If you want to get down to business, the easiest way to do that is through an app. There are over 1,500 dating apps and sites, some you have to pay for, some are free to use.
And there are different kinds as well. Of course, you have your typical dating apps where everything goes, you have your dating apps for seniors, those for the members of the LGBTQ+ community, apps for those looking to get a date with middle-aged cougars.
But what if you’re not into any of that? What if you’re not looking for a date, just a willing partner to get down with? You’ve guessed it – there’s an app for that.
Essentially, any dating app can, in a way, be a hookup app… if you try hard enough and don’t mind getting blocked. But different apps attract different kinds of audiences, and if you’re just looking for a hookup, the best place to find it is through an app designed just for that.
So, let’s take a look at some of the best hookup apps that might just help you get lucky tonight.
1. Yumi
Yumi is available both on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store completely free. They don’t have the premium version like the majority of these types of apps do, and all of its features are available to you at no cost. So, if you’re on a budget, this might just be the app for you.
Although the app markets itself as an overall dating app where you can find a good date or even your Mr. / Ms. Right, the reality is a little bit different. Most users who’ve downloaded the app use it for finding people in their vicinity to hook up with.
This is probably because the app lets you be as anonymous as you’d like, so you don’t have to worry about your close friends and family finding out about your kinky lifestyle. 😉
When you’re signing up, you don’t have to leave any personal information whatsoever. They don’t ask you for your phone number, Facebook, email, none of that. You don’t even have to upload a profile picture if you don’t want to. Instead of that, you can record your voice and create a Voice Profile. It’s one of its greatest features.
Since it’s primarily a hookup app, you can expect some explicit content to show up in your inbox. This is why the app has an age restriction, and you have to be at least 18 to use it.
2. Pure
Now, as soon as you look this app up, you’ll know what it’s all about. Both on Google Play and Apple App Store, you’ll see the full name “Pure, the hookup app”. And that’s exactly what it is. It’s a relatively new player in the market, and so far it seems to be fairly promising.
Ladies get to use the app for free, but gents have to pay. If you’re a guy and it’s your first time downloading the app, you do get a 3-day free trial. The app asks for your credit card information as soon as you start setting it up, and it will automatically charge you once the trial period is over. If you don’t like it, you have to cancel your subscription through your Google Play account or iTunes account. Simply deleting the app doesn’t cancel your subscription.
As far as the features are concerned, they’re perfectly designed to get you a hookup. Your profile will be temporary, self-destructing after just 1 hour, deleting all conversations and all of your information. So, every time you use the app, you have to create a new profile.
This is actually easy to do, all you need is a profile picture, and your location settings turned on. The app shows you all the available users in your immediate area, and you have to “like” each other before you get the chat window to open up.
In theory, the app is great and it encourages immediate, discreet hookups. In practice, if there aren’t many Pure users in your area, you won’t get anything out of it. So, if you don’t want to waste money, check how popular the app is in your area before you download it.
3. HUD
HUD allows you to get straight to the point with your matches. It makes no promises of fairytale endings and dream dates, it’s just a straightforward app for those who know what they’re looking for.
Although the app states it’s inclusive, accepting all sexualities and genders, when you sign up, your options are actually rather limited. You can mark yourself as either male or female, and when narrowing down your preferences, you have the option to choose from male, female, either, and couple. That’s about it.
The profiles are presented in a grid-like way, so you can immediately see all the users in your area. The app allows you to send messages to whomever you want, you don’t have to wait for a mutual like. Depending on who you ask, this is either a pro or a con.
You can send photo messages, and the great thing is that the photos are actually blurred when they first come through. This is potentially a great feature for those tired of getting dick pics.
4. Down
Down is one of the more popular hookup apps with over 6 million users. When you sign up, you get to choose between 2 options, depending on what you want to do. If you’re looking for a more romantic, traditional date, opt for “GET DATE”. If you’re looking for a hookup, choose the “GET DOWN” option. But if we’re being honest, the vast majority of users want to get down, this isn’t really a place where you should expect to find true love.
Now, the app promises discretion, however, it does require you to connect your Facebook account to it. Don’t worry, they won’t post anything or whatever, they use your Facebook for 2 different reasons. One – they want to ensure you’re a real person. This protects you against bots and spammers. Two – they use your Facebook to match you with your friends of friends.
You can only communicate and exchange messages when you’ve shown mutual interest, aka when both of you have swiped on each other. It’s easy to use and has a growing user base.
