Craigslist lost Casual Encounters and then replaced it with Activity Partners…and that’s not really doing much for sex classifieds, is it?
That’s why I decided to review the best Craigslist Personals alternatives for 2024.
Many of these sites are 100% free to use, and your chances of finding a connection are high. Whether you’re looking for a one-night stand, or even a long-term FWB relationship, these sex classified sites are the starting point for your future flings.
Let’s start with a preview of which sites finished first.
Best Craigslist Personals Alternative Websites Reviewed
Our best sites similar to Craigslist aren’t overrun with spam, fake ads, or catfishers on the hunt for an easy payday. Plus, they all have a free membership option, so you can start posting personal ads today.
1. Ashley Madison – Best Craigslist Personals Alternative Overall
Pros
- Discretion is priority
- Quick & easy hookups
- 70+ million members
- Free for women
Cons
- Some fake profiles
Ashley Madison has been notorious ever since its debut in 2001. It was the “Have an affair!” site, and encouraged people to keep secrets and fulfill their darkest urges.
To this day, it’s still the most popular married dating, with an estimated 70+ million members globally.
Many Craiglist users back in the day were married people looking for a partner. In that vein, Ashley Madison picks up where Craigslist left off.
Plenty of users are searching for a long-term FWB or ONS. Men and women can create their account for free but men need to purchase tokens before messaging other members.
You can use PayPal, a credit card, or paper check to purchase credits for $0.25 each!
2. AdultFriendFinder – Top Craigslist Personal Ad Site for Variety
Pros
- 90+ million active users
- Find hookups that share your interests
- Affordable subscription pricing
- Loads of cool features
Cons
- Must pay for interactions
If you’re on the lookout for diverse dating opportunities, consider AFF your premier destination. With 8+ million active men, women, couples, and trans folk using the platform, it’s easy to find hookups that share your preferences and interests.
They’ve been around since 1996, putting them on par with CL Personals in terms of reliability.
You can create your account and browse through profiles for free, but you’ll need to purchase messages, likes and interactions. Luckily, their affordable subscription pricing begins at $10/month.
This is a small price to pay for access to their evenly gendered and open-minded dating pool!
AFF also has unique community-building features like forums, a magazine, and more.
3. Victoria Milan – Casual Craigslist Alternative To Meet Local Singles
Pros
- Keep your profile anonymous
- 6.2+ million members
- Find local singles for free
Cons
- Expensive subscription pricing
Victoria Milan and Ashley Madison are both good replacements for Craigslist Casual Encounters because of their offering of privacy and discretion.
However, Victoria Milan does one better and adds some special features that even Ashley Madison doesn’t have.
You can blur your profile photo or push the “Panic” button to close the website immediately.
You can also keep a gallery of private photos with a special key for unlocking that you only share with your favorite friends.
These features gives users the option to exercise complete anonymity.
If you can’t afford to get caught indulging in your unsavory side, Victoria Milan has your back.
They also have 6.2+ million members looking for NSA fun. There’s a 51% / 49% split between men and women, which is virtually impossible to find on other sites.
However, for all these perks, you’ll have to pay a monthly subscription, which gives you more access than Ashley Madison’s credits-based system. At its cheapest, their yearly subscription is priced at $29.99 per month.
4. Seeking – Luxury Dating Craigslist Personal Alternative
Pros
- Built for luxury arrangements
- Women get free accounts
- Sugar dating opportunities
- Well-reputed site
Cons
- Men have to pay for registration
With 40+ million active users, Seeking is the most successful online site for luxury dating.
The site has earned a reputation for rich men seeking beautiful women, and speaks to that demographic we all remember from Craigslist, the ones looking to “date up” rather than date “whoever is available.”
Plus, women get to sign up for free.
Subscriptions for guys start from $100/month, but Seeking promises access to a world filled with luxury dating opportunities for attractive women and successful men. Punching up has never been easier.
If you’re an educated and successful professional, consider their Diamond membership. For $250/month, you’ll show a vast array of women that you’re serious about finding the perfect arrangement.
For more details on what luxury dating involves, check out our in-depth review of Seeking.
