Best Backpage Alternatives for Classifieds, Casual Dating, and Personal Ads in 2022

Until it fell into the hands of the FBI in 2018, Backpage had it all from sex classifieds to cars for sale. Even though Backpage and its perks are now long gone, we still need those services.

That’s why we’ve done the leg work to bring you some of the best Backpage alternatives in 2022 to meet people online for love, business, and other classifieds.

Every alternative on our list offers a chance to find what you need.

Best Backpage Alternative Websites for Hookups and Classifieds

• Adult Friend Finder – Great for casual hookups
• Ashley Madison – Backpage alternative for discretion
• Craigslist – Top free Backpage alternative
• Gumtree – Best for personal ads
• Kijiji – Top Backpage alternative for Canadians
• Geebo – For job classifieds
• Bedpage – Most organized Backpage alternative
• Hoobly – For businesses and service professionals
• Yes Backpage – Identical to Backpage

1. AdultFriendFinder – Best Backpage Alternative Overall

Pros

• Easy to find local matches
• Mobile app available
• Best for casual dates
• Active community like Backpage

Cons

• Lots of fake profiles
• Ad-ridden free plan

Pricing

• 1 month – $39.95 Gold, $24.95 Standard 
• 3-month offer – $35.85 Gold, $26.95 Standard

AFF is the best place to find casual hookups. It’s the #1 site for finding casual sex and serves 18-45+ year-olds.

Yeah, it’s a real party…

On AFF, you’ll meet sexy singles from around the world for various casual encounters like you would on Backpage. Only this time, you’re cutting straight to the chase.

Best Features 

You only need a valid email, DOB, and a unique username to create your free account. 

It has one of the largest user bases, which enriches both diversity and inclusivity on the platform. 

You can access AFF via its website mobile version if you’re constantly moving. The homepage gives you a summary of the users, including their profile pictures (some being nudes), age, gender, and location.

However, you’ll need a gold membership to view other users’ full profiles or message them. 

Like Backpage, Adult Friend Finder has an active community free of prejudice and will keep you engaged for hours on end.

2. Ashley Madison – Top Backpages Alternative for Discreet Dating

Pros

• High f:m ratio
• Discreet encounters
• Photo blur available
• Free chat for women

Cons

• Complicated pricing structure 
• Bagging a date may need more effort

Pricing

• $49/100 credits – Basic
• $149/500 credits – Classic
• $249/1,000 credits – Elite

Ashley Madison has a strong reputation and has sent many tongues wagging since it was founded twenty years ago. 

It’s the best site for individuals who want discreet flings without worrying about getting busted.

Like Backpage, it’s also a great hunting ground for a MILF or DILF since most users here are in their mid-life.

Best Features 

Signing up on AM is free. The same goes for searching for other users. Unfortunately, male users must commit financially to get the best out of it.

That could be why there’s a higher female to male ratio. 

Females get free messaging, whereas their male counterparts only get one free message upon signing up.

The site’s clean interface is easy on the eye and navigable without a user guide. This means you’ll spend most of your energy wooing your crush rather than finding one.

And to prove just how hush-hush they can be, AM uses a cheeky alias when billing you at the end of the month to avoid raising suspecting eyebrows.

Perhaps the best upgrade you’ll enjoy that wasn’t in Backpage is AM’s photo blurring feature that lets you hide your photos. This is a fantastic way of keeping peeping Toms, busy-bodies, and ‘familiars’ off your case when strolling around the site.

Top Backpages Alternatives for Classified Ads

3. Craigslist – Top Free Backpages Alternative

Pros

• Free classified ads
• Available worldwide
• Expansive user database
• Fast ad responses

Cons

• Best suited for US residents
• Several scammers present

Pricing

• Free!

Craigslist has attracted a lot of controversy and customers in equal measure. Its classified ads also included adult services until 2010, when Uncle Sam decided it wouldn’t have any of that.

Setting up an account is pretty easy though you don’t really need one to post ads.

It hosts sellers and buyers from different countries and uses geo-location to locate your city of residence.

The website doesn’t get many points for interface design. It’s basic, with most of its input going towards great functionality (which is what matters anyways).

