Key Takeaways
Our dating experts have been testing, ranking, and reviewing hookup apps since 2012.
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Fling.com is the best hookup app with free messaging.
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The top gay hookup site is MenNation
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For lesbian hookups, we recommend trying KinkyPeopleMeet.
In the first “Sex and the City” movie, Samantha Jones famously says about sex: “I can’t color enough. I would color all day, every day if I had my way. I would use every crayon in my box.” Samantha was never one to hide her desires, and she’s exactly the type of person you’d find on a sex app.
Samantha, like many of today’s empowered and sex-positive women, enjoys playing the field and not being tied to one person. In the end, committed relationship life just wasn’t for her. That’s true for so many other sex-driven people.
About 12% of Americans say they have engaged in sexual activity with someone other than their primary partner — with their primary partner’s permission, and 50% say “society is just as well off if people have priorities other than marriage and children.”
Modern dating apps are striving to meet the moment and serve casual dating needs. Below we’ve ranked the best sex apps based on popularity, reputation, price, and sexual orientation options.
Best Overall Sex Apps (#1-8)
We’re “dessert first” kind of people, so let’s dive into our favorite hookup apps of all time. Whatever kind of sexual encounter you’re interested in, you can use these casual dating platforms to connect with someone who shares your kinks, fetishes, and fantasies.
Fling.com
- Relationships: Casual Dating, Hookups, Friends with Benefits
- Match System: Search filters
- Our Experts Say: “Fling.com keeps things casual and connects horny adults with video and direct messaging. It doesn’t ask for real names, but it will verify photos as genuine to ensure catfish don’t last long here!” Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
We’ve chosen to rank Fling.com as the best hookup site for discreet encounters because it’s easy to use, has anonymous profiles, and keeps the core features free. Members can unleash their sexy side and send private chats to anyone they fancy without needing to form a mutual match first.
Pros
- Free messaging without matching
- Profile verification
- Search by appearance or kink
Cons
- Must pay for video
The search filters on Fling.com cover all the bases, including body type, marital status, religion, income, and eye color. You can also filter by profiles with photos, verified profiles, and those online now.
If you complete a Daily Streak by being active on Fling.com, your profile will earn rewards that can range from higher visibility to more match options.
NaughtyCharm
- Relationships: Hookups, Chats
- Match System: Search by encounter, location, and more
- Our Experts Say: “NaughtyCharm is a premier hookup app where you can feel comfortable expressing your desires. Plus, it's free to join, browse, and flirt.”
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
NaughtyCharm has been matching sexy people on the down low for many years. Over 13.3 million users log into NaughtyCharm every month, and they are all looking for casual dating opportunities.
You won’t have to pay to create a dating profile, browse other members’ profiles, or send pre-written messages, and your personal information is protected by SSL encryption technology.
Pros
- Anonymous browsing
- Filters by tattoos, appearance
- Unlimited free likes
Cons
- Men outnumber women
- Profiles lack much detail
Overall, NaughtyCharm is a solid dating service for finding someone who shares your interests and fetishes. The upgrades are fairly priced, with plans starting at $2.99 for a three-day trial.
NaughtyCharm is a mobile-friendly website, so you don’t need to download anything to join up and have fun.
- Relationships: Hookups Only
- Match System: Search by location, interest, more
- Our Experts Say: “Make no mistake: this site isn't about making friends, it's about finding hookups and casual encounters. No adult site has a larger or more active user base of those seeking discreet fun.” Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
On Adult Friend Finder, everyone goes through age verification and states their desired sexual preferences. if it’s a hookup you want, you don’t have to dance around the idea.
As an AFF member, you can be as upfront as you want about where and how you like having sex. It doesn’t just have to be a one-time hookup, either. If you’re looking for an affair or you’re a couple wanting a threesome, Adult Friend Finder can help you find a partner who’s up for anything.
Pros
- Anonymous browsing
- Live video
- Free chat forum
Cons
- Email required
- App isn’t on Google Play or the App Store
Adult Friend Finder was considered too X-rated for the App Store and Google Play, so mobile users now have two options: visit the website on their phones or take the extra step of downloading the app directly from the dating service.
