Finding a hookup is hard. Tinder and Bumble are the unspoken hookup apps, but swiping anywhere that's not LA or New York City results in way too much swiping on people you know IRL. And on a standard dating site, unless someone puts "only looking for friends with benefits" in their bio, it can be difficult to make sure that you're both on the same page.
A 2017 study by researchers at Stanford found that nearly 40% of American couples meet online — quite the surge from 0% in 1995 and 22% in 2009. It's easy to assume that, with traditional dating sites and apps like Tinder or Hinge gaining so much success, that online hookup sites would be just as sought after. However, AdultFriendFinder seems to be the only hookup site making money moves, and that raunchy, borderline porn setup is too much of a clusterfuck for a lot of people.
If you're open to suggestions past AdultFriendFinder, iHookup should be a contender.
Everyone is on it for the same reason: to hook up
Whether you're freshly out of a relationship and need to go a little wild, have pent up sexual energy, or are trying to come out of your comfort zone, iHookup could be a place you can go to find whatever type of sexual relationship you're looking for, whether that be a one-time booty call, friends with benefits situation, or some sexting. There's no room for confusion here.
The creators definitely weren't trying to be discreet with a name like iHookup. (For comparison, a name like AdultFriendFinder is hugely misleading.) This is something to keep in mind: If anyone finds your Google search history or app collection on your phone, they'll immediately know what you're up to. (At least it's not Milffuck.com or something.) But also, props to you for not even trying to hide it. Like hell yeah, I'm trying to get laid tonight.
Surprisingly, a name as explicit as "iHookup" doesn't land you on a page that'll get you fired if your boss sees it. You're greeted with a blurred picture of a (fully clothed) couple in the background and the slogan "Casual dating based on physical attraction" under the headline "Sparks fly."
iHookup's goal was clearly to set itself apart from competitors like AdultFriendFinder, which wastes no time telling users to "Join the World’s Largest Adult Dating and Hookup Site." Kudos for the subtly, I guess, but this is misleading. Once signed up, the home page says things like "Tinder for MILFs" or "Get your premium backdoor access" and other lovely things along those lines. Fortunately, these are really just ads and not actually a part of the site.
The matchmaking algorithm is based on your answers to questions about your sex life, including dirty talky and fetishes, as well as more vague terms like "erotica" and "desire." It's way too easy for people to lie about how "erotic" they are or exaggerate how kinky they are. Regardless of how well that actually finds you someone you'd sleep well with, let's not pretend like iHookup is doing anything to foster a genuinely passionate connection.
One tricky thing is that there are tabs across the top with things like "Cam girls" and "Live shows" that do look like they're part of iHookup's features — they're not. They'll take you do an external website, and it's definitely irritating that they try to hide that. (Really though, don't click on them.)
According to SimilarWeb's stats, iHookup gathers around 230,700 members per month and has seen a 43% increase in traffic over the past six months. The majority of visitors are in the United States, with the rest of the pie filled out by singles from the United Kingdom, India, and South Africa. For reference, iHookup's main competitor, AdultFriendFinder, sees around 25 million visitors per month — at this point, it's a nearly impossible gap to close.
Creating a profile simply takes basic info like your gender and which gender you're interested in (man and woman are the only options for both, just FYI), age, zip code, and what you're looking for on the site. Your options include casual encounters, friends with benefits, discreet romance, dating, online fun, or activity partners. (Not sure what the difference between a few of those is, but OK.)
Sign up, then go directly to the payment page
Hope you're not too fazed by the "hot MILFs in your area" vibes, because you'll have to fork over some coin if you want to do much of anything.
After you sign up, they send you straight to the payment options page and use pop-ups and redirects to make it difficult to navigate away. Being held hostage until you get your credit card out is a warning in itself, and we wouldn't blame you for clicking out immediately.
Hope you're not too fazed by the "hot MILFs in your area" vibes, because you'll have to fork over some coin if you want to do much of anything — including seeing messages. A year-long gold membership (to see everything the site has to offer) is $9.99/month, three months is $22.99/month, and one month is $34.99.
It seems extremely steep for a site like this, but they guarantee that if you don't get a hookup in your first three months, they'll give you three months for free.
This would have been one of those times when you actually read the fine print. A clause in the Terms and Conditions reads, in all caps: “IHOOKUP RESERVES THE RIGHT, AT ANY TIME, TO CHANGE ITS FEES AND BILLING METHODS, INCLUDING THE ADDITION OF SUPPLEMENTAL FEES OR SEPARATE CHARGES.”
