Online dating poses a lot of opportunities. Whether you’re looking for a long-term commitment or something casual, there’s a site to suit you. In the realm of casual dating, two sites reign supreme as the cream of the crop. But which one is the best? In this review, we dive deep into Adult Friend Finder vs. Ashley Madison to discover which platform best suits singles seeking something casual.
Both of these dating sites have established themselves as leading destinations for individuals looking for open-minded connections. They have been around for years and have large user bases, too. However, each one caters to a slightly different audience.
Join us as we dissect the pros and cons of both sites. We’ll let you know the best place to look for casual connections.
What Is AdultFriendFinder?
Adult Friend Finder (AFF) is a leader in the sex-positive dating community. Founded in 1996, it’s an OG in online dating, catering to the casual dating scene for decades. The reason it has stuck around so long is its constant adaptation. It has a range of features that make it a popular choice for users.
The site provides the opportunity to find an “adult friend,” a.k.a a fun hookup. Generally, it caters to swingers and individuals seeking casual sex. This is one of the primary differences between Adult Friend Finder vs. Ashley Madison.
AFF takes pride in its sex-positive environment. Users on the site can post NSFW pics, videos, showcase their kinks and interests, and connect with like-minded people. The chat rooms provide space to connect on a deeper level. However, plenty of people get straight down to it and skip the conversation.
On AFF, users can explore their fantasies without fear of judgment. The platform supports a diverse range of relationships, including LGBTQIA+ encounters, swinging, group sex, and more.
Who is AFF for? People who want to engage in fun, casual connections. Or those who want a non-judgmental space to explore kinks and fetishes.
What Is Ashley Madison?
Ashley Madison has made a significant impression in the online dating landscape since its inception in 2001. What sets it apart from other dating sites is its primary focus on extramarital affairs.
At Ashley Madison, discrete is the name of the game. The landing page says, “Rule #1: Don’t get caught!” This slogan should give you an idea of what people are looking for on this site.
The platform provides a confidential and non-judgmental space for individuals seeking connections outside their relationships. Or for those who want to engage in an affair with a married man or woman. The site gained attention for its controversial yet unique selling point, but its decades-long existence proves its popularity.
In the battle of Adult Friend Finder vs. Ashley Madison, these distinct audiences set the two apart. They also explain the differences in features. Privacy is of the utmost importance to Ashley Madison, especially because many people on the site are having affairs. The site has tons of stealth features and private communications systems.
However, a data breach in 2015 leaked 60 gigabytes of company data, including user details. Since then, Ashley Madison has stepped up its privacy and security, which means future breaches are unlikely.
Who is Ashley Madison for? People looking for casual fun outside of your existing relationship or those looking to date married men and women.
Ashley Madison vs. Adult Friend Finder: Member Base
When choosing a dating site to sign up for, it’s important to consider the user base and demographics.
Who wins the battle in Ashley Madison vs. Adult Friend Finder for the number of users? According to some estimates, Ashley Madison has 60 million users across 53 countries, while AFF boasts over 80 million. Any dating site with this many users is bound to have fake profiles. Neither of these sites is an exception. That said, as long as you keep an eye out for catfishes and scammers, it’s easy to avoid them.
In the breakdown of Adult Friend Finder vs. Ashley Madison, it’s also crucial to consider the demographics. These statistics can be difficult to track down, especially for AFF. However, some research suggests that AFF has a gender ratio of 82.61% males to 17.39% females. Meanwhile, most users are 25-34 years old, with 18.41%.
The stats are similar at Ashley Madison, with 77.49% male and 22.51% female accounts. 25-34-year-olds are the largest age group again, with 22.94% of accounts. Age is more evenly distributed on AFF, though, with far fewer 65+-year-olds using Ashley Madison.
Most hookup sites have more men than women. That said, with tens of millions of users, you won’t struggle too much to find attractive women on either site.
The most striking difference is the interests of those on the site. AFF is more openly kinky and diverse, while Ashley Madison is more vanilla but nonetheless open-minded. Really, the winner here depends on what you’re looking for. However, based on the larger user base, AFF just edges it.
Winner: AdultFriendFinder
Adult Friend Finder vs. Ashley Madison: Features and Functionalities
The features of a dating site can add or detract from the overall user experience. Both sites rely on an Advanced Search Feature rather than a matchmaking algorithm. You can make detailed profiles on both sites, listing your likes and dislikes. Then, you can use the search feature to narrow down your dating preferences.
Similarly, both sites offer ways to chat with people you like. AFF has private and group chat rooms available, alongside video chat and live cams. It’s easy to find connections and chat with whomever you like. Ashley Madison, meanwhile, offers private chat rooms.
When it comes down to Adult Friend Finder vs. Ashley Madison, many of the features are similar. However, Ashley Madison’s enhanced privacy settings mean that it has additional features. For example, the app has a ‘Stealth Mode’ that changes the app icon on your phone.
