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Jim Kendros brings music and philosophy to elderly residents at Belmont Village

“Good afternoon everyone. I’m very happy to be back again at Belmont Village. My name is Jim Kendros, and I had such a wonderful time being here before. We’re going to explore great music today.”

An audience of about two dozen people, including my parents, gathered in the lobby of a senior living community in Buffalo Grove last week.

“Today I have a program called ‘Mozart and More,'” Kendros continues.

He plays “Carol of the Bells” on the piano. It quickly becomes clear that the lobby is not the best environment for a recital. Noisy conversations erupt. Phones ring. A few residents arrive, late and loudly. A janitor rolls a garbage can rumbling by.

None of this fazes Kendros, talking major versus minor, diving into musical theory.

“Chances are you have heard something we call the ‘incipit’ in music,” he says. “I-N-C-I-P-I-T. It’s a Latin word that basically means the smallest part of a melody.”

Kendros does this for a living. He also lectures before concerts, as well as social clubs and libraries. He is a composer, creator of the Mount Prospect Overture.

For me, just visiting here once a week can be an occasion for somber reflection. I wondered how Kendros views his audience.

“They’re near the end of their lives, even though I hope they will live another 20, 30 years,” he told me, earlier, over the phone. “I would like to believe I’m bringing them not only new things to think about but helping them to feel younger.”

Jim Kendros, a suburban music lecturer and composer, talks to an audience of residents at Belmont Village, a senior living community in Buffalo Grove.

Neil Steinberg/Sun-Times

Music certainly is an elixir of youth. And Kendros offers food for thought. What most impressed me about him the first time I heard him was when he said the reason America leads the world in popular music is because we have such a diverse population — so many different ethnic groups bringing so many musical traditions to the table. I’d never thought about it that way before, and it made sense. I also liked the idea of learning something new in the lobby of a place like this.

Kendros plays “Moon River” by “the immortal Henry Mancini” — the “and more” part of the “Mozart and More” program. Music appreciation is not the only appreciation he encourages.

“We live better than the kings of Mozart’s time,” he says. “Even the most modest among us have luxuries that the kings of Mozart’s day wouldn’t have had when you think about it.”

His focus shifts from the greats to those assembled.

“Mozart had a fascinating life, dying just before he was 36,” Kendros says. “Then again, people died of things we could easily cure today. When you look at it, life was so precarious. My gosh, if you made it into your 40s or 50s, you were considered lucky. When you think about it, the quality of life we have today, and how we’re extending it, is just amazing.”

That’s true. My dad is 90. His father died at 61.

“Does anyone know what is a piano concerto?” Kendros asks. I’ve heard the word, and have a vague idea. Something symphonic.

“What are the attributes?”

Nobody volunteers. Kendros explains “concerto” means “a dialogue between the orchestra and a soloist. A piano concerto is a work for orchestra with a piano. You can do it with a violin. We can have a concerto for anything. I have heard concertos for bassoons — Vivaldi wrote well over 30. Accordion. Harmonica. Ukulele.”

His view on talking with the residents of senior homes may be surprising.

“It’s a joy,” he said, previously. “An absolute joy. They have the most incredible stories. When you get them to open up, they have amazing stories to tell. … They are people who have Alzheimer’s. People in wheelchairs, with breathing conditions. The point is, new knowledge and looking at people as though they are just people helps them to feel younger, makes them feel more vital. They have hard-won life experience, and they have something to contribute to society.”

He said the problem is that others tend not to listen.

“If we just talk to them as normal people would, as you and I would like to be spoken to, you see a dramatic transformation. I see it all the time. They just glow.”

That is a truth of life: You get out what you put in. Music helps. As does learning new stuff. So it makes sense that learning new stuff about music really helps.

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Veteran former All-pro WR to be traded and the Bears could be a destination

The Chicago Bears could trade for a former All-Pro Wide Receiver

With Jordan Schultz of The Score reporting that DeAndre Hopkins will be made available via trade this offseason, the NFL media world has been sent into a frenzy.

Sources: #AZCardinals plan to try and trade All-Pro WR DeAndre Hopkins this offseason. DHop has 2 yrs and $34.36M left on his contract and is likely to seek a new deal. Owner Michael Bidwill plans to express this to GM candidates.
My story, via @theScore: https://t.co/xX8NHkULYH

How the Chicago Bears make sense

Before we dive in on why the Chicago Bears are the perfect landing spot for the former All-pro, let’s just start with saying that Ryan Poles will in no way include the Bears 1st overall pick in any deal for DeAndre Hopkins.

With that being said Nuk would be the perfect addition to the Bears WR room. The Bears saw progress from Justin Fields this year and it seems like the Bears are sticking with him as QB1 so why not give him the Bears best receiving threat since Brandon Marshall.

Last season the Bears traded for Chase Claypool at the trade deadline which did not really work out with Claypool having 14 catches for only 140 yards. The Bears leading receiver last season was Darnell Mooney who led the team in receptions (40) and receiving yards (493). Clearly these numbers are not going to cut it going forward. Ryan Poles needs to find a way to bring in new talent to the Bears WR corps, whether its Hopkins or someone else there needs to be change.

How the Bears would pull off a deal

The Bears have more than enough draft capital to swing a deal and more than enough cap space to sign Hopkins to a new deal. With the Roquan Smith trade the Bears were able to nab two additional picks in the 2023 draft and currently have the most available cap space in the NFL heading into the offseason. Really it comes down to if the Bears want Hopkins or not as they appear to be one of the best and clear landing spots for Hopkins.

One more factor that could possibly affect a potential Hopkins deal is the Arizona Cardinals current situation. They do not have a head coach or a GM at the moment. This is all coming from the Cardinals owner Michael Bidwell who plans to express to potential new GM candidates that he wants to trade Hopkins. Don’t expect this situation to gain any more traction until the Cardinals fill their vacancies.

What has Hopkins done in Arizona?

DeAndre “Nuk” Hopkins was sent to Arizona from Houston back in March of 2020. At this point Hopkins was coming off his 3rd straight 1,000+ receiving yard season (the 5th of his career at that point) and was ready to keep that going in Arizona with Kyler Murray. In his first year in Arizona Hopkins had a monster season (115 Rec, 1407 receiving yards, 6 TD) however ever since the 2020 season it has been all down hill for Hopkins. In 2021 Hopkins only saw the field in 10 games and posted one of his worst seasons yet (note that even in a down year by Hopkins standards he still caught 8 TDs).

It was early in 2022 when the league announced that DeAndre Hopkins violated the NFL’s PED violation and was suspended the first 6 games of the 2022 season. From that point Hopkins appeared in 9 games and likely would have posted yet another 100 catch, 1000 yard season if it wasn’t for Kyler Murray getting hurt and the Cardinals being god awful posting a -109 point differential.

Hopkins would likely benefit from a change of scenery and odds are he will be suiting up elsewhere in 2023. Nuk ultimately will get the final say on where that potential change of scenery would be as he has a no trade clause in his contract meaning he will have to approve any trade.

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Head of City Council’s public safety committee renews call to fire Chicago cop with ties to far-right Proud Boys

Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th) says he wants to keep the heat on Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Police Supt. David Brown to fire an officer with alleged ties to the far-right Proud Boys and send a message that hate groups won’t be tolerated.

