The best hookup apps, reviewed: I swiped until my thumb hurt
In the age of on-demand everything, it’s no surprise that we can get "dates" (and I use that term loosely) hot to go with the tap of a button. Thanks to classic hookup apps like Tinder and newcomers like Pure, finding a sexy new friend can be just as easy as ordering a pizza. As for the quality, well, that’s probably the same too — hit or miss, depending on the time of day, where you're located, and how hungry you are.
Fortunately, you’ve got me, your resident dating app expert (though I prefer modern-day Carrie Bradshaw), to guide you to the promised land, aka the best hookup apps.
I’ve spent the past three years (yes, years) researching, downloading, and testing dozens of top dating apps to find the best ones for all kinds of daters, including the one-night-stand crowd. From discrete sexting apps to dating sites for serious relationships, I've swiped and vetted them all. I also consulted a panel of sex and relationship experts to make sure my picks are solid.
How to use hookup apps successfully, according to the experts
For best results, I recommend downloading a handful of apps (including niche dating apps) and experimenting to see what feels right. When you're swiping through the apps, skip the ones that scream "romance" (we're looking at you, eharmony).
"Hookup apps help prevent situations where people are on mainstream dating sites with the intention of having a casual hookup but are unclear about these intentions," Suzannah Weiss, resident sexologist for Biird and author of Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject, tells Mashable. "They also give women a space to be openly sexual creatures without judgment."
And thanks to our favorite free dating apps, you don't even have to pay for a premium membership to get results, though there are definite perks if you do. My take? Start out on the free versions. Tinder, Grindr, and Hinge are all good contenders. (Pure is also free for women.) These popular dating apps let you scout, match, and connect with potential partners for free. Think of it as a "try before you buy" situation.
“I think the free tonight section on Tinder makes it really easy to find a hookup,” says Alexander Liebisch, the CEO and founder of TinderProfile.ai. “After talking to 90 of our users at TinderProfile.ai, we found that people who sent their first message in the free tonight section after 10 p.m. on a weekend had a 45 percent higher success rate for hookups than people who swiped earlier in the day on the general section on a weekday and tried to plan out a date.”
Finally, no matter which platform you choose, be upfront and honest about what you want. Because of all the feature-copying happening in the apps lately, most now have special features to let others know you're looking for something casual.
The best hookup apps of 2025
Whether you’re looking for a one-night stand, a friends-with-benefits sitch, or just want to explore your sexuality, the right app will connect you with someone who’s on the same page. So, I’ve gathered the best hookup app for every type of person, based on my hands-on testing, expert opinions, and user reviews.
Recent updates to this guide
Hinge: In our most recent update, we moved Hinge higher up in our guide based on its growing user base and our positive experiences with the dating app.
Sniffies (added September 2025): We've added the map-based hookup app for queer men due to its newfound popularity. It's now technically a hookup website, as the very NSFW app has been pulled from the App Store.
FetLife (added September 2025): We've added FetLife as our new "Honorable Mention" pick; we also think it's the best hookup app for gamers, even if it's not a hookup app in the traditional sense. As a social networking platform and online kinkster community, it attracts a lot of nerdy folks, including gamers. Just don't try and treat it like a swiping app.
What didn't make the cut
Plenty of Fish (removed January 2025): After its recent rebrand, testing revealed key features, like free messaging for non-matches, were removed. We also noticed issues with repeat profiles. Overall, it doesn't bring anything unique to the dating app table that other apps aren't already doing better, meaning we no longer recommend it as a hookup app.
Match (removed August 2025): Despite anecdotal user reports that Match has led to casual connections, we've decided to remove the titular Match Group app, which we still recommend for serious relationships.
