Chances are, if you’re dating in 2018, you’re doing it online. Not coincidentally, that means the easiest avenue for ~doing it~ in 2018 is no longer your local hookup bar—it’s the internet. But when it comes to seeking your next partner(s) for casual sex, dating apps like Tinder and Bumble can be hit-or-miss. Meanwhile, unverified hookup apps with names like DTF Zone or DTF Matches promise no-strings sex with “hot singles” but are actually massive scams full of bots.
If you’re at a point where you know a relationship is not the way to go (and you’d rather not be scammed), there are plenty of lesser-known hookup apps that will suit your needs. Here’s our running list of the best trustworthy, scam-free hookup apps available in 2018, whether you’re looking for a f*** buddy who shares your kinks, a safe space for non-monogamy, a couple seeking a threesome, or a classic one-night stand.
DTF: The 10 best hookup apps of 2018
1) DOWN Dating
Free on iOS and Android
The good: Down finds both your Facebook friends and friends of friends and gives you the option of letting them know whether you want to bang or if you’re in it for something more. Just like the dating app Hinge allows you to confirm the identities of strangers via mutual contacts, Down does the same. At least you’ll know they’re real people.
The bad: However, the app presents you with everyone you’re friends with on Facebook to swipe through (even if they have yet to join the app). Swiping through your friends for sex is somewhat confusing (Do I actually find that barista from my old neighborhood attractive, or am I just bored?) and masochistic (you’ll probably run into this person sometime in the future).
2) Happn
Free on iOS and Android
The good: The theme of Happn is in its name, where users who happen to cross paths also match. The app is a great way to meet new people who frequent the same bar or gym as you and make those moves you never had the guts to do in the first place. The interface is simple, and privacy is a key value in the app. Users will never receive messages from others unless the like is mutual, as well as your location.
The bad: Mutual matches can easily build up over time, and the app doesn’t prioritize the matches you cross paths with the most.
3) Casualx
Free on Android
The good: CasualX brands itself as a Tinder and Craigslist alternative for one-night stands, with users looking for hook-ups, friends with benefits, swinging, extramarital affairs, and anything else sexual without the emotional attachment. Users can get a casual hook-up fairly easy without any strings attached. The app is also organized, easy to use, and provides security features.
The bad: It’s a little sketchy, mainly because it might match you with users who are very far away. According to developer responses in the Google Play store, the app is working on this problem.
4) Pure
Free on iOS and Android
The good: Pure takes away the tedious texting and courtship rituals often required on other dating apps. The service erases the user’s info every hour and “prides itself on anonymity.” You no longer have to worry about photos lingering on the internet, and everyone on the app is looking for an instant hookup. Another great thing about it is privacy—and assurance that matches are looking for the same thing. Pure seems to be a pretty sex-positive app, which is apparent just from a quick glance at the app’s Instagram feed full of erotic art.
The bad: For women especially, safety can be an issue. With total anonymity, there isn’t much time to vet potential candidates.
5) Grindr
Free on iOS and Android
The good: An app created exclusively for gay, bi, trans, and queer people, Grindr shows users in your surrounding area who are looking to hook up—down to how many feet away they’re located. You can customize your profile and describe what exactly it is you’re looking for to streamline the process of finding your beau for the night (or longer). Don’t be surprised by profile pictures that include everything but faces. It’s all part of the fun. The majority of guys on Grindr aren’t looking for safe conversations. It’s easier to skip the formalities and move on to more exciting topics.
The bad: The app has ads, and some of them can be tacky or lengthy videos. Keep in mind that Grindr is primarily dominated by gay men.
6) Feeld
Free on iOS and Android
The good: Always wanted to have a threesome but never had the people to do it with? There’s an app for that. Feeld combines the ease of swiping through a dating app with the notion that three can play. You log in through Facebook, choose the composition of your group (2+1 or 1+1+1), and swipe away. It works like Tinder, so the platform is fairly straightforward and familiar. You now also have the option to change your name after logging in with Facebook.
The bad: It was so much like Tinder that the app is suing the company. But any implied naming similarities have apparently been remedied in the rebranding.
7) Tinder
Free on iOS and Android
The good: Among the first and most widely used dating apps on the market, Tinder is quite adamant about its goal of fostering genuine human connections versus one-night stands. But, I mean, c’mon. Everyone knows Tinder is very, very casual in its approach to dating. Plus, everybody’s on it. Tinder gives you a huge range of local options, which means choices are endless if you live in a larger city.
The bad: Again, everyone’s on it. Thus it’s difficult to avoid the embarrassment of running (swiping) into somebody you know. Also, it’s supposed to be more of a dating app, so men tend to be more subtle—which is good if you’re down to get drinks first, but not so much if you’re in a hurry.
8) Tonight
Free on iOS
The good: Tired of searching for dates that never pan out IRL? We’ve found the hookup app for you. Tonight lets you find a date at the end of the workday and go out that night. Anyone interested in going out that night simply needs to say they’re in by 6pm. The app does the rest and sends you both your match and your location for the night.
The bad: It’s currently only available in New York City, and it’s not exclusively for hookups. Avoid any confusion by adding a note about what you’re looking for in your bio!
9) Once
Free on iOS
The good: If you don’t want to do a ton of swiping, the folks over at Once have you covered with just a few matches per day. This app really attempts to integrate the science of attraction and technology. You can link the Once app to your Fitbit. If you really like a particular match, your heart rate will (supposedly) spike, indicating your body’s keen interest.
The bad: Again, you only get a few matches per day. If the app’s daily selection isn’t doing it for you, you’re out of options.
10) Whiplr
Limited free use iOS and Android
The good: Whiplr caters to the kink community, getting beyond the small talk and into the nitty-gritty of specific fetishes. Right from the start, it matches you up with different fetish communities and a variety of choices, such as Just Curious, Objects, and Behavior. Like Pure and Feeld, it skips the preliminaries and gets straight to the dirty stuff. Whiplr also allows you to delete any photos you send someone (unless, of course, they do screengrabs), just in case you change your mind.
The bad: Free use is limited, and a monthly subscription can get pricey. There’s also a decent amount of users who read 50 Shades of Grey and decided it was a great way to get into women’s pants—and then there are those who just watched the movie and want to get their feet wet.
Editor’s note: This article is regularly updated for relevance.