Taliaferro held a news conference Tuesday, days after the Southern Poverty Law Center sent a scathing letter to the mayor and superintendent over the decision to suspend the officer, Robert Bakker, instead of firing him.

The West Side alderperson and two other members of the City Council are sponsoring a resolution calling for Brown to attend a public hearing on the investigation into Bakker.

The resolution hasn’t been called to the City Council floor.

Taliaferro said previous superintendents would’ve fired the officer, not just for his extremist ties, but because an internal investigation found that he lied in an internal police investigation.

“My opinion is that the superintendent should fire this officer,” Taliaferro said Tuesday at a meeting of the Leaders Network at the Columbus Park Refectory, 5701 W. Jackson Blvd.

“We have fired officers in the past with less transgressions in their associations,” said Taliaferro, who is chair of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee.

Brown has defended his decision not to fire the officer, claiming in an October City Council meeting that investigators didn’t have evidence to prove Bakker was associated with the Proud Boys or any other hate group.

At the October meeting, CPD Internal Affairs Chief Yolanda Talley claimed the probe “would have looked totally different” had the FBI labeled the Proud Boys as a hate group. But Taliaferro said that position defies common sense.

“If anyone associates with a group — whether or not the FBI has labeled them a hate group or not, but they’re generally viewed in public as a hate group — they should be fired,” he said.

Asked to comment, the police department repeated a statement issued last week that it doesn’t tolerate its members associating with hate groups and will investigate any new allegations that arise against Bakker.

Bakker’s suspension ends March 1, following two internal investigations into his ties to the Proud Boys.

Those investigations began after antifascist activists outed Bakker’s ties to the Proud Boys in May 2020 by releasing private communications between him and the group.

Police investigators then learned Bakker had failed to disclose that FBI agents contacted him months earlier about his ties to the far-right group.

Bakker was initially handed a five-day suspension for failing to disclose the interview, but other allegations on his association with criminals and members of the Proud Boys were not sustained.

The case was reopened at the request of city Inspector General Deborah Witzburg, who in November 2020 said investigators overlooked incriminating evidence and “inconsistent statements” Bakker made to investigators.

Taliaferro said the second investigation resulted in five sustained allegations against Bakker, including one allegation that he made contradictory statements to investigators.

Bakker then offered to serve a 120-day suspension for those violations.

Taliaferro, who served as a Chicago police officer for 23 years, said he had never heard of an officer recommending their own suspension.

“I served in internal affairs for nine years, and I never had an officer recommend a penalty. It’s unprecedented,” he said.

Although that suspension was the result of a binding agreement between Bakker and the city, Taliaferro said the superintendent can still fire the officer.

“I want to stress that,” Taliaferro said.

Taliaferro claimed CPD has taken a relaxed attitude toward officers accused of breaking a department rule against lying in investigations.

When Taliaferro was an officer under Supt. Jody Weis, he said it was a given that any officer would be automatically fired for lying in an investigation.

“The officer would be fired because he would no longer be credible in court,” Taliaferro said.

Taliaferro said the new Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability should take a stand on the issue.

“We also have to engage that commission as well to push for policies that could hold the superintendent accountable,” the alderperson said.

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Bears fans’ patience rewarded: They’ve got a franchise QB and the No. 1 pick

As the Bears’ season concluded, there’s a line from Phonte’s 2018 masterpiece album, “No News Is Good News,” that I’ve been thinking about. At the end of the album, there’s a drop after the final song. A voice comes on and says: “If you’re on the receiving end of this message, congratulations, you made it.” The drop acts as punctuation, but it’s more than that. The album is a triumph in personal growth. Throughout it, Phonte challenges himself and those around him that acknowledgement of mistakes means little without the impetus to change one’s behavior.

Bears game-day DJ Jay Illa described it as Jay-Z’s “4:44” for regular people. It’s an astute observation. As much as I appreciated the honesty and vulnerability of Jay-Z on that album, relating to the problems of a billionaire who’s married to another billionaire is a tough mental exercise.

The reason Phonte’s line has stuck with me is because Bears fans have been asked to do some heavy lifting this season. Every fan wanted massive changes after the Ryan Pace/Matt Nagy regime flamed out in 2021. Bears ownership obliged, but not without a warning about how hard the road back to relevance would be. And it has been tough, for sure.

Bears fans had to accept the idea that the team had to be bad in the short term in hopes of long-term success. That’s a hard thing for a football fan to accept. The NFL is a league built on the idea of going from worst to first quickly. Even in this year’s playoffs, there’s proof of that. The Jaguars went from last place to winning the AFC South this season.

The other main objective of the season was finding out if Justin Fields was the guy. I’m not going to go over all of his exploits and stats. You saw it. It’s one of the cool things about how Bears fans responded to him. Fields’ development was embraced and even celebrated. Watching him work was the weekly sorbet that you got for otherwise bad-tasting football. He’s the dude, and fans know it.

As an organization, the Bears seemingly have been on a never-ending quest for a quarterback. That pursuit has been mocked in every prime-time game the Bears have played for the last decade. As much as we all respect the legendary Sid Luckman, using him as the standard-bearer for Bears quarterbacking always felt like a backhanded compliment. Like the league was snickering at Chicago.

But no more.

On Sunday, the Bears were able to pull off quite the coup. They concluded Fields was worthy of building around, and they stumbled into the No. 1 pick in the draft. That would be enough to refill fans’ hope bucket, but there’s more. Part of the reason this Bears season was so bad was because general manager Ryan Poles had an inexpensive roster. Player salaries were kept low so Poles could stockpile cash and get ready for upcoming free agency.

As it stands, the Bears have more cap space than any team in the league, the most coveted draft position and a quarterback they feel good about. It’s quite the trifecta. One that allows them to set the agenda of the NFL offseason. A place where no one would’ve expected this franchise to be 12 months ago.

We can’t leave this column without singling out the contribution of former coach Lovie Smith. He did his old team a real solid by playing to win in his last act as the Texans’ coach. I know that Smith isn’t hurting for money, but he is now out of work. If he craves a challenge, he should announce his candidacy for mayor of Chicago right now. He won’t struggle to get enough signatures for his petition after Sunday. He wouldn’t even have to campaign.

The next part is fun. Expectations will be raised. Instead of hiding their heads in shame, Bears fans again can be puffy-chested. With all these assets acquired, Poles’ position is the most coveted in the league. The dark days are over.

Hey, Bears fans: If you’re on the receiving end of this message, congratulations, you made it!

You can hear Laurence Holmes talk Chicago sports Monday to Friday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on 670 The Score with Dan Bernstein.

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Ryan Poles ready to play ‘Let’s make a deal’ with Bears’ No. 1 pick

Bears general manager Ryan Poles seemed chagrined, maybe even a little embarrassed, to have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft. But he’s not giving it back.

“Losing, it hurts. You always expect to win more than three games,” Poles said Tuesday at his season-ending media availability. “I got home and one of my buddies from the neighborhood drove by like, ‘Hey, congratulations on the first overall pick.’ I’m still not in that mindset right now. It hurts. It hurts to be in that position.”

Well, here’s a trade scenario that might ease Poles’ pain: The No. 1 overall pick to the Colts for the Colts’ first-round pick (No. 4 overall), second-round pick (No. 36) and 2024 first-round pick.

