Casual Dating: The Ultimate App Guide in 2024

Casual dating is when you don't want something serious. You want to date around, see multiple people, and not answer to any one person in particular. It's nonexclusive, so you are able to do what you want, when you want - just as long as everyone involved knows the score.

When you are looking to casual date, you want to avoid the following.

1. A serious relationship

   
   

2. Marriage

   
   

3. Monogamy

   
   

4. Polyamory

   
   

Anything that could define the relationship in any way, regardless of how open the expectations are, will eventually complicate casual dating.

Make sure you do regular check-ins on your relationship status to make sure no one has caught feelings. The lines can quickly become blurred the more often you see someone in casual relationships.

Casual dating can really run a spectrum, depending on what you are looking to get out of it. Five of the most common types of casual dating are below.

1. One Night Stand: A one-time hook-up, often with a stranger or casual acquaintance. It only happens once, and often it's never talked about again, even if you run in the same circles.

   
   

2. Hookups: A step up from a one-night stand, hookups can happen more than once. They aren't planned, but if you end up together, you end up together, no strings attached.

   
   

3. Fuck Buddies: A fuck buddy is someone you can have on demand when you want to have a good time. It's still no strings attached, but there is more planning that goes into it. You can call or text to set something up. Casual sex and nothing else is on the table here.

   
   

4. Friends with Benefits: Sometimes you are friends with someone, but you still want to hook up. You don't want a romantic relationship with them, but you want to spend time with them even when you're not hooking up.

   
   

5. Situationship: A situationship is a limbo situation. You're somewhere between casual dating and serious dating. You get into a situationship because you don't have clear ground rules, and it can get incredibly complicated quickly. A situationship is a step below actually dating someone.

   
   

Casual dating may look different to different people, so make sure that you are honest with what you are hoping to get from it from the start. This conversation may be awkward, but it can avoid hurt feelings and unrealistic expectations.

It's hard to say if casual dating is always better. It depends on what you are hoping to get out of it.

What components typically make up dating casually?

1. No feelings, strings, or rules

   
   

2. No expectations

   
   

3. No emotional connection

   
   

4. Reliance on physical attraction

   
   

5. Casual sex

   
   

In the most basic sense, anything that typically makes up long-term relationships is often missing from casual dating situations. This can include monogamy, meeting family or friends, emotions, and more.

Dating casually isn't necessarily demanding, which is what makes this type of situation appealing for people who are not looking for serious relationships.

The dating world is filled with different apps, and they all have a different twist on online dating. Which are best for casual dating?

1. Tinder: While some have met their forever person on Tinder, this app started as a hookup all, and it's maintained its reputation as such over the years.

   
   

2. Bumble: Bumble puts the control in the woman's hand to start the chat, and you can even filter what you're looking for. This will help make sure you're only looking for casual relationships from the start.

   
   

3. Hinge: While Hinge connects people within their social network, you can still use it to date casually as long as you're upfront about your expectations.

   
   

4. OKCupid: You can set filters on what you're looking for on OKCupid to help you avoid serious relationships.

   
   

5. Plenty of Fish: This free dating app is another that skews toward hookups and casual dating relationships over something more serious.

   
   

Even though it may disqualify you from some matches, you should be upfront with what you are looking for. You don't want to match with someone who is looking for forever if you are just looking for a good time.

Casual dating or long-term relationships aren't better or worse than each other. It depends on your preference, so let's go over some of the pros and cons each to help you decide which is for you.

Casual Dating Pros and Cons

Let's start with the benefits of casual dating - of which there are many!

1. You can date around.

   
   

2. You don't have to worry about deal breakers. If you catch the ick from someone, all you need to do is move on.

   
   

3. You don't have to get bored with one partner. You can sleep with whoever you want.

   
   

4. You have little expectations of what you can and cannot do. You only have to answer to yourself.

There are some downsides to casually dating as well.

1. It takes a lot of effort to find new partners.

   
   

2. You have to be the master of small talk and have to cover a lot of the same ground over and over again.

   
   

3. You need to worry about cleanliness and sexually transmitted diseases.

As you consider a casual relationship, think about your end goal. If you just want casual sex or a fling, it may be for you.

Long-Term Relationship Pros and Cons

Next up are long-term relationships. These are for those looking for a serious relationship, and in most cases, that may eventually lead to marriage. Here are some of the benefits of long-term commitment.

1. You build an emotional relationship, complete with a sense of intimacy that you can only build with familiarity.

   
   

2. You have a partner, someone you can count on to always be your plus one, cook dinner with, and be on your side.

   
   

3. You have a physical and emotional relationship, which can make the sex more powerful.

It's not always a good time in this type of relationship. There are some cons that you need to consider.

1. There's a huge time commitment, and you'll always be spending time together - alone or with their family and friends.

   
   

2. In most cases, you're limited to one person, which can get boring if you like variety in the bedroom.

   
   

3. You have to have strong communication, sharing about your plans, background, and intentions.

Long-term relationships are often for those looking to build a future life together, so you want to make sure to find out if someone feels the same way.

The best way to understand what type of relationship someone is looking for is to ask them! But if you're not feeling bold, here are some things to look out for in their profile.

1. Check out their bio. If they say they're looking for the one, chances are they want a committed relationship.

   
   

2. If they ask you to meet their friends and family, they are likely looking for a serious partner.

   
   

3. If they try to see you multiple times in a week, they likely want a commitment.

   
   

4. If they are asking about your background, including your childhood, they are likely trying to build an emotional attachment.

   
   

Pay attention to how they are treating you. If they are trying to turn a casual arrangement into something more serious, you will need to set boundaries.