Top 10 Best Sites
Looking for a dating site you can trust? Search no more.
Online opportunities for casual dating took a big hit when Craigslist personal ads disappeared from the internet in 2018. Fortunately, Doublelist rose to the challenge as a Craigslist alternative in the same year, offering the same level of user-friendly experience with enhanced security and features designed to keep it from being shut down.
Since the fall of Craigslist personal ads and Backpage, sites like Doublelist continue to offer the same value proposition to anyone missing the Craigslist casual encounter experience. These sites and apps keep it simple while helping users keep it safe, whether you’re ready to put it all out there or want to stay anonymous.
Overall Best | LGBTQ+ | Seniors | Chatting | FAQs
Best Overall Sites Like Doublelist (1-4)
Many hookup sites have raced to compete with personals sites like Doublelist, and these are some of our top picks for singles seeking a fast dating experience.
1. BeNaughty
Relationships: Hookups, Chats
Match System: Search by encounter, location, and more
Our Experts Say: “Absolutely free to sign up and browse profiles, BeNaughty is the top pick of millions for local “adult dating.” If you are looking for sex only — straight, swinger, gay, lesbian — this is your site…” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
13.3 Million* | Browse Profiles Free |
BeNaughty doesn’t limit what members use the site for. Casual sexual encounters are the name of the game, and plenty of adult content all over the site gets things steamy long before you make first contact with another member. The open-minded site encourages users to include photos and videos, as sexy as they dare to be. If you prefer to keep things a mystery, you can use features like Full Safe Mode to restrict who can see and contact you on the platform.
Every woman on BeNaughty gets access to unlimited messaging features, but men on the hookup site have to pay for one of three premium membership packages to get the full benefits of BeNaughty. The Extra Security package offers HTTPS encryption, browser history clearing, and incognito mode, while the Chataholic package provides read receipts, unlimited messaging, and other communication-related perks. The Premier Dater package provides the best of both worlds, combining security and communication perks galore.
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…” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| All Singles & Attached* |
71%*
29%*
|
65 Million* | Browse FREE |
Ashley Madison isn’t a free classifieds site, but if you’re looking to keep your sex life discreet, the platform offers all the tools you could want. While it takes more effort to sign up for Ashley Madison, the site and app both help keep you just as anonymous as you’d be on an online personal ad board, making it a great Doublelist alternative. You can blur your profile picture or lock all your pictures behind a password-protected vault. And Ashley Madison also offers browser history clearing and a panic button that immediately navigates you away from the platform to avoid someone peeking over your shoulder.
For women on Ashley Madison, the best features of the site — including messaging other members — are completely free. Men on Ashley Madison have to pay for credits, which they use for everything from messages and chats to virtual gifts and video chat experiences. Ashley Madison keeps things discreet here, too. The affair dating platform uses discreet billing codes, and you can even use unconventional payment methods, like gift cards, to keep your sex life under wraps.
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 short-term “hookups” and affairs only. Note that a basic account costs $14.95/month, but it’s well worth it if casual sex is your goal…”
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| All Singles* |
65%*
35%*
|
25.5 Million* | $14.95/Month |
Adult Friend Finder launched one year after Craigslist, so it makes a natural alternative to Craigslist as a hookup site. It’s easy and quick to sign up for the adult casual dating platform, and once you’re a member you can participate in chats, read and post to the forums, and take in plenty of naughty content while you browse for your next hookup. Looking for a casual encounter on AFF isn’t all that different from posting a personal ad, so you don’t have to learn any new skills or figure out any complicated tools.
As one of the most popular adult dating platforms online, AFF offers a lot of options no matter where you are in the world, with singles, couples, swingers, and other sexual adventurers making the most out of the judgment-free atmosphere to find their people. You can find classified ads for just about any kind of sexual encounter you’re looking for, but you’ll need a premium membership to contact other members one on one.
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…”
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| Singles & Couples* |
64%*
36%*
|
1.2 Million* | Browse Members Free |
Like many hookup sites and apps, FriendFinder-X is open and honest about why users are there. But FriendFinder-X takes things a step further by offering a welcoming space for kinksters, including tools geared specifically to helping people connect and bond over kinks and fetishes. Users can watch video content, look at photos, and read erotic stories while they search for the right hookup candidate either by browsing member profiles or participating in the community.
Although there’s plenty of sexy fun for free members, Gold members on FriendFinder-X get a lot of special perks, including expanded messaging access, and live video content by performers on the site. Gold members also get perks in terms of higher visibility on the platform, and you can set an automatic reply to messages to make sure you don’t miss out on an opportunity for a hookup.
Best LGBTQ+ Sites Like Doublelist (5-6)
Gay, lesbian, and queer folk know that the best dating app for straight singles may not be the best dating app for their specific needs and preferences. That’s why we’ve picked two gay and lesbian hookup sites that are known to facilitate same-sex matching, poly introductions, and sex-positive chatting for people across the spectrum of sexuality.
