Are you married? Are you dating someone?
No!
At this time, you must have encountered a lot of dating sites, mostly that provide casual sex services. In all our lives, there comes a phase in which we find places to satisfy our sexual desires.
There was a time when Craigslist used to satisfy our desires with its “Personals” section that included postings for dating and casual encounters.
Unfortunately, in 2018, Craigslist discontinued the section after the government passed the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, which stopped all the interactive services knowingly involved in illegal sex trafficking.
Now what? You don’t have to worry. Below in the article, we compiled a list of 10 Craigslist Personals alternatives that gives you a new approach to your adult dating scene.
Why Does Craigslist Shut Down its “Personals” Section?
Craigslist is an American classified advertisements website with sections devoted to housing, jobs, community service, gigs, discussion forums, and items wanted. One of these sections was “Personals” which includes postings for dating/romance and casual encounters.
The site was mostly used by lesbians and gay men. Once it was considered one of the useful dates for arranging dates and sex as it makes finding each other easy in more conservative areas.
On 22 March 2018, US Congress passed the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, which removes interactive services knowingly involved in illegal sex trafficking. In response to the act, Craigslist decided to discontinue the “Personals” section.
10 Best Craigslist Personals Alternatives
Here are the ten best alternatives of Craigslist Personals, you can use to satisfy your sexual desires;
1. Ashley Madison
No, it is not the name of an adult actress. Ashley Madison is a Canadian online dating social networking site. In 2002, the site first came to the limelight for people who are married and who are looking for affairs.
That’s why they have a slogan “Life is short. Have an affair.” One key feature of Ashley Madison is its photo masking tool that will allow you to keep your identity secret while connecting with others.
However, since it was released, the website has been criticized for leaking the information of millions of its users to the public. It is said they also exaggerated the size of its user base by creating fake accounts.
Despite the criticism, Ashley Madison manages to be the number one dating site with over 80 million registered users.
2. Flirt
Flirt holds the second place in the list of 10 best Craigslist Personals alternatives. If you believe your flirting skills are strong, this website is best for arranging dates and sex. Flirt comes with an easy-to-use interface with detailed information about the person with whom you want to connect.
You can read their bios, view photos, and send them some flirty messages if you’re good enough to do that.
3. MenNation
As a gay person, if you’re looking for a site where you can find your dating partner without revealing your identity, there is no better site than MenNation. It is the best place for single men and gay couples to get into the online dating game without filling out a personal biography.
You just have to register on the site. MenNation has an open-ended and user-driven format with personal ads, photos, blogs and videos by adult men seeking sex. The content sets the tone for private conversations between partners.
4. FriendFinder-X
Don’t get mistaken that FriendFinder-X is just a friend finder site. It is also an adult dating site like others on this list, where you can chat and seek casual hookups with like-minded strangers.
Almost similar to Ashley Madison, FriendFinder-X has a spicy slogan “Life is short. Spice up your love life.” The website is considered one of the best hookup sites for straight, gay, lesbian, and trans individuals.
It is a very straightforward process to start dating on FriendFinder-X. You only have to register on the site by providing your email, gender and age. Remember that it requires a subscription fee if you want to send a private message.
5. Match
You’re matched to your dream partner. If you want to hear this, quickly register yourself on Match. It is a massively successful dating site, where singles express themselves and meet new people.
People have been using this site to find their life partners since the early days of the internet when social media giants like Facebook and Twitter did not exist. Since its release, Match has built one of the largest dating networks in the world.
The best thing about the website is that it is inspiring relationships that lead to true love and marriage.
6. Adult Friend Finder
Adult Friend Finder is another best alternative to Craigslist Personals. It is one of the popular online dating sites, where you can find a partner whether you’re straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
The website has both free and paid versions. The free version will limit your doings, you can browse the erotic blogs and photo galleries of others, but can’t access their live videos or private chat rooms.
For this, you have to subscribe to a gold membership plan starting at $14.95 per month. You can upgrade your subscription plan to enjoy more advanced chatting and privacy options.
7. BeNaughty
You can use this site only if you are 18+. Yes, whenever you open this site, the first question you will be asked is “Are you 18+?” The only reason behind this could be that there is something very naughty on this site that you are not allowed to witness as a teenager.
With more than 13 million active users, BeNaughty is considered one of the best Craigslist Personals alternatives to explore dating personals, engage in sexting conversations and attract hot dates.
The website has an easy-to-use interface with search filters by location, age, gender, and appearance. It also comes with a FlirtCast tool that will allow you to send an introductory message to all local singles.
You can also send virtual winks using this tool to get someone’s attention. While females can enjoy unlimited messaging on BeNaughty, males are allowed to send five messages only.
8. Pure
Pure is a dating app that will allow you to date, play and misbehave. It means the app will allow you to pair up singles in real-time. It is very simple to start your dating journey on this app.
You just have to take a selfie and create a brief personal ad, where you have to talk about what you are and what you want. Pure dating apps will allow you to engage in sexting conversations, flirt and attract hot dates.
The best thing about the app is that you don’t have to purchase any subscription plan. However, there is a pricing for using a cover at a bar. It will ensure that you are only connecting to quality singles.
9. Zoosk
By providing legit dating opportunities, Zoosk has joined over 40 million people to its active and diverse user base. One key feature of this website is its behavioral matchmaking system which will allow you to find your match without going through a lengthy registration process.
Zoosk comes with a user-friendly interface, streamlining the online dating process.
10. OneNightFriend
If you believe in a one-night stand thing, OneNightFriend is the best website to visit. This website is best for those who don’t want to get into any serious relationship. They have tried to keep it very simple from creating your profile to finding your match.
OneNightFriend will allow you to browse, match and message without spending any penny. The website also comes with a paid version that will allow you to access more perks like auto browser history clearing and read receipts.
Are these Online Dating Sites Safe to Use?
When it comes to online dating safety, today’s sites have held a higher standard than old ones like Craigslist Personals. So, it is safe to use these sites as long as you’re careful about the personal information you share and who you trust.
Whenever you’re using these dating sites, you have to be careful of fake encounters. Make sure to link with someone after completely tracking down their profile, not only after seeing their face.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Happened to Craigslist Personals?
Craigslist Personals was closed in 2018 due to the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act.
2. Are Alternatives to Craigslist Personals Safe to Use?
Safety depends on the platform and your precautions. Always verify profiles, avoid sharing personal information, and meet in public spaces when connecting in person.
3. What are the Best Alternatives to Craigslist Personals?
Some of the best alternatives are Ashley Madison, Flirt, MenNation and more.
4. Are Craigslist Personals Alternatives Free to Use?
Many of them are free, but some offer premium features for added benefits like sending private messages.
5. Can I Find Casual Encounters on These Alternatives?
Yes, some sites focus more on casual relationships.
6. How Do I Maintain Privacy While Using These Websites?
You can use an anonymous email, do not give out personal details right away, and check the privacy policies of the platform before joining.
7. How Do I Report Suspicious Activity on These Sites?
Many sites have reporting/blocking features available. If you experience suspicious or dangerous behavior, use these features right away to protect yourself and others.
Wrapping Up
Most of the singles are still mourning the loss of Craigslist Personals. However, it is impossible to bring back Craigslist personals, but we have provided you with the 10 best alternatives to it.
If you want to meet people with whom you could have casual connections, romantic relationships, or simply new friendships, these websites will help you to do so.
Take time to research, prioritize safety, and find the right place to meet your goals.
Safe dating!
