Craigslist personals were once the top way to find a local date or casual encounter quickly and easily. Unfortunately, in March of 2018, Craigslist decided to call it quits on all of their personals ads after the U.S. Senate passed a bill to fight online sex trafficking called FOSTA, putting all the casual online daters left in a lurch. So, where do you turn to for hookups and easy no-strings-attached sex?
Well, fortunately for you, there are some great alternatives to Craigslist Casual Encounters out there that will help you to be successful in your dating game, no matter what type of encounter you’re looking for.
Why Was Craigslist So Popular?
Craigslist has been around for a long time and people enjoyed the anonymity that their personals section allowed. You never had to use a real name and everyone that was using Craigslist pretty much knew what was going on; nobody expected anything more. And, if you were a cheater, or into experimenting in different types of sexual experiences without broadcasting to everyone you knew, Craigslist had you covered.
Sure, there are dating sites out there that offer similar things, and those are great for what they offer. But, with Craigslist, you never had to upload a picture, didn’t have to fill out forms and become a member of a site that you may or may not be completely interested in, and it was totally free. If you couldn’t get laid on Craigslist, you were seriously doing it wrong.
Well, now what, you may ask. Where do I go for everything that Craigslist had to offer if it’s completely off the table? Lucky for you, my friends, I have found some excellent options that will not only make you forget about Craigslist but will help you find partners interested in the same type of relationships you’re looking for.
What about Tinder?
When Tinder hit the scene, everyone thought that would be the perfect replacement for Craigslist personals. In theory, Tinder sounded great, but what was once a hookup app has slowly become more about relationships. I mean, if that’s what you’re into, go for it, but for those of us who want something casual or kinky, it isn’t our best option.
Best Alternative Dating Sites
Gone are the days of going out to try and find a stranger at a bar for a good time. We do everything online now, and dating is no different. After Tinder, dating sites literally exploded and it got a little difficult deciding on which sites to join.
No matter what you’re looking for, you can find it online. Gay, straight, couples, trans, BDSM, seriously, there is a dating site for you. Here are the five best alternative dating sites out there.
AdultFriendFinder hit the market in 1996 and in 2007 they were listed as one of the most popular sites in a top 100 list. You’ll often see their advertisements all over the internet and there is a reason for that, it works for everyone.
No matter what you’re looking for, be it a quick vanilla encounter or a kinky threesome that meets every weekend, AdultFriendFinder has what you’re looking for.
I know, I know, you’re thinking, “No way am I joining that site, they got hacked”. But, hear me out.
Ashley Madison started as a cheaters site that promised you would be able to cheat without getting caught. Yes, they did have that little “blip” with hackers releasing names, but they have completely overhauled their safety measures and they are honestly one of the safest sites out there.
You still have to do your part, like don’t use your work or home email address to create an account, don’t create a username that is your regular name, that sort of thing. But Ashley Madison also does their part by not ever linking your account to social media and allowing you to blur your photos, so your face or privates aren’t plastered all over the site for everyone to see.
Ashley Madison also helps you to get busy quicker by avoiding the initial back-and-forth email game by using the quick reply feature. Quick replies let a user know that you’re interested and want to have more engaging conversations than an emoji or a regular “Hey” and also lets you filter out the users you’re less-than-enthused about.
- BDSM.com
Are you 50 shades of kinky? If so, you might want to consider BDSM.com. This site has an easy registration process and quickly matches you with like-minded partners. If you have an alternative-type of sexual interest, BDSM.com is a great site.
- Out Personals
If you’re a gay guy, you want some lovin’ too, right? OutPersonals is a site geared strictly to homosexual men and boasts over 500,000 members worldwide.
OutPersonals isn’t just a dating site, though. They also have an extensive blog section where you can get acquainted with hot guys, read about things you might find interesting, and read up on some dating advice.
OutPersonals has a great community feel and is quite easy to use, making it a great adult dating option.
Formerly known as Seeking Arrangement, Seeking is a site for those who want a sugar daddy relationship. Seeking makes it easy for men who are of a certain means to find the young, cute women who are looking to make their lives better…for a price. Not everyone is going to be into this type of thing, and that’s ok, but for those of you who are, Seeking is a great option.
