Technology has made a casual hookup easier than ever to arrange. It can now be done without needing to go through scam websites that promise no-hassle fun, but end up leading to more nights alone, or worse … just rip you off for your cash!
Virtual reality is great for socializing, but sometimes you want some real interaction, with a real person, in the real world – and for those times, casual dating and hookup apps can simplify the whole scenario.
In this article, we explore some of the best dating apps for meeting people you can really vibe with on the deepest possible level.
1. Grindr
Grindr is widely considered as one of the best dating apps for gay men. However, it’s also open to bi, trans and queer people, and there’s nothing to say you couldn’t find a more enduring relationship here, too. Gender stuff aside, it boasts a huge user base, which makes hooking up pretty easy, particularly if you’re near a town or city of any notable size.
Messaging tends to be explicit from the outset with many users, and there’s a whole lot of different shorthands and codes used to communicate preferences in profiles – thereby cutting down on the amount of time you spend looking for a hookup with someone who’s into the same things as you.
Again, you won’t need to swipe your way through the entire world to see other members, but you will need to pay if you want to access Grindr Extra or Grindr Unlimited features, which include disappearing photos, unsend message options, incognito mode and typing status indicators.
2. Happn
Happn is another of the apps on this list that many people will probably know already, basing it’s main selling point on hooking users up that cross paths in real-life.
It was among one of the first huge ‘dating’ apps to use geo-location as its core feature. So, rather than swiping through zillions of members, only people that are geographically close to you are shown by default.
Though, with 70 million members and more joining each month, there still might be quite a few people to check out. Paying for a Premium subscription gets you 10 ‘Hellos’ each day, invisible mode, ad-removal, and the ability to see who has Liked you, among a few other perks.
3. Down
Down is definitely one of the lesser-known apps in our roundup, but it has been around for more than five years already. This app is based on the simple premise that being straightforward and honest is the best policy when it comes to the sort of date you’re looking for and how you want to spend your time.
There are two options when choosing to match with someone – either ‘get date’ or ‘get down’, with the latter being the hookup option. Swiping left means you skip them entirely.
Users are also given a ‘Down Score’, which is a mix of different factors, including how many views and interactions your profile has received, along with social media signals.
4. Whiplr
Whiplr is a neatly-presented app that places a focus on the community. In fact, that’s a bit of an understatement – the app offers over 230 different fetishes that you can browse through. There are some solid privacy controls as well, allowing you to decide what to show to other users, and giving you the ability to block any you don’t want to hear from again. And like others here, there’s a location-based feed option, in addition to the ability to browse kink categories.
When you do match with someone, there’s a built-in messenger that supports text and video calling, for when things get a little more personal. In pursuit of creating a community, and not just a dating app, Whiplr also has active discussion groups and regularly posts information about upcoming fetish-based events.
5. Tinder
Last, but certainly not least, we have Tinder. While it doesn’t focus explicitly on straight hookups, there seems to be more people here looking for a good time rather looking for a relationship. Tinder has a lot of free users, but if you want access to any of the Premium features – Tinder Gold, Super Swipes, etc. – then you’ll need to cough up some cash, either on a one-off, or recurring monthly basis.
At this point, Tinder is every bit the pop culture fixture as eHarmony. However, there are true stories chronicled in books about its exploits. The point is, you shouldn’t underestimate its potential as a dating app that gets the type of results you’re looking for.
That’s all we have to say about the best dating apps. We’ll leave you with a pledge to have fun and most importantly, stay safe out there!