If you create an AFF account, you’ll be joining more than 105 million frisky singles and swingers who can’t wait to meet, chat, and share videos with you. It won’t cost you anything to browse profiles and comment on pics or posts, so nothing holds you back from finding a casual connection on one of the best adult dating apps on the market.
- Relationships: Hookups, Casual Dates, Affairs
- Match System: Search by age, location, appearance, and more
- Our Experts Say: “With its massive user base and advanced privacy features, Ashley Madison is the #1 site for discreet hookups, dates, or relationships.” Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Ashley Madison is on a mission to help all types of people (yes, including cheaters) make the most of their dating experiences.
The site is well-known as a low-key place to find affairs, but many casual daters also capitalize on its secretive features. It’s a place “Where discretion meets desire.” The app offers a 100% free membership for women, and men can send likes for free and then use credits to send messages.
Pros
- No-strings dating
- Photo face masks
- Discreet billing
Cons
- No video features
- Men outnumber women
Ashley Madison lets you explore the dating scene anonymously by masking or blurring your photos. Only first names are required. This way, you can enjoy an exciting sex life without disrupting your home life.
The app has a nondescript black icon and requires a PIN to unlock, so it’s a preferred option for secret dating.
- Relationships: Affairs, Friends with Benefits, Casual Dates
- Match System: Browse by appearance, location, lifestyle
- Our Experts Say: “Affairs aren’t taboo on Victoria Milan. The married dating site lets individuals be honest about their intentions and flirt anonymously. It’s an exciting place to try new things. Dating profiles might mask their faces in photos, but they’ll bare their fantasies in their bios. It’s free to join and see the date options out there.” Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Victoria Milan promises to help members “relive the passion and find an affair,” and from what we can tell, they’re successful. This affair dating app features an easy signup, advanced search filters (covering age, distance, intentions, body type, and love nest availability), and a sex-positive environment.
It couldn’t be simpler to use. The app only has a search tab for browsing and an inbox for messaging. Those are all the tabs a person needs to get going.
Pros
- Blur or mask your face in photos
- Verified photos
- Search radius of 200 miles
Cons
- Small user base
- Men outnumber women
The dating app welcomes over 1 million monthly active users. While it may not be the largest, it’s still quite significant. And its visibility controls ensure users can stay under the radar if they wish.
The free membership has some communication options on hand (you can only message premium plus members), but to get more action, I’d recommend paying for a monthly membership. When our team tested Victoria Milan, our free profile got 18 likes, while our paid profile got 40 likes.
- Relationships: Hookups, Casual Dating, Kinky Chats
- Match System: Search by age, location, gender, kinks, and appearance
- Our Experts Say: “KinkyPeopleMeet is a sex-driven site where kinksters share their fantasies without shame. It’s a dynamic community for hooking up. And the photo and video galleries offer plenty of titillating inspiration as well.” Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
KinkyPeopleMeet has a domain name that tells you everything you need to know about this kinky sex site. Adults can register a dating account for free and start sending raunchy, silly, and flirty messages to any person they desire. No matching required.
Pros
- Free messaging
- Video streaming
- Sex-forward profiles
Cons
- Overwhelming interface
This fetish network is one of the largest and most active places to seek a sexual partner. The team is proactive about finding and deleting fake profiles. It offers safety warnings about suspicious activity, such as asking for money.
Individuals can help the moderators by providing feedback marking messages as Rude or Nice. This helps screen out undesirables in the sex scene.
SparkMeets
- Relationships: Hookups, Casual Dating, Chats
- Match System: Search by location, age, and appearance.
- Our Experts Say: “SparkMeets is a dating website that provides a fast track to a romance with a flirty partner. The network has private chats, search filters, and safety features to help spark real connections.” Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
SparkMeets gives you three reasons why you should join: 1) It does all the hard work for you. 2) No real names are needed. 3) Local search filters zero in on hot singles within seconds. That all sounds like a pretty sweet deal for a person seeking companionship for the night.
This hookup site is all about helping you discover intimacy and indulge in some online naughtiness, so feel free to be bold when sliding into someone’s DMs.
