Local Craigslist personal ads were the golden ticket to casual hookups. But the site has since been shut down. This has left users out in the cold and looking for a new site to call home. It can be difficult to find somewhere new when you’ve been entrenched in a community for so long.
Luckily, there are so many options out there! From dating sites to hookup apps to alternative local personals, deciding which one to try can take time. On top of that, you need to know how to avoid the fake profiles and scams that have infested some platforms.
Local single daters rejoice! We’ve got you covered with a full list of alternatives to your old favorite, Craigslist Personals.
We will discuss the best alternative local dating sites for meeting singles and others looking for casual hookups shortly. But first, let’s discuss Craigslist personal ads, what they were and what happened to them.
What Are Craigslist Local Personals?
Craiglist local personals were ads posted on the old Craigslist personals site. The ads targeted people looking for love or a casual hookup and were close by.
The section’s organization by location allowed users to browse through listings specific to their city or region. This feature made it easy to find potential matches nearby.
But alas, this site is no more. So what happened to Craigslist casual encounters?
Why Craigslist Went Defunct
Local Craigslist personals was once the most popular site for finding an adult friend for sexual encounters. Now, you can’t even mention the word sex on the site. But why?
The shutdown of Craiglist personals came in response to the passing of government legislation in 2018. The legislation aimed to combat human trafficking and protect individuals from sexual exploitation. It had catastrophic consequences for platforms like Craigslist.
Because of the legal risk, Craigslist shut down the personnel section. Adult daters mostly reacted negatively to the move. Where could they go now for casual hookups or a one-night stand?
Why Use A Site Similar to Craigslist Locals?
You should use a site like Craigslist locals for ease of use, diverse options, and safety features. Let’s break down why you should use an alternative for these reasons:
- Diverse Options: Sites like Craigslist personals offer endless options to cater to unique interests and preferences. Whether you’re a kinkster or a hopeless romantic, you’re sure to find someone to love tonight!
- Ease of Use: Online personals are easy to navigate. You can quickly browse through the listing and respond within seconds. You can even filter your search based on whatever criteria you may have.
- Safety Features: The best sites have security measures to protect you while you search for your casual encounters. Measures such as email address verification and moderation help to minimize the risk of encountering fake profiles.
These sites give you the freedom to find whoever and whatever you like, whenever. You can easily embrace the thrill of meeting local singles.
Craigslist Personals Alternative Options
You’re in luck if you’re wondering what to use as a substitute for Craigslist locals. You have several options. Dating websites like Adult Friend Finder or Ashley Madison are one option with upgraded pay features. You could use Locanto, Oodle, or Doublelist if you’re looking for free sites.
Here are a few of our favorite sites and apps for local casual encounters, easy hookups and casual sex.
Adult Friend Finder: A Craigslist Local Dating Alternative
Surely, you’ve heard of Adult Friend Finder. If you haven’t, it’s a very popular online dating site that helps you find casual hookups and long-term relationships. It’s different from the Craigslist local dating site but it still works just as well.
It has a user base of millions and offers a wide range of helpful features:
- Extensive User Profiles: Adult Friend Finder showcases detailed profiles of all its users. They include explicit content and photos so you can “try before you buy”.
- Advanced Search Options: The site offers robust search tools, enabling users to filter potential matches. You can search by location, age, body type, kinks, and more!
- Communication and Messaging: You can send private messages, engage in group chats, participate in forums, and join chat rooms.
- Live Webcams and Chat: Adult Friend Finder offers live webcam models and chat rooms for those interested in a more interactive experience. Members can engage in live video chats, watch explicit performances, or enjoy a more voyeuristic experience.
- Mobile App: There’s also a mobile app for users who prefer to access the platform on their smartphones or tablets. The app provides convenient access to all the features, allowing members to stay connected and engaged while on the go.
Say goodbye to limited features and fake profiles found on other dating websites. With Adult Friend Finder, you find real people looking for the same things you are.
Ashley Madison
But what if you’ve tried Adult Friend Finder and found it’s not for you? How about Ashley Madison? While not a site like Craigslist local personals, it’s still where you can find a hookup.
The site caters to individuals seeking to have an affair, but this isn’t always the case. Like Craigslist local ads, it’s a free dating site to help find connections close to home. While it’s true that cheaters frequent the site, it also has features that appeal to everyone in the dating scene.
- Discreet Profiles: Ashley Madison emphasizes privacy. Members can use pseudonyms and blur or mask their profile photos to maintain confidentiality.
- Member Verification: It’s common to interact with fake profiles by mistake. While the site doesn’t have verified profiles, members are verified when signing up to ensure they are real people.
- Private Communication: Ashley Madison offers a secure messaging system that allows members to send and receive private messages. This allows for discreet conversations without revealing personal contact information.
- Priority Messaging: You can take advantage of a priority messaging feature that enables them to stand out and capture attention. Members can send priority messages to other users, ensuring they receive special attention in recipients’ inboxes.
- Virtual Gifts: To add a touch of fun, Ashley Madison provides a virtual gifts feature. Users can send virtual gifts to express interest or appreciation for other members. These virtual gifts can help initiate conversations and enhance connections between users.
