Created in 2001 with the tagline 'Life is short. Have an affair', Ashley Madison is the top dating site for married people to discreetly find hookups. This freemium platform is just what you need if you want to revive your sex life, bring your body count up, or even if you just have a thing for bored housewives.
Over the years, Ashley Madison has accumulated a user base of over 60 million members in over 50 countries. With massive numbers like that, this site is a giant and your best shot at finding your next kinky experience. This Ashley Madison review will dive into all the nooks and crannies of Ashley Madison and show you how to take advantage of every single feature they offer.
finding real partners for hookups and casual relationships.
- Super private. They get how important it is to stay private. Your chats and payments are kept secret, so no worries there.
- Easy to join. Getting started is quick. No endless questions; you’re in and ready to explore in practically no time.
- Lots of people. The site's packed with girls and guys from everywhere, all looking for that never-ending fun.
- Cool privacy tools. You can hide your photo or use the app without anyone being the wiser, keeping your intimate adventure just between you and those you choose to share it with.
- Mobile-friendly. The app lets you keep in touch and meet new people no matter where you are.
- Great for travelers. Moving around a lot? The app helps you meet people in new places easily.
- Pay as you use it. You only spend credits on actions you do on the site. No hidden fees.
- Credits can go fast. If you're active on the site, you might spend more than you expected. Be attentive.
- Past security issues. They've had some security problems before. They've fixed them, yeah, but it's something people remember.
Ashley Madison has always been popular for its bold take on online dating. It’s one of the best sites for people looking for something outside of their current relationship or just a bit of fun on the side. Despite all the rumors about it, there’s no denying it’s packed with users who want to meet others who share their adventurous spirit.
Is this site for you? Stick around. In this fresh Ashley Madison review, I’ll tell you all the spicy details about this platform. I’ll share how to navigate the site, what to expect, and real stories from users who’ve been there, done that.
If you’re single, curious, tied down but looking, or anywhere in between, I’ll help you decide if Ashley Madison could be your playground.
Who’s Really on Ashley Madison?
When you first visit Ashley Madison, you’ll see the brand’s diverse audience. At this place, people from every corner of the world unite in search of something more edgy. Whether you’re nestled in a bustling metropolis or a quiet town, Ashley Madison brings the thrill right to your doorstep.
Ladies first
Here’s something you don’t see every day: it’s more women than men there. Yep, Ashley Madison changes the script on the typical dating site demographic, thanks to its free membership for women. This smart move and ads that hit just right with the ladies mean an active and hot female community.
Gentlemen, that translates to better odds for you. The field isn’t as crowded here, making it less of a battle royale to catch someone’s attention.
So, who’s on Ashley Madison? Pretty much anyone who’s already over 18 and has an internet connection. It’s trendy among married people looking for a bit of an escape or a secret adventure. But it’s not just for the married crowd; singles are on there, too, enjoying the easy vibe and the fact that it’s free for women.
Age-wise
You might think it’s all about secret affairs, but it’s also for people just looking to chat and meet up without any drama. The age group mainly ranges between 30 and 45, but age doesn’t matter much here. You cab be into younger people or those with a bit more experience, you’ll find your match.
Now, about those fake profiles – they’re around, just like anywhere else. But here’s what you need to remember: if you keep your wits about you, you’ll be fine. The fakes usually show their true colors pretty fast, asking for money or personal info that’s none of their business. When that happens, just hit the report button. Ashley Madison’s team is good at cleaning the house.
What I really liked is that Ashley Madison doesn’t flood your inbox with fake messages the second you sign up. It feels more genuine, like the site’s trying to help you, not just sell you something. Sure, it’s not perfect, but it’s about as real as you can get for a site like this.
The Origins and Trials of Ashley Madison
Back in 2002, Darren J. Morgenstern had an idea: create a place where people looking for something outside their marriage could find a match. That’s how Ashley Madison started.
It got its name from two widespread female names at the time in North America, hinting at its target demographic and mission: to facilitate discreet extramarital affairs. A bit later, the brand found a new home with Avid Life Media in 2007 under the leadership of Noel Biderman.
However, the site’s journey has yet to be without its scandals. Grab some popcorn, mate.
Dirty linen
In 2015, Ashley Madison hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons – a huge data leak. Millions of people’s private info got spilled all over the internet. What made it worse was finding out that the site promised to completely erase your info with its ‘permanent deletion’ feature if you wanted them to… well, it wasn’t exactly true and so permanent after all. This mess led to a lot of people losing trust in Ashley Madison, and Noel Biderman, the boss at the time, ended up stepping down.
But the hack didn’t just expose users’ info; it also showed that Biderman had been cheating himself. What an irony.
This whole saga wasn’t just a privacy nightmare; it also sparked a ton of legal troubles and financial strain for the company behind Ashley Madison.
