If you’re looking for an affair or exploring dating outside your marriage, we think Ashley Madison is a good choice. However, if you’re short on time and want to get started on your spicy love life, you can open a 30-day free trial account here.
You may have already heard of Ashley Madison. The dating site got into hot water a few years ago because of a massive data breach. This revealed the personal details of their members.
Since then, they’ve worked hard to rebuild their image and gain the trust of their members. This was done by improving the security and privacy of its site. Ashley Madison’s motto is “Life is short. Have an affair.” They openly encourage extramarital affairs and open-mindedness.
Does Ashley Madison work? We think so based on many happy reviews of people using the site. In addition, many people successfully use the app to create connections. Please keep reading to find our full Ashley Madison reviews below.
Is Ashley Madison Worth It? Our Recommendation Upfront
Is Ashley Madison worth it? Ashley Madison is probably the best place if you want to have an affair or explore outside of your marriage.
The website is incredibly premium, with loads of fun features and plenty of members to choose from.
We also like that they allow you to try out their service with the 30-day free trial upon creating an account. This comes with free Ashley Madison credits for messaging and some time to test the app.
The data breach could be enough to put anyone off. We understand why this is the case.
Since 2015 Ashley Madison has worked hard to improve safety and security across the site. We think they’ve managed to pull it off well. 4.2/5.
Overall Ashley Madison Rating
| Category | Score |
| Quality Matches | 4.5/5 |
| Features | 4/5 |
| Ease of Use | 4/5 |
| Support | 5/5 |
| Cost | 3.5/5 |
| Overall | 4.2/5 |
Pros and Cons
✓ Pros of Ashley Madison
- They’ve improved safety and security across the site.
- It’s great for browsing anonymously and keeping your details hidden.
- The site feels very premium.
- You don’t need to subscribe but can purchase credits at any time.
X Cons of Ashley Madison
- There’s nothing new to explore with the app.
- There are still some questions about whether some female profiles are bots to boost numbers.
- Men have to pay for credits, while women don’t.
Ashley Madison Review Table of Contents
- Ashley Madison Sign-Up Process
- Are there any good-quality matches on the site?
- How easy is the site to use?
- How Does Ashley Madison Work?
- Are there any great features?
- Messaging on Ashley Madison
- How to Message on Ashley Madison Without Paying?
- Tell me about customer support.
- How Much Does Ashley Madison Cost?
- How Does The Credit System Work on Ashley Madison?
- What Can I Do With Credits on Ashley Madison?
- Ashley Madison Payment Method
- Ashley Madison FAQ
Fast Facts About Ashley Madison
- Site Name: Ashley Madison (ashleymadison.com)
- Paid or Free: Both options are available, with limited capabilities with free membership.
- Average Sign-Up Time: 5 – 10 minutes
- Paid Membership Pricing: Starting at 100 credits for $59.00 ($.59 per credit)
- Unique Facts and Figures About Ashley Madison
- Ashley Madison is the leading discreet, like-minded dating community in the world.
- It was created in 2001 as the first website open and honest about what you could find: like-minded people looking for married dating.
- As a place free of judgment, Ashley Madison revolves around the idea that consenting adults should be able to do whatever they want in private.
- Ashley Madison is most popular with people from the US, Brazil, and Spain. There’s a broad mix of members. All are seeking some affair. Most members are middle-aged.
- There are over 54 million members worldwide.
- Ashley Madison gets new members signing up daily and approximately 220,000 new members monthly.
- Ashley Madison has worked hard to attract genuine women (instead of bots) to the dating site. This helps to make the gender split more even.
Ashley madison App Screenshot
The Editor’s Review
“If you’re looking for what the website offers, then Ashley Madison is worth it. It is probably the most active, discreet, and legitimate network you can find if you want an extramarital affair. Of course, it is expensive, especially if you are a man, remember this. But if you’re looking for what is offered, you can’t beat it as a great hookup destination.”
