The best dating and hookup apps

So we are now in a hookup culture. According to Mashable hook up app is known as the thing that has basically replaced real dating over the past 20 years or so, and the thing that your parents and grandparents bitch about because “nobody has a real conversation anymore.”

We all know that’s not true, however, and online dating has made a massive impact on more people meeting and talking than every before. And when we think dating sites, we usually think about sites like eharmony and Zoosk and other marriage-minded options. But not every single person is trying to participate in the next cuffing season. Sometimes, you just wanna get laid.

Everyone gets stuck in a sexual rut at some point, and let’s face it: Trying to take strangers home from the bar or constantly hitting up your ex who you know is DTF can get old. But what are you supposed to do? Just not give into your primal urges?  It might be time to let a hookup site or app take the wheel. Here are our picks for the best hookup apps right now:

AdultFriendFinder

Live videos, group chats, and more monthly visitors than eharmony makes AFF that friend who just wants you to get laid.

• Free version: Yes
• One month of GOLD: $32.39/month
• Three months of GOLD: $21.58/month
• One year of GOLD: $14.56/month

Who it’s for: Horny people.

Why it’s awesome: AdultFriendFinder is our pick for the best hookup site, and that’s because it’s literally impossible to walk away unsatisfied. It’s like a Pornhub that you can actually interact with. Regardless of whether you’re looking for an in-person hookup or to blow off some steam via sexting or raunchy videos, AFF has everything that your dirty mind can think of and more. Almost nothing is blurred out (no, really, there are lots of unsolicited dick pics), v=but if you don’t mind that the entire thing looks like a sketchy “There are hot singles in your area” ad, you’ll be in heaven.

Tinder

The place where you’ll find everyone you know, a ton of people you don’t know, and where you can go to find a date in under 10 minutes.

• Free version: Yes
• Tinder Plus: Starting at $2.99/month
• Tinder Gold: Starting at $4.99/month

Maybe you’ve heard of this dating app already — in fact, we’d bet money that you’ve downloaded it at least once in your life. Tinder, otherwise known as the app everyone and their mother downloads after a breakup, sees 1.6 billion swipes per day and is available in 196 countries. “Tindering” has become just as much of a verb as “swiping” at this point, so you know it had to make this list.

Tinder may not want to advertise as such, but we all know what it’s mostly used for. Yeah yeah, we know the amount of success stories of happy couples who met on Tinder is growing rapidly, but it’s way easier to find a date for the night than it is to find someone looking for a long term relationship. Using Tinder for the latter just wouldn’t be smart — you’re quite literally deciding if you want to interact with someone based on nothing but profile pictures and a quote from The Office, so yeah, you can see how getting laid would be the main goal of most users. 

PURE

It’s like Snapchat for sex, where hookups are spontaneous and impersonal.

• Free version: Yes

When we think PURE, we think purely physical. If you’re tired of getting signals crossed or dread being asked “What are we?” by a friend with benefits, PURE is the place to find a booty call who won’t try to text you earlier than midnight. App rules urge you to “pretend like you’re strangers afterwards,” making no-strings-attached the only name of the game here. This minimalistic and hella millennial app is fast, no nonsense, and the blueprint of what a hookup app should be. (They quite literally call refer to themselves as “The Hookup App,” so.)

PURE gives all the feels of a hookup-only site without the obnoxious naked parts everywhere, AKA you won’t have to be scared for someone to glance at your phone or computer screen as you would with AdultFriendFinder. AskMen mentions that it “seriously challenges the status quo,” and we agree — the surge of blatant sex positivity is a breath of fresh air when compared to other dating apps that try to convince you that you’ll find your soulmate. There’s no fancy algorithm, no crappy bio jokes, and best of all: no waiting. It will ask for your credit card info, but we promise it’s all free. 

Clover

Clover wants to do more than give you an anonymous hot single to bang — and why not actually be friends with your friend with benefits?

• Free version: Yes
• Clover Premium: $19.99/month

OK, but what about the other type of hookup? You know, the one where you know more about your booty call than just their name? Clover is a fun, millennial-driven app that pairs physical attraction with shared interests. It’s totally still fast-paced enough to give you a spontaneous hookup. Not all hookup apps have to be anonymous or borderline porn. Even if it’s just a one-night or not-earlier-than-midnight-thing, I know a ton of people who would prefer to ensure that their booty call isn’t a raging psychopath. Yes, you can actually be friends with your friends with benefits hookup partner.

HER

Ideal for queer women who are tired of heteronormative dating sites and finding the same three lesbians on Tinder.

• Free version: Yes

Apps like Tinder and Bumble are technically for all sexual orientations — so why are they still giving you male matches when you’ve specified you only want women? Swiping through all of that is way too much work, and it shouldn’t have to be like that. LESBIANS EXIST. Claiming to the be the app that “introduces you to every lesbian you’ve ever wanted to meet,” HER is the award-winning mix of dating and social media that lets you meet girls you know are girls, as it requires a Facebook for signup and is solely for lesbian, bisexual, and queer women. It was also created by queer women, for queer women, which is glorious.

HER claims to be the app that will “introduce you to every lesbian you’ve ever wanted to meet” — so if you’ve been feeling like there are literally no new lesbians left where you live, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to watch your hookup possibilities grow before your eyes. It’s nice to have genuine options that aren’t just straight girls on Tinder looking to make friends or find a threesome partner. A hookup app for lesbians that’s not completely sexualized by straight men? Is this real life?

iHookup

Find singles to chat with online and get off without leaving the house.

• Free membership: Yes
• One month of Gold: $34.99/month
• Three months of Gold: $22.99/month
• One year of Gold: $9.99/month

The site is literally called iHookup and it’s used for exactly what it sounds like — need we say anything else? It’s slightly less risqué than its main competitor AdultFriendFinder, but still clearly used for the same thing. One of the main differences between iHookup and the numerous other sites used for hookups is that your feed won’t make you feel like you’ve been violated. Members actually post pictures of their faces (instead of their nether regions) and put effort into their profiles. It’s a really nice change of pace for people who are in the mood, but not so in the mood that they need porn shoved in their face. (It’s still X-rated though, don’t you worry — you’ll realize that when you’re bombarded by gross ads.)

Because the member base isn’t as robust and is more spread out geographically, you might want to be a little more lenient with your mile radius when it comes to the matches they suggest. You’ll probably be able to find a nearby hookup, but iHookup is a way better place for someone looking for a cute sexting partner from another country. Which is totally fine — sometimes you just don’t feel like leaving the house. 

Cheers to having good, safe, consensual intercourse with strangers, guys. Get your condoms and good luck out there.

Looking for something more serious?

Hooking up is great, but perhaps it’s not the *only* thing you’re looking for. If you’re a bit more relationship-minded, we’d suggest sites like Zoosk, eharmony, and OkCupid. Here’s why.

If you refuse to be alone during cuffing season, eharmony is a tried and true option for those seeking something long-term — if you can get past the price.

eharmony

• Free version: Yes
• One month of paid: $59.95
• Six months of paid: $39.95/month
• One year of paid: $18.95/month

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