to work, or you can write something flattering, funny, and original yourself.
In 1996, Friend Finder Networks began harnessing the power of online networking to help adults meet sexually active singles in their area, and it has now grown into a global X-rated phenomenon with over 93 million profiles. Adult Friend Finder provides a safe, anonymous dating platform where singles and swingers can hook up with another.
- Among the largest online sex and swinger communities
- Completely free no-obligation registration
- Live chat rooms and discussion forums open 24/7
- Browse Adult Friend Finder profiles 100% free
Since 1996, Adult Friend Finder has built the world’s largest sex and swinger community and created over 4.6 million connections online.
The AFF community includes single men, single women, straight couples, gay couples, trans folks, and swinger groups who want to enjoy adult entertainment and casual sex.
Whether they’re sharing erotic tales or sending private, intimate messages through the app and website, AFF members can fully express their sexual fantasies without fear of judgment.
14. FriendFinder-X
FriendFinder-X specializes in delivering hot dates to your inbox. For the last 20+ years, this hookup site has amassed a huge following around the world and led to countless sexy encounters. Millions of people have created an account and searched for singles, couples, and groups who can satisfy their deepest desires.
- Open to casual daters in the U.S. and abroad
- Free members can browse profiles and watch sexy videos
- Chat anonymously in the forum or private messages
- Browse FriendFinder-X profiles 100% free
FriendFinder-X is the hookup site “where good girls do bad things.” If that sounds appealing, you can set up your profile within minutes and start messaging these angels of the night. You don’t need a Facebook or social media account to create a free ad on this anonymous platform.
Much like the dating personal ad section in a newspaper, FriendFinder-X features free classified ads created by local singles seeking dates. However, the casual dating website’s profiles can also include nude photos and naughty content, and it has a two-way video chat option for anyone eager to get some face time with that special someone.
Does Craigslist Have Personals Anymore?
No, Craigslist is no longer in the dating game. The Craigslist personals section shuttered a few years ago to avoid being held responsible for the actions of unsavory folks soliciting sex on the website.
In 2018, U.S. law enforcement agencies cracked down on classifieds websites with dating personal sections, maintaining that such unregulated spaces were being used for prostitution and human trafficking. After a 93-count indictment, Backpage’s CEO pled guilty to sex trafficking, and the Backpage classified ad site was shut down for good.
In the wake of these developments, Craigslist closed its dating personals section. “Any tool or service can be misused,” the Craigslist team said in an official statement. “We can’t take such risk without jeopardizing all our other services, so we have regretfully taken Craigslist personal offline.”
Craigslist dating is a thing of the past, but singles can rely on alternative websites to provide the same serious and casual dating experience with free classified ads.
What are Personal Sites Like Craigslist Personal That are Free?
A lot of dating personal sites have the means to create fast connections just like Craigslist personal and Backpage once did. Several decent alternatives have a similar setup and user base to that of Craigslist, and some can even offer more matchmaking power and security protocols.
Our dating experts would recommend giving OkCupid a try if you want to explore the dating scene without paying anything or making a big effort. This Craigslist alternative is free, after all, and it’s open to people of all kinds.
However, if you want to get a higher quality dating experience, you may want to invest in a more traditional and time-tested dating site like Match.com. With millions of active and authentic members, Match can offer a lot more date options than Craigslist ever could.
This is a great Craigslist personals alternative (and Backpage alternative), and you don’t have to worry about scammers and fake ads on this website.
Match has become known as a Craigslist alternative because it has in-depth profiles, extensive search filters, and ironclad safety features to make sure singles don’t fall for scams or meet people who aren’t serious about meeting up in real life.
What is Doublelist?
Doublelist is a new dating classified platform on a mission to replace Craigslist in the hearts of singles seeking a local date. This Craigslist personals alternative website currently boasts 170,000 users, which is pretty good for a new kid on the block.
Unlike many of its competitors, Doublelist takes the time to double-verify its new users and send confirmation codes via email and phone number. This verification system cuts down on the fake ads and brings greater transparency to the website. You can create a free ad on Doublelist within seconds and start chatting up folks on this Craigslist alternative.
You don’t need to search Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube for compatible singles and personal ads because certain alternative websites have your back and provide instant access to local dating options.
Turn a New Page & Make a Date on a Dating Website
Publishing a personal ad in a newspaper may seem pretty old-fashioned now that we have online social media and dating networks connecting us 24/7. The modern dating site and hookup app can connect singles faster, easier, and more effectively than the personal ads of old, and singles don’t have to publish their full names or contact information to attract dates on a Craigslist personals replacement.
We’ve listed 20 dating sites and apps that have proven popular among today’s singles and can offer the best personals ad alternatives. Any free classified platform on this list can inspire hookups, friendships, and relationships in just a few clicks and swipes.
Next time you’re looking for a local date, you can trade your newspaper subscription for an online dating subscription — believe me, your wallet will thank you. Good luck!
