Blogroll

A new Stuff Your Kindle Day is live for lovers of romance — score free romance books right now

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 15:44

FREE BOOKS: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on March 18-21. This Romance Book Blast, hosted by Indie Author Hive, is offering free romance books for your e-reader.

The Stuff Your Kindle Day schedule was completely wild at the start of this year, to the point where we needed a break. We got exactly what we wanted, and now we're ready to jump back into a busy period after weeks of nothing.

The latest Romance Book Blast, hosted by Indie Author Hive, is offering participants the chance to download romance books without spending anything. And everything that you download is yours to keep forever, so this is your best opportunity to stock up ahead of the summer. We're sure you've got some serious reading planned for the coming weeks and months, so you'll need some material.

SEE ALSO: I tested the best Kindles to help you find the perfect e-reader

Looking to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

This Romance Book Blast takes place on March 18-21. Unlike a lot of 24-hour giveaways, this event gives you the opportunity to properly take stock of your options and download the titles you know you want to read. There's no need to panic.

Which ebooks are free?

This Romance Book Blast offers free (or heavily discounted) romance books from a number of sub-genres, including dark romance, small-town romance, fantasy, paranormal, romcom, sports romance, and more. Anyone can participate in this event: Kindle and Kobo readers can download these romance books for free.

Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow at the same time.

The best Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle (16GB) + Kindle Unlimited (3 Months) $109.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Why we like it

These popular e-readers let you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle. Plus, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free with your purchase.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Think Arch Linux is too hard? 5 myths that are officially dead in 2026

How-To Geek - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 15:30

Arch Linux has always been painted by some persistent and intimidating myths, Arch has memes about it like it being unstable, overly complex, or having an elitist, gatekept community. For ages, people thought it was just for terminal wizards, demanding so much expertise that it actually scared off anyone new and curious. However, the Linux world has really changed, and so has what Arch is actually like. The biggest myths about Arch Linux need to be busted because it isn't that fragile, intimidating beast of legend anymore. It's evolved into one of the most dependable, flexible, and surprisingly accessible operating systems around, as long as you're a bit careful.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why NVMe is the only acceptable option for your next DIY external SSD

How-To Geek - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 15:00

So, you want to build an DIY external SSD, and you want it to be fast? Sadly, your only option is NVMe. While NVMe blows the pants off USB transfer rates, it’s still the best option if you want more than 600MB/s transfer speeds—plus you might even have storage lying around that needs to be put to use, making it a more economical option, too.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is here—here’s what it costs

How-To Geek - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 14:59

Families still looking for a roomy three-row SUV with solid efficiency and a reasonable price have a refreshed option in the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. It’s been updated for the new model year as part of a mid-cycle refresh, building on the current generation that launched in 2022.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 new Ryobi USB Lithium tools for 2026 you’ll actually use

How-To Geek - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 14:45

Ryobi is wildly popular among DIYers and professionals for its expansive selection of 18V cordless power tools, but its USB-C rechargeable Lithium-ion tools for around the house are super helpful. With over 36 items and more coming in 2026, here are a few upcoming tools you'll actually want.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This classic chat app was way ahead of its time, and it's still alive 25 years later

How-To Geek - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 14:30

If you've used the internet for many years, you may have heard of AOL Instant Messenger—a popular turn-of-the-century chat system—but have you ever encountered Pidgin? If you were around the open-source community over the past two decades, you no doubt have, but it wasn't just a mere chat application; it was so much more. Built on a forward-thinking engine and pioneering private communications, Pidgin got it right for so many, long ago—something that modern chat applications could learn from.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This overlooked Roku feature lets me jump back into shows without opening any apps

How-To Geek - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 14:15

When it comes to streaming media hubs, Roku has always had its own thing going on. Roku's clean, app-focused grid has stayed in this dependable space, but that doesn't mean it's always been easy to find where you left off. If you paused a great movie on Netflix last night and then wanted to watch something on Max today, you had to go on a scavenger hunt, jumping into each app just to resume your progress.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Elijah Wood reveals the LOTR group chat name, shares what their daily exchange looks like

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 14:11

The fact that there's still an active Lord of the Rings group chat after 25 years is a testament to the close bond of hobbits.

