Up until 2018, BackPage dating was one of the most visited advertising boards, with one of the most prominent personals international community. Of course, the FBI’s decision to close the service sparked countless online debates, but most importantly, where to look for partner or adult sex meet when such a popular source got closed.
I tried out each of these websites at some point, and some of my readers pointed out that it would be great if I would share my own BackPage alternatives collection.
As an avid Craigslist BackPage user, I also had to fill the void, which is why I was actively exploring available options. So, here are the results of my search for the best personals websites in 2020.
Ashley Madison app has an interesting perspective on dating. Instead of a regular dating app for singles, this platform actually focuses its forces on married people. Meaning, if you are looking for an affair, there is no better place to get it but Ashley Madison app. It is free to download the app and create an account. Whether you are using the app of a desktop version, it is extra easy to navigate. Together with that, users have full profiles, and it is easy to get the first impression if you two are on the same page.
| 80 million members | 400,000 users daily |
| 3/5 hookup chance | Medium Sex Chance |
| high fraud risk | Verification email |
| $39.95 - $239.95 subscription price |
This is one of the biggest casual dating platforms. It’s not in the top of completely free dating sites, but also the first destination for many beginners. The platform has, of course, nothing common with friendship, unless it includes some benefits.
The sign-up process is incredibly easy — you have to go through the main stage where you fill out an email address, login, and password. Then, the app offers you a short sexual questionnaire. It’s brief and fun to answer, and most importantly, your data will lay at the core of matching algorithms.
| 11 millions members | 300k per months |
| 4/5 hookup chance | High Sex Chance |
| low fraud risk | Verification email, phone, photo |
| $0.95 – $45.95 subscription price |
Pure is based on geo-targeting — the app looks for casual daters nearby, analyzes your answers on sexual preferences and dealbreakers, and determines compatibility.
Too bad that I could only message these users unlimitedly after acquiring a paid subscription. On the other hand, my experience already proved more than once that paid features allow the website’s team to assure users’ dedication.
The platform is friendly to couples and singles, regardless of their sexual orientation. Members can see updates in the personalized feed, custom digests, or enter thematic chats in community discussions.
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There is a quite basic matching algorithm, but it works well. I wouldn’t mind if it had an ad section, similar to BackPage, but unfortunately, the website doesn’t include the same functionality.
| 29 million members | 16 million active weekly |
| 3/5 hookup chance | Medium Sex Chance |
| low fraud risk | Verification email, Facebook |
| $34.97- $431.38 subscription price |
Although the platform doesn’t specialize in casual dating as much as BackPage did, I couldn’t resist including it on the list. The website works almost perfectly for those who seek serious relationships. Getting through registration requires dedication — the rumored questionnaire is indeed time-consuming, but science-based precise algorithms ultimately won me over.
My favorite aspect of eHarmony is its friendly community. These people care about getting their love life back on track — they quickly respond to messages and are responsible for live dates.
So far, marriage isn’t in my book, but if I ever want one, eHarmony will be my top choice — after all, it’s responsible for more than 4% of American marriages
| 60,000,000 members | 9,420,000 users per month |
| 3/5 hookup chance | Medium Sex Chance |
| medium fraud risk | Verification email |
| $29–249 per month subscription price |
Ashley Madison doesn’t beat around the bush — the website offers its users to get an affair right away. It raises a lot of important privacy questions, and Ashley Madison wasn’t always successful at handling private data. A couple of years ago, the network was hit by a huge privacy scandal, thousands of private records got leaked and exposed publically.
Luckily, now the website solved this problem and seemed to have successfully recuperated its reputation. The platform introduced a new encryption system, and now users feel safer about their personal information. Also, the platform doesn’t require the user’s names, pictures, and allows wearing masks during web camera dates.
| 2 million members | 350,000 daily |
| 3/5 hookup chance | Medium Sex Chance |
| medium fraud risk | Verification email |
| From $6 subscription price |
A free BackPage replacement for casual encounters and one-time hookups.
The website is available as a web version both on desktop and mobile devices. The service doesn’t have a mobile app yet, but it’s well-optimized with smartphone browsers.
| 250,000 members | 140,000 visits per month |
| 4/5 hookup chance | High Sex Chance |
| medium fraud risk | Verification email |
| free subscription price |
A casual dating app similar to Tinder. This service is focused on sexual dates, and it also has a dedicated BDSM community. Here, you can find one-on-one dates or look for threesome — couples can sign up as well.
The service doesn’t require users to disclose their names, age, or any personal information. You need a valid zip code so you can meet up with people nearby in real life. The app is supported by iOS and Android smartphones and works similarly to Tinder and other best hookup apps with free features. You can swipe left and right to accept or decline the date.
| 40 million members | 2 million/weekly |
| 2/5 hookup chance | Low Sex Chance |
| high fraud risk | Verification phone number |
| free of charge subscription price |
It’s a casual dating and sex dating listing website where people can leave ads to meet people. It’s similar to BackPage and Craiglist personals, in a way that it doesn’t require long registration and you don’t have to be regularly active on the app.