- Discreet Payment Options: Ashley Madison offers discreet payment options to protect users’ anonymity. No need to worry about a suspicious transaction on your credit card statement.
While it had a significant data breach in the past, the platform has taken measures to enhance its safety protocols. If you want to explore outside your relationship, Ashley Madison provides a discreet and secure space to find hookups.
Free Ad Sites Similar to Craigslist Local Singles Personals
If you’re newly exploring the alternative Craigslist personals scene, you may want to try a free site. Several alternatives offer similar features and functionality if you want an experience similar to Craigslist local singles. Here are the top three free options:
- Locanto: Locanto is a user-friendly classified ads platform. It offers an extensive range of categories for local personals, providing a convenient environment for individuals seeking hookups.
- Oodle Personals: Oodle is a classified ads site with a free personals section. It allows users to post and browse ads, including ones for casual dating. With its wide range of categories and active community, Oodle Personals is another excellent alternative to explore.
- DoubleList: Doublelist is a free site that takes personals to another level. It offers countless categories and options for posting and responding to ads. With DoubleList, it’s easy to find hookups. If you want even more features, you can upgrade to a paid account.
The best part? You don’t need to memorize a handbook on finding local hookups. These sites are simple to use and navigate. Do these free sites pique your interest? Let’s get down to business and take a closer look at them.
Local Craigslist Personals Replacement: Locanto
Locanto is a popular alternative Craiglist local personals. The site offers a place to search for one-night stands and casual hookups.
- Extensive Category Options: Locanto’s personals section boasts many categories. You can look for men, meet local women and everything in between.
- Location-Based Search: Locanto prioritizes local connections by offering location-based search functionality. The default is to search and find great dates nearby. However, you can search other cities if you are out of town.
- Ad Posting: When using Locanto, you can post personal ads directly to the site. You can describe yourself and what you’re looking for, and users will respond directly.
- Community Engagement: Locanto is a community. Being active on the site allows you to connect with others in more than just a dating setting. You can leave user reviews and ratings and keep in touch with your new friends.
- User Verification: Locanto provides user verification features to ensure your trust in the site. You can verify your profile through email or phone number.
Locanto provides a reliable and secure alternative to Craigslist personals for casual encounters. With its large user base and unique features, Locanto offers a platform for finding like-minded people and exploring no-strings-attached relationships.
Oodle Personals
Another site that works similarly to the local Craigslist personal site is Oodle Personals. Oodle provides a hassle-free way to browse through profiles and find casual hookups.
Here are some of their best features:
- Ad Posting: Oodle enables users to create and post their ads. You can showcase yourself in all your glory and attract potential hookups.
- Wide Range of Categories: Oodle offers an extensive selection of categories. Like Locanto, you can search for men, women, couples, and more. You can also search for jobs and housing.
- User-Friendly Interface: Oodle features a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, making it easy to find matches.
- Limited Personalized Profiles: However, Oodle does not have in-depth profile customization options for individual users. This limitation may result in less detailed information about potential partners.
- Varied Quality of Listings: Like most dating sites, the quality of the listings on Oodle can vary. You may find the love of your life or incredible sex, but you could also find a dud. You should thoroughly verify listings before meeting up.
Local Craigslist Personal Dupe: DoubleList
But the best of the best sites like local Craigslist personals is DoubleList. The creators formed DoubleList to fill the void left by Craigslist. Find your next hookup or long-term relationship in this fun, safe, and inclusive space.
Are you a local woman looking for men or other women or vice versa? Or maybe you’re looking to explore your sexuality or experiment in a group sex setting. DoubleList has it all.
Here’s why you should use DoubleList:
- User Verification: DoubleList strongly emphasizes user verification to ensure a safer and more trustworthy environment. Users can verify their accounts through phone verification, helping to reduce the presence of fake or fraudulent profiles.
- Secure Communication: DoubleList provides a secure messaging system that allows users to communicate with potential partners while keeping personal contact information private. This feature enables individuals to engage in private conversations and establish connections without compromising privacy.
- Comprehensive Categories: DoubleList offers various categories for diverse interests and preferences. Whether you’re seeking casual encounters, friends with benefits, or BDSM personals, Doublelist has the category for you. The site also has an active gay community.
- Sex Resources: The blog section of DoubleList includes a collection of educational articles that cover a wide range of sex topics. You can access these valuable insights to discover the most popular kinks or fetishes.
- Post-Flagging and Moderation: DoubleList has implemented a post-flagging and moderation system to maintain a high-quality user experience. Users can flag inappropriate or suspicious posts, helping to keep the platform safe and free from scams or fraudulent activity.
DoubleList stands out as the premier site for local personals in a post-Craigslist world. With broad categories and a dedicated sex resources section, DoubleList is the place for you to find same-minded people.
The Best Local Craiglist Personal Alternative: Sign up to DoubleList!
Are you looking for a local Craigslist personal alternative? Look no further than DoubleList! DoubleList is the perfect platform for casual encounters, casual dating, and finding like-minded people in your area. Whether you are male, female or non-gender conforming, say goodbye to fake profiles and limited features.
Sign up today and join an active community of singles and couples ready to meet and mingle!