In the Late Show clip above, Elijah Wood reveals to Stephen Colbert that he still speaks to his fellow cast members every day, and that their group is called "Shire Folk".

"Dom [Monaghan] retitled it 'Shire Folk'. It was 'The Hobbits', but he was like, 'Ah, it's too on the nose.' And we text each other every day," says Wood. "We do the New York Times Mini Crossword, so we share our scores on there."

Deeply wholesome.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How screaming case fans helped me discover a crypto miner hiding on my NAS

How-To Geek - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 14:00

Did your NAS become louder than normal all of the sudden? Mine did that a few weeks ago, all because it got hacked by a crypto miner. So, if your NAS server’s fans have become a nuisance and they normally aren’t—you might be compromised.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Linux gives users too much choice, and that its biggest weakness

How-To Geek - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 13:30

Let's get this out of the way—Linux doesn't need to prove anything to anyone. Any discussion about Linux's lack of success is strictly about the desktop operating system market. By every other metric, Linux is king of the hill. When it comes to servers, scientific supercomputers, billions of phones and other embedded systems, Linux is the OS of choice.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 smart home automations that actually make my life easier (and 2 that were a waste of time)

How-To Geek - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 13:00

Once you set foot down the Home Assistant rabbit hole, you’ll reach a stage where you want to automate everything. As a result, many genuinely useful automations materialize alongside a handful of useless ones that are quickly discarded or never triggered again.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Advertisers shift to conservative creators over progressives under Trump

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 13:00

The pendulum isn’t shifting. It’s shifted.

As we enter year two of the second Trump administration, mainstream brands are becoming more comfortable working with conservative creators and shifting ad dollars to apolitical creators. That’s what several experts on the creator economy told me at SXSW 2026.

Last year, Business Insider reported that blue-chip advertisers were embracing right-wing outlets like Fox News and The Daily Wire. Fox News told Business Insider at the time it had onboarded 125 new large advertisers following Trump’s election. The publication reported that companies feared that “avoiding conservative platforms [was] a risk to their brands,” while others wanted to avoid “signaling a political allegiance on either side of the aisle.”

Now, experts say the same shift is happening in the fast-growing creator economy, where advertisers spent an estimated $37 billion in 2025, according to IAB.

“There’s certainly a level of comfortability with conservatives, no doubt. Look at the mainstream brands who support all the channels today, right?” said Arthur Leopold, CEO and co-founder of Agentio, a programmatic creator advertising startup, in an interview at SXSW.

“If you even consider how much the pendulum has swung, five years ago, if you were a brand and you didn't have the pride flag during June...” Leopold told me, "There would be little boycotts and national news would be covering that X, Y, Z brand doesn't have a pride flag. But now you think back to last year, and you barely saw that, right? So there's been a desensitization to politics and how brands respond to it on social. And because of that, brands care a little bit less about whether they are working with a Ben Shapiro or Meidas Touch.”

Conservative media is home to hundreds of proudly right-wing podcasters, YouTubers, and streamers. And let’s not forget about the right-leaning manosphere. While these creators have always received deals from conservative-aligned brands like Black Rifle Coffee, many are no longer off-limits to mainstream brands.

At the same time, that means proudly progressive creators are sometimes losing out on dollars they used to count on.

Creators often earn limited income from monetization programs on platforms like YouTube or TikTok. Typically, brand deals are essential to building a sustainable career as a creator. So, if progressive creators who are outspoken on LGBTQ+ rights or climate change can’t secure partnerships, their voices could disappear from your feed.

SEE ALSO: The unseen risks creators face when they get political

“These are amazing, amazing people. Incredible freaking people, but there are brands that feel like they shouldn’t be supporting them. Whereas, two years ago, everyone did,” Leopold said.

Antonia Alakija, a creator economy strategist and Meta and TikTok alum, told Mashable she’s definitely seeing brands seek out more apolitical creators.

“I think before it was OK to have more of a social perspective or moral perspective. I'm seeing brands choose creators who don't really speak to those topics and don't have a brand aligned with either side, just because of the polarization and opinions going on right now. So, I would say, in terms of creator selection, I'm definitely seeing that," Alakija said.

