Best sexting apps in 2023 (UK)

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

In a world where online dating and casual hookups have become the norm, dating can still feel exhausting. Sometimes, just the thought of putting on real clothes, coming up with witty conversation starters, and commuting to the actual meetup spot can be tiring. No matter what kind of encounter you plan, when it comes to dating, there'll always be some sort of physical effort required.

The good news? There is a loophole: Sexting.

What is sexting?

Sexting is the art of sending sexually explicit photos or messages to one or more people via text. Thanks to its recent rise in popularity(opens in a new tab), there are now apps for sexting and new sexting features in apps that are otherwise for dating in person.

What should you know about sexting?

Whether you're interested in giving sexting a try or you're a seasoned pro, there are a few things to keep in mind when downloading and using a new dating app to sext. Sure, there are fewer inhibitions when scoring a new sexting partner when compared to finding a long-term lover, but there are rules you should follow in order for all parties to feel at ease. Here are three big ones:

Privacy — No app can completely protect your privacy for you — that's your job. Though there are apps that have certain features that are designed to protect your identity/content, they don't rule out all scenarios. For example, someone doesn't need to take a screenshot to capture a picture you send. They could easily use another phone or device to snap or record your photos and/or videos. You should always keep this in mind before sending anything that could be compromising, and do your best to make sure you trust the person who's receiving your messages.
Mutual respect — Assess the situation and know your audience. Usually, it doesn't take much more than a few pre-sext texts (or pre-sexts) to gauge whether or not someone is interested in doing the cyber-dirty with you. Take the time to figure that out before you lead with something raunchy and uncalled-for. AKA, don't just start throwing dick pics at people left and right if they didn't ask.
Mutual trust — Be respectful: Privacy is sacred. The internet has the scary ability to make fleeting moments very permanent. If someone asks you to keep something to yourself, do it. While sexting can be light and fun, it also requires a serious level of trust. If you betray that trust, you're ruining it for everybody.

Keep these points in mind when engaging in NSFW messaging.

What are the benefits of sexting?

Real-life dating is obviously the best way to get to know somebody long-term, especially if you're looking for any kind of serious, in-person relationship. And real sex will always be better than sexting. However, sexting is an alternative that may help you out in ways you didn't even think about.

Convenience — Whether you plan to wine and dine on your date or just meet to hook up, it always requires some extra effort. For those with super hectic schedules or those who just don't have room in their life (for whatever reason) for a steady in-person relationship, sexting is practically a saving grace. After all, your sex drive doesn't go away just because you're busy. Sexting allows you to take care of your sexual needs without putting yourself out.
Freedom — As is the case with most behind-the-screen activities, with sexting, you can let go of your inhibitions and get comfortable exploring your sexual side. Knowing there's a certain barrier between you and the other person may allow you to experiment with language and ideas that you wouldn't otherwise explore in person.
Safety — We've touched on the reasons why sexting might not be completely safe in terms of privacy, but to its credit, sexting offers an element of safety that in-person meetings don't. Sexting allows you to interact with both people you know and total strangers without putting yourself in dangerous or unwanted physical situations. Your experience should always be what you want it to be, and with sexting, if it's not going in the direction you want, it's just a matter of closing an app.
Exploring trust and intimacy — Getting comfortable with another person in close quarters doesn’t always come naturally for everyone — but opting for sexting gives way to a new level of exploration in terms of intimacy and trust. You don’t ever have to meet the person behind the screen if you don’t want to, but being able to practice feeling vulnerable without any strings attached can be a great lesson in being more open.
Fun — A little honesty, please. A night of sexting is always going to be a lot more fun than endlessly swiping right on a dating app and starting the same conversation over and over. Having the option of opening an app on your phone and engaging in a little virtual foreplay offers instant gratification and (almost) guaranteed pleasure.

The benefits are clear for all to see.

What makes an app good for sexting?

You'll want to look for certain features in an app if you're planning on sexting:

Privacy features — What happens in a sexting app doesn’t always stay in a sexting app; there are no guarantees that your conversations or selfies won’t wind up a screenshot on someone’s phone. That said, certain apps include instant self-destruction features that delete photos and conversations after a certain amount of time.
Safety — If you’re looking for a night of no-strings-attached fun online, it doesn’t really matter if the person on the other end of your conversation has been verified — but if you do want to ensure you’re not being catfished or chatting with a bot, consider using an app that links social media or verifies users.
Ease of use — You don’t want to find yourself in a hot and steamy conversation trying to figure out how to attach an image or a voice note. When it comes to sexting, the more user-friendly the platform is, the better. You’ll want something that’s efficient and fast.
Subscription pricing versus free features — How much are you willing to pay for bells and whistles? There are several free apps out there, but if you're looking for something a little fancier, you can pay a few pounds a month for premium features.

With these features in mind, you should be ready to select an app and start sexting.

What is the best app for sexting?

Since sexting, by nature, comes with a lot of factors to consider(opens in a new tab) (consent and privacy, for example), we've picked out the best sexting apps to get you off — to a good start, that is. We've tried to line up something for everyone, so check out these options, and pick your favourite.

These are the best sexting apps in 2023.

AdultFriendFinder (opens in a new tab)

Best For User Base

PROMOTED

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Read our full review of AdultFriendFinder.