– Chief Editor of MyDatingAdviser.com
Real-life Ashley Madison Reviews
I met my lover on Ashley Madison. We met for lunch, went straight into sexting, and when the time was right schedule-wise, we met in a beautiful hotel room and had 4 hours of incredible, hot sex. Repeat the next week and hopefully repeat the following week.
My head is still spinning. This man knew what to say in his profile and his first text to me. After that, it was lust at first bite. We are both enjoying a no-holds-bar intimate relationship that is impossible with our respective spouses.
It is so mind-blowing that I have found a man so loving and vulnerable yet a risk-taker that loves me as I love him.
My advice is to be authentic, and if you get a response, don’t wait too long to meet. Side note, I am 63, and my lover is 70 – age makes no difference, but tell the truth.
I did have some men who I thought looked older lie on their profile about their age. I never replied to them once they admitted the truth. So, tell the truth.
Also, if your picture is good, women will probably respond; if it is not, they probably won’t. So take the time to stand out with a nice picture and explain precisely what you want.
– From uk.trustpilot.com
Ashley Madison Sign-Up Process
Signing up for Ashley Madison is simple and doesn’t cost anything. The entire sign-up process takes about 5 minutes to complete. You don’t even have to give your credit card info. And you don’t have to use your real name or address.
You’re not asked for personal details during sign-up to keep your identity safe. You’re instead asked to specify your marital status. Also, details about your appearance (height, weight) and your limits regarding what you’re willing to do.
You are required to provide an email address. But it may be a good idea to create a separate email for your account that does not include your real name or any identifying information.
Many people choose not to use a profile picture (which can make meeting people difficult). You can blur it out if you prefer to stay anonymous. You can go back into your profile at any time to make edits.
Are there any good, quality matches on Ashley Madison?
You might wonder how easy it is to use Ashley Madison to find a quality hookup. If you’re willing to spend some money on the platform, it is a great place to find quality hookups.
Ashley Madison lets you sign up as attached, single, seeking males, females, or anything in between. The people on the platform haven’t taken that decision lightly. They know what they’re looking for and aren’t ashamed to look for it. But they also want to be discreet. So if you want to meet good people who are also looking for an affair, then Ashley Madison is a great place to find it.
The great thing about connecting with people on Ashley Madison is that they aren’t afraid to tell you what they want. They won’t waste their time on someone not looking for the same. As long as you’re there for the same reason, you should have no problem finding a quality match.
However, in saying that (and with most dating sites), not everyone will be interested in you. For this reason, you’re not guaranteed to find a quality hookup on Ashley Madison because it goes both ways. However, people on Ashley Madison are looking for casual hookups (most) to serious (some), and more. Therefore, if you try to be up-front about what you’re looking for and engage people in an approachable way, you should succeed.
How easy is the site to use?
Regarding ease of use during our Ashley Madison review, we found the site to be good. Everything is clear, well-thought-out, and easy to use. In addition, members have consistently praised the platform for the ease of use and improvements that have been recently made.
The sign-up process is very simple, straightforward, and easy to navigate. You can complete it within 5 minutes which is always a bonus.
Once signed up, Ashley Madison makes browsing user profiles easy and finding like-minded people who share your interests and want the same thing.
How Does Ashley Madison Work?
According to Ashley Madison, it is a place for everyday people like you to join a network to find relationships of all kinds. Ashley Madison is for those married, attached, looking to explore, or curious to discover what’s out there.
It is a place free of judgment and revolves around the idea that consenting adults should be able to do whatever they want privately.
Many members are attached and seeking a connection, something like-minded or polyamory. They seek online flirtation, excitement, or someone with a mutual feeling. They could be students, lonely housewives, married men, office workers, tradespeople, retirees, or everyone.
You might be wondering how to use Ashley Madison. Ashley Madison allows you to set up an account, fill in your details and start with a basic website version for free. You can browse profiles and look around the site with the primary account. In addition, you can search users depending on your preferences and see which users are ready to interact in your area.
