While Craigslist is most associated with being a classifieds site where people sell personal items, it was also one of the most popular dating sites.
But that all changed in 2018 when Craigslist shut down its personals section.
So if you are interested in a no-strings-attached hookup, like those posted on sites like Craigslist, don’t worry – the now-defunct Craigslist can replace personals with over a dozen other hookup sites that work just as well, if not better.
And we’ve compiled the best Craigslist Personals alternatives to help make your casual encounters online as smooth as possible!
Craigslist Personals Alternatives: Overview
- AdultFriendFinder – #1 best Craigslist personals alternative
- Ashley Madison – Best for discreet connections
- Alt.com – Kinky site like Craigslist
- Slixa – Find VIP escorts
- The Escort Directory – For international hookups
- Happy Escorts – Enjoy free ads
- Tryst – Best site layout
- Bedpage – Dedicated to ad-type listings
Craigslist Personals Ads Alternatives 2025, Reviewed:
1. AdultFriendFinder – Best Craigslist Alternative Overall
Pros
- A huge user base
- Webcam and live chat option
- Free trial available
- Mobile apps to use on the go
Cons
- Not ideal for a serious relationship
- Some fake accounts
Price
- From $19.99/month
AdultFriendFinder is one of the larger online communities of singles looking for casual sex – so you can easily find a suitable match for you!
They also have handy guides for how to date and different categories to meet your specific needs.
Overall, AdultFriendFinder is one of the top picks because, like Craigslist personals, it is a hookup site where you can find just about whatever you want.
It’s easy to use, and the website provides guides to help you more successfully connect with a casual partner.
If you’re into casual dating and you like personal sites like Craigslist, you will want to check out AFF – and it’s free to join!
2. Ashley Madison – The Discreet Married Dating Website
Pros
- Specifically designed for married people
- Best privacy features
- Easy to use
- Women use for free
Cons
- Men have to pay a steep fee
- Users are generally older
- The site is majority men
Price
- 100 + 100 bonus credits at $59.00
Ashley Madison is probably a name that you’ve heard of. This Canadian-based website is popular among married people because of how discreet it is.
Best of all – it’s also free for women!
The motto for Ashley Madison is pretty simple: “life is short, have an affair.” So if you are looking for a discreet way to have an extramarital affair, Ashley Madison might be your best option (though we in no way condone having affairs!)
As an alternative to Craigslist personals, it’s also much more secure and discreet, so you won’t have to worry about your personal info while on there.
But that privacy comes at a cost.
Unlike personals sites like Craigslist, Ashley Madison has a high membership fee for men who want to join.
Register on AshleyMadison for Discreet Hookups
3. Alt.com – A BDSM Themed Dating Site
Pros
- Optimized for BDSM
- Free to use
- Geolocation feature
- Has live sex cams
Cons
- The website appears outdated
- There are many fake accounts
Price
- From $19.95/month
While most of the previous alternatives to Craigslist personals were more generally themed, Alt.com is the place to go if you are into BDSM.
It’s not that you can’t find BDSM partners on those other services – some of them even have sections for that, but this is a community mainly devoted to BDSM.
It’s not that you can’t find fetish categories on other dating services, but the truth is that you never know who is into what. Also, it can feel embarrassing to speak about a kink or fetish when you are not sure how the other person will respond.
But if you are using Alt.com, you can guarantee that you’re in a judgment-free zone of people who love BDSM and want to connect.
It’s free to use and is basically like a BDSM-themed version of the Craigslist personals section.
Explore Your BDSM Fetish by Signing Up on Alt.com
4. Slixa – Among the Best Craigslist Personals Alternatives for Finding Exclusive Escorts
Pros
- Caters to diverse kinks & fetishes
- Verified escort profiles
- Detailed ads with reviews
- Active in UK, US, Canada, and Australia
Cons
- Price of posting varies in different cities
- No free ads posting
Price
- $1=1 Credit
Of all the top sites like Craigslist, Slixa takes the baton for the best alternative for finding VIP escorts for companionship and casual encounters. The site’s roster consists only of the hottest providers in any city who’ll make people break their necks looking at your lovely pair.