On the other hand, because there is little verification, it’s very likely to find a shady date on the platform. This is why the team had to introduce some restrictions — you can’t publically offer or inquire about sex-related activities or services as well as post explicit pictures.
| 5 million members | 400,000/weekly |
| 3/5 hookup chance | Medium Sex Chance |
| medium fraud risk | Verification email |
| free subscription price |
Another one of BackPage alternative websites where users can put out personals and contact people directly from their advertisements.
The platform doesn’t bore users with matching algorithms, long registration, or verification. It’s entirely free — however, users need to sort through profiles by themselves because there are quite a lot of fake offers on the website.
| 4 million members | 450,000/weekly |
| 2/5 hookup chance | Low Sex Chance |
| medium fraud risk | Verification email |
| $29.96 subscription price |
With 400,000 members worldwide, 90% of which are located in the United States, Otuerosnals offers a nice choice of potential causal dates in your area.
The functionality includes messaging, customized feed, video platform, one-to-one email, and chatrooms.
| 1 billion members | 300,000/weekly |
| 3/5 hookup chance | Medium Sex Chance |
| low fraud risk | Verification Facebook |
| free to use subscription price |
This casual dating service gathers users from the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries. Similarly to BackPage, this advertising board has the category for personal dating where people can leave ads with their personal info if they want potential dates to contact them.
Oodle offers detailed categories that allow users to customize their search — “Men seek men,” Men seek women,” “Men seek both,” “Women seek women,” etc. Additional filters include body types, facial features, status, religion, race, age, habits, etc.
| 600 members | 100,000/weekly |
| 1/5 hookup chance | Very Low Sex Chance |
| high fraud risk | Verification email |
| from $2 per placing one ad and from $7.5 for each promotion subscription price |
This is another international hookup community with users from the United States, UK, Canada, Europe, Asia, Middle East, Australia, Latin America, and Africa. It’s a big international BackPage substitute, although the user pool is not too concentrated.
Dating categories include “Meet and Fu*k,” “Sex Cams,” “Horny Milfs,” “Sugar Babies,” etc. The design is also similar to BackPage — even the name lets users know that BackPage hugely inspired the service. The dating system is simple — you can post our adds after basic registration and contact other users.
Lesbian Personals
One of the biggest casual dating platforms for lesbians. The website allows lesbians to register an account quickly, find matches in the instant feed, message other users, and exchange videos.
The privacy settings allow adjusting how many people can see sensitive content and narrow down the circle of users who can view the profile. Overall, it’s one of the safest casual dating profiles for lesbians.
| 300 members | 10,000 options of escort |
| 3/5 hookup chance | Medium Sex Chance |
| medium fraud risk | Verification email |
| $49 – $119 subscription price |
This service uses keyword-based matching search — you can enter the desirable characteristics of date, your location, preferred age, body type, and the service will aggregate the Feed that fits these requirements.
The additional categories include BBW and Tatoted escorts and BDSMates — it’s a versatile sex dating community.
Kijiji
This is one of the most popular Canadian casual dating website. The service is similar to Bakcpage and Craigslist — people can leave casual dating ads in the Personals section.
In 2010, the platform was acquired by eBay and became eBay classified. After that, the service became popular on the international scale — now it unites casual daters from the United States, UK, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Its main advantage is simple registration and clear interface — it takes less than a minute to create an account.
Geebo
Geebo is one of the oldest casual dating ad platforms. Founded in 2000, the service has quickly become one of the prominent destinations for date lookup in the US and soon got to Canada as well.
In 2011, the service partnered with a security service WeGoLook that verifies users’ locations and assures secure data storage. The service verifies all locations in ads.
Offerup
Another popular alternative to BackPage with the Personals category.
This destination is less popular, so it doesn’t offer the same choice of potential dates, but it’s a good alternative when you ran out of options on other services. The website supports LGBT dating and allows advertising couples dating and looking for threesomes.
5miles
This advertising service allows users to look for daters nearby — location here is the main dating filter. Overall, the website specializes in delivering any service in your area, so, naturally, dates will also be located in the vicinity.
Filters are basic: you can specify age, location, orientation. The website has a lot of LGBT-offers and doesn’t discriminate against people based on their racial characteristics.
FreeAdsTime
A newly popular classified ads website. Although originally the service was used to lookup services, in 2018, it became one of the most popular dating destinations.
Considering that around that time, BackPage couples got closed, it’s only natural that FreeAdsTime successfully stepped n to cover the niche.
Peerhub
A casual dating website where people can leave ads and lookup dates nearby. The site doesn’t directly promote sex dating, although users can leave implicit messages that would offer sex date.
However, it’s best to avoid using certain vocabulary in the ad as well as refrain from uploading nude pictures.