Still, the forum lets you scout and post free advertisements in multiple categories, from personal ads to job listings.

4. Gumtree – Best Backpage Alternative for Personal Ads 

Pros

• Free basic membership
• Friendly interface
• Easy to find ads
• Exclusive e-commerce section

Cons

• Limited to a few countries
• Slow dating activities

Pricing

• Basic – Free
• Premium – $9 to $50 per ad

Gumtree is a UK-based alternative for Backpage classified ads. It lets users sell their stuff to willing buyers on their online marketplace through classified ads. 

You’ll need an account to qualify to post ads, and creating one is free. You also won’t be charged when posting classified ads with up to 9 photos. You’ll pay for anything above that, depending on the number of added images and links to your website.

At Gumtree, you can send and receive messages, manage your ads, and even save interesting ads to view later.

5. Kijiji – Great Backpage Alternative Website in Canada

Pros

• Educational section available
• Well detailed ads
• Easy to sign up 
• Free to use 

Cons

• Only based in Canada
• Slightly chaotic (no specific niche)

Boosting Prices

• Visibility – $32.95/ month
• Max Visibility – $149.95/ month
• Upgrade to Urgent – $14.95/ week

Like BP, Kijiji is a classifieds system that links 6+ million Canadians who post ads for a wide range of services, jobs, or everyday household items, to whoever wants them.

The site looks and feels fancy, and if you browse its blog section, you’ll get tips about shopping and car financing even without an account. 

It’s easy to browse through and has various sections such as relationships and dating that you can explore once you set the ball rolling.

…Be sure to check out the free section for cool stuff nobody wants.

6. Geebo – Best Job Classifieds Site Like Backpage

Pros

• Available in different languages
• Free to browse
• Proper ad verification
• Wide variety of ads

Cons

• High rates for job ads
• Only available in the US

Price: 

• $75/job posting 

Geebo is an excellent place for finding job listings from all over the US. For free, browse through thousands of different listings in various categories for services, items, and jobs.

To post job/employment ads, Geebo charges you in bundles, so you don’t pay for each individual ad if you need to publish it in numerous states.

The site is very thorough at user verification. It gets accurate contact and residential information so that people who see your ad can easily find you or reach out.

7. Bedpage – Most Organized Backpage Alternative 

Pros

• Similar to Backpage
• Various ad categories available
• Available in different countries
• Well categorized 

Cons

• Premium advertising only
• Inactive adult section

Pricing

• $15/ad (single state)
• $7/ad (multiple states) 

Bedpage is probably the most popular BP alternative, or rather, clone. It even has an identical Adult and Dating section, though very blank. You have better chances of finding an old dress in the attic before you find a date there.

Its simplistic user interface was inspired by the original Backpage design. You can maneuver and view the listings in each state though there aren’t as many as you’d hope.

You can also create an account by linking your Google account and save some time in the process.

8. Hoobly – Best Backpage Alternative for Service Professionals

Pros

• Free listing service
• Simple interface
• Present in 20+ countries
• Well-detailed ads

Cons

• Only supports English language
• Many Google ads

Hoobly is a free classifieds Backpage replacement known to cater to diverse service professionals such as pet trainers, electricians, mechanics, plumbers, realtors, etc. The site is not too graphic but focuses more on detailed ads with visible pictures of the product or service.

That being said… 

The site is not hard to crack, though it is overridden with numerous distracting Google ads. You’ll also need to create an account before you can post in the different categories.

9. Yes Backpage – Best Look-Alike Backpage Alternatives Website

Pros

• Free listings
• Sleek Backpage replacement
• Available across 4 countries 
• Some adult services available 

Cons

• Not great in lesser populated areas
• Hard to find a date 

This is yet another Backpage clone established in 2018 to accommodate adult listings as BP did back in the day. But unlike BP, it’s only available in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.

YB has a dating and relationships category but you’re more likely to find an escort than a date there. And besides job listings, trading, and other classified ads, there’s also a body rub section where you can find/post a full body massage ad. 