5. NoStringsAttached – Top Craigslist Personals Site for Casual Meetups
Pros
- Best-in-class privacy features
- Filter partners by preference
- Meant for affairs & casual encounters
- Meet people for chat, getting to know you dates, or hookups
Cons
- Can’t send messages for free
It’s in the name – NoStringsAttached is the best hookup site for casual dating and NSA encounters.
Like Craigslist, it’s also a dating site that lets you meet up for any purpose, whether it’s just chat, a brief talk over coffee, or something more.
They implement best-in-class privacy features that protect your anonymity, and you can filter through potential hookups according to your dating preferences.
Much like Ashley Madison, they’re built for married individuals and users seeking a one-night-stand. 2+ million active members occupy the site, and their dating pool appears evenly gendered at first glance.
You’ll have to become a VIP member in order to send messages. Subscriptions begin from $29.95/month, so you’ll enjoy unlimited messaging at an affordable price point.
6. Reddit R4R – 100% Free Craigslist Sex Classifieds Foru
Pros
- 400,000+ active members
- Post ads & send messages for free
- Can filter by location, age & gender
Cons
- Can only post ads once per day
Like Craigslist Personals, Reddit R4R is a tried-and-true classifieds site. Their “Personals” section is filled with 400,000+ men, women, and trans folk searching for their next fling. Here’s the best part – you can post ads, respond to classifieds, and send messages for free.
It’s worth noting that different R4R subreddits exist for each city.
There’s no paid membership here, but you can only post one advertisement every 24 hours. On the bright side, there are no limitations on the number of messages (or comments) you can send.
7. Tinder – Mobile Sex Classifieds Similar to Craigslist Personals
Pros
- Send 100 free likes every day
- Find local singles with ease
- 75+ million active users
Cons
- Some features are paid
As the original “swipe-to-match” hookup site, Tinder pioneered the rise of duplicate dating apps.
But honestly, this feels the most like Craigslist Personals of old, with its huge membership, random DMs, and a huge database of over 75+ million active users from across the globe.
Their quick-fire swiping allows members to find local singles in minutes, and you can send out 100 free likes daily. However, some of their best features are paid, like Rewind or Passport.
Starting from $30/month, a Tinder Gold subscription lets you view people who’ve liked your profile. You’ll also get “Boosts,” which skyrocket your profile to the top of Tinder’s charts.
8. Hinge – Craigslist Personals Alternative for Serious Relationships
Pros
- Personal, in-depth dating profiles
- Find meaningful connections
- Unique voice prompts
Cons
- Restrictive swipe limits for free members
Hinge is the dating app that’s designed to be deleted, and the most similar site to the Craigslist “Dating/Romance” section of old.
(You know that other part of the page that’s not Casual Encounters!)
Their platform facilitates long-term relationships with 20+ million personal dating profiles. If you’re looking for true love, their “voice prompts” add another layer of depth and personality to your matches.
Although many users are searching for something casual, Hinge’s search filters work to your advantage. You can filter by religion, intention, ethnicity, height, location, gender, and age to find people who suit your preferences.
You’ll have to pay $12.99/month to bypass their restrictive like limits. However, you get curated match recommendations for free, as well as mutual match chat.
9. Craigslist Missed Connections – New Craigslist Personal Forum
Pros
- Completely free-to-use
- Replicates CL’s “Personals” section
- Rekindle missed connections
Cons
- Not specifically for dating
Craigslist’s “Missed Connections” cropped up immediately after their “Personals” section was shut down. It’s clear they underwent a rebranding, but they’re still a virtual replica of their predecessor. As you might expect, you can post and respond to personals for free.
There is one noteworthy difference to mention.
Unlike the old CL Personals, “Missed Connections” focuses on connecting people who’ve already crossed paths. That said, you won’t find a lot of people that want to meet a total stranger.
However, you can use “Missed Connections” to reach out and connect with new people!
10. Zoosk – Best Craigslist Alternatives for Verified Dating
Pros
- 40+ million users
- Live video chat
- Smart algorithm that studies your dating habits
Cons
- Must pay for messages
Zoosk is known for its SmartPicks algorithm, which learns your dating habits, as well as a vibrant online dating community.
It’s actually very different from Craigslist in terms of technology. However, the spirit of Craigslist definitely lives on, with Zoosk’s lively community, mixed demographics, and a fun atmosphere for casual dating – and less emphasis on secrets.
