Legitimate Sites Like Backpage Rated and Reviewed

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Legitimate Sites Like Backpage Rated and Reviewed

Best Backpage alternatives to use in 2023 for hookups and classifieds

AuthorReviewed by ✅
Alexis Hall
Adult Lifestyle Writer

Alexis Hall is an adult lifestyle writer specialising in sex-positive content, covering topics like dating, sexual wellness, and online adult platforms. Alexis aims to break taboos and celebrate the diversity of human intimacy, promoting open, judgment-free conversations.
James Davidson
Editor in Chief/Founder, We Heart

James Davidson is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of We Heart, a leading lifestyle platform he has helmed for nearly 17 years. He has collaborated with top brands such as Audi, Veuve Clicquot, Samsung, and Google. Under his guidance, We Heart has grown from a niche magazine to a widely respected authority on all areas of lifestyle. With a background as a freelance travel writer, James brings a wealth of experience to his editorial work.
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Editorial Note: This post contains affiliate links. While We Heart may earn a commission from selected partner links on the website, this does not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. All posts are reviewed by editors prior to publication to ensure quality and integrity.

Backpage classified ads were the real deal back in the day for trading, job posts and getting laid. But now that Backpage is no longer, we set out to find the top Backpage alternatives.

To replace all the good things that Backpage offered, we gathered up our favourite Backpage alternatives in 2023 where you can list classified ads, trade or even find a date.

Who knows, those Backpage memories may not matter anymore after familiarising yourself with the Backpage alternative websites on our list.

First Look — Backpage Alternatives Websites Reviewed

Seeking – Best Backpage alternative overall
AdultFriendFinder – Backpage alternatives for casual hookups
Ashley Madison – Top Backpage replacement for dating
Craigslist – Top alternative for Backpage classifieds
Gumtree – Backpage alternatives for personal ads
Kijiji – Backpage for Canadians
Geebo – Backpage alternatives for job classifieds
Bedpage – Most organized alternative to Backpage
Hoobly – Best Backpage alternative for professionals
Yes Backpage – Backpage alternative, most identical to Backpage

Best Backpage Alternatives for Hookups and Classifieds, Reviewed

1. Seeking – Best Backpage Alternative Site Overall

Seeking

Pros

– Very strict privacy
– Wealthy and beautiful sugar babies
– Free sign up for women
– Less catfishing

Cons

– Males have to pay
– Some companions may be too expensive

Pricing

– $99.99 per month – Premium
– $249.99 per month – Diamond

Seeking has simply revolutionised the professional wealthy dating category with its stellar website and numerous positive results. The site has gained lots of traction over the years and is currently operating in some 238+ countries worldwide.

If you’re looking for a secure, highly-rated Backpage for alternative for dates with well-off, mature men, then you’ll hit jackpot with Seeking. There are definitely more women than men here (free signups for the ladies and all), so the competition is on the former.

Regular ID checks help confirm users’ identities and income, protecting you from time wasters and creeps.

You can also customise search filters so you can use the same parameters next time you match-hunt. Set your filters according to age, gender, sexual orientation, tastes, education, profession, and locations that you’re most interested in.

Moving around is easy and simple as the website has important features like search, chat, and blog (for catching up with trends) only a click away from your dashboard.

Sure, some of the prices you have to pay to get the services of some ladies might be quite steep. But at least you rest assured knowing that these ladies are some of the best at what they do. That’s the real value…

2. AdultFriendFinder – Top Backpage Alternatives for Hookups

AdultFriendFinder

Pros

– Very wide pool of users
– LGBTQ+ friendly
– Highly active community
– Best for casual rodeos

Cons

– Some fake profiles present
– Free plan isn’t great

Pricing

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

Adult Friend Finder is the ultimate sage when it comes to temporary hookups. Finding an open, fun-loving mate here who’s in just for the thrill and good times is as easy as ripping open your favorite pack of Cheetos.

Currently, the platform enjoys an almost balanced ratio of males to females. Registration is a breeze and won’t cost you a dime regardless who you are. For exciting perks like unlimited messaging and video chatting, you will have to upgrade, though.

Now, since AFF has one of the largest memberships in the industry, you’ll definitely find their filters very useful. Like Seeking, this top alternative like Backpage also allows you to search through the millions of profiles by location, age, attractiveness, and kinks they are into.

What also gives this site colour and glam is its active community of enthusiastic folks who participate in media galleries, the site’s magazine and blog section, etc.

Let’s just say it’s a certain dynamic that doesn’t exist elsewhere.

Adult Friend Finder does not have a stringent user verification policy, unfortunately, and this has given way to some sleazy people setting up fake profiles on the platform. Consider this a disclaimer, but the problem isn’t big enough to turn you away.