10. PennySaver – Best Website Like Backpage With Online Bargains

Pros

• Supports images and videos
• Reputable service provider
• Runs online and print ads
• Huge user base

Cons

• Only available in the US
• Not all ads have product photos

The PennySaver is America’s oldest classified newsletter that publishes user-friendly ads and discount coupons. They’ve earned a solid reputation as the best online bargain hub where you’ll find almost anything up for sale.

Thanks to its big client numbers, you can place your free ad on their online marketplace and have it seen across thousands of homes.

You can also upload a video of your product or service to accompany the image for a better view and description.

11. Want Ad Digest – Top Classifieds Backpages Site for Cars

Pros

• Wide user directory
• Efficient search filters
• Find cars for sale
• Free account set up

Cons

• Infested with Google ads 
• Only available in the US

Pricing

• Pre-paid – $10
• Monster – $25
• Tier 1 – $150

Want Ad Digest has been listing classified items for sale all around the US since 1962. The website is popular and has thousands of car selling/buying ads across various categories.

The search filters can be customized to fit price range, keywords, distance, or location, to help narrow your search. You can also list or search by the vehicle type or model you need.

To post an ad, you need to create an account, then pick any of the above premium ad plans depending on how long you intend your ad to run. The Prepaid will get you 15 days on 1 listing, Monster 35 days, while the Tier 1 will get you 30 days for a maximum of 8 listings.

12. Free Ads Time – Best E-Commerce Backpage Alternative

Pros

• Free service
• Available globally
• Easy communication
• Lots of active users

Cons

• No dating section
• Constant emails can be annoying 

As a Backpage alternative, Free Ads Time is present on different continents. Still, most of the classifieds it hosts are from the US.

Being one of the exclusive e-commerce Backpage alternative websites, you’ll find a range of products and services by skimming through the website. You can also use the search filters if you want something more specific.

Despite not having a section for dating life, the site is well configured, not too flashy, with just the basic requirements to meet your needs.

Other Backpage Alternatives Websites for Dating

13. Kasual (Formerly Yumi) – Best Anonymous Dating Profiles

Pros

• Free to sign up
• Unique matching system
• No bots
• Guaranteed anonymity

Cons

• Location sensitive to GPS
• No web version 

Yumi introduces you to a revolutionary way of meeting your next Ex online. Kasual (their re-branded app) puts more emphasis on casual dating and makes it easier to meet other singles in your locality.

They have a fun pairing system that lets you flip cards with someone else, and if they match, you can message each other.

Signing up requires fewer details, only your age, sexual preference, and gender identity. If you go anonymous, it means they won’t display your face or name without your approval.

The app also ensures to screen thoroughly for bots, which ruins the entire online experience.

14. Tinder – Most Popular Dating App Like Backpage

Pros

• On-the-go app available
• Free to use
• Easy to find dates
• Quality matching 

Cons

• Limited swipes for free users
• Success mostly depends on appearance

With 55 billion+ swipes on the world’s most popular dating site, Tinder is the new sea with seemingly endless fish.

This free dating app sets up your account via Facebook or Google, which is way faster if you ask me. Once you’re in, you need to upload your best photo for prospects to decide whether you match.

Swiping right on a profile means you think you might be compatible, while swiping left is a pass. You’ll be matched if a profile you liked also swipes right on you.

15. Plenty of Fish – Best Freemium Hookup Platform

Pros

• Trusted dating platform
• 90+ million users
• In-depth profiles
• Interest-based matching 

Cons

• Prone to ads
• No ID verification 

Price: $10/month 

POF has been bringing people together since the early 2000s. They are a free app with 90+ million registered users worldwide – meaning the odds are in your favor.

The app allows you to register and meet other singles around you after filling out an in-depth personality form. This advanced match-making system helps the system find suitable matches for you.

To get the most from POF, you need to go premium with their rates starting from $10 per month. 

16. HER – Top LGBTQ+ Friendly Dating App

Pros

• Free features
• LGBTQ+ friendly
• Strict sign-up process
• Free messaging 

Cons

• Occasional glitches
• Limited search features 

HER helps you meet one of the best lesbian communities in the online dating market. Here, you’ll meet lovely individuals like yourself and have an open space to connect, chat, hook up, and date.