So buyer beware.
'Not secure' is not a turn on
Many people's biggest fear of using a dating site is being scammed. It could be the type of scam where you send $80,000 to your Match.com bae after he lied about who he was online — or it could be the type of scam from within the website that puts your computer's security or your credit card info at risk. Unfortunately, iHookup raises a few eyebrows in both areas.
The first read flag: The infamous "Not secure" warning pops up in the address bar beside the URL. Officially, it means that the website doesn't use HTTPS encryption and doesn't have a security certificate issued by a legitimate certificate authority. Unofficially, it means that there's information sent or received on the site is unprotected and at risk for being read, modified, or stolen by hackers or simply anyone in your WiFi network or internet service provider. Eavesdropping on data flowing on any non-HTTPS connection (including HTTP) is just about as easy as eavesdropping on your next-door coworker's phone conversation.
Incognito mode won't cover your ass here, but there are a few tricks that can help keep your identity online more private: A VPN or a service like Tor lets you work on a randomly-selected server or IP address, making it nearly impossible for someone on the other end to know who's really on the site.
The second red flag: The Twitter account linked on iHookup's landing page hasn't been used since 2011. Two of their most recent tweets are about Steve Jobs dying and Kim Kardashian's divorce from Kris Humphries. It is hilarious.
In all seriousness, maybe it's a bit too millennial to expect every brand to have super active social media — but every single "user" on the landing page looks like they haven't grazed 35. No one cares if SilverSingles doesn't have a good follower ratio, but shouldn't a site marketing to young baddies be on top of that social media game?
The third red flag: The army of Sweethaarts. Keep an eye out for a little "SH" on your potential matches' profiles — they're everywhere, and they're fake accounts that iHookup uses to make the site look better. They could very well be the hottest person on the site, but they do not exist and you will not meet them in person. As long as the Sweethaart isn't asking you to send them money or something, it's technically harmless — just worrisome that a site needs to trick you into thinking people actually use it. Registering with your email on iHookup also signs you up for an inbox terrorized with PR updates from Sweethaarts.
Finding a match
After you're in, your home page will have a collage of matches like any other site. They're way tamer than what our poor eyes have seen in past experience with hookup sites, though: People's profile pictures are actually of their faces and not zoomed in photos of their nether regions! While the site and its ads are totally uncensored, members aren't inclined to use half-naked pictures as their profile pictures and will actually show you their face instead. You can tell that users are actually putting at least a slight bit of effort into making their profiles reflect their genuine personalities, and it makes the experience feel a bit more personal.
That said, it's definitely still an X-rated site for finding a sexting partner or booty call.
Cheesy dating sites have a tendency to throw clickables in your face: Notifications you didn't sign up for, calls to action in obnoxious fonts, and blinking naked parts everywhere. iHookup doesn't bombard you quite like that and the design is relatively simple. This "organization" is probably just due to the site's lack of features, but at least you won't fall down the rabbit hole of tabs.
In your "About me" section, you can specify your physical features, occupation, zodiac sign, whether you have pets, and more. You can also give more details about yourself and what you're looking for in a partner by typing in lengthier answers or checking off characteristics as a way for iHookup to give you better matches whom you have more in common with. (It's nowhere near as comprehensive as Match or OkCupid, but it's more actual matchmaking than AdultFriendFinder offers.) Having a profile spot dedicated to what you're looking for is great — you'll immediately get to see how far each user is willing to go, and intentions will no longer get mixed up.
One thing I want to stress is that vulgar ads are everywhere. I mean, the website is free to use, so they have to use a ton of ads to keep the place up and running. But couldn't they have found something a bit less risqué and more useful? Like an ad for condoms or pregnancy tests, perhaps?
The features get the job done, but there's not much to do
Though we can appreciate the simple layout, it's still basic as hell. A quick glance at the features listed across the top makes it clear that there aren't many things to do. Your matches will be in a collage on the home page, and depending on the distance limit you've set, there will probably be a lot. If you scroll, it'll keep giving you new matches until you reach the bottom of the page. And that's it. No second page to click on, nothing. The site literally has about two features aside from messaging (and it's not even instant message — it's emailing), making it easy to use but just as boring.
Before you even add a picture, the messages will come pouring into your inbox. (It's always confusing when someone wants to talk to you when your photo is the generic avatar, but we digress.) Adding a profile photo is a crucial step toward attracting legit users and finding a connection where both parties are attracted to each other.
If you're too nervous to message first, you can send a "flirt" to break the ice, which is iHookup's version of the Facebook poke.