Men can send one free message upon registration, but they’ll have to buy credits to continue the conversation after the first message. After this, you need to start paying to continue interacting with others. So again, men will need to purchase “credits” to start messaging and creating connections.
For women, messaging is free, which is one reason the site maintains such a strong female user base. So if you’re a woman, you can send chats, open chats, initiate conversations, and more.
Are there any great features?
Here are some of the features you can enjoy on Ashley Madison.
- Travelling Man: If you travel a lot, then you can send messages to up to 30 females who live in the area you’re visiting, ready for your arrival.
- Priority Man: This paid feature makes your profile stand out to other members.
- Message Plus: Message anyone you’ve had contact with as a free trial for 30 days.
- Virtual Gifts: You can send virtual gifts to other users.
How to Message on Ashley Madison Without Paying?
If you’re a woman, you can message other members for free. For men, you’ll need to buy credits to be able to send messages. You can try a 30-day free trial to test the waters when registering for an account.
There’s a chat feature and also a chat room. Here you can meet and get to know other people.
You can also add favorite profiles to your list. And you can send winks if you prefer to break the ice before you send someone a custom message. Virtual gifts are an option too. But you need to pay for credits to send these. You can register and start your free trial here.
Tell me about customer support.
Customer service on Ashley Madison is more than adequate. In addition, they offer an extensive FAQ section with many common questions and contact details for their support team.
Our interaction with their customer support team showed quick and intelligent responses. They are hiring agents who are there to provide you with an excellent overall experience and support.
How Much Does Ashley Madison Cost?
Regarding pricing, Ashley Madison works on a credit system for you to send virtual gifts, open, read and send messages. You can also boost your profile and initiate chats. Women get this for free (unless you’re seeking other women), but men must pay.
Credit costs on Ashley Madison are subject to change and could vary depending on your region, sales, or promotions.
Find the cost of Ashley Madison credits below to get a general idea of what you can expect. Credits are sold in bulk, with Basic, Classic, and Elite plans.
| Subscription | Credits | Price Per Credit | Total Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Basic | 100 credits | $0.59 per credit | $59.00 total |
| Premium Classic | 500 credits | $0.34 per credit | $169.00 total |
| Premium Elite | 1000 credits | $0.29 per credit | $289.00 total |
What is the difference Between A Free Guest Membership And Paid Membership On Ashley Madison?
| Features | Guest Members (non-paying) | Full Members (paying) |
|---|---|---|
| Search Matches |  | |
| Exchange Photos | | |
| Read Messages |  | |
| Send Messages | | |
How Does The Credit System Work on Ashley Madison?
Instead of using a subscription model, Ashley Madison has a credit system. Men using the platform must pay for credits to interact with other users. The more credits you buy, the more affordable they are, and different actions require a different number of credits.
It is a bit complicated because Ashley Madison wants you to spend money. Luckily, considering what you can get from experience, it can be worth it. It’s great that you only need to pay for the services you use, but it can be pricey.
For women, everything on Ashley Madison is free; this is how they keep such an active user base.
What can I do with Credits?
Knowing how much you’re paying and the credit system isn’t so straightforward, it can be confusing.
It will cost you five credits every time you send a message or open one sent by another user. Then, it will cost you credits depending on the time you spend chatting with them. You are charged 50 credits per hour of live chat with another user, 30 credits once the hour is up, and another 20 credits once that hour is up.
You can also send “virtual gifts” to catch someone’s attention. To pay for these gifts, you can use credits. The price of credits varies depending on the gift, but it’s usually around 20, 30, and 50 credits.
If you’re a man using the platform, expecting every interaction you have to cost credits is best. You can view your balance and increase your credits at any time.
Ashley Madison Payment Method
The site accepts payments with credit cards, Paypal, debit cards (prepaid also accepted), gift cards, checks, and other discreet options based on your location.