The search filters let you select a sexual preference that matches what you’re looking for.

The icing on the cake? Its features are free. 

Yes. 

Add friends, start chats, and view events without tearing a hole through your pockets.

17. Alt – Find Kink Interests With This Backpage Alternative

Pros

• BDSM + other kinks
• Active users
• Free live cams
• Large user database

Cons

• Unreliable customer support 
• Lots of fake profiles

Alt members find pleasure in more exotic ways than the average sexual encounter. It caters to singles, couples, and groups with BDSM and other alternative fetishes.

To avoid spam/mismatches, we recommend you clear your intentions on your bio about ‘WHO’ or ‘WHAT’ you’re looking for from the get-go.

And apart from watching free cam shows, you can also take a purity test to show how ‘good’ or ‘bad’ you are and hang the scores on your profile for a ‘potential’ to weigh.

18. Feeld – Best Backpages Alternative for Poly Dating App

Pros

• For singles and groups
• Group chat features 
• Mostly millennials (18-32 years old)
• Inclusive of various sexual orientations

Cons

• Lacks desktop version 
• Restricted photo sharing 

Unlike traditional dating sites, Feeld lets you explore your kinks by finding people who share your passions – in groups!

Looking for the perfect swinger site like Backpage?

This gender-inclusive dating app caters to singles, couples, and groups interested in casual hookups, polyamory, and swinging.

And even better… It allows users to form a group chat to share ideas and more.

19. Hinge – Top Dating App Made for Committed Relationships

Pros 

• Daily matches by award-winning AI
• High success rate
• Rate your date
• Free app

Cons

• Pay for extra features 
• Relatively fewer users

Hinge prides itself as an app meant to be deleted after finding your better half online. Their data analysts used the best scientific hacks to produce award-winning algorithms that send you suitable matches daily.

This explains their tremendous success rate since most users leave the app happier than when they joined.

They also have a great Rate Your Date interaction feature that allows you to score your previous dates after a physical meet-up. This generally helps to keep everyone well-behaved on and off the platform. 

Touché. 

20. Zoosk – International Dating Platform

Pros

• Millions of users globally
• Translated into various languages
• Fast and easy sign-up
• App and website available 

Cons

• Not great for long-term engagements
• Only paid members send messages 

Zoosk is a massive dating pool of 35+ million members from 80 countries. It’s available in 25 languages to accommodate a majority of regions around the globe.

For $29.95, it makes a great dating companion for globetrotters who might not have time to first ‘sit down and chat’.

Zoosk’s user-friendly platform is available as an app and website making it easy to access via phone and PC.

21. SilverSingles – Best Backpage Alternative Website for Seniors

Pros

• Great for 50+ seniors
• Swipe matching
• Detailed user profiles
• Easy-to-navigate layout

Cons

• Must pay for mobile app
• Long sign-up process

Price: $27.95/month

This leading dating site is entirely dedicated to helping senior citizens find true love and companionship. It also uses the swipe style to match compatible users who mutually like each other.

If you’re 50+, joining this fun site will make you feel like you’re just starting your dating life.

Members must fill out a detailed questionnaire when signing up to help the algorithm pick users that fit their demographic.

22. Bumble – Top Dating App Tailored for Women

Pros

• Photo user verification 
• Classified ad service
• Free sign up
• Swipe matching

Cons

• Only female users message first
• Matches disappear after 24 hrs without contact 

Price

• Boost – $16.99/month
• Premium – $39.99/month
• Lifetime – $229.99

Like Backpage, Bumble isn’t just a dating app. Apart from hosting singles looking for their significant other(s), you can also advertise employment opportunities and connect to meaningful friendships.

It’s free to sign up and use, though you must go premium to unlock cool features such as unlimited swipes and likes.

The only catch is that only the female users in (heterosexual matches) can make the first move when matched successfully.

