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597 Reviews

Ashley Madison Review

A discreet dating site designed for individuals seeking extramarital or secret relationships

Top10.com Staff

September 17, 2025

•

2 min

Price

Credit-based system

Number of Members

60+ million

Recommended age range

30–55

Our Verdict

Ashley Madison is one of the most recognized platforms for discreet dating, specifically designed for individuals seeking extramarital affairs or secret relationships. Its strong privacy features, large global membership base, and focus on anonymity make it stand out. However, users should be mindful of past data breach issues, gender imbalance, and relatively high costs for men.

Ashley Madison Pros & Cons

Pros

Strong privacy and anonymity tools

Large global user base

Free messaging for women

Cons

Costly for men

Past data breach history

Ashley Madison at a Glance

8.6

Editorial Score

Sign Up Process

Free signup process; basic personal information required; email verification required

8.0

Matchmaking

No auto matchmaking; favorites (max 100 profiles); "Priority Man" boosts profile (paid feature)

8.0

Free Services

Free basic features; 4 subscription plans for credits: basic, classic, elite, and AM Prime

9.0

Features

Free (advanced search, winks, discreet photo) and premium features (gifts, profile boosts)

10.0

Security

Encrypted payments; Two-factor authentification; reCAPTCHA against spam bots

8.0

Ashley Madison at a Glance

Best For: Discreet encounters and extramarital dating

Number of Members: Over 60 million worldwide

Favorite Features:

Profile anonymity with blurred photos
Panic button to instantly hide the site use
Private messaging and chat rooms
“Traveling” feature to connect with users in other cities

Video Chat: No

How Much Does Ashley Madison Cost?

Ashley Madison operates with a credit-based system rather than fixed monthly subscriptions. Men purchase credits to send messages and access premium features, while women typically enjoy free communication.

Pricing Structure (Approximate)

Package	Cost	Features Included
Basic Credits	$59	100 credits – ideal for occasional users
Classic Credits	$169	500 credits – better for regular activity
Elite Credits	$289	1,000 credits – best for heavy users

Women generally do not need to purchase credits, while men must use credits to send messages.

What Can You Do for Free?

Sign up and create a profile
Browse member profiles with limited visibility
Use basic search functions
Women can send and receive messages without paying

Premium Features

Send and read unlimited messages (men with credits)
Access “Priority Messaging” to increase visibility
Use the “Traveling Man” feature to connect in advance of trips
Discreet photos and gallery unlocking

How Ashley Madison Works

Signing up is simple and takes just a few minutes.

Registration – Users provide an email, create a pseudonym, and select basic preferences.
Profile Setup – Optional photos can be uploaded with blur effects for privacy.
Searching for Matches – Filters include location, interests, and relationship status.
Connecting – Men purchase credits to send messages; women message freely.
Privacy Features – Panic button, discreet browsing, and anonymous galleries help maintain confidentiality.

Safety & Security

Ashley Madison has rebuilt its reputation since its 2015 data breach, with improved encryption, security audits, and stronger privacy policies. While these changes have helped restore trust, users should still exercise caution when sharing sensitive personal details.

Ashley Madison App

The mobile app is available for iOS and Android. It mirrors the desktop site, with features such as browsing, messaging, discreet photo sharing, and notifications. The app is designed for quick, on-the-go use, maintaining the same focus on privacy.

Customer Service

Contact Methods: Email and help desk form
Support Availability: 24/7 online assistance
Resources: FAQ section covering payments, privacy, and account settings
Account Help: Guidance available for account deletion, refunds, and credits

How to Cancel or Pause

Users can cancel by deleting their account through the settings menu. A “Full Delete” option removes all messages, photos, and profile data. Subscription credits cannot be refunded once used, but unused credits may be eligible for refunds under specific conditions.

Comparison with Other Dating Sites

Platform	Focus	Free Messaging	Gender Ratio
Ashley Madison	Affairs, discreet encounters	Women only	29% women / 71% men
AdultFriendFinder	Casual hookups, variety	No	Balanced
Feeld	Ethical non-monogamy, open	Limited	Balanced
OkCupid	General, with non-monogamy	Yes	Balanced

Ashley Madison’s niche focus sets it apart, but competitors like Feeld or OkCupid provide more transparency and inclusivity for those seeking open or polyamorous relationships.

Does Ashley Madison Work?

For its intended audience—married or partnered individuals looking for discreet encounters—Ashley Madison delivers on its promise. It offers a large, active user base, privacy-first features, and a user-friendly interface. Still, the high cost for men, reputation from past scandals, and imbalance in gender ratio may limit its appeal for some.

Bottom Line

Ashley Madison is a leading name in discreet dating and provides a clear, privacy-focused platform for extramarital and secret relationships. It excels in anonymity and niche targeting but requires caution due to past data breaches and a costly credit-based system for men.

Disclaimer: AI was used in the creation of this content, along with human validation and proofreading.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ashley Madison safe to use?

Yes, but with caution. Although the platform has significantly improved its security measures since 2015, users should still safeguard personal data and use discretion when interacting.

Is Ashley Madison legal?