We laud the site for giving former Backpage fans a great alternative where they can go shake up some casual encounters.

Visit AFF, the Backpage alternatives where casual dates meet adult super store

Related reading: Best OnlyFans girls

3. Ashley Madison – Backpage Alternative for Discreet Dates

Ashley Madison

Pros

– Best for discreet dates
– More females than males
– Women chat for free
– Blur your photos

Cons

– Free plan is very restricted
– Men must pay to use the chat feature

Pricing

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

AM is a reputable dating site like Backpage where droves throng to find serious or casual dates also. Many of its faithful users have referred to it as that one forbidden fruit that your soul can’t get enough of. By that we mean, the site is geared towards cheating.

Like other Backpage alternatives, they have millions of active users who are either single and want in on the piece of dating action or married but want to experience a new flame in their lives. AM offers free chat to all women while men have to pay up for the same thing.

Sorry, guys.

This site also runs a superb privacy feature that lets you hide your identity by blurring your photos or using face masks to masquerade while browsing on the platform. It’s super helpful if you want to stay off the public’s radar and still be able to stalk your crushes on the site.

You can also make anonymous payments when subscribing to AM’s services and dodge having to explain the charge. Talk about staying undercover. That’s a major improvement on Backpage’s model and gives you a better sense of security within and outside the app.

Sign up on Ashley Madison now for the best Backpage alternative website

4. Craigslist – Best Backpage Classifieds Alternative

Craigslist

Pros

– Post free classifieds
– Same features as in Backpage
– Large user database
– Quick ad responses

Cons

– Lots of fake ads
– Works best within the United States

Pricing

– Free to use!

If you’re an old-timer, then you’ll agree when I say that Craigslist is probably the only surviving son of a gun from back in the days that used to give Backpage a run for its money. This site is still going strong and provides free classified ads for all the various categories.

Well, they may have had to remove Craigslist’s section for personal ads – for obvious reasons – but that has not stopped people from using the site.

You might run across a few spams here and there, but once you get the hang of things, you’ll be able to smell the bothers from miles away. The good news is that their classified ads section is basically a free-for-all, where you can list job postings or other categories.

5. Gumtree – Popular Site Like Backpage for Personal Ads

Gumtree

Pros

– Separate e-commerce section
– Free basic account
– Easy to use website
– Boost your ads

Cons

– Not great for dating
– Has several scammers

Pricing

– Basic – 100% Free!
– Premium upgrades – $9 to $50 per ad

Gumtree was first introduced in 2000 and founded by Michael Pennington and Simon Crookal to help people find work and a place to stay in London. Fast track 5 years from its inception and the company was surprisingly bought by eBay in a move that no one saw coming.

This site is one of UK’s largest hubs for classified ads with over 16 million visits per month.
You can upload up to nine photos per ad for free when making a post on the site. However, linking your website to the ad may cost extra.

You can sell anything ranging from cars and household items to real estate listings, and much more! The site also promotes face-to-face transactions and I think this is a huge save on processing fees. Given that, Gumtree isn’t the best place to look for dates.

6. Kijiji – Best Canadian Backpage Alternative

Kijiji

Kijiji is the best version of Backpage that exclusively operates in Canada and is just doing wonders for the residents. You’d be so jealous to see how smoothly it runs without the chronic scammers that scourged Backpage.

This site is still flying high with its diverse sections that let you post stuff under pretty much every category. Do you want to sell or buy products? Posting or looking for a job? They’ve got you.

You can even post ads on dating and relationships and still have a fat chance of scoring.
Just ensure that you frequently boost your posts to make your ads stand out from the rest.

7. Geebo – Top-Ranking Backpage Alternative for Job Classifieds

Geebo

Geebo is one of the best alternatives for job classifieds that you’ll find in the market.
Once you get on board this wagon, you’ll realise that it’s more of a community that’s either looking for or offering job opportunities to other people on the platform.

It’s work, work, and more work all the way.

Apart from that, there are also many people around who are either buying or selling cars, gadgets, and other properties. This gives you a load of other sections to explore if you want to venture onto another path altogether.

8. Bedpage – Most Organized Site Like Backpage

Bedpage

Bedpage is the closest website like Backpage that you are going to get at the moment. To top it off, it’s super easy to use.

Like Backpage, you can check out classifieds depending on the state or region you’re most interested in. They neatly lay out the sections so whether it’s a job, e-commerce or house hunting, you’ll never miss your step.

To be honest, talking about Bedpage does not do it enough justice. You just have to try it out to catch my drift.

9. Hoobly – New Backpage Equivalent for Service Professionals

Hoobly

Hoobly is also a favourite for posting items for sale. However, for you to send or receive messages, you have to verify your email account first. The site thrives primarily as a hotspot for businesses and individuals to market and scout for services they need.