They also redeem gift cards from major retailers, which allows you to pay for credit anonymously.
Payments made with credit or debit cards are encrypted and securely transmitted to the payment processor. As discretion is a priority of the platform, payments for membership credits will have a non-specific description on account statements.
Ashley Madison FAQ – Table of Contents
- Is Ashley Madison safe?
- Is Ashley Madison legit?
- Is Ashley Madison free?
- What does Ashley Madison’s charge look like on a statement?
- How to get free credits for Ashley Madison?
- How to spot bots on Ashley Madison?
- How to read messages on Ashley Madison for free?
- How to delete my Ashley Madison account?
- Is messaging on Ashley Madison free?
- What control does Ashley Madison give me over my profile?
- Can I upload a discreet display photo?
- What is the ‘Automatic Private Key Exchange’ on Ashley Madison?
- How long does the profile approval process take on Ashley Madison?
- How can I delete my Ashley Madison profile?
- How does the ‘Priority Man’ feature work?
- How to use the ‘Traveling Man’ feature on Ashley Madison?
- What is ‘Priority Mail’ on Ashley Madison?
- What is ‘Message Plus’ on Ashley Madison?
- What is Member Initiated Contact?
- What can I do to keep my Ashley Madison account safe?
- How can I create a strong password for my account?
- How to keep my browsing history private?
- How can I protect myself from spammers and malicious emails (phishing)?
- What’s included in the free membership on Ashley Madison?
- How will my purchase appear on my credit card bill?
- How much does it cost to use Ashley Madison?
- What is a Full Member on Ashley Madison?
- How can I stop automatic billing for credits?
- How can I cancel my subscription to Ashley Madison?
- What is the mobile fee? Is this mandatory? How can I deselect this option?
Is Ashley Madison safe?
Since the data breach, Ashley Madison has taken steps to improve safety across the site with several different features.
Not only are you never asked to share your details, but you can browse anonymously, and billing is also kept discreet.
You can keep your photos discreet too. This is done by blurring them out or adding face masks so you can’t be seen.
You can give complete access to your photos once you find someone you trust. As standard, Ashley Madison has a page dedicated to online safety tips that you can read through at your leisure.
Is Ashley Madison legit?
Is Ashley Madison legit? Yes, Ashley Madison is legit.
Since the site began in 2001, it has been regarded as one of the best dating sites for people in unhappy marriages and unsatisfying relationships. It is discreet, trustworthy, and trendy.
Is Ashley Madison free?
Is Ashley Madison free? Yes, you can use the site as a guest member and use the site with free credits. This allows you to try the site without paying for full membership. You can sign up for your 30-day free trial here to see what the site is like before committing as a paid member.
What does Ashley Madison’s charge look like on a statement?
Ashley Madison appears on your credit card statement as “AMDA 1 866 790 6550.”
The AMDA is shortened for Ashley Madison and will not appear as the full name on the credit card statement.
How to get free credits for Ashley Madison?
Messaging is free for women, but if you’re a man, you must purchase credits to use, read, or message other users. If you’re wondering how to get free credits for Ashley Madison, the best way is to set up a 30-day trial account to send and receive free messages.
How to spot bots on Ashley Madison?
Most women on the site get bombarded by guys the moment their profiles are up. Message after message, they get overloaded and don’t open them or even respond. The best way to spot bots on Ashley Madison is that real women usually don’t message men because they don’t need to. Not all women that message will be bots, but there is a higher chance that they could be a bot if they do.
How to read messages on Ashley Madison for free?
Ashley Madison is a paid service because it’s a quality platform where you can find discreet relationships. The entire site is free for women, but if you’re a man, you must pay for credits to send chats, open chats, and initiate conversations.
If you are wondering how to read messages on Ashley Madison for free, you can set up a free 30-day trial when setting up an account. With the free trial, you can read messages on Ashley Madison for free and decide if you want to commit financially. You can start your free trial here.