Based on recent trades for top-three draft picks, that’s a reasonable scenario — at least in Chicago — that should work for the Bears. It likely would allow them to still draft one of the two potential difference-making defenders in the draft (at this moment) — Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter or Alabama defensive end Will Anderson.

It would virtually replace the second-round pick (No. 32) they traded to the Steelers for wide receiver Chase Claypool. And it also would give the Bears an additional first-round pick next season that could be in the top 10 — or high enough for the Bears to trade into the top 10 or higher.

If not this deal, Poles figures to get a similar haul for the No. 1 pick, with three quarterbacks just waiting for some desperate team to fall in love with them: Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Kentucky’s Will Levis.

The Colts just check all the boxes for the Bears to max out on the deal:

1. They need a quarterback.

2. They need to make a splash after back-to-back disappointing seasons.

3. They have the No. 4 pick.

4. They have a general manager who is feeling the heat in Chris Ballard.

5 They have a wacky, impulsive, shoot-from-the-hip owner calling the shots in Lincolnwood’s own Jim Irsay.

Sure enough, Ballard took the first step in creating the trade-frenzy the Bears are hoping for. Asked at his own season-ending media availability Tuesday in Indianapolis if he would “move heaven and earth” to trade up in the draft to get a quarterback he loves, Ballard replied: “Yes. I’d do whatever it takes.”

Poles played it only a little more coy. He still paid lip service to the idea that the Bears could actually take the best player available at No. 1. But the reality is this: Operators are standing by at Halas Hall.

“We can evaluate the talent there,” Poles said. “We can see what player presents themselves in that position to help us. And then we can look at the scenarios. If the phones go off and there are certain situations where [a trade] can help us, then we’ll go down that avenue, too.

“We have good flexibility to help this team, regardless if it’s making the pick there or moving back a little bit or moving back a lot. We’ll be open to everything.”

Poles insisted he was not obsessed with the Texans-Colts game Sunday that gave the Bears the No. 1 pick. And wasn’t cheering when he heard the good news. Truth be told, there was a bigger reaction in the Soldier Field press box when the Texans took the lead.

“I honestly wasn’t paying attention to that,” Poles said. “Someone in here [the interview room] saw me and told me about it. And I was like, ‘Eh.’ I just wasn’t in the mood for it.”

Eventually, Poles will warm up to the idea — and he probably did the moment he stepped out of the interview room at Halas Hall.

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High school basketball: Tuesday’s scores

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

BIG NORTHERN

North Boone at Dixon, 7:00

Oregon at Winnebago, 7:00

CATHOLIC LEAGUE – CROSSOVER

De La Salle at Mount Carmel, 7:00

Marmion at DePaul, 7:00

Montini at St. Ignatius, 7:00

Providence at Brother Rice, 7:00

Providence-St. Mel at St. Rita, 7:00

St. Laurence at Loyola, 6:30

CENTRAL SUBURBAN – NORTH

Maine East at Highland Park, 7:00

Maine West at Deerfield, 7:00

DU KANE

Wheaton-Warr. South at Glenbard North, 7:15

DU PAGE VALLEY

Neuqua Valley at DeKalb, 7:00

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC

Notre Dame at Marian Catholic, 7:00

St. Patrick at Carmel, 7:00

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL

Elgin Academy at Latin, 6:00

KISHWAUKEE RIVER

Johnsburg at Woodstock, 5:15

Marengo at Richmond-Burton, 7:00

Woodstock North at Harvard, 7:00

LITTLE TEN

DePue at Indian Creek, 6:45

Hiawatha at Hinckley-Big Rock, 6:45

LaMoille at Somonauk, 5:30

Leland at Serena, 6:45

METRO PREP

Hinsdale Adventist at Universal, 5:30

METRO SUBURBAN – BLUE

Aurora Christian at IC Catholic, 7:30

Timothy Christian at St. Francis, 7:00

Wheaton Academy at Riverside-Brookfield, 7:00

METRO SUBURBAN – RED

McNamara at Aurora Central, 7:30

St. Edward at Ridgewood, 7:00

Westmont at Elmwood Park, 7:30

NOBLE LEAGUE – GOLD

Johnson at ITW-Speer, 7:00

Noble Academy at Comer, 7:00

Rowe-Clark at Butler, 7:00

NORTH SUBURBAN

Mundelein at Lake Zurich, 7:00

Warren at Lake Forest, 7:00

Waukegan at Stevenson, 7:00

Zion-Benton at Libertyville, 7:00

NORTHEASTERN ATHLETIC

Alden-Hebron at Westminster Christian, 7:30

South Beloit at Christian Life, 7:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE RED-SOUTH / CENTRAL

Kenwood at Simeon, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE BLUE-WEST

Douglass at Phoenix, 5:00

Kelvyn Park at Juarez, 5:00

RIVER VALLEY

Beecher at Illinois Lutheran, 7:00

Clifton Central at Donovan, 7:00

Gardner-So. Wilmington at Momence, 7:00

St. Anne at Grace Christian, 7:00

Tri-Point at Grant Park, 7:00

SOUTH SUBURBAN – BLUE

Hillcrest at Bremen, 6:00

SOUTH SUBURBAN – RED

Evergreen Park at Argo, 7:00

SOUTH SUBURBAN – CROSSOVER

Lemont at Reavis, 6:00

Oak Lawn at Oak Forest, 6:30

Shepard at Thornton Fr. North, 6:30

Thornton Fr. South at Richards, 6:30

Tinley Park at Eisenhower, 6:30

SOUTHLAND

Crete-Monee at Kankakee, 6:30

Rich at Bloom, 6:30

Thornton at Thornwood, 6:30

SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE – CROSSOVER

Joliet Central at Plainfield North, 6:30

Joliet West at Oswego, 6:30

Plainfield Central at Oswego East, 6:30

Plainfield East at West Aurora, 6:30

Plainfield South at Minooka, 6:30

Romeoville at Yorkville, 6:30

SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN – RED

Lincoln-Way Central at Bradley-Bourbonnais, 7:00

UPSTATE EIGHT

Bartlett at Glenbard East, 7:00

East Aurora at Fenton, 7:00

Elgin at South Elgin, 7:00

Streamwood at West Chicago, 7:00

WEST SUBURBAN – GOLD

Addison Trail at Proviso East, 6:00

Downers Grove South at Morton, 7:30

Hinsdale South at Leyden, 6:30

WEST SUBURBAN – SILVER

Glenbard West at Lyons, 6:30

York at Proviso West, 7:30

NON CONFERENCE

Barrington at Elk Grove, 7:30

British School at Morgan Park Academy, 6:00

Bulls Prep at Chicago Christian, 7:30

Byron at Bureau Valley, 7:00

Clemente at Niles West, 6:30

Conant at Prospect, 7:30

DRW Prep at Fenwick, 7:00

DuSable at South Shore, 5:00

EPIC at Catalyst-Maria, 5:00

Evanston at Niles North, 7:00

Excel-Englewood at UC-Woodlawn, 5:30

Fremd at Wheeling, 7:30

Genoa-Kingston at Harvest Christian, 7:30

Harlan at Morgan Park, 5:00

Hoffman Estates at Buffalo Grove, 7:30

Holy Trinity at Southland, 7:00

Intrinsic-Belmont at Foreman, 5:00

King at Marist, 7:00

Lisle at Joliet Catholic, 7:00

Lycee Francais at Islamic Foundation, 6:00

Mooseheart at Westlake Christian, 7:30

Morris at Pontiac, 7:00

Newark at Marquette, 7:00

Palatine at Hersey, 7:00

Roanoke-Benson at Fieldcrest, 7:30

Rock Falls at Orion, 7:00

Sandwich at Princeton, 7:00

Schaumburg at Rolling Meadows, 7:30

Seneca at Coal City, 6:45

St. Francis de Sales at Leo, 7:00

UIC Prep at Chicago Tech, 5:15

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NBC Sports Chicago’s digital staff suffers two more layoffs

NBCSportsChicago.com Bulls writer Rob Schaefer and Cubs writer Tim Stebbins were let go by parent NBC Chicago on Tuesday, further dwindling a digital team that not long ago was the regional sports network’s focus.

