Backpage Alternatives: What People Use Now

Federal agencies took Backpage offline in April 2018, a few weeks after Craigslist removed its personals section. The searches for a replacement never stopped. This page covers the sites people use now for dating and casual meetups.

What LetsMeetUp is, and is not

Backpage carried ads for paid services. LetsMeetUp does not.

LetsMeetUp is a dating site for adults meeting adults, and it is not a place to advertise or buy services. If that is what you are after, this page will not help. If you want to meet people who want to meet you, read on.

What people wanted from Backpage

Strip away the reputation and the appeal was simple: local listings, free to use, and people saying what they wanted without a script. Nobody had to pretend to be looking for something else.

A replacement that keeps those three things and adds a fourth, a way to tell whether the person is real, is worth your time.

What to check before you join anything

Four questions will rule out most of what is out there.

1. Can you see members before you pay? If a site hides everyone behind a payment screen, assume the shop window is empty.
2. Do you get messages in the first minute? Instant interest from people you have never spoken to is usually automated.
3. Is there any verification? If a site cannot tell you how it confirms members, it probably does not.
4. Can you cancel easily? Find out before you hand over a card.

Want to see how to test a site yourself? Our fifteen-minute test takes you through it.

The alternatives

Four are worth knowing about, in the order we would try them.

1. LetsMeetUp: best all-round replacement

LetsMeetUp works from profiles rather than ads, and is part of a network of 5.1 million members. Each profile says what the person wants up front, and the people on it are singles, couples and every orientation.

• Verification: identity is checked with a photo ID or a selfie.
• Cost: joining and browsing are free, and the VIP tier adds full messaging and advanced filters.
• Discretion: billing is discreet, with moderation running around the clock.

Verdict: the most direct place to meet adults who want the same thing, with checks the old ad boards never had.

2. Doublelist: closest in format

Doublelist is built like the old ad boards: post-based and organized by location. The format is familiar. Verification is thin and quality varies by city. We go through it in our Doublelist alternatives guide.

Verdict: closest to the original format, with the original's weaknesses.

3. Feeld: best for open-minded connections

Feeld is a carefully designed app whose members tend to be clear about what they want and polite about it. It is at its best in big cities.

Verdict: high quality and specific. Not a broad replacement.

4. Adult Friend Finder: largest explicit platform

Adult Friend Finder has the biggest adult member base and has been running since 1996. Expect more noise, lower verification and an expensive subscription.

Verdict: large and busy. Patience required.

If you are looking in a specific place

The city guides we have:

• New Jersey: hookups in New Jersey
• New York: hookup sites in NYC
• Boston: hookup sites in Boston
• Philadelphia: hookup sites in Philadelphia
• UK: local hookups in the UK

New to the acronyms? ONS, FWB and NSA explained. Safety first? Read our dating safety tips.

Frequently asked questions

What replaced Backpage?

Nothing replaced it directly. People moved to Craigslist-style boards like Doublelist, and to profile-based dating sites such as LetsMeetUp, Feeld and Adult Friend Finder.

Is there a Backpage for adults now?

There are sites with a similar format, but ad boards have no way to confirm who is behind a post. Profile sites with verification are the safer route to the same goal.

Is there a free Backpage alternative?

Yes. You can join and browse LetsMeetUp for free, and VIP adds full messaging and advanced filters.

Can I advertise services on LetsMeetUp?

No. It is for adults meeting adults, not for advertising or buying services.

Is it safe to use these sites?

Safer than anonymous ad boards if you use the checks above and basic common sense: meet in public, tell a friend, never send money.