The good thing about Slixa is that, like Craigslist, it also supports all the adult kinks and fetishes. This means you can explore your quirks without feeling shy, as the models herein can guide you to achieving maximum satisfaction.
Other than that, Slixa excels with its impressive review section, where users document and rate their experiences with various escorts on the platform.
This helps you make informed decisions and avoid “bombing” a date.
Sign Up for VIP Models on Slixa
5. The Escort Directory – Best Craigslist Alternative for International Hookups
Pros
- Lots of helpful search filters
- Includes male & trans escorts
- Detailed ads
- Verified photos
Cons
- Distracting ads
- Fewer escorts in some countries
Price
- Free for clients
- $15 for weekly featured listings/ads
The Escort Directory offers one of the best Craigslist Personals alternatives for international connections if you are a frequent traveler. Whether looking for escorts or short-term arrangements, The Escort Directory will ensure you have a “plus one” by your side.
Once you land on the site, you can use the effective search bar to find companions sharing your interests.
The site makes it easy for you by providing detailed and effective search filters that help narrow your search to a T.
Interested in something different? Well, you can also browse through the hot list of male and trans escorts hosted by the platform and cut your cloth according to your size.
What’s more, The Escort Directory’s platform has a strict photo-verification policy that helps keep bots and spammers away.
Try Out The Escort Directory for International Encounters
6. HappyEscorts – Best Free Site Like Craigslist
Pros
- Attach photos & pics in ads
- Works in 40 countries
- Video-verification available
- Search by location
Cons
- Site needs an update
- Fewer photos (compared to AFF &ALT)
Price
- Free to use
If you are on a tight budget but still want to make matches for hookups online, then Happy Escorts has you covered. The platform offers a buzzing community where you can post free ads and match with singles without paying a dime.
Adding more to the goodies is that the site works in 40 countries around the world. You’re assured that you’ll find someone to mingle with or give you company if you play your cards right.
In addition to that, Happy Escorts uses a more stringent video-verification process that compels users and models to upload short video introductions of themselves, alongside photo-verification.
This has upped security on the site and drastically reduced the prevalence of fake profiles.
Find a Partner for Free on Happy Escorts
7. Tryst – Most User-Friendly Craigslist Alternative
Pros
- Secure login
- Supports all genders
- Diverse adult categories
- NSFW uploads allowed
Cons
- Lacks escort reviews
- Relatively expensive subscription
Price
- From $41/month
If you value aesthetics and navigation above everything else, Tryst is the place for you. It is one of the most user-friendly sites like Craigslist, where you can browse without hassle.
When setting up your shop, you will have to go through a 2-step verification process to secure your account. Tryst insists on this because its users have been targeted before in phishing scams.
That said…
You can meet and match with anyone on the platform, given that Tryst caters to all genders. You can also pair based on the kinks and fetishes you share, making everything easier.
The icing on the cake?
You can upload as many NSFW media as you want. This increases your chances of bagging some action since potential users can see what you’re bringing to the table beforehand.
Sign Up on Tryst for Stress-Free Browsing
8. Bedpage – Best Site With Dedicated Ad-Type Listings Like Craigslist
Pros
- Easy-to-use interface
- Active adult section
- Google sign-in enabled
- Accepts crypto transactions
Cons
- No photo verification
- Several fake profiles present
Price
- Single-city ad promotions cost $15 while multiple cities cost $7.5 per ad
Though it looks more like Backpage on the cover, Bedpage has a robust adult section, where you can browse all the NSFW ads you want.
Like both predecessors, you can post your dating or hookup ads for free to reach the thousands of active users on the platform.
Nonetheless, you can opt to boost your ads to reach more members by paying $15 for single-city promotions or $7.5/ad for multiple cities.