Brooke Berry, head of creator development at Snapchat, told Mashable that creators who are having a hard time finding deals because of their political beliefs shouldn’t feel like they need to silence themselves. Instead, they should find other formats and topics to create alongside their more outspoken content.

“I had one of my reality TV star creators say, you know, on another platform, it's hard for him to sometimes find deals, because he does speak out a lot and has very specific views," Berry said. "But that's when I told him, you don't have to necessarily stop what you're speaking about, but you need to identify content formats within other areas. Like, he's into fitness, he's on the spectrum, he has high-functioning autism, and he talks a lot about those. Find the formats within that that brands can plug into.”

However, being too outspoken can still impact a creator’s ability to secure deals, as Mashable has reported before.

“Even sometimes when you do do the apolitical stuff, if you do even have a roster of any political stuff, that could get in the way of opportunities, in this era specifically,” Alakija warned.

Leopold told me there are, of course, hard lines for companies. Whether on the right or left, extreme opinions or controversies are often unattractive to brands, for obvious reasons.

“If there are creators who might be way too controversial or have said something that could be damaging for a brand, we have to be honest with that, and we wouldn't onboard them. We are a closed platform, right?” Leopold told me. “And the brands can also say, ‘Hey, we want to work with creators that are more aligned to certain causes, political or otherwise. You know, we are a brand looking for a highly male audience and success on channels like Ben Shapiro's. So, OK, well, there are similar channels, like maybe outdoor lifestyle channels or apolitical channels that have a similar audience.”

The trend to support apolitical and conservative creators is troubling for left-wing creators trying to carve out a living in the increasingly crowded creator economy.

However, that’s the thing about pendulums.

They always swing back eventually.

The quotes in this story have been lightly edited for clarity and grammar.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Score 2 months of Paramount+ for under $6 — the best deal for live streaming March Madness

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 12:32

TL;DR: Until March 31, get two months of Paramount+ for $2.99 per month. Watch every March Madness game for under $6 with this limited-time offer.

Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ (2-Month Subscription) $2.99 per month until March 31 Shop Now

March Madness is finally underway. College basketball is great all season long, but the real fun starts in March.

It's at this point that a lot of dedicated and casual fans seek out ways to watch the tournament. And as if by magic, Paramount+ just dropped a stunning deal to help you follow the action for less. Until March 31, you can get two months of Paramount+ for just $2.99 per month. The offer is available to new and returning subscribers and applies to monthly plans only.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Paramount+ is the streaming hub for CBS-broadcast March Madness games. CBS will air March Madness games from the First Round, Second Round, Sweet 16, and Elite Eight. It's worth noting that the 2026 men’s Final Four and NCAA national championship games will air on TBS, but you can still watch a huge number of games with Paramount+ and CBS. And for under $6, this really is a great deal for sports fans.

Watch select March Madness games for under $6 with this limited-time Paramount+ offer.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to use Watch Window in Excel to track key formulas and their results

How-To Geek - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 12:30

The Excel 101: you update an input, then spend the next 10 minutes jumping between tabs to see how it affected your key data. You then update another input, and it's rinse and repeat. If only there were a way to see the impact immediately! Luckily for you, the Watch Window lets you do exactly that, even if your formulas are in far-away worksheets or workbooks. Here's how to use this game-changing tool.

Categories: IT General, Technology

SNL UKs first promo teases Tina Fey as the first guest host

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 12:11

Saturday Night Live UK is mere days away from launching, and we now have the first ever promo — featuring SNL royalty Tina Fey herself.

In the clip above cast members Celeste Dring, Hammed Animashaun, Larry Dean, George Fouracres, Jack Shep, Ayoade Bamgboye, Al Nash, Paddy Young, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, and Emma Sidi sit around discussing how they're going to promote the show, when Fey suddenly floats down from the ceiling — in full Mary Poppins regalia — to give them advice.

SNL UK will follow the same guest host format as the original, with Fey hosting in the first week (with musical guest Wet Leg) followed by Jamie Dornan and Riz Ahmed (with Wolf Alice and Kasabian, respectively) in the upcoming weeks.