Schaefer and Stebbins follow former Cubs writer Gordon Wittenmyer, whose contract expired at the end of the year, as well as former Bears insider J.J. Stankevitz, Bears writer Cam Ellis and Blackhawks writer Scott King, who were let go nearly two years ago.

Before then, NBCSCH had channeled resources into its digital platforms as part of a strategy to emphasize live game coverage on linear TV and digital content when there was no game. The only team writer left is Alex Shapiro, who covers the Bears.

NBC Chicago includes NBCSCH, NBC 5 and Telemundo Chicago. They share a digital team, which is run by Lisa Balde of NBC 5. Balde, NBCSCH digital head Michael Allardyce and a human resources representative notified Schaefer and Stebbins on a call this morning.

Digital writers from NBC 5 will be asked to pick up the slack, though they don’t figure to have the insights of Schaefer and Stebbins.

The layoffs have no bearing on NBCSCH’s linear coverage of the Blackhawks, Bulls and White Sox. TV insiders K.C. Johnson (Bulls) and Charlie Roumeliotis (Hawks) and Bears insider Josh Schrock are unaffected.

NBCSCH’s contract with the Hawks, Bulls and Sox expires in October 2024. The Hawks have said they’re committed to staying with the Bulls and Sox, but whether that’s with NBCSCH or another network has yet to be determined. In June, the Sun-Times reported that the teams have discussed launching their own network.

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Bears News: Roquan Smith gets the money he deservesVincent Pariseon January 10, 2023 at 10:30 pm

Besides Justin Fields (who we are still learning about), Roquan Smith was the only good Chicago Bears first-round draft pick made by Ryan Pace. Unfortunately, with Pape rightfully gone, the new regime had no interest in paying him what he deserved for an extension.

Instead, in a tanking effort, the Bears traded Smith to the Baltimore Ravens. They are one of the best teams in the NFL and he has to be having a lot more fun there than he was having in Chicago. They actually are a winning organization that knows what they are doing, unlike this Bears team.

We have to have hope for Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus but nobody before them gives anyone a reason to trust that these guys will magically work out. It would have been nice to see them pay Smith what he deserves but you can also understand why they didn’t. He wasn’t their guy.

On Tuesday, it came out that Smith had signed a contract for five years and 100 million dollars. This includes 45 million fully guaranteed and 60 million in total guarantees. This is a great contract for Smith and the Ravens as he is now the highest-paid off-ball linebacker in the NFL.

Former Bears star Roquan Smith is going to be with the Ravens for a while.

The Ravens had to know they wanted to sign him long-term when they made the trade with the Chicago Bears and now they did. That is amazing for them as neither side has to worry about it during the off-season one bit. It can be all about football for Smith going forward.

Now, the Ravens are getting ready for a big-time road matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. This will be the second week in a row that these two teams play against each other in Cincinnati because they just so happened to be a week 18 matchup as well.

Roquan Smith has only played in a couple of playoff games so far and the Bears lost them all. Now is his chance to make a big impact in a huge game once again. The Bengals are better than the Ravens and they are significantly better than them if Lamar Jackson isn’t healthy enough to play.

As mentioned before, Smith deserves this contract. He also deserves respect around the NFL as he is one of the best linebackers in the league. Now that he has his money locked up, it is time to play some ball.

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Bulls’ Green set for surgery on ailing right kneeon January 10, 2023 at 10:47 pm

CHICAGOChicago Bulls forward Javonte Green will undergo an arthroscopic debridement of his right knee, the team announced Tuesday afternoon, and will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks.

The procedure is scheduled for Wednesday and there is optimism Green can return to the lineup about a month later, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Green has missed the past five games with right knee soreness, the same issue that caused him to miss five games in December. Green returned to play three games in between those stretches, but his knee continued to bother him and was not responding to the team’s treatment plans.

Green was in the starting lineup for most of last season with Chicago, starting 45 games while Patrick Williams, the No.4 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, recovered from early season wrist surgery. He still made an impact as a reserve this season, averaging 5.9 points and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 58.7% from the field and 38.2% from 3 (both career-highs) in 28 games.

Despite averaging only 16 minutes per game, Green has also been one of the team’s best and the league’s peskiest defenders, averaging 5.0 deflections per 36 minutes, according to NBA.com, 11th best in the league.

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31+ Best Sex Apps To Find Casual Sex in 2023

Let’s be honest—sometimes a casual hookup is just what you need. A serious relationship can be great, but it can also be exhausting and stressful. And if you’ve just gotten out of one, especially a long-term one, the last thing you probably want to do is try plunging yourself into another one.

People have long enjoyed the thrill of the one-night stand, and it’s now easier than ever to find one thanks to the internet. In recent years, dozens and dozens of sex and dating apps have popped up, but they are definitely not all created equal.

So, we’ve put together this list compiling 32 of very best sex apps available in 2023. There’s seriously something here for everyone interested in casual hookups, so keep reading to find the sex app that’s perfect for you. Before you know it, you’ll be well on your way to getting laid! And most importantly, in a safe way (scroll to the bottom for more information about how to stay as safe as possible when using these apps).

Best Sex Apps for No Strings Attached Sex in 2023

RankSiteBest For1.Adult FriendFinder Best sex app overall2.Tinder Best mainstream app3.SeekingBest for meeting wealthy men4.Ashley MadisonBest for affairs5.OKCupid Top choice for millennials6.BuddyBang Best pure hookup app7.BeNaughty Best for naughty singles8.ALT Best for alternative and BDSM9.Hinge Best for FWB and more serious possibilities10.ZooskBest for short-term dating11.BumbleSafest for women12.Plenty of Fish Best user community13.Pure AppBest for fantasies14.Feeld Most open-minded community15.Sex MessengerBest for anonymity16.Reddit R4RBest free option17.Flirty MatureBest for ages 40 and up18.FlirtBest free trial19.JSWIPEBest for Jewish singles20.OneNightFriendBest mobile site21.ThursdayBest new app22.ShipMost innovative app23.BlendrBest for young professionals24.HUDTop choice for sex positivity25.PureBest for women26.3FunFor threesomes27.WingmanBest for frequent fliers28.HerBest for LGBTQ+ women29.HappnBest for urban dwellers30.CasualxFor extremely casual hookups31.StringBest for the bold32.Established MenBest for finding a sugar daddy

1.  Adult FriendFinder – Best app overall

Some sites are more obvious than others about being sex apps. Adult FriendFinder is pretty clear about that. This means that it’s established a userbase full of people who are looking for casual hookups, which is a big plus if that’s what you’re hoping to find.