5. MenNation
Relationships: Daters & Hookups
Match System: Search by age, zip code, more
Our Experts Say: “MenNation is a well-established gay dating and hookup brand, having been founded in 1996. It’s totally free to join, view profiles, receive matches, and flirt…”
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| Singles & Couples* |
95%*
5%*
|
780,000* | Start for Free |
Given the history of classified ads as a tool for gay men to connect, it should come as no surprise that the loss of Craigslist personals was hard for man-loving men who wanted to keep their anonymity. Fortunately, MenNation offers all of the anonymity any man could want, while also providing a welcoming atmosphere for gay, bisexual, pan, or just curious straight men who want to experiment.
MenNation isn’t shy about the purpose of the site, with X-rated content everywhere you look. The gay hookup site also offers a lot of value for free members, since everyone on the platform can access community features as well as watch a lot of content without having to pay for it.
Free members can also look at the top message in their inboxes without using a credit card, but you’ll want the premium membership for unlimited communication options and access to Buzzmode, which lets you remotely control another user’s wearable sex toy during live video performances.
Relationships: Hookups Only
Match System: Search by location, interest, more
Our Experts Say: “LesbianPersonals provides a fun, quick, and easy experience for gay and bisexual women looking for sex online. Join for free, and you’ll be able to search and communicate immediately…”
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| Singles & Couples* |
10%*
90%*
|
500,000* | View Profiles Free |
For woman-loving women, finding a safe space for casual sex and community can be a tricky proposition, but LesbianPersonals keeps things simple and secure. Single men can’t join, but bisexual women with male partners are welcome to create a joint account if they’re looking for a third. The online personals platform offers a space for queer women to seek the casual hookup they desire, without judgment or harassment. Best of all, it’s easy to access everything you need for free.
LesbianPersonals hosts forum posts and chat rooms for users who aren’t afraid to be a little public about what they’re looking for. The community spaces are also a great place to get a feel for other members and connect with the broader queer woman community. You can even send instant messages to members who are online and tickle your fancy.
Best Senior Dating Sites Like Doublelist (7-9)
If you’re over the age of 50, you may not feel like the online dating world is all that viable an option for you. But it’s becoming more senior-friendly all the time. The following dating sites and apps provide a safe and casual dating space for senior singles hoping to start anew.
7. Zoosk
Relationships: Fun Dates, Serious Relationships
Match System: Search and get match recommendations
Our Experts Say: “Active seniors should check Zoosk out because it’s great for dating no matter where you are or what you’re doing…” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
28.9 Million* | Start Zoosk for FREE |
Sometimes the best alternative to a classified ad site is a more mainstream option. Zoosk is a unique mainstream dating site that offers a lot of the same functions that sites like Doublelist do, with a more social slant. Unlike classified ad sites, where you write up your ad on a daily or weekly basis, on Zoosk you set up your profile and take a personality quiz to get started, and you don’t have to constantly post new details.
Zoosk keeps things flexible for users by operating on a freemium model that means you can sign up, get matches, and browse singles in your area all without paying. To get the full benefits of Zoosk, including advanced communication options, you can choose between a premium subscription or purchase Zoosk coins to pick and choose the features you want to use.
8. OurTime.com
Relationships: Dates and Relationships
Match System: Search by profiles by zip and more
Our Experts Say: “OurTime is our top choice for free senior dating, with a simple interface and tons of mature and senior users. Its site, app, and free trial are for those 50 and older only…” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| Mature Singles (50+)* |
48%*
52%*
|
8.9 Million* | Over 50? Start FREE |
Older singles have needs too, and OurTime understands that a lot of senior daters want to keep things simple. The dating site has a streamlined layout and guides new users step by step in creating a profile, so even if you’re technologically challenged it’s easy to get started. And like on a personals site, you can set your preferences so OurTime matches you with the people in your area who share your interests and meet your needs.
Another major benefit to OurTime for senior singles is the safety that comes built in. Senior daters are popular targets for scammers, and OurTime takes the safety and security of its members seriously. Each profile undergoes a verification process, and every profile photo undergoes review to make sure it’s not fake or too risqué for the platform. OurTime also makes it easy to report suspicious accounts you encounter, and finding customer support and tech support options is easy from anywhere on the site or app.
Relationships: Deep Relationships or Just Casual Dates
Match System: Search by location, age, more
Our Experts Say: “BlackPeopleMeet.com is the one of the largest and most popular dating sites for black and biracial singles, and the site is used by more than 5 million people a month…” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| Black Singles* |
47%*
53%*
|
5.7 Million* | FREE Trial for New Users |
As the largest Black dating site for singles in the US, it’s no surprise that BlackPeopleMeet is a common Craigslist alternative for Black singles. Although you don’t have to be Black to join, the membership on the site is predominantly Black and mixed-race singles, and open to all kinds of relationship styles. The features are simple, and you can let BlackPeopleMeet steer you to the right match or take the initiative and browse profiles without paying a dime.
