Best hookup apps and dating sites to find casual sex

It's 2024, and traditional relationship norms are being redefined. People are becoming more open-minded, and the taboos of the past are slowly fading into irrelevance.

In this new dating era, hookup apps are on just about every single person's smartphone — and for good reason. You watch TV on demand (thank you, Netflix) and your food can be ordered and delivered to your door while you sit on the couch (hello DoorDash), so why would finding a potential hookup partner be any different?

UPDATE: Apr. 3, 2024, 5:00 a.m. EDT As of December 2023, we're reevaluating Feeld's place among our recommendations due to serious safety concerns related to sharing users' location-related data during the app's recent update. On Feb. 1, the app announced that they would be returning user locations to the app over the course of a week, and we're keeping an eye on the rollout.

What is hookup culture?

The phrase "hookup culture" refers to casual sex or uncommitted sexual encounters — you know, good old-fashioned consensual sex just for the sake of it.

Way back when, before Tinder became a thing, people would rely on chance encounters or social gatherings (mainly parties or bars) to meet someone new to have a casual fling with. But now, with the huge pool of dating apps available, we've found ourselves firmly in what we'd like to call our hookup culture era, and finding a partner is as easy as swiping right on a profile photo.

What makes a good hookup app?

There's no one "best hookup app" you can use to find guaranteed partners, but you'll probably want to skip any apps that feature a 10-minute questionnaire about romance, hopes of marriage, or expensive subscriptions (we're looking at you, eharmony).

Instead, focus on apps that encourage users to have spontaneous casual sex, multiple communication features (like video chat), and fully functional memberships that let you connect with others without emptying your wallet.

If you want to pay for a premium membership, that's up to you. But we recommend sticking to cult faves like Tinder and Hinge. Both of these apps have free versions that give you just enough functionality to meet and connect with potential partners for casual sex without breaking the bank. You can likely find a hookup by the weekend without paying a cent.

Whether you're looking for a one-night stand, want to exchange nudes with strangers, or have some phone sex before you doze off, we've rounded up the best hookup apps you can download (via Google Play or the App Store).