Hopefully one of these sites will work for you if you’re looking to fill the void that Craigslist’s personals have left in your dating world. If not, I have some more great options for you.
Five Alternative Hook Up Apps
Everyone has a smartphone and has their noses pressed against that little screen for most of their day. With mobile hookup apps, not only can you browse for dates, you can talk to them instantly. Gone are the days of having to wait until you get home to log-on to your computer to check your messages, now you can get them as soon as they are sent and not get stuck in an endless loop of message tag.
If you’re looking for alternative hookup apps, here is a list of some of the best.
SnapChat isn’t a dedicated dating app, but it has a huge user base and some of the sexiest women you’re ever going to stumble across. In the hookup game, SnapChat is a huge “player” because you can send and receive sexy messages that don’t hang around, making sexting and flirting safe. However, it’s not as huge as Snapsext.com.
If you are looking for a casual relationship, SnapChat is a great place to check out.
Lucky is the app Tinder wishes it was. Nobody using Lucky is looking for a relationship, instead, they want to get lucky and do it quickly. Similar to Tinder, Lucky has you swipe through user profiles to decide if they are what you’re looking for. If the two of you swipe “right” on each others’ pictures, you’re a match and can start chatting right away.
Lucky is also the place to go if you have a certain fantasy you’re looking to live out. While not a dedicated kink site, most kinks are represented on Lucky and you’re sure to find the specific kind of encounter you’d most enjoy.
If you’re looking for a close match for the Craigslist personals section, Lucky is probably the closest to that. You do have upload a picture, but there is no linking to social media and your profile can be super general, so there is some semblance of anonymity there.
- Grindr
If you’re in the LGBTQ group, Grindr has been quite popular as a social media app. People who have different likes in a partner often have trouble finding a good match, but Grindr has helped to bridge the gap in the homosexual dating scene.
Grindr is great if you’re in an area where it is hard to find that scene, or if you’re a bit shy about being “out” and need a safe-space to explore your sexuality. With a large user base and easy of use, it’s easy to see why Grindr continues to be a strong alternative dating option.
- WeAreHer
Her is an LGBTQ site similar to Grindr, but instead of being for men, it is strictly for gay women. If you identify as lesbian, queer, fluid, femme, or nothing at all, you are welcome on Her.
Her just isn’t a dating app, though. There are often meetups to help get people to know each other and have that safe space to do so. If you’re a woman, or identify as one, Her is a wonderful option.
- Happn
Happn is an interesting choice in dating apps because it strives to introduce complete strangers. Yep, if you are always crossing paths with someone and you totally want to get to know them, Happn can help introduce you. This hookup app lets you know who you’re around often and if they’re members of the app, can help you to get to know them and maybe make your stranger fantasy come true.
Seven Best New Sites for Craigslist-Like Hookups
If signing up for a dating app of any kind just isn’t an interest for you, you’re probably wondering where you can go for that Craigslist-like experience. There are a few new sites that are trying to fill that void, although most of them still require an email address or phone number, so they definitely do not have that anonymity most casual hookup purveyors enjoy.
If you want to try a new hookup site, give one of these seven a try:
- DoubleList-11.98 million monthly visitors
- ClassifiedAds– 5.08 million monthly visitors
- Oodle– 1.76 million monthly visitors
- BedPage– 3.57 million monthly visitors
- Locanto– 2.17 million monthly visitors
- TrystLink– Over 450 thousand monthly visitors
- AdPost– Over 448 thousand monthly visitors
Final Thoughts
We all miss Craigslist personals for their ease of use, anonymity, and just the amazing times we would have. Sadly, with the way the world is now, those days are long gone, and I doubt they will be coming back. However, if you try one of the above sites, you’re likely to have success in finding the exact date you’re looking for.
Give any site you try a chance and play around on it a bit to see if it works for you. Any new site is going to take some time to get used to, but if you remain patient and keep your options open, your hard work will pay off in spades.
About Owen Cashner
Owen Cashner considers himself a professional dater and amateur comedian. His passion for writing led him to document his experiences using online dating websites. All opinions expressed on this website are to further educate men on the landscape of dating. Use this information to your advantage and conquer the dating world.
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