If the site turns out to be right for you, then good news, you can continue using Ashley Madison by purchasing credits to send and receive messages. However, remember that the extra credits are not cheap, and you should spend them wisely.
How to delete my Ashley Madison account?
If you would like to delete your Ashley Madison account, go to the setting menu, click settings, account tab, and click “delete account.” In doing this, you will have removed your profile from Ashley Madison.
Is messaging on Ashley Madison free?
Messaging is free for women who are seeking men on Ashley Madison. Other users on the site will need to use credits to read, send or start messaging other members. If you sign up for a free trial account, you have a 30-day free trial to exchange messages without using your credits.
What control does Ashley Madison give me over my profile?
You have much control over your profile, personal details, and account information. Whatever you want to disclose to the public is up to you. Adjust your profile settings and go to your manage/edit profile page.
Can I upload a discreet display photo?
Yes, Ashley Madison encourages people to upload discreet photos. The site even offers a feature to allow you to blur out your image or add a mask to your photo to keep things completely anonymous. But, of course, adding a discreet photo increases your chances of finding a match.
What is the ‘Automatic Private Key Exchange’ on Ashley Madison?
This is a feature available to Ashley Madison members that allows them to share their private photos with anyone they like.
By enabling this feature, you get a clear view of what used to be a hidden or blurred image of the member.
You can enable or disable this feature by going to the ‘Profile Options page.
How long does the profile approval process take on Ashley Madison?
After registration, your profile will be automatically activated, and you can enjoy the site immediately.
How can I delete my Ashley Madison profile?
You can deactivate or entirely delete your account.
When you deactivate your account, your profile is removed from the search results and hidden from the site.
Once you deactivate your profile, you can restore it by contacting the customer service team.
If you entirely delete your Ashley Madison profile, this will completely erase all data you have on your profile. This includes messages, photos, gifts, and any other information that was there.
How does the ‘Priority Man’ feature work?
The Priority Man on Ashley Madison is an individual who has paid to have his profile highlighted in the search results.
Any profiles with this feature are given prominence to stand out and become more noticeable to other members.
How to use the ‘Traveling Man’ feature on Ashley Madison?
This feature allows you to send custom priority messages to up to 30 women in the city or place you travel to.
Find the ‘Traveling?’ option on the menu bar to use this feature. Click it and answer the form that appears.
What is ‘Priority Mail’ on Ashley Madison?
When you message another person on the site, you can send it as ‘Priority.’ This means the message will appear highlighted at the top of the recipient’s inbox.
If you use a system based on credits, you can send a message with priority with an additional credit cost. Subscription users purchase packages that include priority messaging.
What is ‘Message Plus’ on Ashley Madison?
This feature allows you to read, reply and receive messages without using any credits.
It also allows you to message anyone you have previously contacted, even if you no longer have any credits available.
The Message Plus feature is free for 30 days after buying a credit package. After the free trial period, you will be automatically billed if you haven’t canceled the subscription. If you’re interested in ‘Message Plus,’ you can sign up for a free trial account here.
What is Member Initiated Contact?
Member Initiated Contact is only available if you use the service based on the credits payment system.
The subscription service is the most affordable way to send messages without the requirement to purchase more credit packages.
With this feature, you can send and receive messages initiated by female members for free. Credits are only used when you make the first move and initiate contact.
If you run out of credits, you can continue messaging members you have previously contacted at no additional cost.
When you purchase your Ashley Madison subscription, you can try a 30-day free trial of Member Initiated Contact. This includes Ashley Madison’s free credits during the 30 days.
If you don’t cancel your subscription by the end of this free trial, you will be billed monthly for the continued use of this feature.
If you would like to cancel the feature, go to the ‘Manage Profile’ page on your account to cancel it. This feature can be withdrawn at any time you want.
What can I do to keep my Ashley Madison account safe?
To ensure safety when creating your account, use a different email.
Your email should not include details and should only be used for entering sites like Ashley Madison.
