
XMatch is one of the hornier branches on the Friend Finder Network family tree: an adults-only, casual dating site that leans openly into hookups, kinks, and explicit content. The homepage pitches it as “the world’s hottest adult dating site,” with millions of members and a clear focus on casual encounters, FWB, and anything-but-vanilla connections across genders, orientations, and configurations (singles, couples, swingers).
Once you’re inside, it feels like a mash-up of an old-school dating directory and an adult social network: user profiles, galleries, cams, groups, blogs, and search filters stacked on top of each other. When it works, you can absolutely find people who are upfront about what they want, and the built-in kink friendliness is a plus compared to more sanitized apps. But it’s not all lube and roses. Independent reviews and user forums call out aggressive upsells, paywalled messaging, and a fair number of inactive or spammy-feeling profiles, so you have to go in treating it as an adult-entertainment–adjacent platform rather than a guaranteed hookup machine.
BROADEN YOUR (HOOKUP) HORIZONS: AdultFriendFinder Review (Don’t Sleep on This OG Hookup Site)
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Built specifically for casual, sex-forward encounters, not long-term relationship hunting.
- Tons of adult extras beyond basic profiles, including explicit photos, videos, live cams, and community-style features.
- Free tier lets you browse, poke around the community, and get a feel for the vibe before you commit to a paid plan.
Cons
- Messaging and most meaningful interaction are locked behind paid memberships (Gold and “Standard Contacts”), so free users hit limits fast.
- Busy, porn-adjacent interface can feel overwhelming and dated.
- It has a mixed reputation online with some users reporting bots, low response rates, or feeling constantly upsold on upgrades and credits.
Key Features
- Hookup-first focus: XMatch markets itself around casual dating, hookups, swinging, and adult fun, not marriage or long-term relationship goals.
- Huge, mixed community: Supports straight, queer, bi, swingers, and group dynamics, with members spread across multiple countries and language options.
- Advanced search: Filter by location, age, gender, sexual preferences, body type, kinks, and more, so you’re not just swiping blindly.
- Adult media & cams: User-uploaded NSFW photos/videos, live cam options, and explicit content that push it closer to an adult site than a “normal” dating app.
- Community tools: Groups, blogs, and social features that let you lurk, flirt, or chat without immediately diving into one-on-one sexting.
- Credits/points: Optional add-ons that let you pay for certain premium actions or content.
How to Sign Up

Signing up for XMatch is pretty standard legacy-dating-site stuff:
- Go to XMatch.com and hit the “Join Now” button.
- Pick what you are and what you want (man, woman, couple, group, etc., and what you’re looking for).
- Enter basic info like email, username, password, age, and location, and confirm you’re 18+.
- Set up your profile: upload at least one photo, add a short bio, preferences, and any kinks or boundaries you want visible.
- Optionally upgrade to a paid membership (Gold or Standard Contacts) once you’re ready to actually message people.
How XMatch Works
Under the hood, XMatch functions like an adult social network with a heavy pay-to-play layer.
You can use filters to scan nearby users or browse broader lists of “new,” “popular,” or “featured” profiles. To show interest, you can send flirts/winks, add favorites, or comment on or like public content if your membership tier allows it. Gold members can send and read private messages; some tiers or credits also unlock live chat and cam options. With the extra features, you can dive into live cams, videos, and groups when you want something more porn-adjacent than conversational.
There’s no slick swipe interface or modern matchmaking algorithm hype; it’s more “giant adult directory plus filters” than Hinge-style compatibility charts.
Safety & Security

On the corporate side, XMatch is owned by Friend Finder Networks, the same company behind AdultFriendFinder and other niche adult and dating brands. The site has standard Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and internet dating safety pages that spell out basic safety rules (don’t share personal details too fast, watch for scammers, etc.).
That said, there are a few real-world caveats:
- No background checks: XMatch explicitly states it does not run criminal background screenings on members.
- Mixed user reviews: Some long-time users say it’s legit and fun; others complain about bots, fake-feeling profiles, and difficulty getting real-world meetups.
- Adult-content risk: Because explicit photos and cams are built in, you’ll want to think carefully about what you upload, how identifiable you are, and whether you use a separate email/payment method.
Overall, it’s in line with other big adult networks: structurally legit, but you’re still on your own in terms of vetting people and managing your own privacy and expectations.
What XMatch Costs
XMatch uses a mix of memberships and credits. The exact numbers can shift, but recent breakdowns are pretty consistent:
Gold Membership (full access)
- 1 month: about $39.95
- 3 months: about $26.95 per month (roughly $80.85 total)
- 12 months: about $19.95 per month (roughly $239.40 total)
Standard Contacts (cheaper add-on to contact non-premium members)
- Plans around $19.95 per month, with discounts on longer terms.
Credits / points
- Optional bundles (e.g., a few dollars for 200+ credits) that you can burn on certain premium actions or content.
You can lurk and browse on a free account, but if you actually want to message people, use cams, and tap the full feature set, assume you’ll need at least a month of Gold. As always with legacy hookup sites, it’s smart to double-check the current prices on the checkout page and set a reminder before auto-renew kicks in.
The post XMatch Review: A Hookup Site With Heavy Paywalls appeared first on VICE.