OLX
International advertising website for everything — from construction offers to personal dates.
The platform has a classified Personals section where users can leave causal dating offers and directly contact other people. Instant registration requires users only to specify their email address and a phone number — two simple steps that take less than a minute. There is no verification, so you need to make sure you aren’t meeting anyone shady.
WallClassified
Many users find WallClassified to be better than Bakcpage, both by its design and the choice of filters. It’s matching features allow looking people up by age, relationship status, body type, zodiac sign, etc.
The details of the feed are almost like something you’d find on a dedicated dating website, not just on an ad board. It’s a new level.
LocalFind
This is essentially a business website where people offer their commercial services and list companies.
However, the website also has a classified personals section where people go to put their personal life back on track. It’s legit, and the main audiences are entrepreneurs and startupers, so it can be suitable for serious relationships, too.
GumTree
One of the most popular ad boards in the UK, South Africa, and Australia.
The service requires only an email and mobile phone for the registration — no needed further customization. You can post your dating ad right away and directly contact other people, without matching up beforehand.
| 5 million members | 450,000/weekly |
| 3/5 hookup chance | Medium Sex Chance |
| medium fraud risk | Verification email |
| from $2.95/month subscription price |
Founded 12 years ago, it’s a reputable casual dating service with personals advertising section. Generally, Locanto works as an ad board for services and products, but it’s dating features are very similar to BackPage phone sex features.
The filters aren’t flexible, however. You can only sort users through by their age, location, orientation — it’s hard enough to assure a smooth date. But at least, you can contact o potential dates directly — no matching up or chatrooms.
Channels
A versatile Backapage alternative that connects people all over the world. The service is based on verified review systems — anyone who has dated a person who left a listing can leave feedback and rate the date quality.
This way, you can stay away from scammers and secure yourself. Of course, there is no telling if all of these reviews are real — but at least, you got some small protective measures.
Rezella
As weird as it could be to look for love on a second-hand ad website, it works well.
The service gathers the community of environment-conscious people who don’t want to support consumerism and prefer to reuse existing goods instead. It’s quite a good start for a potential date — at least, you’ll be meeting someone with profound values.
YesBackPage
Even from its name, it’s clear that YesBakcpage was created to be a Bakcpage alternative. The website is indeed similar to the original platform, both by its features and interface.
The only problem is that this relatively new service is not nearly as popular as the original one. Still, the platform gained a lot of traction after the original site was closed — so now it’s a nice ad dating destination.
Luberpage
A mobile Backpkage alternative that’s also supported on Windows and Mac PCs.
It’s an integration personals dating service where published ad descriptions and pictures find dates.
Osliki Classifieds
My favorite aspect of the personals’ ad service is that it works almost equally well on the web and mobile versions. I could start my date search from my laptop and carry on from the smartphone.
It would be nice if the mobile version would be customized a little better — so far, the page load speed could use improvements. Still, it’s a comfortable BackPage alternative with a huge user pool.
Findermaster
On Findermaster, an international advertising service, the registration takes less than a minute — you only need to specify your login, password, and email address.
Then, you can pass the profile customization stage and move straight to creating a personals ad. The system is similar to package — you leave a message on the board, and interested people contact you.
GiganticList
On this Personals board, the main filters are the users’ location, age, sexual preferences, and orientation.
The website is very open to the LGBT community, and it also allows couples to register — so you can get a threesome as well as a one-on-one hookup.
Sites like BackPage – video review
Best BackPage alternative: people you see on Pure are online right now
Our users are making it clear: they want to hookup within one hour.
Unlike most sex websites, we do not have awkward questionnaires. The service works as a local sex app based on your location: the first thing you need to get a match is your registration.
After your sign-up, you will see lots of people in your district with the distance between you shown. To try your fate, you can like, dislike or super like other members to come together.
The last step is a flirty conversation, which starts if your chemistry is mutual.
Download Pure from Google Play or App Store and get 3 days free trial!
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FAQ
What is the new website for BackPage?
There are similar personals ad services and casual dating services that have richer functionality and bigger user pools than those offered by BackPage personals.
Who shut down BackPage?
FBI closed the website. It turned out that the website was violating several laws on human rights and data storage, which is why it attracted government attention.
Why was BackPage closed?
BackPage was closed for human trafficking, which is considered to be a serious legal offense by law. These violations were noticed by the FBI that led to the service’s closure.
What is BackPage human trafficking?
The majority of Backapge advertising was not about personal dates but were prostitution offers. The website owners pledged guilty, and the service was closed.
Final thoughts
Craigslist and BackPage escorts being blocked was terrible news to the causal dating community worldwide — the website offers simple and versatile dating features.
Luckily, there is no shortage of similar, although less popular services. However, with the closure of BackPage and Craigslist personals, these alternatives are becoming more popular. Now, you can easily find casual dating communities with people from the United States, Canada, and the UK, that are almost just as huge.
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