Once you do click on a match, their profile will give you a ton of information about them (it's pretty in-depth for a hookup site). Answers to questions like what he or she is passionate about, how his or her friends would describe him or her, what he or she is looking for in a partner, and more are all displayed. iHookup will even give you a compatibility rating for "between the sheets" and "on the streets" based on how the both of you answered questions about what you like in bed, what fetishes or kinks may come up, if you're the dirty talker or more submissive, and more things of the like. They also estimate how well you two would get along "on the streets." We couldn't find any nitty-gritty info about the algorithm or how it comes up with these percentages, but it's a nice sentiment all the same.
It's basically a crappy version of Tinder, but it's nice that they have something to do besides plain messaging.
Don't be expecting to meet your future spouse or anything, but it's comforting to know more about a potential hookup besides how hot they are.
The one slightly "game-like" thing that they have that's not the traditional messaging with someone is the "Hookups" tab. Here, it shows you someone's profile picture and asks "Would you hook up with me?" It gives the member's dating preferences, tells you a bit about them, and then asks you to say yes, no, or skip — and the other person will be making that decision about your profile picture, too. It's basically a crappy version of Tinder and feels like high school, but it's there if the slow-paced inboxing has you down.
You can also use the search feature to find specific usernames or enter filters to find specific characteristics. But unless you set your filter preferences to something other than what you put in your main profile, the matches are likely to be the same.
The live videos part is where it gets into obnoxious porn territory. Similar to the way it shows you your matches, you'll be provided with a collage of profiles for people who are apparently also online and ready to video chat or have some cyber sex. These pictures and bios are significantly more explicit than matches on the home page — these people are not afraid to show you what they have goin' on. Let's just say your grandma would probably not approve.
One thing I did notice is that most of the pictures that aren't selfies look extremely posed, bordering on thirst trap territory. However, if you can get past how seriously ridiculous the entire setup is, the live video feature is actually great quality. Forget the grainy 1980s look of videos in the past — these puppies are high def, in your face, and you won't miss a single detail. AskMen's review calls the quality of the videos "well beyond standard," which are the exact words you want to hear if your primary goal on the site is to get excited without having to actually leave the house and meet someone. As you can assume, this is NSFW, or safe for anything besides basically chilling alone in a room. These HD videos are especially handy if you've found someone you like who's too far away. This is closest thing you'll get to being in person.
The downsides
No matter how much iHookup tries to emphasize ~passionate~ connections with an erotic questionnaire, the amount of users who can comfortably get past the fraudulent energy of the site are slim to none. It's probably why AdultFriendFinder's user base dwarves that of iHookup, and why iHookup is trying to lure people in with "fantasy profiles." The fact that they want you to pay for this mediocre experience is almost laughable — especially when the "Not secure" browser could be a virtual robbery waiting to happen. Beyondages, one of the only other sites we could find that has reviewed iHookup, asserted that 90% of the site is adult advertising.
Here's a worrisome excerpt from that review:
"I began to wonder if there were, in fact, any real people on this site at all. I began doing searches on the members. A ton of profiles would appear in the results, but there was never a member count (which is always a red flag for scam sites). The pictures seemed legit in many cases, but most of the profiles were not filled out at all. Given what the user agreement said, I figure these could be photos that people made on other dating sites that were then transferred to make fake accounts. Either way, they didn’t seem like real people made them."
Depending how far you allow your distance limit to be, meeting some decent people is technically possible — they may be a ton of miles away, though, so sexting or video chats might have to suffice. You'll be less lucky if you're looking for real in-person sex without having to travel, as the likelihood of having a robust selection of matches in your area is probably low, especially if you don't live in a big city. There's also no instant messaging function (just old-fashioned email type things) which nixes the opportunity for quick, back-and-forth banter.
The website is more of a Facebook for horny people than an all-encompassing hookup site.
The website is more of a Facebook for horny people than it is an all-encompassing hookup site. Don't get me wrong, the unique profile compatibility ratings and HD webcams are great — but other than that, there's not much stimulating stuff you can do without clicking a virus-ridden ad and leaving the site, and that's just not fulfilling. I would say minimalistic, but it's not exactly the aesthetically-pleasing kind of minimalistic. It looks like it was thrown together on Squarespace during a half-assed high school project. It's like if Plenty of Fish, a middle-of-the-line dating site in desperate need of an update, had a fling with Pornhub.
(But remember, the aggressive ads with boobs everywhere are not exclusive to iHookup — those are pretty much a given on any site made specifically to have sex, so don't judge too harshly. You knew this was coming.)
