Best hookup apps and dating sites to find casual sex

Who it's for:

If you're passionate about finding a partner who shares your values, OkCupid is the matchmaker for you. Whether deeply involved in social justice or craving meaningful conversations, OkCupid prioritizes more than just appearances, helping you connect with people with similar interests (and ethics).

Why we picked this:

This LGBTQ-friendly site has won the hearts of liberal 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 a progressive attitude toward profile building, from open pronoun and orientation options, helps to reel in an informed, respectful, and sex-positive crowd. Plus, they were doing this before every other app decided to start including prompts and profile options about kink and ethical non-monogamy (OkCupid beat Hinge by about six years when it came to including options for polyamorous users).

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. And thanks to the app's brief questionnaire, which, according to Michael Kaye, Director of Brand Marketing and Communications at OkCupid, was updated at the beginning of last year by ChatGPT, you can hook up with someone you may actually connect with on a deeper level beyond just physical attraction.

Read our full OkCupid review.  

Read our full review of AdultFriendFinder.

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 newer 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."

Just don't choose the prompt “What I order for the table," because apparently (or according to Eater and an entire Reddit thread), any answer is a red flag. (Though we don't entirely agree with this.)

Who it's for:

Grindr is a popular hookup app for gay men. (Correction: It's the 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."

According to a recent article published by Platformer, the app is working on integrating AI so users can better navigate the gay dating scene with an AI wingman. The plan is to help users start conversations, but they're doing it by training the AI with real user data and conversations. The company is also trying to build an AI boyfriend for users who prefer to sext rather than hook up with the first person they meet.

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. 

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. Write your ad, and the app does the rest. It 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.

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.

Though you can find someone down for pretty much anything, Pure doesn't have that same sketchy vibe as AdultFriendFinder. 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.

Who it's for:

HER is a platform created by and for queer women, providing a safe and inclusive space to connect with women and nonbinary folks without worrying about being sexualized by skeevy men. While HER isn't exclusively designed for hookups, it offers a vibrant community where you can explore casual encounters or even find meaningful relationships. With over four million active users, the app is brimming with opportunity.

Why we picked this:

If you're looking for a simple way to mention you're not springing to jump into anything long-term, the "Looking for" section of the profile provides a "something casual" tag that'll be displayed out in the open on your profile. To streamline your search, you can filter users by this tag (and more) if you're willing to pay for a membership. Adding it to your profile is completely free of charge, though, as is adding interests like "kink" or questions like "Top, bottom, or switch?" Basically, it's easy to send out and see indicators that someone is on the app for sex.

Beyond focusing on romantic and sexual relationships, HER has created an inclusive space for the 2SLGBTQ+ community. This is an excellent breeding ground for friends with benefits. 

HER lets you use your phone number, email, Apple ID, or Facebook/Instagram account to sign up. Like other apps on this list, HER has added a check mark badge to photo-verified profiles. The app even runs like Facebook with a feed filled with events, media, and, more specifically, tailored to the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

We're currently in the process of retesting Plenty of Fish after its rebrand to make sure its still a great app for finding a hookup. Here's what we thought about it the last time we tried it out.

Who it's for:

Whether you're in the mood for a leisurely swiping session or ready to chat, this app offers the best of both worlds.

Although the initial sign-up questionnaire might suggest that Plenty of Fish (POF) is inclined toward more serious connections, the app's standout feature is its unrestricted chat capability. You can engage with any user, whether you've matched or not, and you have the option to connect with nearby and online users. This effortless communication makes it easy and quick to find someone to spend the night with.

Why we picked this:

With POF, you can mark in your profile that you're looking for something casual, giving you an easy way to chat with someone a bit before deciding to meet up without giving the wrong impression. And if you feel like doing a bit of screening before saying hello, there's a tab where you can swipe through potential matches. Plus, if you're more into exchanging steamy messages than meeting in person, you can set your search radius to a worldwide radius free of charge.

It can be a little bot-filled, and its livestream feature sets up more of a creator-viewer relationship than a two-people-trying-to-sleep-together relationship, but if you ignore that tab, POF does have an active user base that isn't a carbon copy of the Tinder crowd.

