Best hookup apps and dating sites for casual sex updated for december 2023 mashable


Best hookup apps and dating sites to find casual sex with no strings attached
The app's ethos encourages users to maintain a sense of anonymity post-interaction or to "pretend like you're strangers afterward," making no-strings-attached sex the only name of the game.
Best hookup apps and dating sites to find casual sex with no strings attached
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Overview
Best dating app for liberals
 OkCupid 
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Go to OkCupid
For those looking for sex
 AdultFriendFinder 
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Go to AdultFriendFinder
Best dating app for regular hookups
 Hinge 
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Go to Hinge
Best dating app for queer men
 Grindr 
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Go to Grindr
Best dating app for quick hookups
 Pure 
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Go to Pure
Best dating app for queer women (and more)
 HER 
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Best dating app for over 35
 Plenty of Fish 
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Go to Plenty of Fish
Best dating app for mature singles
 Match 
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Go to Match
Best dating app for casual sex
 Tinder 
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Go to Tinder
Best app to avoid
 Zoosk 
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Go to Zoosk
Best for open-minded folks
 Feeld 
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Go to Feeld
See 6 More
It may be cuffing season, but year-round, casual dating, hookup culture, and no-strings-attached relationships are pretty common. In this new era of dating, hookup apps are on just about everyone's smartphone. And for good reason. You watch TV on demand (thank you Netflix) and your food can be ordered and delivered to your door while you sit on the couch (hello DoorDash), so why would finding a potential partner be any different?
UPDATE: Dec. 7, 2023, 2:33 p.m. EST We've temporarily pulled Feeld from our list our recommendations due to safety concerns regarding user location following their recent update. You can learn more in the Feeld product card. 
What is hookup culture?
The phrase "hookup culture" refers to casual sex or uncommitted sexual encounters — you know, good old-fashioned consensual sex just for the sake of it.
Way back when, before dating apps became a thing, people would rely on chance encounters or social gatherings (mainly parties or bars) to meet someone new to have a casual fling with. But now, with the huge pool of dating and hookup apps available, we've found ourselves firmly in what we'd like to call our hookup culture era, and finding a partner is as easy as swiping right on a profile photo.
The dedicated hookup app is a gateway to hot instant gratification, and the coolest thing is that you can decide where to find your fling and how much or little you'd like to know about the person before getting down and dirty.
What makes a good hookup app?
The best hookup apps don't have to be a one-and-done situation. Sure, things can be kept as anonymous as taking a nameless person home from the bar, but there's also nothing wrong with ensuring that the person getting to see you naked doesn't have the world's worst sense of humor. Plus, getting along well with a hookup, even if you're not looking for anything serious or exclusive, can help if you are looking for a regular friends-with-benefits situation.
Though many of these hookup apps make it obvious that people are looking for *that,* people on more generalized dating apps can avoid a lot of messiness if a heads-up about intentions is given within the first few DMs. Many apps even include an option to mark what you're looking for so your intentions can be clear from the get-go.
How do I find people to hook up with?
Basically, there's no one "best hookup app" you can use to find guaranteed partners, but you'll probably also want to skip any apps that feature a 10-minute questionnaire about romance and future families or ones that require expensive subscriptions intended for people who want long-term relationships.
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Photos are also a huge factor in good hookup apps. Some apps and dating sites hide people's pics unless you have a paid subscription, and we don't really love that — for physical attraction reasons and safety reasons. Apps that show the full view of someone's profile are the way to go.
Whether you want to pay for a hookup app is totally up to you, but we will say Tinder and Hinge have great free versions. You can likely find a hookup by the weekend without paying a cent.
Whether you're looking for casual sex or are simply looking to exchange nudes, here are our picks for the best hookup apps right now:
OkCupid
Best dating app for liberals
Go to OkCupid
Who it's for: 
If you're passionate about finding a partner who shares your political values, OkCupid is your gateway to the woke dating scene. Whether you're deeply involved in social justice or crave meaningful conversations, OkCupid prioritizes more than just appearances, helping you connect with people who have similar interests (and ethics).
Why we picked this: 
This hip LGBTQ-friendly site has won the hearts of liberal millennial singles by dedicating a portion of its profile-building prompts to the current political climate: weed, guns, vaccinations, women's rights, and more topics are covered. This, coupled with badges for voting and open pronoun and orientation options, helps to reel in an informed, respectful, and sex-positive crowd. Dry-humored graphics do a lot to alleviate pressure, too.
While a paid plan offers the most extensive features, you can still use its search filters without ever paying a dime. In other words, you can literally search for the keyword "hookup" — or any other common interests that might be important to you — and see what users have those words in their profile. Even easier is marking down the type of connection you're looking for on profile preferences — both "new friends" and "hookups" are options.
On a website that can lean more relationship-oriented, it's still simple to find people looking for the same casual connection as you.
Buying Options
The Good

  
Free to get started
  
Inclusive identification options, including gender-fluid, non-binary, and two-spirit
  
Offers multiple "desired relationship type" options, including short-term dating, non-monogamist relationships, hookups, and even friendships
  
In-depth questionnaire to help calculate your best matches
  
Forces new users to go through CAPTCHA to ensure authenticity

The Bad

  
Free version includes ads
  
Doesn't offer video chat
  
Questionnaire is pretty lengthy

Details

  
Free version: Yes
  
One month of OkCupid Basic: $34.99 per month
  
Three months of OkCupid Basic: $69.99 ($23.33 per month)
  
Six months of OkCupid Basic: $104.94 ($17.49 per month)
  
One month of OkCupid Premium: $44.99 per month
  
Three months of OkCupid Premium: $89.97 ($29.99 per month)
  