Is it possible to use the Ashley Madison site anonymously?
Yes, the site allows you to browse its members’ profiles anonymously. Users are registered under a chosen username.
It is up to you how much personal information you want to add to your username on the site.
How can I create a strong password for my account?
To create a solid and secure password, the site offers a password meter that can indicate the password’s strength.
A strong password usually includes letters, numbers, and symbols.
How to keep my browsing history private?
When you visit the site, you can keep your browsing private using the incognito window in your Google Chrome browser.
If you are using Safari or another browser, delete cookies and browsing history after each visit to Ashley Madison.
If you are in a public location like a coffee shop or airport, then it’s recommended to use extra caution.
Even though it may be tempting, don’t use the auto-remember password feature, especially if you share your computer with family or friends.
How can I protect myself from spammers and malicious emails (phishing)?
Ashley Madison will never ask you for personal information via email or instant message.
With most popular websites, spammers sometimes send fake emails posing as customer service. This is called a ‘phishing’ scam and is how fraudsters attempt to collect personal information.
It would be best if you were suspicious whenever you received:
– An email message, text, or phone call asking for your personal or financial details
– An email requesting you to ‘click here.’ Hover your cursor over the link without clicking. If the domain is legitimate, it matches the company name ‘https://www.ashleymadison.com.’
If the URL link doesn’t match, it’s a phishing email from a scammer. It’s recommended to delete or block the sender.
Keep in mind any emails received from Ashley Madison asking for personal information are scams. They will never ask for personal information via email or text.
What’s included in the free membership on Ashley Madison?
Full membership in Ashley Madison is free if you are a woman seeking men. All other users can sign up as Guest Members to view profiles, send winks, and share photos – all free.
When Guest Members are ready to start messaging other members, a range of credit and subscription packages is available. With these options, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial where you are given Ashley Madison free credits.
Other users include – men seeking women, men seeking men, and women seeking women. These individuals must purchase a credit package to enjoy the full membership status on Ashley Madison.
How will my purchase appear on my credit card bill?
Ashley Madison offers you discreet and anonymous billing. To see how it will appear on your account, visit the ‘Buy Credits’ or ‘Subscribe’ section.
You can also contact the Ashley Madison team to confirm how it will appear at [email protected].
How much does it cost to use Ashley Madison?
Using the site and its features is free for female members looking for a male match.
If you are a woman seeking a woman, a man seeking a woman, or a man seeking a man – registration is free, but you must purchase credit packages to enjoy most of the site’s features.
What is a Full Member on Ashley Madison?
As a Full Member, you have positive amounts of credit in your account or an active subscription.
With credits or a subscription, you can other members on the site, receive messages, chat with other members, and send gifts and als, andiority messages.
How can I stop automatic billing for credits?
Automatic billing will update your credits when they are running low so that you can continue using the features on the site.
It’s straightforward to turn this feature off. Go to the ‘Profile Options’ page and uncheck the option ‘Check here to top up your credits when you run out so that you are ready for any encounter.’
How can I cancel my subscription to Ashley Madison?
If you use the site based on credits and have a Member Initiated Contact (MIC) or Priority Man subscription, head to the ‘Credit History’ page and select the subscription package, you want to cancel.
With a subscription-based membership, go to the ‘Manage Subscriptions’ page and select the subscription package you want to cancel.
If you don’t cancel a subscription before its renewal date, you will not be entitled to a refund. This will only keep the subscription from auto-renewing. You can use your canceled subscription until the expiration date.
What is the mobile fee? Is this mandatory? How can I deselect this option?
The mobile access fee will only apply if you use the service based on credits.
This isn’t a mandatory charge and is only required if you want to use Ashley Madison on your mobile for discretion.
Suppose you aren’t interested in mobile access. In that case, you can remove the charge from your subtotal by selecting the ‘Discreet Mobile Access’ banner on your Buy Credits page directly beneath the ‘Select a Package’ section.