You can also import your Facebook profile to Zoosk’s application with a single tap. Their focus lies on connecting local singles, using Facebook as a way to measure the distance between potential matches.
In order to send or receive messages on the platform, you’ll have to pay $34.99/month, although video chat is free.
11. Grindr – Best Craigslist Personals Alternative for Gay Dating
Pros
- 11+ million active users
- Focus on casual sex
- Unlimited free messages
Cons
- Can only see 9-12 profiles for free
Grindr was founded in 2009, but they’ve skyrocketed to popularity over the last 13 years.
It definitely has a Craigslist vibe, as 60% of Craigslist Casual Encounters were M4M gay or bisexual ads. All your gay dream dates are now active on Grindr, and over 11+ million active users flood the site.
If you’re looking for a no-frills fling with another dude, Grindr is filled with like-minded people.
They have tens of kink-friendly search categories, and you can send unlimited messages for free. That said, you can only view 9-12 profiles in each category until you pay for their “XTRA” subscription.
For $19.99/month, you’ll gain access to 600+ profiles and unlock advanced search filters that let you sort by location, age, and tribe.
For another well-rounded list of gay swiping options, check out the best gay hookup sites.
12. Feeld – LGBTQ+ & Poly-Friendly Craigslist Personals Alternative
Pros
- LGBTQ+ focused dating
- Perfect for couples & swingers
- Post personal ads for free
Cons
- Men noticeably outnumber women
In 2014, Feeld’s creators noticed the startling lack of LGBTQ+ representation among mainstream dating apps. Over the last 8 years, they’ve focused on LGBTQ+ daters, couples, swingers, throuples, and kink-friendly matchmaking.
While Craigslist was just starting to see LGBTQ ads in its heyday, apps like Feeld definitely picked up where it left off.
Feeld gives users the option to select from 20+ identities and sexual orientations, which solidifies its reputation as a safe haven for gender-non-conforming users.
Currently, they boast 1.3 million active members, but men outnumber women here. That said, it’s hard to find the perfect gender balance no matter where you go. On the bright side, you can post and respond to detailed classifieds for free!
13. Plenty of Fish – Craigslist Alternative With Video Chat
Pros
- Native video chat feature
- 150+ million active members
- Casual dating on a global scale
Cons
- Must pay to bypass like limits
Plenty of Fish boasts upwards of 150 million members from all corners of the world, but they focus on connecting local singles for free.
The sheer size of POF is impressive, and it does recall the glory days of Craigslist when it boasted similar numbers.
POF uses the same “swipe-to-match” functionality as Tinder, but they tailor your potential connections based on your interests and preferences.
Additionally, they have a native video chat function that lets you verify your date’s looks before meeting with them in-person.
You won’t have to pay for their video chat feature, but you will have to pay $19.99/month if you want to surpass POF’s swipe limits.
14. Happn – A Missed Connections App Just Like Craigslist Personals
Pros
- Connect with people you’ve seen IRL
- See your crush’s profile & interests
- Best-in-class security features
Cons
- Matches are solely location-based
Happn presents a refreshing change from the endless swiping that apps like Tinder and Hinge are famous for and actually resembles Craigslist’s own Missed Connections section.
. Instead of showing you a smattering of local profiles, Happn curates your matches based on who you’ve already crossed paths with.
For example, if you didn’t have the confidence to approach that girl (or guy) at the coffee shop, you’ll have an opportunity to rekindle missed connections. You can see a detailed profile of that mystery person who caught your eye before giving fate a push in the right direction.
Matches are solely location-based, which doesn’t leave much room for your personal preferences. That said, they’ve got 100+ million users worldwide!
15. Tryst.link–Sex Classifieds Even Better Than a Craigslist Alternative
Pros
- No fees or subscriptions
- By sex workers reaching out to their clients
- Sift through classifieds to find your match
Cons
- Finding long-term love isn’t ideal here
Craigslist could never come outright and say what kind of “adult services” were being offered.
However, Tryst.link definitely can, as the sex classifieds site is based outside the U.S. and offers sex services in countries where it is legal to do so.