The best part? You can find all kinds of listings on Bedpage. This includes adult/sex services, job listings, massages, and even step clubs! Talk about killing all birds with one stone.
Join Bedpage for Exclusive Adult Listings
Best Craigslist Personals Alternatives – FAQs
Now that you have seen the top Craigslist personals alternatives, you might have a few specific questions about how it works and which one will be best for you.
While none of these questions have a one-size-fits-all answer, they should help you settle on the best method of casual dating for you.
What Is The Best Craigslist Personals Alternative?
The answer to this question will depend on what casual encounters site best fits your needs.
If socializing with other fans of fetish is your thing, then Adult Friend Finder might be best. And if you are a fan of BDSM, then a dating site like Alt.com is your best bet.
But overall, the best alternative to Craigslist would have to be Adult Friend Finder.
Like Craigslist personals, it maintains a large user base of people looking to find casual hookups in all kinds of categories, so you can find a match for you. However, it’s not really for serious relationships or serious dating online.
Can I Use These Craigslist Personals Replacements for Free?
Yes, you can use Craigslist Personals replacements for free on sites like Happy Escorts. This platform allows you to interact and post adult listings free of charge and still get some hookups.
Another free Craigslist alternative is Bedpage. It operates more like the deceased Backpage, but has an active adult section to browse, scout, and match with other singles for free.
That said…
Many of these Craigslist alternatives have free membership options or are just generally without any premium options.
But like many casual hookup dating apps, many of these classified sites have both free members and paid members. The motto of “you get what you pay for” holds true for these replacements.
Plus, free members cannot access all the features, so it is usually worth paying for a complete experience.
What Are Some Precautions to Take Before Using Online Personals for Casual Hookups?
The level of precaution that you should take depends on the specific dating services you want to use for your casual hookups.
With Craigslist casual encounters and other sites like Craigslist, you should always be aware of fake users and other scams.
Sites like Craigslist and Reddit, where just about anybody can browse listings for hookups or one-night stands, often have a large and diverse crowd that can sometimes be unsafe.
Because, unlike other more restricted sites, personal ads on Reddit risk coming from fake users and trolls.
Why Did Craigslist Personals Shut Down?
Considering the number of alternatives that exist, you’re probably wondering exactly why Craigslist had to shut down its personals site.
The details involve legislation passed in 2017 called FOSTA (Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act), which made the hosts of online sex sites potentially liable.
Previously, selling sex advertisements was one of Craigslist’s primary sources of revenue. But as in similar shutdowns in the past, the same content essentially moved to other site sections.
In this case, Craigslist Missed Encounters and Missed Connections both serve as Craigslist personals replacements.
How Do I Use These Sites Safely?
Depending on the website you choose, you might need to be aware of fake accounts, misleading ads, and other scams.
Generally speaking, higher-paying websites like Seeking will be safer than free alternatives.
But whatever you choose, here are some rules to follow to keep you safe:
- Trust your instincts. If you do not think someone is authentic, they probably are not
- First meetings should always be in a public place
- Keep personal information private and only communicate through the apps
- Never disclose financial information
- Tell a friend when you are going on a date and when you expect to be home
- Use your own mode of transportation, and don’t share rides on a first date
While there is no way to be 100 percent safe, following these rules will give you the best chance.
Conclusion – Best Craigslist Alternative Dating Sites
If it has been quite a while since your last hookup and you are looking for a Craigslist replacement, then hopefully, this article has given you a lot to think about.
From options that are almost identical to Craigslist to options that are fetish-specific, you can connect with other adults easier than ever!
The clear overall winner for the best alternative would have to be AdultFriendFinder. Its webcam chatting, large user base, mobile usability, and free trial make it the best way to connect with other adults.
But don’t let that limit you because Alt.com and Slixa are close runner-ups that are both cheap and safe as well—not to mention full of eager users!
All of these options serve as an excellent replacement for the casual encounters on Craigslist personals, happy searching!