Six months of OkCupid Premium: $134.94 ($22.49 per month)

AdultFriendFinder
For those looking for sex
Go to AdultFriendFinder
Buying Options
The Good
The Bad
Details

  
Basic version: Free
  
One month of Gold: $27.95
  
Three months of Gold: $59.85 ($19.95 per month)
  
12 months of Gold: $179.40 ($14.95 per month)

Hinge
Best dating app for regular hookups
Go to Hinge
Who it's for:
Hinge may market itself as a relationship app, but don't be fooled — it can be just as effective as Tinder for hookups, especially in more populated areas.
Hinge combines modern dating apps' quick, swipe-based experience with the more relationship-oriented vibe found on platforms like eharmony and match. Some call it the "anti-Tinder," and for good reason. Instead of swiping, you scroll like Instagram, creating a smoother (and less judge-y) feel than swiping. It's a chill alternative for singles who are open to hookups but also want to explore the potential for something more meaningful with the right match.
Why we picked this: 
With the free version, you can send up to eight likes per day (unlimited with the paid version) and set preferences based on age, ethnicity, and religion. If you're searching for a hookup, this level of compatibility might not be necessary, so you're probably good with the free version.
Though it may attract a relationship-seeking crowd, one of Hinge's latest features is your profile's "Dating Intentions" section. This feature lets you specify right on your profile exactly what kind of connection you're looking for, alongside other key information like location and age. While it may not include explicit hookup-specific language, it sets the tone — and tells you probably not to send a message to the person looking for a "Life Partner." Ever up to date with the times, Hinge has also added a section to indicate whether you're looking for a monogamous or non-monogamous relationship (or if you're figuring it out).
Buying Options
The Good

  
Free to get started
  
No longer requires a Facebook login
  
Features a massive, rapidly growing user base
  
Offers video chat and voice recordings
  
Prompts combine visuals and text to give you a good feel for potential matches
  
Offers multiple ways to interact with other users

The Bad

  
Limited functionality for free users (e.g., only eight free "likes" per day)
  
No desktop version
  
May run into users who are only interested in being in a serious relationship
  
Slower paced than rival apps like Tinder

Details

  
Free version: Yes
  
One month of Hinge+: $32.99
  
Three months of Hinge+: $64.99 ($21.66 per month)
  
Six months of Hinge+: $99.99 ($16.66 per month)
  
One month of HingeX: $49.99
  
Three months of HingeX: $99.99 ($33.33 per month)
  
Six months of HingeX: $149.99 ($24.99 per month)

Grindr
Best dating app for queer men
Go to Grindr
Who it's for: 
Grindr is the go-to hookup app for gay men. As one of the leading mainstream dating apps designed exclusively for the LGBTQ+ community, it offers a range of relationship possibilities, but it is a common spot to find a casual hookup.
Why we picked this: 
On the surface, Grindr is a hookup-oriented app, so finding another guy looking for a one-night stand or friends with benefits won't be too much work. With its location-based approach, you can quickly message nearby users, making connecting with someone within the hour a real possibility. Grindr advertises this as getting "0 feet away from the queer world around you."
While you can specify your preferences and comfort level with NSFW images, you may still want to brace yourself for the occasional unsolicited explicit photo, which can pop up regardless of your settings.
That's not to say that Grindr isn't also a place to find serious relationships, but that's not what you came here for. Grindr is technically for gay, bi, trans, and queer people, but you'll mostly find cis men on there.
Buying Options
The Good

  
Free to get started
  
Easy, fast, and straightforward
  
LGBTQ-focused
  
Location-based interface means you can find your hook-up in no time

The Bad

  
Might be too NSFW
  
App is occasionally glitchy
  
No desktop version
  
Risk of biphobia

Details

  
Free version: Yes
  
One month of Grindr Unlimited: $39.99
  
One month of Grindr XTRA: $19.99
  
Three months of Grindr XTRA: $39.99 ($13.33 per month)
  
12 months of Grindr XTRA: $99.99 ($8.33 per month)

Pure
Best dating app for quick hookups
Go to Pure
Who it's for: 
Pure is the place to be if you're looking for uncomplicated, no-strings-attached hookups without the pressure to define the relationship. Say goodbye to mixed signals and awkward conversations about "What are we?" Pure is where you can find a booty call who won't try to text you earlier than midnight.
The app's ethos encourages users to maintain a sense of anonymity post-interaction or to "pretend like you're strangers afterward," making no-strings-attached sex the only name of the game.
Why we picked this: 
Pure offers a unique and discreet approach to casual hookups, and as of July 2023, you can choose a "goal." The options are Anything but boring, casual, Virtual, or Long-term. Once you've selected your goal, it'll appear above your ad in the feed. And, if you change your mind, you can swap it whenever you want; click "looking for" and choose.
The app's self-destructing feature ensures that your uploaded selfies, personal information, and conversations disappear after 60 minutes, promoting spur-of-the-moment and borderline anonymous hookups. There aren't even any profiles — it's just a feed of personal ads that let you get directly to the point of what you're looking for. People on the app aren't shy, which means you can put exactly what you want out of hookup and expect that you'll get some responses.
After you write your ad, the app uses your geolocation and sends out the sex version of an Uber request, so you won't have to worry about finding out your match lives across the country. Using filters is also free, which makes searching for the right match much easier.
Though you can find someone down for pretty much anything, Pure doesn't have that same sketchy vibe as Adult Friend Finder. If you receive a photo that looks like it might be a nude, for instance, the app will cover it with a filter that says, "Looks like a nude," so you can choose whether or not you want to see it.