Made by sex workers, it’s a meeting point and a hub to get in contact with individual escorts and other sex workers in various world cities.
Neither users nor workers have to pay any subscription fees to conduct business as usual, but they don’t discriminate based on region.
That being said, you are responsible for following local laws in your particular region or country. Be careful out there!
For more on the legality of escorting and sex work in the United States, check out our feature on the gray area of escorting.
16. DoubleList – A Personal Ads Dating Site Like Craigslist
Pros
- Sign up and interact for free
- Fully dedicated to personal ads
- Plenty of inclusive search categories
Cons
- Must sign up with email & phone
DoubleList is the new Craigslist Personals – only without posting anything illegal or suspicious.
You will have to sign up using your email and mobile phone number, but you can expect a friendly community posting sex classifieds for casual encounters, as well as long-term relationships.
The site has sections for 248 cities, and users can post their sexiest classifieds for free.
Plus, they’ve got plenty of inclusive search categories. Their “Let’s Date” section is categorized into M4M, F4F, M4F, and “dating misc” sections, which cover the bases for longer-term relationships.
Their “Connect Now” section uses the same categories, but the implication is definitely casual.
17. Locanto Personals – Free Dating Platform With Personal Ads
Pros
- Easy, quick sign-up
- Can post and interact with ads for free
- 2+ million monthly visits
Cons
- Be wary of fake ads
Locanto Personals is 100% free-to-use, and you can get started with just your email – remind you of a certain Personals site from way back when? Yes, Locanto wants to pick up Craigslist’s mantle and offer a free classifieds website, including a Personals section.
Although you don’t need to create an account to browse through personals, you need to be signed up before you can message anybody on their site.
With 2+ million monthly visitors on average, they’re giving sites like DoubleList and Reddit R4R a run for their money. However, you should be wary of fake advertisements. Because it’s so easy to sign up, scammers have flocked to the site in hopes of conning their next victim.
Even still, plenty of real users are posting legitimate ads every single day!
Choosing The Best Craigslist Personals Alternatives
How does one go about deciding what the best Craigslist alternatives actually are? Here, we discuss the criteria.
Variety of Members Like Craigslist
What good is a Craigslist alternative that’s deader than a bar on Sunday morning? Any good Craigslist Personals alternative needs to have enough members (and daily activity) to make your time worthwhile.
Keep in mind that even now, Craigslist has an estimated 250 million users, and possibly had even more in the early 2000s.
That’s why Craigslist Personals alternatives have to have millions of active members in order to be competitive.
Features Like Craiglist Classified Ads
The best Craigslist alternatives should replicate the original’s functionality. Whether you’re into old-school or modern site design, you’ll have a suite of high-powered search tools at your fingertips. This makes it easy to find the casual hookups you’re looking for in a hurry.
Pricing & Membership
Most dating sites have a free version and an optional paid membership. We gave higher priority to classified sites that are 100% free-to-use, but we paid special attention to online personals that deliver exceptional value for your hard-earned money.
Anonymity & Security Like Craigslist
Craigslist used to be completely anonymous back in the day, and still remains mostly anonymous besides a phone number.
When you’re surfing through Craigslist personal ads or other classified sites, you should feel safe and secure by default.
You shouldn’t have to reveal your personal information to find Craigslist casual encounters. We gave a higher ranking to classified ads sites that let their users remain anonymous.
FYI: Our Best Backpage Alternatives feature even more sites that share these benchmarks.
Alternative to Craigslist Personals 2024 FAQs
Have questions about original Craigslist or Craigslist alternatives? Check out some FAQs.
What Replaced Craigslist for Hooking Up?
Online personals sites like Ashley Madison replaced Craigslist for hooking up.
When Craigslist Personals shut down in 2018, numerous dating sites and classified ads sites rushed to fill the power vacuum left behind.
As the U.S. government continues to play Whack-A-Mole, five more online personals sites replace every one that shuts down. However, sites like Ashley Madison and Adult Friend Finder are here to stay and have been in operation for decades.
Can You Still Hook Up on Craigslist?
Yes, you can still hook up on Craigslist, although there is no section for romance anymore.
Even though Craigslist’s infamous “Personals” section shut down in 2018, their in-house replacement picks up the slack.
