You've probably heard of Backpage, a website where you can find ads for almost anything you can think of. That's because it made national headlines a few years ago when some unsavoury characters were using it for dubious purposes. Having said that, many people used Backpage legitimately, such as buying and selling regular goods, as you can on popular sites like OfferUp.
While Craigslist is a viable (and popular) alternative to Backpage, it no longer includes personal ads. So keep reading to find out more about twenty of the best Backpage alternatives. We'll start with Backpage alternatives for meeting people for casual dating or hookups (like Tinder), and then move on to alternatives for buying and selling goods.
1.) Tinder
This one doesn't really need an introduction because everyone and their mother has heard of Tinder. It has gone global and is now the world's most popular dating app in terms of registered accounts, owing largely to its popularity among millennials and Generation Z. Tinder, for those who are unfamiliar, is a simple app. You see random profiles in your area, each with a photo and a few lines of text. You then swipe right if you're interested, or left if you're not. Then you'll be matched with people who swiped right on your profile and also swiped right on yours. You can then begin messaging and progress from there. As with the other sites, there is a free version as well as a paid version.
2.) Ashley Madison
You've probably seen Ashley Madison advertisements on *ahem* those websites. This is because the purpose of this website is to connect adults looking for casual hookups. Ashley Madison has a significant advantage in that it places a high value on discretion. If you decide to become a paying member, for example, your credit card statement will simply say "Online services." And you'll probably want to do so if you want to take advantage of everything this website has to offer, including features like "Traveling Man," which allows you to contact people in the area you'll be visiting soon. See our full Ashley Madison review.
5.) Plenty of Fish
Plenty of Fish, or POF, refers to the old dating adage that there are "plenty of fish in the sea"—in other words, don't worry about being single or being dumped because there are plenty of other people out there (billions, in fact). POF can be used as a website or app, which is convenient. It's a typical dating site where you're matched with people based on common interests. They also have a nice video-date feature that may make you feel more comfortable (especially women) meeting someone after seeing them on video first.
7.) Bedpage
Bedpage is another Backpage substitute. Although it has many different categories, those looking for a Backpage alternative may be most interested in the "Dating" and "Adult" categories. However, you should proceed with caution when using this site, as there are no doubt many people attempting to use it to scam people and/or conduct illegal activities.
11.) eBackpage