Adult FriendFinder also has a bit of a niche when it comes to swinging and open relationships. If you are already in a relationship and looking to open things up, or are hoping to be the third person in a threesome, then Adult FriendFinder is one of your best bets out there.

AFF is also one of the longest running sites, so it’s pretty trustworthy. Another nice aspect of AFF is that you can modify searches to find people looking for the same thing as you. This can help you save time and get down to business faster.

Pro tip: You don’t have to hold back on Adult FriendFinder, so be yourself! There are plenty of other people on there who will be looking for the same kind of thing as you, no matter how kinky.

Check out our full AFF review.

Pros:

Straightforward sex-oriented site
Makes finding like-minded people an easy process

Cons:

Relatively expensive compared to some sites/apps
The free membership is heavy on the ads

Pricing:

One-month membership: $39.95 totalThree-month membership: $26.95/monthOne-year membership: $19.95/month

2.  Tinder – Best mainstream app

When it comes to sex apps, Tinder is very likely the world’s most well-known and popular one. It’s definitely true that Tinder has garnered a hefty share of the market when it comes to the hookup and dating space. This is particularly true of younger people, like millennials and Gen Z, but you can find people of all ages on Tinder these days.

Tinder has long had a reputation for being a casual hookup or sex app. That’s still very much true, but there are also many people who are on there hoping to find true love or something serious. It helps to pay attention to people’s profiles—oftentimes they will specify if they are not looking for something casual.

Even though it’s gone more mainstream and there are now lots of people on there who aren’t so interested in casual sex, Tinder remains one of the best sex apps out there. This is largely due to the fact that it has such a big userbase, meaning that your chances of finding someone to hook up with are pretty solid.

Pro tip: Understand that not everyone on Tinder is looking for casual hookups. You should be upfront about your intentions in order to waste as little time as possible.

Pros:

Massive userbase
Many people looking for casual hookups

Cons:

Lots of fake profiles and spammers
Arguably oversaturated at this point

Pricing:

Free: limited number of swipesOne month: $19.99 total if you are under 30One month: $39.99 total if you are over 30Six months: $59.99 total if you are under 30Six months: $119.99 total if you are over 30

3.  Seeking – Best for sugar relationships

Some people may just be looking to hook up, but others may be looking for something more. And no, we don’t mean a romantic, long-term relationship. We’re talking about extra benefits, the kind that accompany sugar relationships.

If you’re looking for a sugar relationship, which is when a (usually) older person spoils a younger person in exchange for dates, company, and whatever else they agree to, then Seeking (fka Seeking Arrangement) is a great bet.

This is a specific niche, and it may not appeal to everyone. If it does, however, it’s hard to go wrong with Seeking since it’s one of the first and most popular sugar sites around. They’ve been attempting to go for a more mainstream angle lately, but they very much remain a sugar-focused site when it comes to its user base.

Pro tip: If you’re a woman, Seeking can be quite competitive. If you’re a man, however, you should have more than your choice of young women to spoil.

Pros:

Free signups for women
Favorable woman-to-man ratio for men
Relatively safe way for women to find a sugar daddy

Cons:

Fairly expensive to use as a man
Hookups may not feel natural, more transactional

Pricing:

One-month membership: $89.95/monthThree-month membership: $79.95/monthDiamond membership (more premium features): $249.95/month

4.  Ashley Madison – Best for affairs

Ashley Madison is another sex app that doesn’t have any haughty pretenses to morality. They know what they are and they own it, hence the company’s motto “Life is short. Have an affair.” Hell, they even advertise on porn sites, where they know they might find some people who are feeling unfulfilled in their relationships.

If you don’t mind Ashley Madison’s straightforward and rather amoral approach, then this is a great place to go for finding casual hookups. They’re all about discretion, meaning that you don’t have to worry about “ASHLEY MADISON” showing up on your credit card bill.

The main thing is that you recognize that there will be plenty of people on there who are looking to have an affair. If that doesn’t bother you, then you’ll be in good shape. Just be careful!

Pro tip: Ashley Madison works on a credit-based system. The more credits you buy the better cost-per-credit average you get (which is fairly common when it comes to these apps/sites).

Pros:

Women can use it for free
Discretion prioritized
Judgment-free space

Cons:

Site actively advocates cheating
Can get expensive for men

Pricing:

Basic Plan: 100 credits at $0.59/creditClassic Plan: 500 credits at $0.34/creditElite Plan: 1,000 credits at $0.29/credit

5.  OkCupid – Best for millennials

OkCupid has been around a long time, before Tinder and some of the newer sites that have gained in popularity (e.g. Hinge, Bumble, etc.). Due to this longevity, OKCupid is quite popular with some older millennials who may have used it back when they were teens or in their early twenties.

In any case, OkCupid is doing some things right, because young people continue to gravitate towards it. It may be not be as popular as Tinder, but OkCupid still has a huge user base of people. As with most of these sites, it’s best to be upfront about your intentions. Thankfully, OkCupid lets you easily do that.

Pro tip: Be sure to set your gender and orientation options, as well as what you’re looking for, to have the best success and avoid wasting time!

Pros:

Solid filtering options
Varied and large user base
Relatively affordable

Cons:

Many people are looking for love (i.e. Cupid’s arrow)
It can be fairly time-consuming compared to other apps

Pricing:

One-month membership: $19.95 totalSix-month membership: $9.95/month

6.  BuddyBang – Best pure hookup app

The concept behind BuddyBang is pretty simple. Like the name suggests, it helps you find a buddy to ba—… *ahem* sleep with. Like Adult Friend Finder and Ashley Madison, this is another site that doesn’t hide what it’s all about. So, if you’re looking for casual sex and to find a friend with benefits, then BuddyBang is a solid option for you.

BuddyBang is pretty much a pure hookup app, which may turn some people off. In fact, some people may be so thirsty that you feel like you can’t even have a little warm-up conversation first. If you run into this problem, then you may want to try something else.

Some benefits to BuddyBang are that it’s straightforward about what it’s about (i.e. casual sex), it’s relatively affordable, and there are a number of useful features (like filtering options that help you pare down possible matches).

Pro tip: If you use BuddyBang, be prepared for people who are looking to get down to business fast. If this isn’t your cup of tea, then you’re probably better off trying something else.

Pros:

Engaged user community
People are very direct
Nice filters to make things go faster
Not too expensive

Cons:

Obnoxious ads on the free tier
People may be too direct for your taste

Pricing:

One-year membership: $19.95/monthOne-month membership: $39.95 totalThree-month membership: $26.95/month

7.  BeNaughty – Best for naughty singles

We’re talking about sex apps here, so it might not be too surprising that many of them have names like BuddyBang or BeNaughty. You might find them obnoxious, or maybe you appreciate the straightforward aspect. Either way, the name definitely helps ensure that everyone’s on the same page.

So yeah, as you might guess, BeNaughty is all about casual hookups. The goal is to connect people so they can chat and get down to hooking up asap. One cool thing about BeNaughty is that they have numerous ways of finding people, not just the swipe method that has become so ubiquitous. There are various chat rooms you can join and even galleries to look through before starting a one-on-one chat.