Before this whole debacle, Ashley Madison was doing well for itself. It had about 32 million users. And despite all this, it’s clear Ashley Madison knew how to get attention. They used provocative marketing strategies, even going as far as creating fake websites to criticize themselves just to get people talking.
In the end, for Ashley Madison, this hack meant starting from scratch in some ways, trying to rebuild trust and fix their image. Luckily, they’re doing good now. So let’s get back to using the site.
So what kind of user interface does Ashley Madison have?
Ashley Madison is user-friendly, making it easy to find people for some virtual or real fun. Again, it’s got a lot of women, which means more choices for everyone.
Right after you set up your profile, you can start browsing. We’ll talk about the registration process in a sec. The site lets you search with specific filters like height, body type, and hair color. You can even search by what kinks or fantasies someone is into if you’ve shared yours on your profile.
The ‘Wink’ feature is great for when you’re feeling shy. It’s a simple way to show interest without having to start a conversation or being too clingy.
Ashley Madison has usual messaging and even webcam chat options for chatting. You can have closer interactions (if you know what I mean) without leaving your home. And there’s no pressure to meet in person; you can stick to online fun if you’re comfortable with that.
Travelers will love Ashley Madison because you can update your location and find new people in whatever area you’re visiting.
The ‘Favorite’ feature lets you keep track of people you like. They’ll know you’ve favorited them, which might make them message you.
You can also see who’s looked at your profile, which is a good way to find out who might be interested in you and start talking without it being awkward.
The Ashley Madison mobile app
In today’s world, a great website needs an equally great app, and Ashley Madison delivers. Available for both iOS and Android, with over 50k ratings on the App Store and a solid 4 out of 5 stars, it’s clear users are finding what they’re looking for.
Downloading the app is free, but similar to the website, you’ll need to buy credits to interact with other users. I really liked its discreet icon – just a simple black square with a white line. It’s designed to stay unnoticed, so if someone else happens to look at your phone, they won’t immediately guess what it’s for.
Now, as promised, we’ll talk about signing up.
How to Get Started on Ashley Madison?
Getting started on Ashley Madison is pretty simple and keeps things private, which is key for a site focused on discreet hookups. Here’s the info on signing up and sorting out your profile.
- Get started. The signup process is simple. You won’t have to spill too much about yourself.
- Relationship status. You’ll need to let them know if you’re single, attached, or looking for something on the side. It’s important since the site is all about finding the right kind of connection.
- The basics. Fill in some general information about yourself – your height, ethnicity, and what you’re looking for on Ashley Madison, etc. This info will be displayed on your profile, helping potential matches better understand who you are.
- Profile pic. A cool thing about Ashley Madison is how it handles profile pics. You can pick a photo but then edit it directly on the site. Want to stay anonymous? Blur out your face or use masks to hide specific features.
Now, let’s see what they have in terms of verification and safety.
- Verification process. While Ashley Madison doesn’t dig deep into personal details, it does have a verification step to make sure you’re a real person. They do it simply by verifying your email.
- Safety features. Ashley Madison takes safety seriously, especially after its past security issues. The platform has beefed up its security measures, so you can relax knowing your data is handled carefully.
As you can see, Ashley Madison offers a safe place to start your search for some fun.
What about prices?
Ashley Madison’s Paid Features and Pricing
Ashley Madison doesn’t shy away from encouraging users to spend cash, prominently featuring a ‘BUY CREDITS’ button. Here’s a closer look at what going premium includes and how the site stacks up against its no less famous competitor.
On Ashley Madison, everything happens through credits, just like on most similar platforms.
- Basic plan. Offers 100 credits at $59.97, or $0.60 per credit.
- Classic plan. This more popular option provides 500 credits for $189, equating to $0.38 per credit.
- Elite plan. At the top end, 1.000 credits come at $309, or $0.31 per credit, plus bonuses like free chat for a day and boosted profile visibility. It’s called ‘Priority Man’ status here.
The site also nudges users towards an auto-refill of credits, though handling this manually might be wiser.
The MIC fee
After buying credits, there’s an option for a Member Initiated Contact Fee (MIC), initially free and then $29.99/month, allowing for free message viewing and responding without spending your credits. Opting out means using credits for these interactions, which could be cost-effective if you plan to stay active regularly.
How credits are used
Credits unlock various cool actions.
- Messaging costs five credits to send or open.
- Chatting deducts 50 credits per hour, with additional credits required as time goes on.
- Sending virtual gifts, a strategy to catch attention, ranges from 20 to 50 credits.
For men, every (literally every) interaction on Ashley Madison will cost credits. For some, it might become a real headache with time.
Comparing costs
To put Ashley Madison’s pricing into perspective, let’s compare it to Seeking Arrangement, another platform suitable for those seeking discreet relationships, though focusing on sugar daddy/sugar baby dating.
