Best 2022 Alternative Sites & Apps to Craigslist Personals

Are you missing Craigslist Personals? We’re not surprised.

Many people flocked to Craigslist to find local dates, casual meetups, sexual relations, and much more.

However, although their personal ads service was extremely popular in its heyday, 2018 saw the service eventually close down.

Luckily, many other sites, such as Vivastreet, have taken its place.

So, if you’re looking for some safe adult fun, read on to find out the best Craigslist Personals alternatives in 2022.

What happened to Craigslist Personals?

Craigslist Personals was an online community where people were able to post personal ads and look for companionships.

It was hugely popular with those looking to have no-strings-attached fun, but sadly it wasn’t to last.

To the disappointment of many, in May 2018, Craigslist Personals disappeared from the UK site, following on from the US.

Craigslist Personals was removed thanks to a US bill introduced to hold websites more accountable for the ads placed by their users.

Craigslist Personals’ popularity meant its eventual closure impacted thousands of people.

Not only did the platform allow users to anonymously feel safe and confident to meet new people, users often felt at ease that their tastes and lifestyles were not judged by others using the service.

Is Craigslist Personals coming back?

Unfortunately, Craigslist Personals will not be returning.

Although its closure impacted many people and even saw fans sign petitions to bring it back, it’s not that simple.

Craigslist does not want to risk being held criminally or civilly liable for unauthorised users who misuse online personals, especially as they do not have the legal resources to police user-generated content like giant platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter.

9 best alternative adult sites for casual sex

If you’re looking for a Craigslist Personals replacement, there are numerous other free sites that provide similar dating, hookup and adult services.

Some of the most popular alternatives for casual encounters in 2022 include:

Adult Friend Finder – One of the world’s largest adult dating sites, this is a platform for singles and swingers on the hunt for discreet hookups and casual sex
Ashley Madison – An online dating and social networking platform specifically designed for people who are married and in relationships seeking a secret affair
Doublelist – An online dating community for those looking for long-term relationships or casual meetups. The platform offers ads from gay and heterosexual people
Locanto – Another free classifieds website providing personal ads. You can find anything from long-term relationships, to casual encounters, and escort services
Out Personals – This site is specifically for gay men looking for sex dates and casual hookups. Bisexual, transsexual and curious individuals are all welcome
Ads encounter – A free adult site welcoming all types of encounters, including non-traditional dating and relationships. You can also use this platform for social networking and making new friends
ClassifiedAds – A classified ads site with casual dating services and meet-up opportunities for straight, gay and lesbian people
Oodle – An online classified platform that offers Personals for people seeking casual hookups online
CasualX – A hookup dating app similar to Tinder that brings people together who are looking for the same thing – casual sex and relationships only
Bedpage – A site that specialises in dating ads from people all around the globe

If you’re thinking about what you can use in place of Craigslist Personals in 2022, another great alternative is our very own Vivastreet.

Best alternative to Craigslist Personals

Vivastreet is a global free classified ads site where you can find thousands of ads featuring like-minded individuals (or couples) who wish to meet up for casual hook-ups, friendships, gay dating, heterosexual dating, and exclusive or open relationships.

Here’s why Vivastreet has replaced Craigslist for hooking up:

Free hookup service for adult fun
Simple to use for finding like-minded people
Caters for varying sexual orientations, i.e., lesbian, gay, straight, and trans
Perfect for connecting with others who share a similar kink, i.e., swinging or other specific fetishes

How to use Vivastreet Personals

Vivastreet Personals is really simple to use – you don’t need to spend hours searching through ads, hoping to find a person and an experience that suits you.

Search bar:

All you need to do is enter a term or two in the search bar that describes something you’re interested in exploring, such as Nuru massage and browse through the search results.

Email alerts:

You can also create email alerts, so when an ad is posted that matches your search criteria, you will get a message right in your inbox.

This way, you will never miss an opportunity to connect with someone new who you find of interest and wish to meet up with.

Set up multiple alerts to keep your options open to all kinds of adult fun.

When you click on an ad that you find interesting, you’ll see the full personal ad.

This will tell you where the person is located, what they are interested in, what they seek in a meetup, and whether they are willing to travel to meet you.

If you like what you see, there are buttons where you can choose to call, text, or email the owner of the ad and get to know each other better or arrange a meeting.

Post an ad:

If you want to be more active in the process of making some new and exciting connections, why not post your own ad.

You can describe what sort of things you are looking for, what sort of people you are interested in meeting, and how open you are to new experiences and trying new things.

5 best alternative hookup apps to Craigslist Personals

When it comes to online dating, many of us use mobile apps. That way, you can keep up the rapport between yourself and potential dates throughout the day, which might be harder to do on a PC or laptop.

Not to mention, you can keep up-to-date with new users, giving you a greater chance of finding your perfect match.

When you think of apps like Craigslist Personals, you should consider these dating apps below:

Kasual – Formerly known as Yumi, this is a hookup and chat app that is completely anonymous. Unlike other apps, you don’t need to provide any personal information other than your location – perfect for those wanting to keep your name and appearance concealed
Happn – This online dating app allows you to find the people you cross paths with every day, as their profile will pop up in your timeline. You can also like profiles you’re interested in too so you can meet up with them
Grindr – A well-known app within the LGBTIQ community, Grindr allows you to chat and meet up with like-minded people and is particularly popular among gay daters
Her – One of the world’s largest social networking platforms for 2SLGBTQ+ women. With 8 million users worldwide, you can find other 2SLGBTQ+ women and events near you, as well as stay abreast of what’s happening in the 2SLGBTQ+ world
Thursday – One of the latest apps on the dating scene, Thursday is an app that comes to life every Thursday with people near you that want to meet up that same day. It’s great for spontaneous individuals and those that enjoy exclusive events

How to use personal ads safely

Whether you’re a regular user or new to Craigslist Personals alternatives, it’s important to know that when using adult hookup sites, you should be aware of some safety precautions.

Below are some tips for using personal ads safely:

Always keep your personal information private, such as your financial information, home address, and place of work online
If you choose to meet up with someone in person, meet in a public place, such as a busy park, restaurant or bar, for your first meeting
Always make your own way to the meeting location or get a friend or family member to take you instead of sharing a car with your new date
Tell your friends or family that you’re going on a date and let them know where you’re expected to meet them while keeping them updated with your current location
Watch out for scammers and fake escort ads. If a user profile or personal ad looks too good to be true, it probably is, so follow your gut

Find casual encounters now

So that’s it – your definitive guide to finding casual encounters in the UK now that Craigslist Personals has gone.

Despite Craigslist Personals no longer being active, other free hookup sites have successfully taken over the casual encounters mantle left by Craigslist, including the UK equivalent, Vivastreet.

If you’re looking to add a little excitement to your day, why not start searching on Vivastreet Personals now.