Hookup apps
Hookup apps are dating apps whose own wording points at casual meetups, and of the five named here only HUD puts "Hookup App" in its Google Play title.
At a glance
- HUD is the one app named here with "Hookup App" in its Google Play title ("HUD Hookup App: Dating & Chat"). Feeld's FAQ declines the label, and the Pure, Grindr and Tinder pages checked do not claim it.
- Tinder, Feeld and Grindr list free chat or messaging. Pure has no standard free tier, and HUD's pages do not say whether two free members can message.
- All five set 18 as the minimum age in their terms.
- Google Play download counts run from 500K+ for HUD to 500M+ for Tinder.
What counts as a hookup app
A hookup app is a dating app that says, in its own words, that casual meetups are the point. The wording is the test, because few apps claim the label. HUD does: its Google Play title is "HUD Hookup App: Dating & Chat", and its App Store listing calls it a casual dating app. Feeld has an FAQ entry headed "Is Feeld a hookup app?" and declines the label. The word is missing from Pure's store listings, FAQ and safety page, although the FAQ describes a place to "date, play and misbehave". Grindr's listings, homepage and community guidelines do not use it either, and Tinder's store listings neither position the app as one nor rule it out.
Hookup apps is mostly a search term, and the apps seldom use it about themselves. Casual sex apps, sex apps and one night stand apps sit next to it, and the narrower ones have their own pages: best sex apps and same-day meetup apps. The ranked list is on our hookup app picks.
How hookup apps differ from dating apps
The entry rules match. All five apps set 18 as the minimum age in their terms, and all five show people by location. What differs is the route from a profile to a conversation.
Tinder says "You can only match and chat when both people are interested." Feeld uses the same mutual-Like rule to create a Connection, and a Ping lets you message someone before you match. Grindr shows a grid of nearby profiles that you browse and message directly. On Pure you cannot see anyone's ad until you publish your own: "To see ads from other Pure members, you need to publish your own ad first." HUD builds a feed of recommended matches and shows My Bedroom preferences (into, open to, not into) before you match.
Three of the five put stated intent on the profile before the first message: HUD's preferences, Feeld's Desires and Pure's Turn-ons. The mechanics are laid out in the mechanics of hookup apps, and how to write a hookup profile covers the profile side.
Four groups of hookup apps
HUD and Pure: casual intent in the app's words
HUD has the most direct wording of the five. A free account is a Basic Membership with a minimal level of features, and neither the terms nor the store listings say whether two Basic members can exchange messages. Pure asks you to publish your own ad before you see anyone else's and requires a subscription to use the app, with occasional free trials. Its Incognito mode hides your online presence. Apps built around staying anonymous are collected under anonymous hookup apps.
Feeld: sexuality and linked partners
Feeld takes in singles, couples and polyamorous groups, and couples can link profiles. Its Looking for options include "Casual play and fun" and "Short-term connections", and the About page runs "From asexuality to polysexuality, from celibacy to BDSM". Feeld says it will never rank profiles. Couples and open relationships have their own pages: apps for couples and threesomes and apps for ethical non-monogamy.
Tinder: a large pool and a mixed purpose
Google Play lists 500M+ downloads for Tinder, and its App Store listing appears in all 45 storefronts checked. The download figure says nothing about how many accounts are active. Google Play says Tinder helps you "find a date, a serious relationship, or meet new friends", so the purpose is mixed. Tinder.com is part of the service under its Terms of Use. Mainstream apps of this kind are gathered under where to start with dating apps.
Grindr: one audience, a grid of nearby profiles
Grindr's store listings address gay, bi, trans and queer adults. A free account shows nearby users, chat, private photos and albums, tags and basic filters, with third-party ads. The terms say "We do not verify users." The wider field for LGBTQ adults is under Apps built for LGBTQ+ users.
What costs money and what stays private
The lowest listed prices on the US App Store are USD 9.99 for Tinder Plus, USD 12.99 for a HUD Basic Package, USD 14.99 for Grindr XTRA, USD 8.99 for a Pure App Membership and USD 29.99 for a 30-day Feeld Subscription. Only the Feeld row states its period, so the five figures do not line up month for month. Google Play and web prices are not covered here; prices across more apps are under dating app subscription prices.
Incognito mode is named by Tinder on Google Play, by Feeld (it hides your profile in the feed until you Like someone, and sits under the paid Majestic Membership), by Pure, and by Grindr (listed under Grindr Unlimited). HUD's pages describe no incognito feature. Verification varies: Tinder names Photo Verification, Feeld calls photo verification optional, HUD lists Live Video Verification, and Pure's optional Photo Verification badge takes under 30 seconds and needs no ID. The feature pages for incognito mode and how apps verify profiles list the apps behind each one, and our safety guide and how to spot a fake profile cover the risks around meeting strangers.
Where to go next
Free access has its own page in hookup apps that are free to start, and dating sites in a browser covers browser use: the pages checked confirm a web version for Tinder, Pure and Grindr and do not confirm one for Feeld or HUD. Readers who want a date before anything else will find casual dating closer to the question.