Less than 5 years ago, Backpage was one of the best sites to place classified ads and find quick hookups. However, the US Department of Justice announced the takedown of Backpage on top of 93 indictments of 7 of the site’s high ranking executives.
That said, there are many backpage replacement sites available today. Spoiler: AdultFriendFinder is the best backpage alternative per our extensive research.
Read on for more sites like backpage, and how to get the most out of these adult classifieds, without breaking the law.
| Site | What We Liked Most |
| AdultFriendFinder | Best Backpage Alternative Overall |
| AshleyMadison | Backpage Replacement for Married People |
| Meet-n-Hook | Backpage Replacement for Quick Hookups |
| SecretBenefits | Best Backpage App |
| ClassifiedAds | Best New Backpage for Adult Classifieds |
Best Backpage Alternative Sites
AdultFriendFinder: Best Backpage Alternative Overall
AdultFriendFinder is a one-stop-shop for couples and individuals looking for casual relationships of all kinds. AFF has an increasingly large member base and a broad and diverse casual dating community.
No matter what kind of casual dating you’re looking for, there’s a good chance you’ll find it on AdultFriendFinder. The site boasts an enormous member base with diverse desires and goals. While it’s completely free to join the site with an email, you may want to become a paid member if you use it often enough.
>> Read full AdultFriendFinder review
Pros
- There’s a ton of search options
- All kinds of relationships
- Lots of video chats to explore
- One of the most popular casual arrangement sites
- Large member base
Cons
- Paid membership doesn’t cover costs like model videos and the purchased points
- There are a lot of ads
- You’re not likely to find a serious relationship on here
Ashley Madison: Backpage Replacement for Married People
One of the classiest sites like Backpage, Ashley Madison offers excellent features and is one of the finest places to find dates.
Ashley Madison has a solid reputation, and for good reasons. AM makes finding a date easy, fun, and a done deal with millions of active members.
>> Read full Ashley Madison review
Pros
- Lots of beautiful women
- Anonymity features
- High-class site for casual dating
- Chat disappears, making it easy to cheat on your spouse
- Protects your info with good security features
Cons
- There’s an uneven ratio of female and male members
- Not suitable for a serious relationship
Meet-n-Hook: Backpage Replacement for Quick Hookups
Meet-n-Hook works very much as Backpage did. Members post ads to meet people for dating and other casual relationships.
Launched in 2018 after Backpage, Meet-n-Hook is extremely popular, particularly with the LGBTQIA+ community. Membership is free for all registered members, even though it’s a little limited. With a welcoming atmosphere, it’s a lot like Craigslist.
Pros
- The site is LGTBQ+ friendly
- Very secure
- Lots of categories to choose from
Cons
- The user verification process is long
- Lots of inactive users
- No mobile app
SecretBenefits: Best Backpage App
In terms of dating themes and functionality, SecretBenefits is the closest thing to Backpage. Founded in 2006, SecretBenefits.com has an excellent reputation and is free for women. It’s the ideal site for sugar arrangements for sugar babes and daddies.
SecretBenefits.com has over 20 million users, and it’s an ideal site for women looking for professional companions. If you’re a guy who’s looking for a sugar daddy relationship, you’ll need to verify your email and income. While this might seem like a pain, the site must retain its legit high-end status.
Pros
- Free for women to sign up
- There’s a high ratio of women to men profiles
- Initial sign-up is straightforward
- Easy-to-use interface
Cons
- Most features only available to paid users
- Membership is expensive
- It’s a time-consuming income verification process
ClassifiedAds: Best New Backpage for Adult Classifieds
ClassifiedAds is another excellent site like Backpage and Craigslist. You can post ads for anything — including dating. All you need is a verifiable email address.
The goal at ClassifiedAds.com is to make it as easy as possible to meet other people. The site’s team invests a great deal of time and effort in monitoring and filtering the content posted to the website. It’s best to use your utmost discretion when meeting people off of ClassifiedAds, simply for the fact that literally, anyone can create a free account.
Pros
- 100% free to use
- Mobile-friendly website
- You can see how many views your classified ad receives.
Cons
- Site design is rather dull and outdated
- Limited functionality
Oodle
A Craigslist and Backpage type of site, Oodle is a classified ads site with different categories. The site provides consumers with a friendly local marketplace to place ads and respond to them — including dating ads.
Though the website design is rather basic, Oodle gets the job done for ads like Backpage. The personals section lets users search for various categories,
If you’re searching the Oodles personals for casual dating, it’s wise not to browse through all the categories. The reason is that there is a separate section under the drop-down menu and the tab labeled “More.” There, you’ll find personal ads that you can’t see just by viewing the home page.
Though there are some fake profiles here, Oodle is ideal for finding open-minded dates and relationships. Many profiles search for serious dating, so keep that in mind.
Pros
- Free to post ads and respond to ads
- Combines the best features of Craigslist and Backpages
Cons
- Not as active as other sites
- Lots of ads
- Site design is usual and boring
RubRatings
One of the experiences Backpage users searched for was massages. For those who want to find a local massage studio for a body rub, RubRatings is a great resource.
The massage providers listed are desirable, which leads to the site’s success and great first impression. Anyone can surf the providers’ gallery on Rubratings and get contacts, though some options are for registered users only, and then some form of payment is needed. It’s up to you to arrange massage sessions with independent providers or SPA parlors. Both ways have pros and cons, but it’s crucial to follow the reviews for a better result.
