The best sex and dating apps for hooking up
Overview
Table of Contents
This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.
In this age of on-demand everything, hookup apps are the go-to for Netflix) and order a takeaway with a few quick taps, why shouldn't we be able to find a potential partner the same way?
Sometimes all you want is some fun, and fortunately there's an app for that.
AdultFriendFinder
—
readers’ pick for casual connections
Tinder
—
top pick for finding hookups
Hinge
—
popular choice for regular meetups
How do you find a hookup?
It's still possible to like-minded individuals. Plus, you can save a lot of time, energy, and cash by testing out a potential relationship on an app before meeting up. We know that some dating apps can be expensive, but just think about all those wasted coffees you could avoid by chatting through an app first.
Using dating apps and sites is also a whole lot less intimidating than meeting someone face to face. If you find the idea of meeting people slightly terrifying, these apps can help you dip your toe into the world of dating from the comfort of your own home.
Should you use free dating apps?
The good news is that there are a lot of all about romance and happily ever afters (we're looking at you, exchange nudes with strangers, or have some phone sex before you doze off, we've rounded up the most reliable hookup apps for every type of single. You can download them via Google Play or the App Store and start swiping in minutes.
These are the best hookup sites and apps in 2025.
Why We Like It
Details
iHookup
Best For Sexting
The Good & The Bad
- Safe(r) for work
- Flirty users from lots of countries
- Ads interfere with user experience
- Pricey for the quality
- Small and spread out user base
Why We Like It
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 realise that when you're bombarded by gross ads.)
On the downside, the website is more of a Facebook for horny people than an all-encompassing hookup site. There aren't nearly as many ways to get involved with other horny members, and that might just be because the user base simply isn't as big (however, give it a year or two and we wouldn't be surprised if it competed with the ranks of eharmony). iHookup also offers many "what are you like?" and "what are you looking for?" questions that can be displayed on your profile, and they even give you a "between the sheets" sex compatibility ranking for each user you come across. To see everything the site has to offer, you will have to dig a bit deeper. It seems kind of pricey for a site that hasn't yet made its mark on the world, but they guarantee that if you don't get a hookup in your first three months, they'll give you three months for free.
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.
Details
Match
Best For Mature Users
The Good & The Bad
- Great number of options
- Mature and experienced users
- Endless search possibilities
- Relationship oriented site
- Pricey
- Hookups won't be instantaneous
Why We Like It
We know what you're thinking: "How am I going to find a hookup on a relationship site?" Yes, we know Match isn't the raunchiest place, but it also has a massive user base (7.4 million paid users, to be exact) so even if you're not looking for a long-term relationship like many members, there's a pretty high chance you'll find a users also looking for something risqué (anything can be a hookup app if you want it to be, right?).
One main difference between Match and most of the other sites we've listed (other than AdultFriendFinder maybe) is that Match sees a way more diverse age range. Sure, there are loads 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. If you're at an age where you feel nothing but creepy on Tinder, Match is a perfect alternative. You'll obviously have to fill out some survey questions about your likes and dislikes, so this isn't the place for impatient people. However, it would be a good idea to let the public know exactly the type of relationship you're looking for in your bio, just to make sure it doesn't get awkward if someone wants a second date. Don't worry, it's less serious than eharmony and gives you much more freedom to clown around — we'd just suggest that you at least be open to the idea of a serious relationship after a hookup if you're going to be on Match. You have to test drive the car before you buy it, right?
Match is also great because you're pretty much in control: You'll get a certain number of matches that they think you'll like per day, but you also have free reign over the search bar and can see who's nearby. This means you're able to feel out the selection and see if there are any certified hotties in your area, rather than waiting for them to give you choices or going one by one (like on Tinder). They might not have as much in common with you as your suggested matches would, but hey, does that really matter when it comes to a one-night stand?