23. Fetlife – Backpage Alternative for Fantasy Encounters

Pros

• Free registration
• Fantasy-driven crowd
• Available in different languages
• Safe community 

Cons

• Oversold search filters 
• Limited free account

Fetlife is a new social media-like approach to dating among BDSM and kinky singles, couples, and groups. Its 8+ million users share pictures, videos, and conversations on the networking platform run by fellow kinksters.

This community of diverse individuals mainly hosts users between 25-34 years old and never has a dull moment.

Like on Backpage, you can boost your profile from as low as $5/month for a better chance of finding a match.

24. BeNaughty – Best Site Like Backpage for ONS 

Pros

• Free registration
• Higher f:m ratio
• Free features for females
• 500k+ active users

Cons

• Only available in English
• Many inactive accounts

BeNaughty boasts 500k+ users in the US, meaning you can net yourself a casual fling in no time.

Good news for males since there’s a higher female to male ratio thanks to the mostly free experience extended to female users on the site.

And as part of the registration process, BN requires you to verify your email to avoid bots on the site. This gives you a safe space to be as naughty as you want away from Santa’s field of view.

25. Reddit Swingers R4R – Top Free Swingers Dating

Pros

• 100% free
• Tons of users worldwide
• Available app and website versions 
• Real users

Cons

• Prone to catfishing
• Difficult to stand out

Reddit is the best Backpage alternative giving you a free slice of just about anything nice. Join millions of singles and swinger couples worldwide on the R4R subreddit, looking for casual, fun encounters with others.

Once you set up your free account, post your ad, including your location, photo, and who you are interested in meeting, and you’re good to go.

The app also lets users post NSFW media alongside the ads, so you get a better chance of getting a response once you post one up.

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Best Backpage Alternatives Websites – FAQs

Why Was Backpage Shut Down?

Backpage was shut down for promoting child sex trafficking, forced prostitution, and abuse of sex workers back in 2018. 

Later, the FBI seized all assets belonging to Backpage and charged one of its ex-owners with a 93-count indictment, including profiting from sexual services ads.

What’s The Best Alternative To Backpage For Dating?

The best alternatives to Backpage for dating are Ashley Madison and Adult Friend Finder.

These 3 top picks have proven their worth over the past decades and will give you the best online dating experience money can buy now.

Is It Safe To Use Backpage Classifieds & What Are the Downsides?

Using Backpage classifieds was mainly safe back in the days even for sex workers. 

But just like many online services, the downsides came when buyers and sellers started becoming aware of various traps set by scammers. 

For instance…

Some ‘sellers’ posted fake ads at unreasonably lower prices for buyers to take interest and then disappeared after you made payment.

Can I Use Backpage Alternatives for Free?

Yes, a few of the best Backpage alternatives offer you free services.

These include sites like AdultFriendFinder, AshleyMadison, Kijiji, Free Ads Time, and Reddit Personals R4R.

However, you’ll have to go premium to have a better taste of cake with AFF and AM. Their free plan is limited and doesn’t include many benefits like an advanced search engine, video chat, messages, etc.

Can I Use Backpage Replacement Sites As An Alternative To Craigslist Personals?

Yes, you can use Backpage replacement sites as Craigslist Personals alternatives. 

All the Backpage alternative websites mentioned above also offer services such as dating, job listings, and personal ads.

Why Do People Love To Use Backpage Alternatives?

People love using Backpage alternatives because these platforms’ adult/dating services are the most popular sections sought-after today.

These Backpage alternative websites are supplying a growing demand. Simple as that.

How Can I Get Started with Backpage Classifieds for Free?

You can get started with Backpage classifieds for free on sites like Craigslist, Gumtree, and Kijiji.

The first step would be setting up your profile with your personal info (including interests). Afterward, you may consider boosting your account with a premium subscription to get an edge over free users.

Best Backpage Alternatives – The Takeaway

I hope you now realize there’s no need to sulk over the closure of Backpage.

You can still find a cool fling on AdultFriendFinder or Ashley Madison. If you’re in business, your ads can still reach millions for free through some of the best Backpage alternative websites like Craigslist and Kijiji.

There’s no reason to remain single or have lots of junk in your garage that you can’t get rid of.

Best of luck…!

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