Overall, BeNaughty is a strong choice as a sex app because people are there for the same reason. It also features some solid filtering options, meaning you can save some time and get to what you’re there for in the first place.

Pro tip: Be sure to try the various options offered on BeNaughty for meeting people, like the communal chat rooms and galleries.

Pros:

Innovative options for finding people
Community that won’t judge
Couples as well as singles
Trial option won’t break the bank

Cons:

User base can be a bit superficial and thirsty
Hard to use without the premium membership

Pricing:Three-day trial: $1.05/dayOne-month membership: $27.01 totalThree-month membership: $15.15/monthSix-month membership: $12.24/month

8.  ALT – Best for alternative and BDSM

At one point, the homepage of ALT featured a man bound and gagged with the words “Don’t get tied down, get tied up.” This should tell you just about everything you need to know about this hookup site!

Yes, ALT is all about casual sex and specifically for the kinky ones out there. If you’re hoping to go nice and slow and find some vanilla sex, then this is probably not the place for you. People on ALT generally know what they want, and they want it now.

If you’re a kinky type, then you’ll probably be in heaven on ALT. You can find someone out there for just about anything you might be into. Plus, there’s a user base of over two million people, meaning that you have a good chance of linking up with someone like-minded.

Pro tip: ALT has a super specific niche, so if you’re not down for fast and kinky hookups, then you should probably stay away.

Pros:

Sort by your kinks
Browse NSFW content
Webcam shows

Cons:

Watch out for bots and scammers
Premium account required to really get the most out of the site

Pricing:Silver Membership: $19.95/month (with longer plans available)Gold Membership: $29.95/month (with longer plans available)

9.  Hinge – Best for FWB & more serious possibilities

In recent years, Hinge has become super mainstream. At least on the surface, they are all about matching people up for long-term relationships, hence their motto “The dating app designed to be deleted.” (We’re not sure how that makes for a good business model, though.)

In any case, Hinge is popular with all kinds of people looking for all kinds of things. So, if you want to use it as a sex app only, don’t hesitate to give it a try. Yes, you may come across people who specify that they want something serious, but you’re also sure to find people who just want something casual.

Luckily, Hinge makes this a smooth process, thanks to a filtering feature that allows you to specify what kind of thing you’re looking for. This saves everyone time and energy.

Like Tinder, Hinge has a massive user base, which makes it a solid option, especially if you live in a sparsely populated area.

Pro tip: Be straightforward on Hinge, since many people on there will be looking for something more than just a casual hookup. If you state that you’re looking for friends with benefits upfront, you’re less likely to waste time and hurt people’s feelings.

Pros:

Trendy app with younger generations
Top-notch matchmaking algorithm
Can find people looking for friends with benefits
Massive user base

Cons:

Many people here want something serious
A bit pricey

Pricing:One month: $12.99 totalThree-month membership: $20.99 totalSix-month membership: $29.99 total

10.  Zoosk – Best for short-term dating

Despite its silly, Dr. Seussian name, Zoosk is a good option for short-term dating. It’s actually in 80+ countries now, meaning that it may come in handy if you’re a frequent traveler.

Another big benefit to Zoosk is that it has a very diverse user base. Many people may want something more serious, though, so if you’re looking for casual hookups only, be sure to be clear about that.

Pros:

Engaged user community
Worldwide user base

Cons:

May not find as many casual hookup opportunities as other apps
Additional features can add up

Pricing:One-month membership: $29.95 totalThree-month membership: $19.98/monthSix-month membership: $12.49/month

11.  Bumble – Safest for women

Not sure why, but Bumble has gone with a “bee” vibe with its name and branding. In any case, this app has succeeded in getting a lot of buzz by helping people find their next honey. (Yes, we know, that was god awful.)

Part of its popularity and trendiness is that women are the ones to make the first “move” on Bumble. So, if you’re a man on this site, you won’t be able to reach out to women first. This is quite frankly a nice change of pace for everyone, especially if you’re a confident woman or a somewhat shy dude.

Women have flocked to Bumble since it puts them in the driver seat and means they are much less likely to get harassed and deal with asshats. For men, this is a great place to find a confident, self-assured woman. That said, many of them may want something serious, so you’ll have to be sure to be clear about what you’re looking for upfront (as always with all of these sites basically).

Pro tip: If you’re a guy, work hard on your profile, as that will be the one thing that women assess before deciding to message you or not. And if you’re a woman, don’t be shy! It’s up to you to make the first contact.

Pros:

Nifty premise (women make first contact)
Solid ratio of women to men
Basic but well-crafted UI

Cons:

May have trouble finding people down for casual only hookups
Premium membership will cost you a pretty penny

Pricing:Premium Membership: $8.99/week

12.  Plenty of Fish – Best user community

You have to go back nearly twenty years to the beginnings of Plenty of Fish (POF), all the way back to 2003, which honestly feels like forever ago at this point. The good thing about this is that POF is not one of these dating sites that has just popped up, and its longevity suggests that it’s been good at connecting people.

One of the best things about POF is its large user base and the matchmaking algorithm it uses to pair people up. While this is standard with dating sites in general, POF seems to have one of the more robust algorithms out there.

Since it’s not a casual hookup-focused site, you’ll have to be upfront about what you’re looking for to ensure you don’t waste anyone’s time.

Pro tip: Be thorough when answering the questions and when providing other info to POF. Doing so will help ensure that you get the best possible matches.

Pros:

Top-notch filtering options
Huge user community
Cheaper than other apps listed here

Cons:

Many people may want something serious
Watch out for fake bot accounts and scammers

Pricing:One-month membership: $19.99 totalThree-month membership: $9.80/monthOne-year membership: $5.95/month

13.  Pure App – Best for fantasies

Pure advertises itself as all about “shameless dating,” and is pretty straightforward about its approach as a hookup site. Hell, the logo they’ve even used at times (see above) resembles a vagina…

In any case, Pure is great for people who don’t quite feel at home with the more mainstream apps and sites. You can really be yourself here, and doing so will ensure that you find other people you’re compatible with.

Pure is one of the best apps out there for no-strings attached hookups, and it has some solid features that help keep things feeling safe and secure, like disappearing profiles and safe video chatting.

Pro tip: If you aren’t in a major urban area, you may have trouble finding people near you on Pure since it hasn’t yet taken off quite like some of the other apps reviewed here.

Pros:

Focus on privacy and discretion
A breeze to join and get going
Good for fantasy seekers

Cons:

Relatively small user base
Better if you’re in an urban area

Pricing:One week: $14.99 totalOne month: $29.99 total

14.  Feeld – Most open-minded community

Feeld isn’t one of the best-known hookup apps out there, but it makes up for its relative youth by being a great platform for open-minded people looking to find other open-minded people.

With Feeld, it’s all about creating a non-judgmental space where people can feel comfortable looking for no-strings attached hookups. Its focus in particular is in enabling couples to find a third person to join in on the fun.

Feeld’s sex-positive ethos and inclusivity make it one of the best new hookup sites around, and we’re honestly hoping that it takes off soon.

Pro tip: A Facebook account is (unfortunately) needed to verify your identity in the sign-up process. Also, Android users can’t use the premium version, which is a major downside.