Here are some of the other unique features of each site:
AdultFriendFinder
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Posting numerous photos
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Hot or Not roulette match-making game
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Flirting with Wink emojis
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Sending gifts and tips to other members
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Sex Academy instructional videos
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Live streaming
Ashley Madison
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Winks to flirt with other members
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Stealth Mode
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‘Priority Man’ (profile highlighting)
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‘Travel Man’ allows you to connect with users from an area you’re travelling to in advance
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Message Plus, sending messages to anyone you’ve contacted previously even with 0 credits
Please note that some of these features are for paid members only. As with any dating site, upgrading to paid unlocks secret benefits.
AFF has a few more special features that differ from other sites, so for that reason, it takes the victory.
Winner: AdultFriendFinder
Adult Friend Finder vs. Ashley Madison: Privacy and Security
Privacy and security are paramount on dating websites, particularly if you’re being discrete or entering banking information. Both AFF and Ashley Madison recognize the significance of privacy. However, their approaches may differ.
AFF emphasizes a sex-positive and open-minded community while prioritizing the protection of user data. Just like Ashley Madison, there was a hack in 2016 that breached many users’ privacy. The platform has since tightened security and is much safer, which means user data is secure.
That said, AdultFriendFinder is much more public and open. With photos and live cams aplenty, the average person on the site is willing to share their identity.
Meanwhile, if it wasn’t already clear in this Adult Friend Finder vs. Ashley Madison review, Ashley Madison is much more discrete. There are secure messaging channels and options for users to blur or mask their photos.
The robust security measures at Ashley Madison make it a safer option for users seeking secret hookups.
Winner: Ashley Madison
Adult Friend Finder vs. Ashley Madison: User Experience and Interface
When it comes to interface, the Adult Friend Finder vs. Ashley Madison debate has a clear winner.
AFF has a fairly easy-to-use interface, but it’s crammed with pop-up ads. Upgrading to a paid membership removes the ads, but the interface can still feel clunky. Some users feel it’s a bit outdated compared to other dating sites.
Ashley Madison, meanwhile, is more modern. The website is sleek, with an intuitive user interface. It loads quickly and provides a fun, seamless experience.
What’s more, AFF doesn’t have an app available for iPhones. In the mobile age, this is quite annoying. However, Android users can make use of the app. Ashley Madison has an app available for iOS and Android. With the Stealth feature, users can change the app icon for the utmost privacy.
Both sites make it easy to search for what you want. They’re simple to use and don’t take long to get your head around, but Ashley Madison has a cleaner look.
Winner: Ashley Madison
Adult Friend Finder vs. Ashley Madison: Pricing
Like most dating platforms, AFF and Ashley Madison are free to sign up. However, they have paid subscription plans that give members access to a wider range of features.
When it comes to the cost of Adult Friend Finder vs. Ashley Madison, the two are very different. Ultimately, you get what you pay for, but the pricing systems vary wildly.
AFF’s Standard membership is $17 monthly, while Gold costs $40 or $240 annually. Upgrading gives you access to live streaming, gifts, and more. Notably, you need to upgrade to send messages to other members. Free members can only send messages to Gold members, which means Standard member profiles are more hidden.
Ashley Madison employs a more classic credit system. 100 credits cost $49, or 1000 credits cost $249. You can send messages to other members or buy them gifts with these credits. It’s worth noting that women don’t need to buy credits to send messages. Also, after sending the first message, you don’t need to pay each time you correspond with the person. Only the first email costs credits.
The winner here comes down to how much you use the site. For AFF’s standard cost, you can message as many people as you want. However, at Ashley Madison, the cost depends on how much you use the site. As a result, Ashley Madison offers a more flexible pricing plan.
Winner: Ashley Madison
Adult Friend Finder vs. Ashley Madison: Reviews
Reviews from active users can give you insights into the experiences of users. However, many dating sites suffer from negative reviews when daters don’t find success. As a result, it’s best to take online reviews with a pinch of salt.
The two sites have similar online reviews, making it tough to choose a victor between Adult Friend Finder vs. Ashley Madison. Plenty of online reviews show AFF in a negative light for its NSFW content. Meanwhile, Ashley Madison’s emphasis on extramarital affairs is controversial.
That said, there’s a reason why both sites have so many users. Plenty of success stories have come out of the two. On its homepage, Ashley Madison features user testimonies about how the site has saved their marriages. Whether these are true is unclear, but it could be worth a shot to find out.
Winner: Ashley Madison
Adult Friend Finder vs. Ashley Madison: The Verdict
Both platforms offer unique features and cater to specific dating preferences. Similarly, both allow users to explore a discreet or fulsome relationship.
In our Adult Friend Finder vs. Ashley Madison review, the latter won the majority of the categories. Ashley Madison edges it in terms of reviews, pricing, user experience, and privacy. However, it’s challenging to draw a line between the two sites.
Ultimately, it’s down to your preferences. Ashley Madison might have come out on top. It’s a much better site if you’re seeking casual sex outside of your relationship. AFF is still a fantastic hookup site that caters to a wider variety of people.
So, no matter what you’re seeking, you should check out both sites. That way, you can see which one is right for you.
Final Verdict: Ashley Madison
Try DoubleList for a New Way To Find Hookups
Now that we have explored the verdict for Adult Friend Finder vs. Ashley Madison, why not try another option?
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