You can use a section of their website called “Missed Connections”, which attempts to connect local singles who didn’t get a chance to say hello. Like Craigslist Personals, it’s 100% free to post classified ads on their “Missed Connections” board.
Craigslist’s “Personals” and “Missed Connections” departments are virtual duplicates of each other, and you can post a skillfully worded ad in hopes of finding that one-night stand.
There are also other missed connections apps to consider, such as Happn.
What Happened to Craigslist Personals?
Craigslist Personals was shut down in 2018, as the U.S. Government cracked down on online sex trafficking.
Although many online personals sites went into hiding, and sites like Backpage were shut down,
nothing happened to Craigslist.
Craigslist owners tightened up security protocols, furthering their commitment to get rid of sex classifieds, as they first did in 2009 with the banning of adult services and casual encounters.
In 2024, now many more personal ad sites are used to connect lovers, such as Ashley Madison, and Seeking.
What’s the Best Craigslist Personals Alternative for Women?
Hinge is the best Craigslist Personals alternative for women.
If you’re not interested in receiving hundreds of messages from tons of dudes, Hinge is your best bet.
Because you have to match with somebody before sending a message, Hinge gives women control over their dating experience. Additionally, it’s easy to set your search filters by height, intentions, location, ethnicity, and religion.
Every member is required to upload 6 or more profile pictures before reaching out, so you’ll be able to avoid catfishers and time-wasters more easily.
Are There Any 100% Free Craigslist Personals Alternatives?
Yes, there are plenty of 100% free CL Personals alternatives.
Sites like Reddit R4R, Craigslist Missed Connections, Locanto Personals, and DoubleList don’t require any form of payment. You’ll enjoy full functionality in that you can post and respond to classified ads for free.
Hookup sites like Grindr, Hinge, Zoosk, Tinder, Plenty of Fish (POF), and Happn are “freemium” platforms.
While you can get started and browse through profiles for free, you’ll have to pay a monthly subscription fee to unlock features like unlimited messaging, unlimited likes, and access to a broader range of users.
It’s worth noting that “freemium” sites give you more control over your dating experience than authentic online personals sites, but any classified site allows you to maintain true anonymity.
Is there an alternative to Craigslist Personals That Everyone Knows?
By far, the most popular and well-known alternative Craigslist Personals that everyone knows is Adult Friend Finder.
Adult Friend Finder is the “hub” of the adult dating community.
However, for people less interested in making friends, and more interested in one-night stands, Ashley Madison is also a popular site.
How To Stay Safe With New Craigslist Personal Sites
Before you embark on your first casual encounter, remember that you’re essentially meeting up with a stranger.
If you’re new to the realm of online personals, you should be on the lookout for fake ads, scammers, and catfishers.
We have a few tips to enjoy online personals and Craigslist hookups safely!
- If you choose to meet up with somebody online; FaceTime or video chat them beforehand. This gives you proof that somebody isn’t a catfisher ahead of time.
- Never give out your financial information, work details, or personal information to strangers online! If possible, use a Google Voice number to contact your date.
- Don’t go straight to a stranger’s house. Be sure to meet up in a coffee shop, movie theater, local park, or another public place to feel each other out before taking things to the next level.
- Don’t let your date pick you up or drive you home. Always take public or personal transportation so you can leave if you get a bad feeling about your first encounter.
- Tell your friends or family that you’re going on a date, and tell them when you expect to be back home.
- Always trust your gut! If something appears too good to be true, it usually is.
Keep these safety concerns in mind when meeting strangers for the first time.
Who’s The Best Craigslist Personals Alternative in 2024?
The original Craigslist Personals was popular partly because technology was so limited in the early 2000s.
Now, online dating technology has taken off, with sites like Adult Friend Finder leading the way in terms of video chat, forums, text chat, and social media sharing. It belongs near the top of this list for its fun atmosphere, as well as the many features that keep you interacting with others.
However, when it comes to choosing the best Craigslist Personals alternative, Ashley Madison is clearly most like the original site.
Only Ashley Madison has anonymous communication, anonymity and privacy features, and of course, a whole host of married people seeking connection.
Curious about making connections and finding casual encounters? You can do better than Craigslist! Why not check out one of these Craigslist Personals alternatives?