Pros:

Very sex-positive platform
Open-minded community
Top app if looking for threesomes

Cons:

Android users locked out of premium version
To verify your profile you need a Facebook account

PricingOne-month membership: $14.99 totalThree-month membership: $29.98 total

15.  Sex Messenger – Best for anonymity

Messenger (fka Facebook Messenger) and Whatsapp are used and loved by more than a billion people on the planet now. Sex Messenger is hoping to play into this appreciation for messaging apps by creating a hookup app that focuses on discreet sexting and messaging.

Sex Messenger is so discreet, in fact, that your name is not even shared with the other person. This helps keep things anonymous, which is especially appreciated for people who prioritize discretion and may be already engaged in a relationship (or relationships).

Sex Messenger is great for discreet sexting, which ramps up the tension, and then meeting up to really get down to it.

Pro tip: This app is all about anonymity and discretion, so don’t go around sharing details about your personal life or asking other people for information about theirs. The whole idea is to keep things light and discreet.

Pros:

Makes sexting relatively safe and secure
Ideal for casual hookups

Cons:

For full access you need a premium account
The anonymity part may not be everyone’s cup of tea

PricingOne-month membership: $14.95 total

16.  Reddit R4R – Best free option

If you’re aiming to find a casual hookup buddy, you might as well try Reddit’s personals forum (i.e. “subreddit.”) Why? It doesn’t cost anything, so you really have nothing to lose (besides the few minutes it takes you to make the post or browse other people’s and send a DM or two).

You won’t often find pictures on r/R4R, which makes it somewhat less superficial and more anonymous than mainstream apps like Tinder or Hinge. It’s more about shared interests and conversation. If the DM’ing goes well, then you may be well on your way to a casual hookup (and without paying a cent).

Pros:

Totally free
No subscriptions or memberships necessary

Cons:

Can be competitive
No way to get priority (no paid features)

Pricing:Free

17.  FlirtyMature – Best for ages 40+

Not everyone is a millennial or Gen Z’er and wants to jump on Tinder, Bumble, or Hinge. For people a bit older, FlirtyMature is a solid option. This hookup site is all about older people, so it’ll be of interest to you either if you are older yourself or want to find someone older than you.

FlirtyMature has a pretty simple and intuitive IU, and its user community is fairly active. There’s a high response rate here, which you definitely don’t always get on other sites (like the ones mentioned ab0ve).

Pro tip: FlirtyMature, like the name suggests, is targeting older users, so it doesn’t make sense to join unless you’re in the 40+ age range or you’re just looking for someone in that age range.

Pros:

Pretty affordable
One of the few options for Gen X and older
Straightforward to use

Cons:

Somewhat annoying registration process

Pricing:1-week: $7 per weekOne month: $28.80 per monthThree months: $48.60 ($16.20 per month)

18.  Flirt – Best free trial

Are you a flirt? Well, here’s an app with your name—so to speak— on it!

On Flirt, you know that you can find other people who are ready to get flirty and find other people who are ready for casual hookups. There’s a solidly active user base on here, despite the fact that Flirt doesn’t yet have the name-brand recognition that a Tinder or Hinge has.

Pro tip: Take advantage of Flirt’s free trial before committing to a paid membership. It’s one of the better free trials around when it comes to hookup sites/apps.

Pros:

Cool SMS feature to take things off-site
Engaged user community
Registration is a breeze
Truly free trial option

Cons:

You can’t do much without a premium membership

Pricing:Free: limited featuresOne month: $22

19.  Jswipe – Best for Jewish singles

Known by some as the “Jewish Tinder,” Jswipe has a pretty obvious niche—catering to the Jewish community. So, if you’re single and Jewish, then JSwipe could be a good option for you to find someone. If nothing else, you have Judaism in common.

While some younger and less orthodox people of Jewish faith may be more open to casual hookups, you’ll have to recognize that many people on JSwipe will be looking for something serious and longer lasting. To prevent wasting your time or anyone else’s, you’ll want to be clear about your intentions upfront if they involve casual hookups.

Pros:

Top option for Jewish singles
Relatively affordable
Nice UI

Cons:

You need Facebook to sign up
Not targeting users after casual hookups

Pricing:Free: limited featuresOne month: $24.99 totalThree months: $44.99 total

20.  OneNightFriend – Best mobile site

Like BuddyBang, AdultFriendFinder, or BeNaughty, the name behind OneNightFriend attempts to make things pretty clear. So, if you’re looking for a “friend” for one night, then this is a solid option to consider.

That said, there are a fair number of issues with OneNightFriend. The main problem is that it doesn’t do a great job at preventing bot profiles. This means that you may have to be rather patient when using OneNightFriend.

One big positive for OneNightFriend is its easy and free sign-up process.

Pro tip: You might as well give OneNightFriend a try since it’s free, particularly if you’re on a budget. Just be careful for spam profiles.

Pros:

Can’t beat free sign-up
Streamlined for mobile

Cons:

The free plan is limited, and the one-month plan is pricey
Tons of fake profiles to wade through

Pricing:Free: limited featuresOne month: $39 totalThree months: $65.70 total

21.  Thursday – Best new app

Thursday is a cool app with a unique premise. It gets rid of the idea of 24/7 dating that’s available due to the internet. This gives you the chance to take care of the rest of your life the other 6 days of the week, including focusing on actual in-person dates.

For the moment, it’s restricted to certain large urban areas (like London and New York), but they have plans to open up to other cities soon. This is one app to keep your eye on for sure.

Pro tip: Thursday is full of young professionals and is trendy, so this may not be the ideal scene for everyone.

Pros:

Unique concept (available on Thursdays only)
Trendy, lots of young professionals

Cons:

Geographically limited at the moment
Concept may not appeal to everyone

Pricing:Free: limited featuresPremium (“BlackCard”): $14.99 per month

22.  Ship – Most innovative app

Ship is another cool and trendy app based around a new concept. Rather than endless swiping and waiting around for matches, Ship has your friends help you play matchmaker.

It works by setting up a group chat with your friends. You then pick people you think would be good for your friends, and they do the same. You can then discuss possibilities with your friends.

This is a fun concept and is great for people with lots of friends, but it may not appeal to everyone.

Pro tip: Ship is pretty new, so you may need to give it some time before it takes off. It’s got a promising concept, though, so we won’t be surprised if it does sooner rather than later.

Pros:

Emphasizes the social aspect of dating
Nice change of pace from most apps

Cons:

Small user base (because new)
Concept won’t be for everyone

Pricing:

100 credits = $0.99500 credits = $3.991,000 credits = $6.992,000 credits = $9.99

23.  Blendr – Best for young professionals

Blendr depends on Facebook and is primarily for iPhone users, so you’ll need those two things if you would like to use it. The focus with Blendr is on young professionals, so this is great if you fall into that kind of group. If not, you may want to look elsewhere.

The people on Blendr tend to be pretty open (and up for) no strings-attached sex, making it a nice option for people looking for casual hookups.

Pro tip: Ensure your Facebook is up to date (with information you want to be shared) so that when Blendr pulls your info from Facebook it gives you the kind of profile you want.

