Hookup apps: how they work, what to look for and how to stay safe

What are hookup apps?

Hookup apps are dating apps and sites built for casual, no-strings meetups rather than long-term relationships. You make a profile, browse people nearby and chat before deciding whether to meet. If you are not sure what the word covers, our guide to hookup meaning sets it out.

Some are phone apps and some are websites that also work on a phone. Joydate runs in the browser on desktop and mobile, and in selected markets there are native apps too, so you can use whichever suits you.

How do hookup apps work?

A hookup app works in four steps: you build a profile, see who is nearby, chat and then meet. The details differ, but the pattern is the same almost everywhere.

1. Profile: a few photos, a short description and, on the better sites, a line about what you are after.
2. Browse or match: you scroll through members or get daily suggestions, with distance doing most of the filtering.
3. Chat: a few messages to find out whether you are on the same page about what and when.
4. Meet: a drink in a public place first, then whatever the two of you agree.

Free members on Joydate can browse, receive daily suggestions and send a limited number of messages each day, whereas VIP lifts the cap.

How are hookup apps different from other dating apps?

The difference is stated intent. On a general dating app, people want anything from marriage to a coffee, and you spend the first few messages finding out. A hookup app starts with everyone knowing the aim is casual, which makes it quicker to say what you want and easier to hear a no.

That clarity is the point of a casual dating site, and it is also why a good hookup site asks you to be plain on your profile.

What should you look for in a hookup app?

Look for six things before you sign up, and ignore the rest of the marketing. The checklist below puts them in one place.

• Stated intent: can members say what kind of casual they want?
• What is free: some features cost money, so find out which before you start.
• Real members: is there an ID check or a badge for people who have proved who they are?
• Privacy: what can others see, your first name, your town, your workplace?
• Renewal: do paid plans renew by themselves, and how do you stop one?
• Reporting: is there an easy way to report or block someone?

On Joydate, other members see a username and your town, the ID check is free, and the plans from a week to six months renew until you cancel while the twelve-month plan is paid once. Our cancel and billing guide explains how to stop a plan.

Are hookup apps free?

Many hookup apps are free to join and charge for extras such as unlimited messages or extra visibility. That is the usual model, so read what the free tier includes before you pay. On Joydate a Classic profile is free, and VIP, for unlimited messaging, is the paid step; the pricing page shows every plan.

How do you spot fake profiles and scams?

You spot a fake by what it asks of you. The US Federal Trade Commission lists the warning signs of a romance scam on dating apps: the person soon asks to move to email, calls or another app, says they cannot meet in person, asks for money for an urgent need and pushes you to pay by wire transfer, gift card, money transfer app or cryptocurrency.

Two checks help. Run a reverse image search on the profile photos, because a picture that appears under another name is a bad sign. And never send money or gifts to anyone you have not met, however good the story. Our guide to spotting a fake dating profile goes through the signs in more detail.

If something goes wrong, tell the app first, then report it to your country's fraud service. In the UK that is Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040, and in the US it is the FTC.

How do you stay safe when you meet someone from a hookup app?

You stay safe by controlling the first meeting. Meet somewhere public and busy, tell a friend where you are going, arrange your own way home and give out your address and workplace only once you trust the person. Our first date tips for a hookup and the safety page cover the details.

On health, the NHS advises not having sex, including oral sex, without a condom or dental dam until you have had a check-up or been tested. It adds that many STIs cause no symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to get tested, and that a clinic can usually see you without a GP referral.

What should you put on your profile?

Put what you want in plain words, with a few clear, recent photos; this is the part of any hookup app that does the most work. Say if you want a one-off, a regular arrangement or a friend with benefits, mention when you are free if it matters and leave out your surname, workplace and street. A profile that is honest about its aim attracts people who want the same, and it saves everyone a round of awkward messages.

Where can you try one?

You can try Joydate free of charge. Sign up, say what you want, look at members near you and send a few messages a day without paying. If you like it, VIP removes the daily cap; if not, you have lost nothing.