Bad for: People who bore easily or are sketched out easily
Most of the stuff that you can click on comes in the form of obnoxious ads that, in my opinion, down the site's legitimacy by a long shot. The (naked) people in the ads' GIFs are obviously saying extremely vulgar stuff, but it feels like what they're really saying is "I'm going to destroy your computer with viruses." That just isn't stuff people want to see, and it seriously interferes with the user experience when they're covering up other features on the site. It genuinely feels like a shirtless girl is following you around, and it's scary. I couldn't get past it, and I would 100% not be surprised if people came to the website, signed up, saw the ads, and got the hell out of there.
It's a bummer for people looking for a full-blown erotic user experience.
iHookup lacks the features that would make users want to spend a lot of time on the site. Unlike other dating apps (especially its main competitor AdultFriendFinder), which offer playful ice breakers, filters based on hobbies, "recommended for you" sections, and more to get you in touch with as many people as possible, iHookup kind of just gives you these profile pictures and leaves the kids to play. Everything about it is just plain, from the design layout to the number of clickable things that can be used to entertain or interact with others. There is no chat room, no games, no contests, and no fun ways to earn points like other sites offer. How is anyone expected to stay on the site for longer than five minutes?
Sure, the live video section is lit, and I guess the "Hot singles in your area" ads could be hot (if you get turned on by scams) but those are external ads and will take you elsewhere — and we can't promise that the site they land on won't be sketchy and virus ridden. This is kind of a bummer for people looking to really blow off some steam and for a full-blown erotic user experience.
Good for: Non-paranoid people looking for a straightforward hookup
Not everyone gives a shit about aesthetics, though — and when you're in the mood, you probably aren't tripped up by ads with boobs everywhere. (It's nothing we've never seen before, right?) If you're not one to get worried easily, your patience while navigating the site could land you a real booty call.
If all you need is a good round of sexting or some spicy HD videos to get off, iHookup could be more than enough for your needs. They're high def and come in ton of categories, and it's always nice to have a bit more of a personal touch than porn. You may never actually meet up with these people in real life, but at least you know that there's someone ready to throw around peach and eggplant emojis every time you log on.
And maybe there's an upside to iHookup's lack of features and lukewarm stimulation: Most members actually put time into their bios, answer questions thoughtfully, and put their face as their profile picture. (Good sexual chemistry is about more than just looks, after all.) It almost gives the feeling that iHookup members take things a little more seriously than a super raunchy site. The quieter approach may actually be appealing to some users who need time to breathe between the steam.
The alternatives
The internet is full of sites meant to help individuals find quick sexual partners, and we're sure most of them work just fine — but with names like FreeSnapMilfs.com, Fuckswipe.com, and Instabang.com (and home pages that make strip clubs look like convents), it's not surprising that it's hard for them to gain traction anywhere. Suddenly, iHookup being in your search history doesn't sound so bad.
But one main player stays the site to beat: AdultFriendFinder is the archetype for raunchy hookup sites. Its leg up lies in its vast selection of interactive features like user videos, kink-specific chat rooms and groups, sex education, contests, and more. It's nearly impossible to get bored and there's almost no way you won't find something that wets your appetite. However, iHookup is tamer and causes less sensory overload, and users who just aren't keen on sites that look like strip club billboards might find iHookup much more manageable.
Beyondages, one of the only other sites that has done a review on iHookup, did a direct comparison to AdultFriendFinder on features, quality of users, privacy and safety, and more:
That's more of a slaughter than the Battle of the Bastards episode in Game of Thrones. AdultFriendFinder won by a landslide in every category, and the writer couldn't find a single positive thing to say about iHookup. Yikes.
The final verdict
iHookup was made to be a straightforward place for horny singles to meet other horny singles, but it's in desperate need of an update and better security measures, thus making it a difficult dating site to trust. If you can ignore the obnoxious ads popping up every second (and don't care that you're on a site that even needs to use those), you may just find a kindred spirit who wants to blow off steam with you.
Such a limited user base means that the chances of meeting someone (let alone multiple people) who are 1. real and 2. in a close enough proximity to come over just aren't what they are on AdultFriendFinder. Sexting may be as far as you get here, but it's a judgement-free zone where you can be unapologetically DTF.
The site continues to grow its traffic month over month and has major potential if it would work on getting some legit users. But until it gets its act together, iHookup is a sad combination of lifeless and vulgar that paying for is hard to justify.
If it sounds up your alley, you can register here — just use a VPN while doing so.
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