Smash: A Dating App Built for Casual Dating

The Short Version: Some people aren't ready to settle down, and there's nothing wrong with that! Online dating apps like Smash let singles enjoy casual dating minus the pressure. Smash is a simple dating app that cuts straight to the chase. It's designed to speed up dating, so members connect instantly through chats and profiles that disappear on their own after a little more than an hour.

These days, one of the hardest parts of dating is meeting someone who wants the same things you do. Fortunately, niche dating apps bring together communities of people who share your interests and your reasons for dating. If casual dating is what you're after, you'll get a lot out of the app Smash. It's a dedicated casual dating app built around quick replies, so nobody gets left on read.

Andrew Ronald, a co-founder of Smash, explained the idea behind it. “We created Smash so that people could have an app where the person on the other end of the phone is active in real-time,” he said.

Smash made its debut in 2018.

Put simply, Smash exists to let people date casually without the awkward parts. According to Andrew, singles frequently feel pushed into committed relationships, but Smash doesn't operate that way. On the app, members are free to explore less conventional connections, from wild flings to long-term open relationships.

Since its 2018 launch, Smash has grown to more than 20 million active users worldwide. Its biggest markets are the UK, U.S., and Canada. You can download Smash from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

“I finally found a hookup and casual sex app that actually works. There are plenty of people in and around London and I didn’t have much trouble getting a few numbers,” one Smash user wrote in a review. “Face verification is pretty smart for making sure there are only genuine people using it, and I haven’t seen any bots like other apps.”

Cutting to the Chase Right Away

Someone hunting for a hookup usually has no interest in getting to know a person through a round of 20 questions. They'd much rather skip ahead to the fun part! That's exactly why Smash exists. Every member is encouraged to be honest and direct about what they want.

You can get Smash on the Apple App Store or Google Play.

The team behind Smash has figured out how to help people land casual dates by being direct and setting up plans to meet in real life. Members don't have to dance around the subject or sugarcoat what they expect. Of course, not everyone feels comfortable being that forward, and that's fine. Members stay anonymous, which helps everyone feel at ease when they first say hello.

An AI system at Smash keeps members safe from scammers and catfish accounts. It scans profiles and flags suspicious activity, such as accounts trying to sell services. According to Andrew, the app does a good job of taking down profiles right away, though members also play a major role in keeping the community safe.

“We educate users every time they use the app on how to use it safely, what they should do and what they shouldn’t do,” Andrew told us. 

Finding the Right Match With Selfies on a Timer

Smash's one-of-a-kind matchmaking approach really does let your looks speak for you. Rather than relying on the usual bios and detailed profiles for people to learn about each other, Smash gives members a 69-minute window in which a posted selfie draws in people nearby to flirt and connect with. Chat time is limited, too: once 69 minutes pass, the selfie and all the conversations self-destruct.

Smash members can post temporary selfies to meet one another.

That might sound like a nerve-racking ticking clock, but it's really a blessing in disguise. According to the Smash team, the time limit exists so people get replies right away and never run into stale profiles. With a clock running, people tend to answer more quickly and figure out early whether there's a match, instead of waiting around for weeks.

“I think that every investment we put into matching with real people has a time-limited nature to it,” said Andrew. “Smash is safe, fun, and simple. There are no long bios to fill in. There’s no need to post a picture and then leave the app. Which I think people really appreciate –– they appreciate the simplicity of it.”

Plenty of people ask, “Well what happens after your profile vanishes?” Your profile is simply rebuilt, and you begin again, meeting new people close by. The process is quick and easy, and thousands of people have used it to land a hookup that very same night.

Beat the Clock & Have Fun With SMASH

Smash opens up a new way for singles to meet intriguing people and find hookups nearby. It's the ultimate hookup app for speed dating, offering an adventure like no other. Hookup culture keeps growing, and thanks to apps like Smash, singles can have a good time without working so hard at it. Finding something on Smash can take just a few hours instead of weeks.

Singles can find nearby dates in a matter of seconds.

Anyone can join Smash for free. If you want more out of the experience, though, a paid premium subscription is available. Premium members are bumped ahead of other people nearby and get more flexibility in how they use the app, more conversations, and longer sessions. Whichever version you choose, free or paid, Smash is well worth downloading.

Online dating can involve plenty of trial and error, whether you want romance or a one-night stand. To support singles along the way, Smash publishes blogs packed with advice and tips about what casual dating is like. The articles share other people's stories and lift singles up when they need it. Andrew said he urges members to keep at it.

“If you approach online dating with low expectations and wanting to have it, you won’t go wrong. So, focus on the fun and enjoy the process. Looking the part is very important for Smash, given how it works, so show up persistently and it will soon pay off,” said Andrew.