5. Tinder
You know Tinder, right? It’s just one of the most popular dating apps out there. There are over 57 million Tinder users around the world, and although the app isn’t specifically designed to get you an instant hookup, you can surely find one in such a huge user base.
It can be a bit overwhelming the first time you download the app, so take some time to familiarize yourself with it, especially if you’re using the free version. You’ll want to learn which icons mean what so that you don’t waste your free super-likes and stuff.
To get a hookup, you’ll want to be clear about it in your bio. You can only communicate with the people that you’ve matched with, so check out others’ profiles to see what they’re down for before you swipe right.
Tinder has a few interesting options, you can connect your social media accounts to it, put an anthem on your profile, select your gender preferences, unmatch yourself from other users, etc. The only problem is that there are many bots and spammers, so be careful.
6. Happn
Have you ever met someone’s gaze on a subway and started imagining what it would be like to spend a wild night with that hot, random stranger? Well, you don’t have to imagine anymore, since Happn is designed for these situations precisely.
Essentially, this app matches you with those people that you’ve already crossed paths with. There’s no free search feature on Happn, the app only matches you with those people that are in your proximity. If you’ve crossed paths with someone (in a 250-meter radius), and if you have the same preferences, you’ll see each other on your timelines.
You can update your status to tell others what you’re down for and when, change your settings to “invisibility mode” to hide your account, send likes, chat with other members, and more. And don’t worry about your privacy. The app doesn’t disclose exactly where you are, it just shows that you’re in the 250-meter radius.
7. Blendr
Another great hookup app is Blendr. You can sign up for it with your Facebook account, or fill out their registration form, it should take more than a few minutes to set it all up.
To match with other members, you can either play the “Encounters” game, which is similar to the way that Tinder works, or look up “People Nearby”. You can message other members for free, rate their profiles, and like their profile pictures.
By default, your profile is visible to other members, and you can edit your information at any time. While the app claims it’s for all purposes, casual dating, finding true love, and everything in between, it’s actually very hookup-oriented. Most matching features are superficial and based on the appearance, so it’s more suitable for those looking to get lucky.
8. Wild
Wild definitely gives you the chance to spend a wild night with the person that fits you perfectly. The app allows you to cut to the chase and find exactly what you’re looking for since you can easily outline your preferences, and filter your search options.
You don’t have to worry about catfishing too much since most of the profiles are verified, so you can be sure you’re talking to a real person who looks exactly like their profile picture.
You can filter the results you see by attractiveness, ethnicity, interests, height, body type, and more, so you’re free to be as superficial as you’d like. Sending messages is free, you can share private photos with your matches, and more. Overall, it’s a great app for finding a casual hookup.
9. Grindr
If you’re a gay male looking for casual sex, Grindr is the app for you. While the app welcomes gay, bi, trans, and queer people, it’s mostly just gay males that you’ll find here. It has over 27 million users, so you’re sure to find someone right for you.
You can download the app for free, register with your Facebook or email, and you’ll be ready to go. You can easily customize your profile, add your height, weight, relationship status, and more. You can display your preferred sexual position, as well as include information in “My Tribes”. The tribes are related to your sexual preference and what you describe yourself as, and they include Jock, Geek, Leather, Bear, Poz, Otter, Twink, Trans, Daddy, Clean-cut, Discreet, and Rugged.
While you can state that you’re looking for dates, relationships, networking, and other, you’ll notice most members are seeking “Right Now” – meaning they want to hook up… right now.
10. HER
Lastly, we have a hookup app designed for lesbian, bisexual, and queer ladies. HER has over a million members in the US alone, and it’s gaining traction.
You need a Facebook or Instagram account to sign up, this is for verification purposes, so if you don’t have either of these accounts, create them before you download the app.
Men aren’t allowed on the app, but you don’t have to identify yourself as a female to create it. Your gender options include female, non-binary, gender fluid, FTM, intersex, and others.
You can send messages for free, but only to the friends and mutual matches. Only premium members can see the full profiles, but you’re given access to the names and pictures of those who’ve liked you.
Their greatest feature is “Events” where you can see any organized events that’ll be attended by lesbians in your area. This includes concerts, festivals, comedy shows, and more.
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a hookup, give one (or more) of these apps a try. Depending on your preferences and the popularity of the apps in your area, you might just get lucky. If you’re looking for other types of dating apps, check out the best ones at The Dating Catalog.