Saturday Night Live UK is live on Sky One this Saturday at 10 p.m. BST, and available on streaming service NOW.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How online prediction markets got people betting on nuclear war

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 11:09

As Israel and the U.S. launched an attack on Iran in late February, which quickly spilled into a region-wide war, betters on prediction market platform Polymarket have been monetising on the prospect of a nuclear weapon detonation.

In a since-deleted market on the platform, Polymarket users were betting on the chances of a nuclear weapon strike in 2026. But who is gaining from these bets, and is the issue more than ethical? 

Prediction markets are online platforms where people can place bets on pretty much everything — from how much a Pokémon card would cost to how many times Elon Musk is going to post on X on a given month, to who would win Best Picture at the Oscars. There are even bets on whether or not Jesus Christ will return by 2027.

The most popular prediction platforms in the U.S. right now are Kalshi and Polymarket, both headquartered in New York City, but there are many others; just these two are worth $11 billion and $9 billion, respectively.

Prediction markets aren't new, but they really erupted around the 2024 U.S. presidential election. In New York, billboards on Times Square showed live bets people were placing on the election's outcome. In recent months, people have placed predictions on Polymarket on the length of the U.S. government shutdown and whether or not the U.S. would strike Iran. A user on Polymarket, notably, even placed a bet that Venezuela’s former president, Nicolás Maduro, would be ousted by the U.S. hours before it happened. The prediction earned the better $400,000, but it also raised a lot of questions about insider trading among government officials.

Insider trading is illegal in the U.S. under federal law. Kalshi has prohibited insider trading and has regulations that allow individual users to be tracked and investigated. But Polymarket does not have such rules around tracking. It's also technically not even approved in the U.S. but it still can be accessed using a VPN, so the platform's ability to check who placed which bets is limited.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Amazon Echo deals to shop ahead of the 2026 Big Spring Sale

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 11:07
The best Echo deals in the Amazon Big Spring Sale: Best Echo deal Echo Show 11 $219.99 (save $50) Get Deal Best budget deal Amazon Echo Spot $49.99 (save $30) Get Deal Best kids deal Amazon Echo Pop Kids $29.99 (save $20) Get Deal

I’ll be the first to admit that I rely on my Amazon Echo devices a little too much. But they’re just so damn convenient for literally everything — from setting cooking timers to checking the weather and even turning off my TV (yes, I'm getting a little lazy these days). Alexa+ has made it way too easy.

SEE ALSO: The best early robot vacuum deals to shop ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale

Amazon is notorious for discounting its own tech during major shopping events, and there’s a big one right around the corner: Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. Consider it the first major savings event before Prime Day. We had Presidents' Day, sure, but that doesn't hold a candle to what this sale is going to be.

Running from March 25 to March 31, the Big Spring Sale will let shoppers snag discounts across just about every category. Last year, we saw markdowns of up to 71% off, and we’re expecting this year to bring more of the same.

Here are the best Echo deals you can shop right now.

Best Amazon Echo deal Amazon Echo Show 11 $169.99 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

If you're looking to upgrade your smart home setup during the Big Spring Sale, the new Amazon Echo Show 11 is our top pick. It has a vibrant 11-inch full-HD touch screen and is designed for Amazon's new, conversational AI assistant, Alexa+. Bonus: It's $169.99 right now, which is the lowest price we've tracked to date. (If you want something a little cheaper, you can get the 8-inch screen for $139.99.)

Over at our sister site PCMag, Andrew Gebhart dubbed the device the best way to bring Alexa+ to big rooms. Gebhart notes that its 1,900-by-1,200 pixel resolution provides a crisper, better picture quality than Amazon's larger, much pricier Echo Show 15 and 21 models.

More Echo deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

You can shop several Dyson deals ahead of the Amazon Big Spring Sale

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 11:05
The best Amazon Spring Sale Dyson deals at a glance: Best Dyson Corded Vacuum Deal Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra Upright Vacuum $549.99 (save $155) Get Deal Best Dyson Cordless Vacuum Deal Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum $375 (save $164.99) Get Deal Best Dyson Air Purifier Deal Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP1 $499 (save $160.99) Get Deal

It's that time again. The Amazon Big Spring Sale is back, and it's set to run from March 25 through March 31. You'll be able to score some serious savings across every conceivable category on the site, so it's time to lock in some of those must-have purchases that have been on your list.