Pros
- Fast signup
- Filters by physical type
- Photo swiping
Cons
- Binary gender options only
- Long-distance matches
Created by the team behind NaughtyCharm, SparkMeets shines as a top pick for casual dating. Adults can relish the excitement of meeting a potential match and maybe even sparking a romance, even if it lasts just one night.
For even more customer support, SparkMeets offers a sexual wellness blog that covers every topic you could imagine — from whether you should have morning sex to how to incorporate kink activities into the bedroom.
- Relationships: Hookups Only
- Match System: Search by location, interest, more
- Our Experts Say: “A hookup site specializing in casual encounters, secret affairs, live chats, and member videos, FriendFinder-X skips the awkward "dating" stage of a relationship and fast-forwards straight to the sex.” Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
It doesn’t matter if you have an iPhone or Android — FriendFinder-X is compatible with both as a mobile-friendly dating site, so you can connect with adult singles and couples while in line for coffee, or during your commute, or at home on your couch.
Pros
- Nudes allowed
- Strip tease videos
- Free erotica forums
Cons
- Limits on free messaging
You can put your credit card away because FriendFinder-X is completely free to try. Better yet, you don’t have to download anything. Once you enter your preferred age, gender, location, and sexual interests, you can browse the user base and start flirting by sending likes and favorites.
FriendFinder-X uses location-based matching to make it simpler to set up a casual encounter with someone attractive nearby. But you’re not limited to your own city if you want to venture out.
Best Gay Sex Apps (#9-10)
Most sex apps welcome singles of every sexual orientation, but if you’re a gay, queer, or bisexual man, you may want to narrow down the field even further by choosing a dating service that has a significant number of gay men. That’s what this section is dedicated to.
MenNation
- Relationships: Daters & Hookups
- Match System: Search by age, zip code, more
- Our Experts Say: “MenNation makes it easy to skip the mixed signals, start flirting, and meet men interested in fun, low-pressure connections.” Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Over 90 million users, video livestreaming, and quick signup — there’s a lot to like about MenNation. This men-only hookup site is perfect for users seeking a casual hookup or a threesome. It takes the slot as the best adult dating site for men seeking men.
To help gay men figure things out, we’ve broken MenNation down into the most important factors:
Pros
- Fast registration
- All members verified as over 18
- X-rated content
- Video streaming
Cons
- Website only; no app
- Videos load slowly
MenNation can help gay, bisexual, and queer men all around the world have better sex because they can be honest about what they want and what type of partner they’re looking for.
Even though the MenNation app was discontinued a few years ago, the website is still going strong after more than two decades. That’s a big reason we consider it one of the most successful adult dating services in this niche.
10. Grindr
Known as the first and largest app for gay dating, Grindr maintains an active community of gay, bisexual, queer, and trans men. Grinder users tend to be forthright about wanting sex.
Whether you’re on an Android or iPhone, you can download the Grindr app for free. Setting up a profile is a breeze, taking just a minute or two.
Grindr brings a host of great features your way, from the familiar swiping to private photo albums. Opt for Grindr Xtra, and you’ll unlock even more perks like advanced filters and the ability to swipe in other cities.
Pros
- Photo swiping
- Local male profiles
Cons
- Superficial
- Pop-up ads
- No video
While swiping on this popular app, you never know what exciting possibilities might unfold! You could experience nights full of pleasure and romance with someone who shares your desires.
Best Lesbian Sex Apps (#11-12)
Now, it’s time to help the lesbian women of the online dating world. On the next two apps, you don’t have to worry so much about men showing up in your search results when they’re not supposed to. These apps have some of the largest concentrations of lesbian women, and they take your dating criteria seriously.
KinkyPeopleMeet
- Relationships: Hookups, Casual Dating, Kinky Chats
- Match System: Search by age, location, gender, kinks, and appearance
- Our Experts Say: “Lesbian and bi women can get their freak on as a member of KinkyPeopleMeet. This hookup site encourages women to let go of their inhibitions and explore their sexuality.” Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
KinkyPeopleMeet is a leading casual app for gay and bisexual women. You could be a CEO in New York City or a graphic designer in London — the app is open to everyone everywhere. Take a peek at what else it has to offer:
Pros
- X-rated videos
- Free messaging
- No real names required
Cons
- Must pay for full access
To join the kinky site, you’ll need to provide your relationship status (single or couple), age, ZIP code, and email address. Photos aren’t required. You can be a single woman, a lesbian couple, a straight couple, or a group, and use the search filters to find exactly your type.