Snapchat (opens in a new tab)

Best For Familiarity

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Snapchat(opens in a new tab) has moved its way up the app food chain to become a staple in the mainstream social media roster, putting it on the same plane as Facebook and Instagram. But we haven’t forgotten its early roots, stepping into the spotlight as the OG sexting app.

You can add all the filters and celebrity stories you want, but Snapchat is still a great sexting app. The app’s main original function enables you to send pictures to other users which will automatically disappear within a few seconds. Users can choose a time limit of 1-10 seconds, or choose the infinity option which lets the recipient view the photo for as long as they want before they close out of the window. Additionally, the app also has a feature that notifies the sender if the recipient screenshots their photo. What that means: you can send bae a brief glimpse of the goods without worrying if they’re secretly showing it to others behind your back.

The more people are in a space, the more chances you have to find what you’re looking for.

While the screenshot notification gives you the benefit of knowing when someone screenshots your pictures, it doesn’t really do much for you after the fact, since all you can really do at that point is confront the person and hope they’re respectful of your privacy.

Tinder (opens in a new tab)

Best For Free

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Few haven't heard of Tinder(opens in a new tab), the widely-used dating app that originated the "swipe right for yes, left for no" concept. The way Tinder works is pretty much just that. Users create a profile to which they can connect their Facebook and Instagram accounts. After filling in some basic info and typing a brief bio (of usually no more than three sentences), users can get to swiping. The app shows you other users based on location, and if you find one you like, just swipe right. If someone you like also swipes right for you, it's a match and you can proceed to message each other.

While Tinder is technically a dating app, its reputation tends to skew more towards a hookup app. But unlike more serious, paid apps like Match, Tinder tends to attract people who are open to something casual. Tinder's setup also makes for super easy browsing without the hassle of creating an in-depth profile, so you don't have to fill out all the compatibility-focused questions and can instead focus on the reason you're really there — to find someone you think is hot enough to sext with.

The upgraded memberships come with nice perks if you're using the app for sexting, too. With a Tinder Plus membership, you can choose to keep your profile information private until you like another user's profile. With Tinder Gold, you can see who likes you before you swipe, and swipe around the world (for some cultured dirty talk). Finally, with Tinder Platinum, you don't even need to match with someone to message them, just slide into the DMs immediately.

According to a survey, over 70% of Tinder users never actually meet up (opens in a new tab)with their matches in person. Normally this would be considered a con, but in the world of sexting? All we hear is "popular dating app where there's not a lot of pressure to actually meet up." Ding ding ding. We have a winner.

Bumble (opens in a new tab)

Best For Confident Women

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Women are required to message first with Bumble(opens in a new tab). This pushes some women out of their comfort zone, but like Tinder, you'll at least know that someone also swiped right on you before making a move. It also takes the pressure off for a lot of less confident dudes on the app.

Matches expire after 24 hours so you can't agonise over that opening line for too long, and your match list won't be filled with people you forgot you matched with 57 weeks ago. This can be a little stressful, but it does give you the necessary nudge to start sexting.

It's a pretty close copy of Tinder, except for the fact that Bumble relieves the anxiety of accidentally swiping left on a hottie by letting you backtrack.

Match (opens in a new tab)

Best For Mature Users

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So we know “sexting” probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Match(opens in a new tab). The dating giant has been around for decades and claims to have led to more relationships and marriages than any other dating site. However, if there’s one wonderful thing about online dating, it's this: Anything can be a sexting app if you want it to be.

Like Plenty of Fish, Match has a large userbase of singles, comprised of more than 7.4 million(opens in a new tab) paid members. If sexting is what you’re into, the odds are in your favour as far as finding someone who’s on the same page. You’re also not limited to which profiles you can interact with, so you’re not completely doomed if your recommended matches aren’t looking for something a little more risqué.

Match does tend to skew more on the mature side, but on that note, if you feel you’ve surpassed the age limit on Tinder where you can't send messages without feeling a bit creepy, Match is a great option.

Plenty of Fish (opens in a new tab)

Best For Making A Connection

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Plenty of Fish(opens in a new tab) really has all the makings of a great sexting app. First of all, its reported registered user base is over 150 million(opens in a new tab) worldwide, with 57 million(opens in a new tab) connections made every week. Like its name would suggest, there are plenty of fish in this sea, and odds are, some of them are looking to sext. To conveniently narrow your search, the dating app's (somewhat long) introductory survey allows you to specify what you're looking for upfront. When you choose "something casual/no commitment," you're much more likely to find someone in the same boat as you and can shorten the whole "what are you looking for" step of getting to know someone. Discretion is also something to be valued at Plenty of Fish, since they don't require you to connect any social media when signing up. Technically, you don't even have to use your real name — a username will suffice. Once your profile is created, you can search random profiles based on the criteria of your choice, use their UltraMatch feature which matches you based on compatibility, their “meet me” feature, which is basically the dating site's hot or not option, or just see who’s nearby. All communication between members is totally free, so you don't have much to lose.

Plenty of Fish rolled out some new features(opens in a new tab) in 2020 that definitely upped its sexting potential. Users can now date over video and even live stream to a group. This lets users get more personal by seeing and even hearing each other in real time (which, let's face it, can be a lot hotter than words on a screen) without having to fork over their phone number.

Aside from a lengthy sign-up process, some of the features on Plenty of Fish are designed to encourage longer interactions. We imagine few things are worse than realising you don’t even vibe with someone after you’ve already sent them mirror shots of your private bits.