You can also conduct your search through the 10+ categories based on your current location to get the most relevant ad results. Getting the hang of all the filters at first may make the search more tedious if you’re targeting a very specific ad, though.

What brings the sun to this substitute for Backpage is the fact that there are very few cases of fraud and fake accounts.

10. Yes Backpage – Twin Backpage Replacement

Yes Backpage

This site has its design and services laid out like the original BP in its glory days. However, YB has one-upped its predecessor by including and maintaining a dating section where anyone can put up their dating and hookup ads.

YesBackpage also has other categories dedicated to trading, job listings, and so on. To show that they mean business, YB supports classifieds from additional countries like Australia and the UK. This offers you a broader audience than you can target with your classified ads.

11. Penny Saver – Best Website Like Backpage for Bargains

“Going once… twice… sold!” – and that is what you’ll remember about PennySaver.

This classified ads site has proved that it’s cut from a different cloth with its unique bargains section called Penny Saver. It’s like a virtual thrift market where everything’s on sale and you can easily dispose of stuff that you don’t use anymore.

Of course, there are also sections for job listings and other services, but nothing comes close to the frenzy that goes down here.

What about dating? Well, if you present an offer that no one can refuse, you may bag a few hookups or dates here and there, though it can be an uphill task.

12. Want Ad Digest – Best Backpage Alternative for Cars

Want Ad is a leading alternative that runs like a mega online car sale service. The site is a veteran in dealing with anything having wheels and that burns asphalt.

Whether you want to sell your car, truck, or that old dirt bike that never leaves your garage, just list it up and watch people scramble for it. This website also lets you sell puppies and features unique sections like equipment where you can buy or sell building materials, generators, etc.

13. Free Ads Time – E-Commerce Site Like Backpage

Free Ads Time is, like the name suggests, free to use and a very laid-back alternative to consider. The site comes with a very simple interface and organised classifieds section.

You’ll also find other sections for businesses to promote themselves and a products area to buy/sell random stuff. Free Ads Time made the best e-commerce site because they don’t accommodate a dating section for finding love or hookup matches.

14. Yumi – New Backpage Equivalent for Random Dating

Yumi came to revive that cheeky grin you had on your face while chatting up random strangers from Backpage. You know what I am talking about.

The platform prides itself in giving its members a wild roller coaster ride around town. It’s more like an online space for speed dating – you don’t stick long with the same person. The best thing is that it’s also available as an app for both iOS and Android users.

So, there’s no stopping this party bus any time soon.

15. Tinder – Most Popular Dating App Similar to Backpage

Tinder is an exceptional Backpage alternative app that still woos new users from far and wide. It is the in-thing right now in the dating scene and is responsible for creating the now-ingenious swiping mechanism.

Just like Backpage, Tinder has a chat feature where you can interact with a potential date online, whether you’re chatting it up or sending pictures and videos online. You can opt for a premium subscription if you want perks like unlimited swipes but the free plan is still a blast.

Sites Like Backpage Runner-Ups

16. Plenty of Fish

Plenty Of Fish has been around since 2003 and has about 150 million+ members to date. They support NSA connections, one-night-stands, and tons of other casual stints.

Perhaps the most popular feature at POF is the “video date” which lets you hold virtual dates with your potential match.

You’ll also enjoy its polished matchmaker that pairs you with users who have the same interests as you. Their algorithm achieves this by analysing your responses to a questionnaire you’re given during registration.

17. HER

If you didn’t have much success finding lesbian hookups on Backpage, then HER has y’all covered. It is the most-dedicated dating site for Lesbian hookups and relationships.

The best part is that they offer free registration and messaging to every member. This enhances the site’s overall activity and gives you an easy time weighing the other person.

One bummer is that they don’t have a search tool to help you skim through the profiles.
On the brighter side though, you don’t have to worry about scammers that much as they have a very strict sign-up process that weeds out jokers.

18. Alt

If you’re looking for a Backpage replacement with a generous amount of kink, then this is it.

It has a vast and wild community that’s open to pretty much any fetish you can think of. This includes BDSM, role play, MILF & DILF escapades, among many things. If you shied from revealing your darkest desires on Backpage, then you can let loose at ALT.

19. Feeld

Feeld is the best alternative website for Backpage if you’re looking for a place to explore the swinging lifestyle. It has one of the most receptive communities where everyone is encouraged to be themselves and pursue what makes them happy without fear.

What won it for us here is that you can register your profile as a couple seeking a third party in your relationship. You can also register as a single looking for other swingers or just fellow singles.

20. Hinge

Hinge is an amazing dating replacement for Backpage that’s exclusively available as an app. It’s designed with smartphone users in mind, mainly millennials from 18 to 32 years old.

