Ashley Madison Review: Affairs, Anonymity, and the Allure of the Forbidden

Ashley Madison. The name is synonymous with infidelity and discreet hookups. With its tagline "Life is short. Have an affair," it's clear what this site is all about. But does Ashley Madison deliver on its promise of connecting dissatisfied individuals seeking extramarital encounters? This review dives into the site's features, pricing, and overall value to determine if it's the right place for your "morally ambiguous matchmaking" needs.

Ashley Madison: A Discreet Dating Site for Married Individuals

Since 2001, Ashley Madison has catered to those seeking affairs. However, the platform also offers an avenue for single people to meet up discreetly, away from the prying eyes of coworkers and friends. In that respect, it's similar to other online dating sites. However, it differentiates itself by offering more explicit options, which make for a more comfortable experience.

Free to Sign Up and View Profiles

Signing up for Ashley Madison is a breeze. You only need your birthday, username, zip code, and an email address (a throwaway email is recommended for added privacy). The site encourages you to complete your profile with details like height, weight, language, and smoking habits.

One key detail is your relationship status, and what kind of relationship you’re looking for: short term, long term, just cybersex, or open to anything.

Anonymity Features: Protecting Your Identity

A profile picture is highly recommended, but Ashley Madison offers several ways to keep your identity secret. You can blur your photo and only reveal it to trusted matches, or use masks and other photo edits to obscure your features.

You can also toggle what sort of sexual acts you want to do. That includes options such as oral, kinky shit, threesomes, cuddling, or simple conventional sex. Then you can input what you like in your matches, and Ashley Madison will send you recommendations based on this.

Credit System: Pay-as-You-Go vs. Subscription

Ashley Madison differs from many dating sites by using a credit system instead of a subscription model. You purchase credits that let you communicate with other members or send them gifts, with 100 credits costing $49, 500 costing $149, and 1000 costing $249. The more credits you buy, the less each one costs.

This system can be seen as a pro and a con. While it allows you to control your spending and only pay when you're actively using the site, it can also add up quickly, especially if you're frequently communicating with multiple members. Viewing profiles is free, but if you are hoping to contact someone it will ultimately cost money.

If you travel often, Ashley Madison has a travel feature that lets you message up to 30 potential hookups in a city you plan to visit. This is perfect for those discreet encounters on business trips.

Mobile Experience: Cheating Made Easier?

Ashley Madison has a mobile site that's just as easy to use as the desktop version. The site is well-formatted for mobile devices, with a pink theme that's easy on the eyes. While there's no dedicated app due to the platform's controversial nature, the mobile site is fully functional for browsing profiles, editing photos, and communicating with members.

Pricing Concerns

At this point, I have few concerns about the cost. To be able to view a single profile, you may be paying 3 dollars. That alone is enough to bankrupt someone. I understand having different membership subscriptions, as this is a very normal thing, but it can still be tricky if a person is not sure where to start, or if they wish to purchase a very small amount.