By 2018-09-14 17:33:22 UTC Even in a world where online dating has become the norm and it's now possible to skip the tiring process of scouring bars and events for other singles in order to get a date, sometimes it's just the thought of going on the date that's tiring. No matter what kind of encounter you plan, it will always require some sort of physical effort. We're going to put this simply: we all have sexual needs, and sometimes we'd just like to satisfy those needs with human connection that doesn't require the extra effort of meeting someone in person. For that, we have sexting. SEE ALSO: Sexting is the act art of sending sexually explicit photos or messages to one or more people. Since sexting, by nature, comes with a lot of factors to consider consent and privacy, for example , we've picked out the best sexting apps to get you off — to a good start, that is. Our number one pick goes to for covering the most bases. Its huge pool of singles and strategic new conversation features put it at the top. For privacy-weary sexters, our favorite is , which we like for their Screenshield technology. More on that later. Here are the 8 best sexing apps for all your NSFW exchanges: The breakdown: really has all the makings of a great sexting app. First off all, its reported registered user-base is over worldwide, with 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 up front. 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. All communication between members is totally free, so you don't have much to lose. Game-changer: Plenty of Fish recently rolled out some that definitely upped its sexting potential. This lets users get more personal by seeing and even hearing each other in realtime which, let's face it, can be a lot hotter than words on a screen without having to fork over their phone number. These features only become available once users have been chatting for a certain period of time. Not for impatient sexters: Aside from a lengthy sign-up process, some of the features on Plenty of Fish are designed to encourage lengthier interactions. For example, Conversation Powers only become available once users have been chatting for a certain period of time. What's different about Kaboom, though, is the fact that recipients don't even need to download the app to view the sender's message. Instead, the message which can be a photo, video, or text is shared via a link. Users can share the link through essentially any social media channel, including Facebook messenger, Twitter, and email. Kaboom doesn't save your messages to a server, so theoretically your private messages can't be hacked after the fact. Why it's good for sexting: takes Snapchat's best feature the disappearing message and makes it easier to share with more people. It doesn't require you to convert your sexts to any separate apps and allows you to utilize contacts you already have on other platforms. Messages are erased based on number or clicks or an amount of time, so you can have your photo message disappear after one click view if you don't want to risk the link being sent to anyone else. Cons: doesn't offer any form of screenshot protection, so it's easy for users to screenshot your messages while you remain oblivious. The breakdown: was created based on the idea that your online conversations should be as private as your in-person conversations. To read, users either run their finger or mouse over the message line-by-line until they have read the entire thing lines will disappear pretty much immediately after they are read. Confide will also never show a user's name on the same screen as the message. Why it's good for sexting: Nothing quite knocks the libido out of you like finding out your private messages have been screenshot and shared against your will. Cost: Confide is free to use, but you can upgrade to Confide plus for premium features The breakdown: is another Snapchat-like app that focuses on disappearing messages with the addition of encryption. Though you can connect your social networks in order to see which of your contacts are also using the app, Dust doesn't require you to sign up with anything other than a username and password. Messages are never permanently stored and all will be erased after 24 hours, whether they have been read or not. Screenshot notifications are a thing, and like Confide, will never show your name on the same page as your message, so a screenshot can never tie you directly to a piece of text. Why it's good for sexting: is theoretically totally untraceable, since you don't have to use self-identifying information to sign up and nothing is ever permanently stored. Downsides: Dust actually does prevent screenshots in some spaces on the app like messaging , but only on Androids. But for other operating systems: anyone can still screenshot what you send, so keep that in mind. The breakdown: has moved its way up the app food chain to become a staple in the mainstream social media roster, putting it on the same plain as Facebook and Instagram. You can add all the filters and celebrity stories you want, but is still a great sexting app. 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. 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. Why it's good for sexting: While is technically a dating app, its reputation tends to skew more towards a hookup app. But unlike more serious, paid apps like Match or Zoosk, 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. Bonus: According to a survey, over 70% of Tinder users with their matches in person. Normally this wouldn't be considered a bonus, but in the world of sexting? We have a winner. The dating site giant has been around for decades and claims to have led to more relationships and marriages than any other dating site. Why Match works as a sexting app: Like Plenty of Fish, has a large userbase of singles, comprised of more than paid members. There's also a free version, but interaction with other users is extremely limited. The breakdown: is one of those dating apps that can really be good for whatever kind of relationship you're looking for. Unlike certain apps that are somewhat pigeonholed in their purpose eharmony for creating marriages, for example , Zoosk leaves everything on the table. Like Match, Zoosk gives you a wide variety of ways to browse profiles, including their Carousel feature and Smartpicks option, which is a list of profiles Zoosk recommends. Zoosk has a huge user-base of over 40 million singles worldwide and offers a photo verification option, where users can verify their photos to ensure they actually look like their pictures. Why it's good for sexting: Aside from a large pool of members and an easy-to-use app, Zoosk's photo verification factor really shines. In a world where fake profiles and catfishes are commonplace, knowing that who you're chatting with is actually as hot as you think they are can add a whole new level of excitement to your sext life. Downside: isn't free and doesn't offer any sort of screenshot protection. However, by paying for membership you're less likely to worry about reaching out to inactive accounts and wasting time talking to people who don't intend to get the most out of the app. For example, someone doesn't need to take a screenshot to capture a picture you send. They could easily just use another phone or device to snap or record whatever you send. 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. 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. The internet has the scary ability to make fleeting moments very permanent. If someone asks you to keep something to yourself, you better 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. And real sex will always be better than sexting. Convenient: Whether you plan on actually wining and dining your date or just meeting 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. Liberating: As is the case with most behind-the-screen activities, with sexting, you can let go of your inhibitions a bit and feel more comfortable exploring your sexual side knowing there's a certain barrier between you and the other person. Safe: 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.