One major benefit that BlackPeopleMeet offers over conventional classified ad sites is a feature called ConnectMe, which allows premium members to call and text another user without having to share their phone number. You’ll also want premium membership if you plan on sending private messages, though free members get some basic communication methods like flirts and likes.
Best Chat Sites Like Doublelist (10-12)
Whether you’re mingling on a dating site, chat room, or personals forum, it all starts with an online conversation. Singles who are feeling chatty can depend on these three chat sites to help them look for local matches.
10. OkCupid
OkCupid launched in 2004, and the dating site remains committed to keeping all of the core features free for all members. Although it’s not a personal ad board, OkCupid offers everything you’d want in a classified ad and then some, as long as you’re willing to put in a little effort when it comes to building a profile.
OkCupid suggests matches based on your personality quiz results, but you can also browse local and international matches on the platform using basic search filters. All free members can exchange messages on OkCupid without needing to pay anything. A-List members get access to incognito browsing and advanced search filters that narrow the list of potential hookups more efficiently.
11. Locanto
Locanto is a frequent alternative that you’ll find in a Doublelist review, even though the free classified ad site isn’t just for hookups. The personals ad section offers enough X-rated content to keep things hot, and users definitely don’t shy away from being direct about what they want. The site even helps steer you in the right direction with categories based on gender and what users are looking for (hookups, kink, gay, lesbian, threesomes, and more).
Because Locanto is free and popular, you may have to do a lot of filtering to get the exact kind of connections you want, and you may also have to deal with a lot of spam when you post an ad. But if you’re willing to trade your time, Locanto offers the Craigslist experience with the same price.
12. Oodle Personals
Oodle Personals is a lot like Craigslist personals because Oodle is a fairly simple online classified ads site. The personals section is chock-full of potential hookups, as well as missing connections and other potential matches. And the streamlined format makes it easy to navigate, whether you’re browsing ads or looking at replies.
Oodle keeps things simple, and the site will use your location to automatically serve up the ads to people closest to you first. From there, you can filter ads based on gender, type of relationship, and other options to make sure you’re not wasting your time. Oodle also offers profile verification, making it easy to avoid fakes and scammers.
FAQs: Is Doublelist Free for All Singles?
Yes! Doublelist is a completely free online personals site, and you don’t have to pay anything to sign up or communicate with other users. The only real restriction is that you have to adhere to the Doublelist Code of Conduct.
A major aspect of the Code of Conduct is that the site prohibits sex workers and other erotic services professionals from using the platform, so it isn’t quite a complete replacement for sites like Backpage. You also have to be 18 or older, and the site takes a zero-tolerance policy toward harassment and violent or harmful messages.
Is The Craigslist Personals Section Down for Good?
Yes, Craigslist Personals shut down permanently in 2018, in response to stricter laws regarding advertising prostitution and other erotic services online. Craigslist had previously shut down the section of the classified ad board dedicated to such services, but a lot of sex workers migrated to the regular Craigslist personal ad board instead.
The online platform has no intention of bringing personals back because it’s very difficult to monitor and remove professional content, and missing any ads posted by sex workers could jeopardize the entire site, not just the personals section.
Is Online Dating a Safe Way to Meet People?
Yes, online dating is a safe way to meet new people. Whether it’s through a dating website, a message board or forum like Reddit, or free classified ad boards, you can safely meet people online for casual sex, romance, or friendship, just as you can meet them in person in the real world.
It is a good idea to take some basic precautions when dating online, of course. Don’t meet someone for the first time in their home, or invite them to your home if you haven’t met them in person.
As long as you’re taking some basic precautions and keeping your wits about you, online dating is as safe as any other method and opens you up to the opportunity to meet people you might not otherwise have ever encountered.
Sites Like Doublelist Keep Online Dating Simple
You don’t have to stick with a mainstream dating site to keep your love life (or just your sex life) interesting. Classified ad boards like Doublelist make it easy to reach out and connect with new people, whether you’re looking for your next casual encounter or want to find the person you spotted in the grocery store but couldn’t work up the nerve to talk to.
The Craigslist personals ad board may be gone, but you can still get the full experience from Craigslist alternative sites like Doublelist!
Advertiser Disclosure
DatingAdvice.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation from many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across the site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). DatingAdvice.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.
Our Editorial Review Policy
Our site is committed to publishing independent, accurate content guided by strict editorial guidelines. Before articles and reviews are published on our site, they undergo a thorough review process performed by a team of independent editors and subject-matter experts to ensure the content’s accuracy, timeliness, and impartiality. Our editorial team is separate and independent of our site’s advertisers, and the opinions they express on our site are their own. To read more about our team members and their editorial backgrounds, please visit our site’s About page.
Discuss This!