One thing you'll definitely want to keep an eye out for is deep discounts across the Dyson brand, from sales on vacuums to air purifiers. There are already several early deals popping up ahead of the sale that you can shop before the madness.

While there are currently no savings opportunities on Dyson's hair tools and scant savings on its audio products, there are plenty of deals to be found on vacuums and more. That could likely change in the coming days as the sale begins, however.

Right now, we've gathered together the best Dyson deals we could find on Amazon. So if you can't wait, the good news is that you can shop these products right now ahead of the sale.

Best Dyson corded vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra Upright Vacuum $394.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $155   Get Deal Why we like it

This powerful corded vacuum can tackle even the toughest of pet messes and then some. With its tangle-free turbine tool, it offers high-performance cleaning with whole-machine filtration to make sure all those dust and dirt particles it captures don't get released back into the air in your home. It can handle dirt and pet hair no matter where you decide to run it, with three suction modes perfect for deep-, medium-, and low-pile carpets as well as hard floors and other high-traffic areas. It even comes with pet tools for removing hair from upholstery and fabric as well as your car.

Best Dyson cordless vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum $375 at Amazon
$539.99 Save $164.99   Get Deal Why we like it

Dyson is known for its many cordless vacuum options that are just as powerful as its corded models, and this one is no slouch. It has the same powerful motorbar cleaner head to cut through dirt and debris in your home as well as pet hair, with two power modes. Its "Powerful" mode is perfect for regular cleaning across the board, while "Max" mode is better for spot cleaning when you have tough stains and other difficult issues to tackle. Plus, it gives you 40 minutes of runtime so if you have a larger area to clean, it won't run out of battery in the middle of your session. Even better, it can be converted into a handheld vacuum to get in those nooks and crannies or clean out your car, couch, or furniture.

Best Dyson air purifier deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP1 $499 at Amazon
$659.99 Save $160.99   Get Deal Why we like it

Clear the air in your home with this air purifier that uses both an activated carbon filter and HEPA filter to remove gases and 99.97% of the microscopic allergens that make their way inside. The entirety of the purifier is sealed so it all stays contained, while you breathe fresher air all throughout your home. It claims to capture up to 97% of odors as well, so if you have pets or you've been cooking something pungent, it can trap those smells and make things a bit fresher. Set your own cleaning schedules via the MyDyson app and control and monitor the air quality from there as well. It's simple to set up and keep a tidier home with this Dyson air purifier, and the cherry on top? It can heat and cool your home as well.

More Dyson deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Pay once and secure 100TB of cloud storage for life with this limited-time deal

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 11:00

TL;DR: Secure enough cloud storage forever with this 100TB lifetime subscription Internxt Cloud Storage deal, now only $974.97 through March 31.

Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 100TB $974.97
$9,900 Save $8,925.03   Get Deal

Whether you’re a content creator, a heavy-duty data user at work, or you just like documenting your kid’s every move, you know all too well the pain of keeping up with your storage needs. Maybe you have dozens of external hard drives lying around, or you’re paying a small fortune to keep things in the cloud? Internxt Cloud Storage offers a much better solution.

Right now, you can secure a whopping 100TB of space with this lifetime Internxt Cloud Storage subscription for just $974.97 until March 31.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

If you want to put an end to constantly needing to upgrade your cloud storage space and spending more and more money each month, it’s time to check out Internxt Cloud Storage. This cloud storage option lets you pay once and own 100TB of space outright.

Aside from offering you a more affordable option, Internxt Cloud Storage also provides serious privacy. While other companies access and profit from your data, Internxt uses end-to-end encryption that prevents anyone, including Internxt itself, from viewing it. They are also GDPR compliant, audited, and verified by Securitum.

If you’re already storing your data with a big company, Internxt offers easy cross-platform compatibility. User-friendly apps for Android, iOS, web browsers, and desktop make it simple to grab your content from anywhere. They also offer speed without any limits, so you’ll get the best performance out of your connection.