You could google local massage studios in your area, but the chances are good that you won’t get all the results you need. That’s where RubRatings comes in, and it’s free for users. The massage providers pay for the ads that they post. This site allows you to narrow down your choices according to your preferences.
Pros
- It’s free to browse provider ads
- A great tool to find the best massage parlors
- You can search massage studios by city
Cons
- Most options require payment
- It’s for serious searchers of the best massages
Erotic Monkey
Erotic Monkey is a discreet source for quality escort reviews. The site features reviews of the escorts to choose the best date for you.
What makes Erotic Monkey different is that the site features escort reviews. Erotic Monkey is free to view the members on the site, which is fantastic. However, if you want to view the escort reviews, you’ll have to pay. The good news is that it’s not mandatory to see the reviews, and you can connect with members for free if you choose to do so.
>>> Read full Erotic Monkey Review
Pros
- Easy to use
- Many listings nationwide
- Mobile friendly
- Messaging for everyone without limitations
- Advanced search options
- The appealing design and user-friendly interface
Cons
- Expensive for the average user
- No mobile app
- Must pay for premium listings
- Some cities without listings
Locanto
Locanto offers free user-to-user classified ads in all major cities, just like Backpage did. You can post an ad at no cost and browse through the vast selection of free classifieds and dating ads on Locanto
It’s simple to post an ad on Locanto and works just like the ads in the local newspaper. Your advantage at Locanto is that your ad will reach a much larger audience. What makes it even more interesting is that you can upload pictures or add a link to your website.
If you’re searching on Locanto and can’t find what you are looking for, simply post a free ad and let the offers come to you. The offers may include dating and other relationships.
Pros
- Classifieds are free to post and browse
- Search for dates by location
- Choose from long-term relationships and more
Cons
- It’s not active as other dating sites
- Site design is very outdated
Rubmaps
RubMaps is a massage parlor review site offering high-quality, honest AMP reviews written by real users. It’s one of the most popular sites to find out where the best massage places are in your area.
If you need a comprehensive list of massage parlors near you, you’re in luck. Rubmaps isn’t much to look at design-wise, but you’re sure to find the search tools second to none. There’s even a section for escort reviews as well as a forum.
Pros
- You can search by city
- Messaging is available with no limits
- Reviews of massage providers are available
- Advanced search options with keywords regarding masseuse and extra preferences
- You can have an account without the public seeing it
Cons
- Service can be extremely pricey
- No mobile application
- Not intuitive navigation
Bedpage
Bedpage is an all-inclusive classified ad website that’s a lot like Backpage. There are a lot of ads here, and it’s possible to find a genuine date and other relationships.
Backpage always had a slightly more modern look than Craigslist, so does Bedpage. Its design is straightforward, which is a good thing. Ad posters must create an account and pay to have their post appear. It’s completely free to look at posts on Bedpage.
Pros
- It’s free to scroll through posts
- Very similar to Backpage
- Good for casual dating
Cons
- You’re unlikely to find genuine dates
- Some scammers on the site
- Many countries and cities have no posts available
Tryst
If you’re looking for a large selection of escort dates, Tryst is the site for you. Remember that this site is not for you if you’re looking for a relationship or a free hookup.
While the search interface looks basic, you’ll enjoy the elements on the site, as well as how easy it is to hook up with a hot escort! Depending on the service you’re looking for, you can use the filters to search for the location or any other term.
The pricing will also depend on the escort you choose and the time you seek the service. Of course, standardized services come at an additional fee. For instance, some models will even travel internationally for the right price.
Pros
- Every profile is genuine
- Great for casual escort relationships
- Detailed profiles with descriptions
Cons
- Not for serious dating or relationships
- Pricing depends on the service
- Costs are unclear
What is Backpage?
If you’ve never heard of Backpage, you’re not alone. Backpage was one of the top sites to find classified ads for just about anything — including personals and dating ads. No matter what kind of relationship you were looking for, you could more than likely find it on Backpage.
Unfortunately, this website was suddenly shut down in 2018 for not-so-good reasons. Even though adult dating ads were popular, Backpage was a scapegoat for state attorneys looking to bust companies for prostitution. The company was seized by the government and was gone forever.
Even though Backpage suffered an untimely demise, there are plenty of similar dating sites.
Best Backpage Alternatives FAQs
What Happened to Backpage?
Backpage was seized by the U.S. Department of Justice in April 2018 due to allegations of facilitating illegal activities such as trafficking. As a result, the website was shut down, and its founders and operators were arrested and charged with various crimes, including money laundering.
What’s The Best Backpage Alternative Right Now?
Determining the “best” alternative to Backpage depends on individual preferences and needs. However, our list provides the best options available, each with its own features and user base.
It is advisable to explore multiple options and choose the platform that best suits your requirements for classified advertising or dating. The answer depends on your needs, whether it’s a female escort or casual dating.
Is It Safe To Use Backpage Alternatives?
Yes, but keep in mind that the safety of using Backpage Alternatives depends on the site you choose and how careful you are. Many alternatives focus on keeping users safe, but it’s important for people to be careful and thoughtful when talking to others online.
This means checking if ads are real, being careful about sharing personal details, and being aware of the dangers of meeting new people face-to-face.
Conclusion
Even though Backpage doesn’t exist anymore, many sites like Backpage serve as viable alternatives. Whether you’re searching for friends, casual dates, or other relationships, the above sites are legit platforms that have plenty of listings.
Try a few of these sites, or join them all to find what you’re after. Good luck with your search!