NaughtyCharm
- Relationships: Hookups, Chats
- Match System: Search by encounter, location, and more
- Our Experts Say: “Lesbian women love NaughtyCharm for many reasons, including it's large user base, free membership, and extensive search filters.”
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Yes, this is the second time we’ve mentioned NaughtyCharm on this list, but the site really is that good, especially for frisky lesbian singles.
Pros
- Sexy photos
- Incognito mode
- Icebreaker suggestion
Cons
- Little verification
- No video features
Forget having to sort through incompatible profiles or unicorn hunters — If you’re looking for lesbian women, NaughtyCharm will only show you lesbian women. You can also specify your preferred mile range (e.g., five, 10, or 20), which comes in handy if you’re not into long distance.
NaughtyCharm doesn’t charge for registration, photo uploads, search, match recommendations, and unlimited likes, so you won’t break the bank. Upgrading to get full-sized photos and instant messaging tools only costs $2.99 to start.
Best Free Sex Apps (#13-14)
Let’s be honest, everything feels better when it’s free, especially if you’re on a budget. Looking to save some cash for your date? We’ve found sex apps that fit perfectly with your lifestyle. No need to overspend on any of them—though, as Colin from “Love Actually” might joke, the only thing you might break is your back from too much fun.
Here are the top free casual hookup apps for singles on a budget.
Fling.com
- Relationships: Casual Dating, Hookups, Friends with Benefits
- Match System: Search filters
- Our Experts Say: “Fling.com keeps things casual and connects horny adults with video and direct messaging. It doesn’t ask for real names, but it will verify photos as genuine to ensure catfish don’t last long here!” Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Fling is one of the best sex sites on the market with free messaging without matching first. It has active content moderation to ensure it’s not overrun by rude and spammy chats. Users can even mark incoming messages as Nice or Rude to hold users to account for their words.
Fling.com is a mobile-friendly website with a companion app available on Google Play and the App Store. It works well for anybody who likes free stuff.
Pros
- Free messaging
- Sexy profiles
- Kink tags
Cons
- Crowded interface
- No app for download
Once you upload your photo, it’ll appear in the app’s feed for people nearby. You’ll see a gallery of profile photos, search filters by appearance and lifestyle, and video chat rooms. The video features are for paid members only, but the messaging features are all available without payment.
14. DOWN
For those who are down for getting down, we highly recommend DOWN (formerly Bang With Friends). The hookup app couldn’t be any simpler:
1. Download for free.
2. Create a sexy profile.
3. Swipe up on profiles you want to date and down if your desires are more carnal.
4. Receive a notification when the feeling is mutual and start chatting or exchanging pics.
If you want to stay anonymous, this dating service can help you keep a low profile. You don’t have to give your real name, and DOWN only displays basic information about you, nothing too invasive!
Pros
- Fun match games
- Verified profiles
- Clear intentions
Cons
- Smaller user base
- Free membership is limited
- Inconsistent quality
Note: Just because DOWN asks you to sign up through Facebook doesn’t mean your friends will know you’re on the app. DOWN will never post on social media on your behalf. It is an anonymous hookup app that takes personal privacy seriously.
FAQs: How Do I Choose the Best Sex App?
There are no bad options on this list, but if you’re wondering which will work the best for your needs and expectations, that’ll take some consideration. Dating apps can sometimes be a trade-off between anonymity and verification, between freebies and time spent, and even between user quality and paywalls.
If you’d rather not drive a long distance for a hookup, you’ll want to use an app with a large active membership like Adult Friend Finder. If you’re more interested in finding the right type, no matter where they are, then a smaller app with extensive search filters like Fling.com will get the job done.
My take is that sometimes it’s worth using the pay-to-chat apps to escape the high competition and low-caliber messaging that flies on free apps. But I have the budget for it, and that’s not the case for every dater.
Think about what matters to you. A free experience? A lot of active chatting? Privacy features? A fast signup? Different apps have different strengths and weaknesses, so weigh the pros and cons carefully before you join.