Who it's for:

While Match is known for finding a long-term partner, its large and diverse user base also includes individuals who are open to other relationship dynamics, including casual hookups. We won't sugarcoat it — it will certainly be more difficult to find something no-strings-attached on here than if you were looking for a serious relationship.

But, if you belong to a slightly more mature demographic, have some patience, and maybe most importantly, the budget, Match could be a good fit for you.

Why we picked this:

We know Match isn't the raunchiest place (it's actually known for its relationship success rate), but its massive user base of over seven million people can't be ignored. Even if you're not looking for a long-term relationship like many members, there's a decent chance you'll find a ton of users also down for something risqué and casual.

One main difference between Match and most other sites we've listed is that Match sees a more diverse age range. Sure, there are large numbers of young people on Match who are probably on Tinder as well, but Match also attracts significantly older, more mature (and probably more experienced in bed) users.

The downside is that it tends to attract these users because it costs a pretty penny, and there's no functional free version of the site. Still, if you're at an age where you feel nothing but creepy on Tinder, Match is a nice alternative, especially if you could see a hookup leading to a relationship.

We've also seen the Match Group in the news lately for reportedly using misleading tactics to get users to subscribe to its apps' premium services. In addition to Match, the Match Group now owns popular dating apps including Tinder, Hinge, OKCupid, and Plenty of Fish. In February, Inc. reported that a group of people were suing the company for "employing psychologically manipulative features to ensure they remain on the app perpetually as paying subscribers." The lawsuit described the apps as addictive, like gambling.

Read our full review of Match.

Note: We are in the process of reevaluating Feeld's place among our recommendations after the app's recent update arrived with bugs and location-related safety concerns. You can learn more about these issues, along with others caused by the update, from Mashable's Anna Iovine. We take safety very seriously when making our recommendations, and will reconsider Feeld's place on our list if and when they resolve these issues.

Who it's for:

Feeld is a unique and inclusive dating app designed for people interested in exploring their sexuality and embracing ethical non-monogamy.

This app caters to diverse identities, including the LGBTQ+ community, non-binary users, or anyone who doesn't fit into the typical relationship mold. It provides a safe and judgment-free space where users can express their true selves without fear of stigma or judgment.

Why we picked this:

Sometimes, a hookup includes more than one other person, but finding people down for a threesome (or more-some) isn't always the easiest task. Don't be that asshole who goes on a dating app and matches with someone only to later reveal your intentions of finding a third.

Feeld is where everyone on the app is on the same page about what they're seeking. It's an open-minded community that allows you to choose from more than 20 sexual and gender identities, pair your profile with your partner's, list your desires, and create group chats. So yeah, you can narrow down exactly what you're looking for.

The app is sex-positive without looking like a computer virus popup. You can sign up for Feeld as a couple or as a single to practice consensual polyamory, BDSM, and pretty much any other desire you could think of. You can swipe back and forth, so if you accidentally passed someone you miss, you can go back — no harm, no foul.

Feeld is free to use but has a paid Majestic membership with bonus features like seeing people who liked you, filtering by desires, sharing private photos, and incognito browsing.

Who it's for:

In theory, Zoosk is an option for literally anyone. It's known for having a large user base, which should be great for finding a quick hookup, but in reality, the app is full of dead and fake profiles. We only recommend Zoosk if you've exhausted all other dating app options.

Why we don't recommend this:

Zoosk sports a flirty "pick up and go" philosophy when it comes to online dating, so they won't make you answer a torturous string of questions about yourself. Instead, Zoosk monitors your on-site activity and attempts to give you better matches based on what you already like, so if the idea of minimal effort appeals to you, in theory, Zoosk would be your place. There are, however, a few caveats.

Specifying the age range and gender you're looking for in a partner does little to narrow down your options. That might be fine for a strict hookup, but the app has some bigger problems. Zoosk may boast 40 million members, but it also has plenty of dead or fake profiles, so chances are you'll see some repeat users. It's also not uncommon for the site to show you people living thousands of miles away, so it might require more patience if you're looking for an in-person connection.

The other main drawback is, again, the amount of fake or dead profiles makes this place seems like the dating site version of The Last of Us. Of course, all dating sites have their fair share of duds, but Zoosk is just feeling that plague a bit more intensely (we've heard it's mostly female profiles).

Read our full review of Zoosk.