Pros:

Relatively simple process to get started
Free for iPhone users

Cons:

Mainly compatible with iPhone
Requires Facebook to get set up

Pricing:

Free: limited featuresPremium: price per feature varies

24.  HUD – Best for sex positivity

HUD has a motto that gives you a pretty solid idea of what they’re about: “Why be limited to one option at a time?”

In other words, HUD operates in the same vein as Ashley Madison or AdultFriendFinder, aiming to find users that are looking for discreet sex (and who may be in relationships already).

If you’re after purely casual hookups, then HUD is a solid option seeing as they have a large user base (roughly 9 million members).

Pros:

Large userbase
Designed for casual hookups
Video chat has safety features
Prioritizes discretion

Cons:

Anonymous sign-ups can detract from quality and safety

Pricing:

1 month: $24.993 months: $49.996 months: $69.9912 months: $199.99

25.  3Fun – Best for threesomes

3Fun is all about having fun—3-person style. Yes, we’re talking about threesomes. While this is fairly niche, it’s nice to have a site dedicated entirely to what you’re looking for (assuming that’s the case). This makes it way easier to be on the same page from the get-go.

3Fun has a pretty straightforward concept. You simply press “X” if you’re not interested in a profile, while tapping the heart button if you are. From there, you’re matched and can start chatting (just like Tinder and many other dating/hookup apps).

One cool feature is that you can sign up as a “couple,” which means your account can be used from two different phones at the same time, helping to facilitate finding a third person for your threesome.

Pros:

All about threesomes
Innovative features
Intuitive UI

Cons:

Very niche
Messaging feature could use improvement

Pricing:

1 month: $29.996 months: $79.9912 months: $99.99

26.  Wingman – Best for people who trust their friends

No, wingman isn’t about finding someone to hook up with on your flight. And it has nothing to do with Top Gun. Like the app Ship, it’s all about having your friends help you out with your dating by playing matchmakers.

In fact, it’s basically the exact same idea as Ship, although it doesn’t seem to be quite as popular yet. If you’re interested in this kind of app, you may want to go with Ship for now, though there’s nothing stopping you from trying both out and seeing which you prefer.

Pros:

Facebook log-in is convenient
Fun concept that involves your friends

Cons:

Not great if you don’t want to involve your friends
Relatively new = small-ish user base

Pricing:

Free

27.  Her – Best  for LGBTQ+ women

Billing itself as the “world’s most loved LGBTQIA2S+ dating and community app,” HER is the perfect app for lesbian, bi, and queer dating. You can kind of think of this as the more feminine version of Grindr.

While there aren’t a whole lot of apps to compare this to, that works in HER’s favor as it has attracted a large number of its target audience. Many people have found love or just a casual hookup through Her, and the site allows you to specify what you’re looking for, which is always ideal in our opinion.

Pros:

Great for the LGBTQ+ community
Sleek and intuitive UI

Cons:

Not for everyone
Not exclusively for hookups

Pricing:

Monthly: $14.99 per monthAnnual: $89.99 per year

28.  Happn – Best for urban dwellers

Happn revolves around a neat concept—it uses location tracking to find people that you might have crossed paths with (and how many times). For example, it might let you find someone who’s always at the same coffee shop as you. If you both like that coffee shop, why not get coffee there and see if there’s a spark?

That’s the whole concept behind Happn, and it’s a pretty cool one ngl. The only problem is this will definitely not appeal to people who are more discreet and have privacy concerns (like letting an app track them 24/7).

Nonetheless, many people might find it nice that technology can allow us to rectify what otherwise might have been a narrowly missed opportunity.

Pros:

Unique and innovative concept
Growing user base

Cons:

Requires location tracking
Poorly rated app on Google Play (better rated on Apple)

Pricing:

Monthly: $24.99 per monthAnnual: $79.99 per year

29.  Casualx – Best for casual hookups

The idea behind CasualX is that it’s another Tinder-style dating app but with a focus that should be obvious from its name—casual hookups.

If this is what you’re after, then you’ll be in good shape. If not, then you should probably look elsewhere (but we’d also be kinda confused why you’re reading a “sex apps” article tbh).

One downside to this is that it’s a relatively small userbase compared to many of the apps reviewed here.

Pros:

Perfect for casual hookups
Simple interface

Cons:

Small-ish user community at the moment
Limited to 45 swipes per day

Pricing:

1 month: $15.993 months: $36.996 months: $55.99Free: Promote it on social media (1 day per every 10 followers)

30.  String – Best for the bold

String is another app that’s all about one specific concept. In this case, it’s voice memos. This is a popular trend among younger generations—i.e. communicating by sharing voice memos rather than texting. So, as you might expect, the community on String skews rather young. This might be a positive or a negative depending on your perspective.

It’s undeniable that there’s a greater level of intimacy and connection in communicating by voice rather than text. Texting has always been rather sterile, after all.

Unfortunately, some people have complained about the glitchiness of this app, so it would appear that they have some kinks to work out (and not the fun kind!).

Pros:

Perfect for people who like voice memos

Cons:

Fair number of glitches
Niche concept won’t appeal to everyone

31.  Established Men – Best for finding a sugar daddy

We started with a sugar site (Seeking) and we’re ending with one as well. Established Men is all about pairing successful, i.e. “established,” men with young and beautiful women. This is the classic “sugar baby-sugar daddy” relationship.

If you fit into either one of these molds and are looking for a sugar relationship, then Established Men is a top option for you (along with Seeking). If not, then it doesn’t really make sense for you.

Pros:

Top option for sugar relationships
Free for women

Cons:

Lots of scammers and bots
Gets costly for men

Pricing:

Free: limited features1 month: $793 months: $14712 months: $300

FAQs About Sex Apps

Is it safe to use sex apps?

Generally speaking, yes, it is safe to use sex apps. Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and dating apps in general are used safely everyday by millions of people. That said, you should always use common sense and basic safety tips. It’s important, for example, to watch out for scammers and phishing attempts.

How do you stay safe using sex apps?

Always trust your gut instincts and be cautious. It’s also super important to meet someone for the first time in a public place where other people are around (like a coffee shop, for example). It also doesn’t hurt to inform someone close to you where you’re going to be and that you’re meeting someone for the first time. You should also be wary of giving away more than very basic personal information to anyone you don’t know well.

Are there any free sex apps?

Yes and no, at least if you’re a guy. You can try platforms such as Reddit r/R4R or Craigslist, but don’t hold your breath. As for the other sex apps reviewed above, some of them offer free trials. Unfortunately, some of these free trials or free memberships are super limited. For the most part, you’ll have more success if you shell out for a membership.

Can women use sex apps for free?

Yes, many women can use sex apps for free. Some of the major ones that offer free memberships include Bumble, Hinge, OkCupid, Happn, and Plenty of Fish.

Final Thoughts

You know what, sometimes relationships can flat out suck. And if you’re in a bad one or just got out of one, then the best thing for you may be some good old-fashioned casual hookups.

Nowadays, the power of the internet has made it easier than ever to find no-strings-attached sex. It can be as anonymous, open, kinky, or vanilla as you like. There are millions of people out there looking to hook up, and these sex apps we’ve reviewed will enable you to find them.

If you’re still unsure what’s right for you, you probably can’t go too wrong with some of the biggest names in the sex app world, like Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, etc. But if you’re after something more niche, then use our guide above to find the one that makes most sense for you.

Whatever you choose, stay safe, have fun, and good luck!

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