Yes. It is legal in the U.S. to provide dating services for consenting adults, even if marketed toward extramarital affairs.

Can I use Ashley Madison for free?

Yes, to some extent. Women enjoy free messaging, while men can browse and set up profiles but must purchase credits to connect fully.

Top10.com Staff

Top10.com's editorial staff is a professional team of editors and writers with dozens of years of experience covering consumer, financial and business products and services.

Trustpilot reviews

See what some customers are saying about Ashley Madison

Bad • reviews 597

Excellent

Great

Average

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Bad

89%

Barney Fletcher

2 months ago

Three times the women turned out to be…

Three times the women turned out to be scammers demanding money to meet. Not sure but I believe that is prostitution. Do not waste a lot on the site.

Dave

7 months ago

Most Guys Waste Their Money Here

I've been on and off AM since 2018, with three successful, long-term relationship with wonderful women. I've written other in-depth reviews of AM, so, if you want a broader look at my experience, check those out. I have a relatively unique perspective of seeing how women react to men on AM and, now, for the last couple of years, how men react to women. My current GF and I started enjoying MFM threesomes around three years ago. To find more male partners, we went on AM as "Attached Female Seeking Males." Our username made it clear that we were a couple, seeking other couples and/or male/female partners. Most of the guys are absolutely pathetic, with no game at all. First, 90% of their profiles are close to blank. Some have absolutely no background information, just age, weight, height, ethnicity and sometimes that's mostly blank. Guys, you need to talk about your interests and what kind of relationship that you're seeking. Talk about why you're on AM, but don't badmouth your partner. Talk about respecting the woman and knowing how hard it must be for them to sign up for the site. Talk about being discreet and protecting their existing relationship and how you want to meet them in a safe place for them, when they're ready. You don't need a book to get started, but you do need at least a couple of real paragraphs. The one-sentence come-on marks you as an idiot and immediate reject. It is VERY easy to Block a dumb ass on AM. Women will not waste time with losers that don't know how to talk to women. When it's time to move to a chat app, suggest something like Signal, where they can use a username and not disclose their phone number until they're comfortable. Safety is HUGE for them and should be for you also. Sending a "Wink" or "Fave" is a total waste of your money. You MUST write something responsive to her profile to have any hope of interaction. Read between her lines and try to tweak for things that seem important to her. You only get ONE CHANCE. Based on some testing that I've done, there are around 20 men for every woman!!! The odds are, indeed, bad to start; however, if you put together the beginnings of a meaningful discussion and have a compelling profile, then your odds skyrocket vs. the bumps on a log, which are the majority of the men. It is simply pathetic. Oh, DO be careful, because there are scammers. AM said a few weeks back that they would tighten vetting of women, but it doesn't seem to have improved. If a woman Winks at you or Faves you, out of the blue, with no note from you, she's likely a scammer and don't waste time or money pursuing her, particularly if she's considerably younger. Not me, but in the eight years that I've been on and off AM, I know of three guys that have been financially scammed, or threatened with exposure, etc. Protect your phone number until you're really comfortable, then, as soon as you get her number, do a background check. If thing don't jive, block, block, block. This is true of almost any sex dating site. Oh, very few women want to see your penis. (There is a minority that want big penises, but they usually make that clear. If you qualify, then you should talk about it in you initial message to such a woman. More women are worried about being injured by too big). She'll ask when she's comfortable with you and ready to take it to a mattress. Some (most?) women are offended when guys lead with their penises. Yes, they really want it and that's why they're on AM, but not until they're ready. Bottom line, you can't just check boxes and expect responses. Plan on two or three months of searching. Look morning and/or evening for new listings and respond immediately to one that interests you. They'll receive over 100 proposition in the first 24-hours, so it's best to be at the front of the line.

David Stephens

11 months ago

Guys, You MUST Show Some Class!!!!

I've reviewed AM a couple of times over the years, going back to 2018. My reviews were from the perspective of a man on AM. Now, for the last couple of years, I've had the perspective of a couple registered as a Female on AM. Wow! Most of the guys have no clue. Don't waste your money sending "Winks" to dozens of women. No matter how handsome your picture, the woman is not going to respond if you don't send an intelligent message, responsive to her profile. My GF never looks at the Profile from a Wink. At least a third of the guys don't have anything informative in their profiles. They only have vital statistics and even those look fudged. Say something about yourself and the type of relationship you seek. FWB is fine, but mention Respect, discretion and understanding for her needs. There are around 30-guys for every woman, at least in my area. You MUST bring your A-game and show that you've read her profile and give reasons why there might be a connection. Oh, don't ask for her Private images and not share your own. That's so dumb. When rebuffed, some of the really stupid ones say something like, "You can't expect me to say anything if I don't like your looks." Guys, the women MUST protect their identities and they have reason to be scared of some of the men. They need to be cautious and they're not going to share images with every stranger that asks. The good news is that all the AM women that I've been with LOVE SEX and are good at it and want it over and over and over. Treat them with respect and do your best to please them and you'll be rewarded for your efforts.

Michea James

2 years ago

Am a man with good sense of humour.

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