Wondering where to find dates now? We’ve put together a list of top alternatives for those who miss the simplicity of free Backpage personals. But first, let’s explore the website’s controversial history.
Backpage was a classified ad website that was founded in 2004. However, US authorities, including the FBI and Department of Justice, seized control of the site in April 2018 after an investigation found that Backpage allowed — and even encouraged — people to post ads related to prostitution and human trafficking. Backpage CEO Carl Ferrer pleaded guilty to conspiracy and money laundering.
Since then, many of you who relied on Backpage have been on the hunt for a more reliable alternative. That’s why we’ve handpicked nine sites that can offer you an experience similar to Backpage—without the deception, unreliability, and major issues.
1. KinkyPeopleMeet
KinkyPeopleMeet is similar to Backpage because it’s free to join and doesn’t require people to browse under their real names. You don’t even need to upload a photo if they don’t want to.
This casual dating site respects your privacy by asking only for your age, not your full birthdate. This method helps singles feel more comfortable as they explore connections online. You can browse and chat on the site for free, making it easy to start conversations with people who share your interests.
2. AdultFriendFinder
They say you can never have too many friends, and AdultFriendFinder can definitely help you find some, if by “friends” you mean “sex buddies.” The company was founded in 1996, and it’s always been about allowing people to express their desires without feeling shame. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a one-time hookup, long-term affair, swinging relationship, or any other casual encounter — you can be yourself on AdultFriendFinder.
3. FriendFinder-X
FriendFinder-X is one of the largest Backpage alternatives in the world, and you can join the community in just a few steps: 1) Select your gender and relationship status (couples are welcome, too). 2) Choose the gender and relationship status you’re interested in. 3) Upload a photo or two. You can then fill out more information, or you can get right to browsing. The whole journey is up to you!
4. NaughtyCharm
NaughtyCharm has been around for years and has mastered the art of hookup matching. The site uses your location and preferences and scours its user base for compatible people, and then it sends them to your inbox every day. If you’re interested, you can send flirty winks, suggestive icebreakers, or private messages (more than 8.5 million messages are sent on NaughtyCharm every day).
5. MenNation
For horny gay, bisexual, and sexually curious men, it doesn’t really get any better than MenNation. Not only is the site free to use, but your communication options include live chat, videos, groups, voice introductions, and private messages. You can find new matches every day in the My New Member Matches section, and MenNation allows you to see who’s online when you are and who’s viewed your profile.
6. Ashley Madison
Ashley Madison is a global dating site that helps you not only find affairs but also threesomes and other exciting sexual and romantic encounters. It’s very popular (over 80 million users), and it’s free to sign up and browse profiles. A variety of features are free for men to use, and all the features are free for women to use. Your safety is a top priority at Ashley Madison, and it has been encrypted to help protect your personal information. You can also blur or mask your face in photos if you wish.
7. SaucyDates
SaucyDates, as you can probably tell by the name, doesn’t mind things getting a little raunchy in chats. It’s all about quick, casual connections — nothing serious. Singles of varying ages and backgrounds, hailing from all over the world, have signed up for the site — and more are signing up every day. You can sort through them by age, background, type of encounter, location, appearance, and many other identifiers. SaucyDates verifies photos and profiles to ensure a positive dating experience, free of the types of scams that brought Backpage down.
8. Match
Backpage wasn’t all about hooking up. If you’re interested in dates that could lead to relationships, I would definitely suggest giving Match a try. Launched in 1995, Match was one of the first dating sites to exist, and it’s led to more romantic connections than every other dating site out there. Once you post your profile, which is free to do, you can start looking for matches based on criteria that matter to you (education, looks, lifestyle, etc.), and Match will recommend Top Picks who can chat for free.
9. ClassifiedAds
Visit the Personals section of ClassifiedAds, where you’ll find categories like Casual Dating, Men Seeking Men, Men Seeking Women, Missed Connections, Women Seeking Men, and Women Seeking Women. Browse through the ads until someone catches your eye. You’ll see when their ad was posted, last updated, when it will expire, and how many views it has received. Best of all, responding is completely free.
What Do People Use Now That Backpage Is Gone?
All of the sites on this list are great Backpage alternatives for dating, but if you’re after more of a chat room vibe, here are some other options to consider:
- Chatlib
- 321Chat
- YesIChat
I’d also suggest trying to use apps to meet people. Apps benefit from the use of text verification to eliminate fake profiles. You’re unlikely to see phony accounts on Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge, all of which are very popular dating tools.
What Happened to Craigslist Personals?
Craigslist Personals also fell victim to the 2018 government crackdown on online sex trafficking. After witnessing Backpage’s downfall, Craigslist decided to remove their dating personals. Their official statement indicated they couldn’t monitor user actions or take responsibility for any bad actors misusing the platform. RIP.
If you’re looking for a platform similar to Craigslist Personals or Backpage, there are plenty of options online. Sites like Bedpage, Oodle, Classified Ads, Pernals, and Doublelist are all vying to become your go-to choice for online dating classifieds.
I’d recommend Doublelist as the best option in the bunch because it has a two-factor profile verification built into it (hence the name Doublelist), so it offers more security than the typical classifieds.
What Is Bedpage?
Bedpage probably looks pretty familiar to those of you who used to frequent Backpage’s listings. The setup is basically a copy/paste job, but what’s different is the security behind the scenes to root out bad behavior. Bedpage promises to keep watch for criminal activity and boot anyone behaving inappropriately.
We’re All Better Off Without Backpage
What the Backpage team did was truly terrible, and we’re in a much better place now thanks to the government’s intervention. But if you find yourself missing some of the genuine services Backpage offered, like adult-focused personals, you’re in the right spot. The hookup sites mentioned here can satisfy that need while prioritizing your safety and best interests.