Get this 100TB lifetime subscription Internxt Cloud Storage deal for just $974.97 until March 31.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Adult Friend Finder vs. Tinder: How they compare as hookup apps

Mashable - Wed, 03/18/2026 - 11:00

Imagine it's Friday night and you're alone with nothing to do. Out of a combination of boredom and loneliness, you decide you're going to use the internet to score a hookup, if not for this weekend then hopefully for next.

What's your best plan here? What site or app offers you the greatest chance of success? In the wild world of online dating, two names stand above the crowd when it comes to keeping things casual: Tinder and Adult Friend Finder, and while both are veterans of the online dating game, they also take very different approaches to connecting strangers. 

Is one inherently better than the other? Not necessarily, but one might be better for you, depending on what you're looking for and how you want to go about your search. To help you pick your best hookup option, we've broken down some of the key differences between Adult Friend Finder and Tinder.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder   Learn More Opens in a new window Credit: Tinder Tinder   Learn More Adult Friend Finder vs. Tinder for hookups

By reputation, both of these options are notoriously hookup-focused, so we're off to a good start there, but they operate in entirely different ways and attract very different people, so it's important to understand the differences.

Do you prefer an app or website?

Tinder began as an app and will remain an app, but Adult Friend Finder is one of the few dating websites that never opted for native smartphone support. If you prefer to do your swiping on the couch or on the toilet, you'll automatically gravitate to Tinder, but if you don't mind using a computer to score your next hookup, you'll probably appreciate the richer feature set of Adult Friend Finder, including chat rooms, discussion boards, and live webcam broadcasts. 

SEE ALSO: All your Hinge questions, answered

From a hookup perspective, Tinder's algorithm-driven approach is somewhat limiting, since the only way to speak to someone is to match first, whereas Adult Friend Finder is more generous in its approach, allowing you both the traditional match-first-and-then-talk approach while also offering you more public spaces to interact with people based on shared interests. If you're looking for the fastest possible connection, AFF is probably the way to go, but if you can be patient, Tinder's ability to serve up an endless array of nearby singles shouldn't be underestimated.

The cost of using both services

If you're cash-strapped or just feeling stingy, it's worth knowing that, while both services can be used for free, Tinder is the better option for people who don't want to submit their credit card information. With a free Tinder account, you can browse, swipe, match, and talk to people, all without ever having to commit to a subscription fee. A free account on Adult Friend Finder only allows you to create a profile, explore the public areas, and interact with people in group settings. If you want to talk to someone one on one through AFF, you'll need to upgrade to a Gold membership.

That being said, if you really want to make the most of both services and maximize your chances of scoring a hookup, the premium membership tiers do offer some valuable features. Tinder has three subscription Tiers — Tinder Plus, Tinder Gold, and Tinder Platinum — that offer unlimited likes, the ability to "boost" your profile in the search results, and even, at the highest tier, the ability to message people you haven't already matched with or see people who like your profile. Tinder uses a dynamic pricing model, depending on your age, gender and location, but you should expect to pay between $4.99 and $9.99 in the United States for a Plus membership, and above that for the higher tiers.

SEE ALSO: All your Tinder questions, answered

Adult Friend Finder's Gold membership costs between $19.95 and $39.95 per month, depending on the length of the subscription you opt for, and it really helps the site shine. A premium membership unlocks one-on-one messaging, upgrades your search options, and gives you insights into who is checking out your profile, which makes finding a hookup much more efficient. 

The user demographics

Another major difference between Tinder and Adult Friend Finder, and one that can make or break your hookup search, is the demographic data. Both Tinder and AFF skew male, with Adult Friend Finder clocking in at approximately 65 percent male, 35 percent female and Tinder posting even more lopsided numbers, with roughly 75 percent of its users identifying as male. But that's not even the most important demographic statistic.

The major difference between Adult Friend Finder users and Tinder users isn't gender but age. Tinder is most popular among the young, with its average user between 18 and 24 years of age. The average Adult Friend Finder user is between 30 and 38 years of age.

So which option offers your best chance for success? If you're younger, or if you live around a lot of younger people, like in a city or college town, you're probably better off fishing in Tinder's waters, but if you're in your 30s or 40s and still looking for something casual, Adult Friend Finder has the most options for you.

Categories: IT General, Technology
Syndicate content

eXTReMe Tracker