What’s a Good Sex App for Couples?
KinkyPeopleMeet, Feeld, and 3Fun are all sex apps geared toward polyamorous dating. Couples can sign up and explore matches without hiding their relationship status.
KinkyPeopleMeet has search filters by marital status, and it includes a text search that you can use to type in things like “swinger” or “threesome.” Members can also filter by profiles with photos and those online now.
The KinkyPeopleMeet app is not on Google Play or the App Store, but you can download it directly from the website.
Which Apps Are Best for Anonymous Browsing?
Some apps allow you to remain completely anonymous while chatting with others. Although, fair warning, this dynamic can also make it more difficult to know if an online match is who they say they are.
Fling.com strikes a good balance by allowing members to choose how much they want to put out there. A private person can stay discreet and not even upload a photo on their profile. Photos are not required for browsing or messaging. However, if you want to get more messages and matches, it’s in your best interest to add a pic. I didn’t get any messages until I had a photo up.
What’s more, Fling.com has verification badges that members can use to stand out and prove they are who they say they are. The platform lets users sort by verified members only, and it ranks those with verified profiles higher on the site.
What’s the Best Dating App for Local Swiping?
As far as local hookups go, it’s hard to beat Tinder, the app that invented swiping and changed online dating as we know it. Newer hookup sites like Fling.com are growing more popular all the time, but they still don’t have the numbers that the Tinder app has.
The reason why Tinder didn’t rank among our best sex apps though comes down to user intent. Not everyone here is looking for sex. People are all going at different speeds, and for sex seekers, that can mean having to slow down and slog through chit-chatting before finding a person who’s truly down for a one-night fling.
Still, if swiping on local profiles is your jam. Tinder has an endless list to keep you occupied.
According to Tinder’s stats, the app is responsible for over 1.5 million first dates every week, and it has created over 100 billion matches worldwide!
Are Adult Dating Apps Safe to Use?
Online safety is a major issue that companies like Match Group are tackling by partnering with background check services and other screening or verification tools. Many dating platforms have set up systems to remove fake profiles and flag inappropriate behavior, but hookup sites do tend to be more lax when it comes to X-rated photos and ID authentication.
It just makes sense that if you want total anonymity on a hookup app, you’re going to lose some security features that you’d have on mainstream apps.
Scam artists often lurk on websites with free messaging and less verification, so have your guard up if someone starts love bombing or making odd requests in your chats.
It’s up to you to trust your instincts and thoroughly check out potential dates. Take profile details with a pinch of skepticism, and think about setting up a video date before meeting face-to-face. AdultFriendFinder makes this easy because it has integrated video chat into its messaging.
It’s safe to use adult dating sites and apps as long as you’re acting responsibly and reasonably. Don’t rush into a situation that seems sus.
One last note on safety: Remember to look out for your sexual health as well. Get tested at least twice a year for STIs. You may also want to think about therapy sessions to look after your well-being on an emotional front.
Our Testing Methodology
Our reviewing process has been honed and perfected since DatingAdvice.com launched in 2012. We start by creating a test profile on the platform and using both the free and paid features to see how everything works.
When testing a dating app, our editorial team considers the following key criteria:
- Popularity
- Ease of Use
- Features
- Value
- Safety
Our reviewers give a score from 1 to 5 on each of these factors. The score is based primarily on their firsthand user experience. They consider not just how easy it was to find matches, but also how many active profiles were in the membership base and how flexible the free plan was.
DatingAdvice.com editors return semiannually to check the facts and stats in these articles, assessing the accuracy of the rankings and making sure it aligns with current user traffic patterns.
A Good Sex App Can Come in Handy!
Samantha Jones is a beloved character from “Sex and the City,” and it’s clear why. She was a pioneer of sex positivity long before it became a social media trend. Talk about a true #bossbabe!
Samantha expressed her sexuality openly and honestly at a time when that kind of attitude was hardly the norm. She empowered a generation of young women (and men, too!) to stop slut-shaming and start seeking pleasure using all the crayons at their disposal. Today, sex apps and hookup sites are at your service without social stigma.
If you want to focus on having a great sex life, and not on finding a relationship, the sex apps on this list have got your back. Enjoy!