Details
XMatch
Best For Profiles
The Good & The Bad
- Large member base
- Unique features
- Very NSFW
Why We Like It
With an absolutely massive member base and unique features, XMatch is one of the top sites out there offering all kinds of sex.
XMatch caters to users seeking sexual encounters of every variety, making hooking up easier than ever before. It’s the epitome of an adult dating website, and in many ways, the hookup site more closely resembles a porn site with an extra layer of social networking thrown in.
Like much of the activity (and users) on the site, registration is easy, allowing members to dive into their sexual fantasies in under a minute. The site is widely uncensored, so it’s not exactly one you’d want to open on your work computer, but behind all the overt sexual expression lies a dating platform that provides hand-picked matches, a way to discover others based on similar sexual interests, and seemingly endless opportunities to network while turning yourself and others on.
Details
GetItOn
Best For Sexual Compatibility
The Good & The Bad
- Advanced compatibility matching
- Easy-to-use search tools
- Sexual compatibility testing
- Free version is basic
- Not cheap
Why We Like It
GetitOn is all about helping adults meet their sexual equal, and that's really what hooking up is all about, isn't it?
GetitOn includes everything you would expect from a dating site, with one major extra. The site goes beyond the basic format of most hookup sites and offers an adult compatibility test to help you find a partner who is compatible in bed.
The idea behind the sexual compatibility test is to enable you to specify your sexual chemistry in terms of likes, dislikes, fetishes, and fantasies. The result is that you (hopefully) find someone who gets your motor running, and vice versa.
There is a free version to try out the site, but most of the features are blocked. So if you really do want to find your sexual equal, you'll have to dig deep.
Details
Tinder
Best For Travelling
The Good & The Bad
- Lots of options
- Great for finding hookups while travelling
- Multiple premium plans
- Way too much swiping
- Not 100% hookup oriented
Why We Like It
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 includes deciding if you want to interact with someone based on nothing but profile pictures and a quote, so you can see how getting laid would be the main goal of most users.
It's fast, easy, and if there's one app that even the shyest, most skeptical people will be on, it's Tinder. Sure, you may get carpal tunnel from swiping so much, but I guess that also means that it's nearly impossible to not find like-minded people who are also DTF.
Though it's pretty much free for general use, Tinder does offer three upgrades: Tinder Plus, Tinder Gold, and Tinder Platinum. These include extras like the opportunity to undo a left swipe, send "Super Likes" to people you're really into, see who has swiped right on your profile, and in the case of Tinder Platinum, message users before they've even matched with you.
Details
GayFriendFinder
Best For Social Interaction
The Good & The Bad
- Chat and forum options
- Highly social
- Free version
- You need to pay to contact possible matches
- Some groups are dormant
Why We Like It
GayFriendFinder is a gay community where single men meet other men for chat, dating, and hook-ups. So pretty much anything you could want.
The site has great chat and forum features to help you get to know your potential connection. You'll be encouraged to upload photos to make your profile more attractive but you are under no obligation to do so. Joining is completely free but most communication as well as viewing full profiles requires paid membership, so if you want to find a match then you kind of need to stump up the cash.
After you've signed up, you can browse the many profiles that have a truly global feel. Even as a standard member you can create hot-lists and send ice-breakers to guys that take your fancy, but to initiate contact via email or chat you'll need to upgrade.
Details
Topics Apps & Software
Joseph Green is the Global Shopping Editor for Mashable. He covers VPNs, headphones, fitness gear, dating sites, streaming, and shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day.
Joseph is also Executive Editor of Mashable's sister site, AskMen.
Miller Kern is the Deputy Editor of Shopping and Reviews at Mashable, where she writes and edits reviews, roundups, deals, and news stories about tech products, including headphones, skincare devices, laptops, sex toys, e-readers, robot vacuums, and more. She's been covering all things shopping and tech, including shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, for Mashable since 2019. Miller can tell you which products are actually worth your money. She also explores trends in the shopping sphere, such as viral TikTok moments.