- Seeking Arrangement offers a monthly subscription model, with prices starting around $90/month for sugar daddies. This subscription includes unlimited messaging, profile visibility features, and more, without the need for credits.
- Value for money. Ashley Madison’s credit system can offer more control over spending, appealing to users who prefer paying for actions rather than time. In contrast, Seeking Arrangement’s subscription model might be better for users who appreciate unlimited access without micromanaging credits.
Both platforms cater to niche interests within the dating world, but their pricing strategies differ significantly. Ashley Madison’s model can be economical for casual users but costly for those deeply engaged. On the other hand, Seeking Arrangement’s subscription is a higher upfront cost but potentially more economical for active users seeking extensive interactions.
Ultimately, the better value depends on your usage patterns and what you’re looking for on these sites.
Now, let’s talk about safety in detail.
What About Your Safety on Ashley Madison?
Ashley Madison now does its best to make sure everyone using the site feels secure, and their info stays private. And here’s how they do it.
- Two-factor authentication. Besides your usual password, you’ll get asked for another code or info. It’s an important step designed to prevent unauthorized access to your account.
- Safe info sharing. Ever worry about sending personal stuff over the internet? With Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology, Ashley Madison ensures that any data you send over the site – from personal messages to credit card information – is transmitted securely.
- Anonymous billing. When you buy a membership or credits, Ashley Madison’s billing is kept anonymous. No one needs to know what you’re spending your money on, especially in your private life.
Ashley Madison’s team monitors profiles to quickly catch and address any suspicious activity. And if you ever encounter issues or have concerns, reaching out to Ashley Madison is simple. Customer support is available through phone and mail, and for urgent stuff, you can contact them 24/7 via email.
On top of all this technical cake, Ashley Madison helps you help yourself. They share tips and guides on keeping your account extra secure and remind you to keep the info private.
What Users Say about Ashley Madison: User Reviews, Ratings, Testimonials
Ashley Madison has received diverse feedback across various review platforms. This renowned dating platform, specifically designed for those seeking discreet relationships, has been rated on Trustpilot and Sitejabber, reflecting a range of experiences from its vast user community.
How users rate Ashley Madison on Trustpilot and Sitejabber?
On Trustpilot, Ashley Madison has achieved a rating, with 3% of the ratings being 5 stars, indicating a distinct group of users who have had exceptionally positive experiences. Despite a smaller percentage, these high ratings underscore the satisfaction and fulfillment these users found in Ashley Madison’s unique services.
In a similar vein, Sitejabber showcases a broader spectrum of positive feedback for Ashley Madison. Here, 29 reviews have awarded 5 stars, while 117 reviews have given 4 stars. These ratings reflect the appreciation for Ashley Madison’s discreet approach, user-friendly interface, and the diversity of connections available on the platform. Users who rated the service with 4 and 5 stars often highlight the effective privacy measures, the ease of finding compatible matches, and the non-judgmental environment fostered by Ashley Madison.
These ratings and reviews on Trustpilot and Sitejabber indicate a nuanced picture of Ashley Madison. While every user experience is unique, these ratings suggest that many find value and satisfaction in the services offered by Ashley Madison, especially those seeking discreet, non-traditional relationships.
What are users testimonials about Ashley Maddison on Reddit?
And what about Reddit?
As you can see, every user’s experience is a bit different, but the general vibe is that Ashley Madison does what it promises, with a few caveats to consider.
Final Thoughts
What’s my final word on Ashley Madison? It’s a great option for women because using the platform doesn’t cost anything, which is a big plus. Guys will find it helpful, as there’s a lot of potential for having a hookup.
No matter your relationship status, Ashley Madison offers something unique that you won’t easily find elsewhere.
So, if you’ve been thinking about trying it, it’s time to do it.
Why not see for yourself?
References
- https://help.ashleymadison.com/en/collections/5202-most-popular-questions
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Madison
- https://www.reddit.com/r/adultery/comments/s3acz2/ashley_madison_verification_process/
AM is still #1 affair site. Huge database of members, very well established brand. There are few cons though:
- High price
- Recent security breach
- You have to pay to have your personal data vanished
However, I still regularly use it (and if you know how to treat housewives, you'll get to the 4th base), but to double, or even triple up my chances, I use another great affair website recommended by lots of other guys here: Nostringsaffair.com.
Happy hunting!
As a women, I can tell you that this site works. I've met and hooked up with a lot of great guys. However, I will say that since there are considerably more men than women on the site you have to make yourself stand out from the crowd. Women like to be wined and dined and brought on business trips, to a nice hotel, etc... Be patient, it works. I found a great guy who I have been hooking up with on a regular basis for over 2 years now and we are very happy with the arrangement.