It has a fun “rate your date” feature that allows you to score your date after a meetup. I’d say it’s a pretty useful tool for keeping people well-behaved during physical meetings. Once you find your dream match, you can delete your profile and/or set it up again with ease.

21. Zoosk

Zoosk is also popular around the globe as it runs in 80 different countries and serves about 35 million+ members. It’s an ideal dating platform for globetrotters as it exposes you to lots of diverse cultures in the world.

Their SmartPick function will study your behaviour around its platform so that it only pairs you with a most likely match. It might sound creepy but there is some intelligence to it, so there.

22. SilverSingles

SilverSingles is the best dating site apart from Backpage that helps older people find love within their age group and also offers a decent dating platform for seniors.

This site recommends matches for you based on your age, location, and other preferences that you may have included in your profile bio. The only catch is that you have to upgrade to a premium plan to get access to the mobile app.

23. Bumble

Bumble is all about girl power and gives women the upper hand in every interaction within the website. When using this site, men can only message a lady if she initiates the chat first.

That saves you from a lot of spam and freaks that lurk around other sites. Oh! Did I mention that you can Backtrack a like if you did it by mistake? Thought you should know.

24. FetLife

FetLife is a dating site like Backpage that’s mainly geared towards fantasy encounters and an all-out bedroom experience. The site has 8 million+ members mostly aged between 25 and 34 years who’re mainly there for kinky stints with like-minded members.

To stand out from the rest, you must consider boosting your profile although that’s only available for members on any of the premium plans starting from $5/month.

25. BeNaughty

BeNaughty offers users a unique platform for people to just meet and have ONS moments without doing 21 questions. They have a gallery where guys publicly upload their slickest photos and wait to see who’ll catch the bait.

It’s pretty rad once you see it in action. This site also has high-quality profiles on board thanks to its rigorous sign-up process for new users.

26. Reddit Swingers R4R

This forum operates just like Backpage and gives you access to ALL of its perks for free. You can send and receive text and multimedia messages with anyone at no extra charge, a standout feature compared to the top swinger sites around.

Standing out is a challenge but you can better your chances by actively participating on the site and being helpful to other members’ queries. What are you waiting for?

Best Backpage Alternatives Websites FAQs

Why Was Backpage Shut Down?

Backpage was shut down by the U.S. government in 2018 for promoting forced prostitution and child sex trafficking among their sex workers membership. Ultimately, an ex-owner was charged with 93 counts among them, “directly profiting from sexual services ads” run on the website.

What’s The Best Alternative to Backpage for Dating?

The best alternative to Backpage for dating is Adult Friend Finder. Ashley Madison and Seeking are also great alternatives that offer users great privacy and security features.

Do Backpage Alternatives Have Free Classified Ads?

Yes, some of the best Backpage alternatives have free classified ads including Reddit Swingers R4R and Kijiji.

You can also register on sites like AdultFriendFinder and Ashley Madison and use their free plan which is normally very limited. You’ll need to go premium to get the best experience and enjoy features like video chat, messages, and adless browsing.

Can I Use Backpage Replacement Websites as an Alternative To Craigslist Personals?

Yes, you can use Backpage replacement websites as an alternative to Craigslist personals.

All the Backpage alternatives mentioned above either specialise in casual dating or promoting personal classifieds offering jobs and other services.

Why Do People Love To Use Backpage Alternatives?

People love using Backpage alternatives because classified ad services and adult and dating services are the most popular sections today. There’s a high demand that’s also met by a high supply from the various sites we’ve listed here today. This makes everyone happy.

How Can I Get Started With Backpage Alternatives for Dating?

You can get started with Backpage alternatives for dating by registering and setting up a profile with the site of your choice.

Afterward, you must fill in all your personal details and share your interests to get suitable matches. Also, you should be ready to upgrade to a paid package if you want to get an all-around experience from some of the Backpage alternative sites.

Best Backpage Alternative Websites – The Takeaway

Finding the best Backpage alternative depends on the types of classifieds that you’re after.
Are you looking for casual dating options or are you simply after posting classified ads for trade online?

For a highly-rated Backpage alternative that offers elegant dating options, then Seeking will blow your mind. Otherwise, for classifieds, go for Craigslist or Gumtree.

Whether you want to buy, sell or date, these sites like Backpage make it all the easier.

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Editor's Note: We believe that sexual expression should be celebrated, not stigmatized. We proudly support creators who embrace this ethos, regardless of their age, sexuality, orientation, or preferences. Our aim is to champion the freedom of the body and the power of authentic expression, empowering individuals to explore and share their identities without fear of judgment. We celebrate all forms of consensual adult content creation as an essential part of human freedom and creativity.

Lisa Davidson
Co-owner and co-Editor in Chief, We Heart.