Ashley Madison Review

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Written by dating expert Jennifer Carter.
Last updated: February 18, 2021
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Best known for being a reputable dating website for people who are in a committed relationship or interested in a discreet, extra-marital affair, Ashley Madison is the playground for those seeking discretion, as well as an emotional or sexual connection with others.

Ashley Madison is inclusive of all types of relationships and people from all walks of life. Whether you seek monogamy, are interested in an affair, or want to explore a polyamorous relationship, Ashley Madison has something sexy and exciting for everyone.

Our Ashley Madison review will leave no stone unturned, as we provide you with everything you need to know to be successful at taking one of the biggest risks of your life!

pros
  • Women seeking men can use features for free
  • Non-judgemental atmosphere
  • Significantly enhanced security features since 2015 data breach
  • Unique features for frequent travelers
  • Ability to blur photos for discretion
  • Mobile app for connecting on the go
cons
  • Credit usage for features can be confusing as they vary
  • Profiles offer very limited information

Member Information

Ashley Madison is a community of like-minded individuals who are married or attached and are looking for an extra-marital affair. Due to the nature of the site, member information is limited to age, height, weight, interests, and a short paragraph to share your goals for being on the site. Because most members are in a committed relationship, discretion is of the utmost importance.

Should you find yourself interested in learning more about someone, the best course of action is to send them a message. Doing so will open the door to additional conversation and, potentially, the ability to see the member’s photos.

Sign Up Process

Rating
5/5

Signing up for Ashley Madison takes less than a minute, especially if you are a woman. Keep in mind that it can take longer for men or women seeking women to complete the sign-up process as you will be prompted to explore features that have a monetary cost attached to them.

Signing up for Ashley Madison

The sign-up process asks for basic demographic information along with your relationship status and what you are looking for in meeting others on the website.

Contacting People

Rating
4.5/5

So, how does Ashley Madison work? Ashley Madison functions in a way that other dating websites do not. There is no monthly subscription fee and in order to contact someone, you must use credits. An initial contact costs five credits which are as little as 29 cents per credit if you buy them in bulk. Do keep in mind that only those seeking the attention of a woman must pay with credits. If a woman chooses to contact a man or a woman, there is no charge. Once the conversation has been initiated, it can proceed without the expenditure of additional credits.

Credits can also be utilized in other ways outside of sending messages. Some members choose to use their credits as a method of sending a gift to another member, or to make their message show at the top of a member’s inbox. Further, credits allow you to engage in conversation in various chat rooms for up to 60 minutes.

contacting people on ashley madison

Another way to contact people is by sending a free ‘wink’ as a non-invasive, flirtatious way to let someone know that you are interested. When sending a free ‘wink’ you can also request a member to release their private key. A private key will unlock their photos so you can see pictures without the mask or blurry display.

While ‘winks’ are an easy way to contact people of interest for free, it is important to note that Ashley Madison allows for women to set up their account to autoreply to these ‘winks’ in case you are someone who receives a lot of messages and wants to limit your inbox. The autoreply can be customized by the member or it can be created by Ashley Madison. A generic message will say, “Hi. I appreciate the wink but could you send me a message?” This is a clever way to require you to send a message that costs at least five credits to show you are seriously interested.

Profile

Rating
5/5

Discretion is a critical component to the Ashley Madison enterprise. Because of this, profile information is limited to what a person is willing to share about themselves. Those who have signed up on Ashley Madison and have a profile risk ruining their marriage if caught in the act of infidelity. Therefore, the information that is shared includes demographics, areas of interest, and the type of relationship a member is seeking.

Often, members will explain a bit about their situation and share their point of view on their intent in having an affair. In addition to the ‘about me’ section, there is an option to upload photos. Based solely on your preference, photos can be disguised, visible to the public, or to those who message you directly. Ashley Madison allows the user to make the distinction of who can see photos and information.

Ashley Madison profile

Most Ashley Madison members will opt for a blurred photo or one that places a mask over the face. Some may not allow for their photo to be shown until a private message has been sent. Ashley Madison does not have a matching algorithm like other dating websites, so finding people of interest is based solely on looks and what is written in your ‘about me’ paragraph.

Ashley Madison members

Should you decide that even with a mask or a blurry face, you still do not want your photo to be seen publicly, you have the option to make it private. It is important to keep in mind that those with a profile photo tend to receive more views and interactions than those who do not.

Mobile App

Rating
5/5

The Ashley Madison app is available for both iOS and Android operating systems. Much like the Ashley Madison desktop version, the mobile app will allow you to flirt and chat with people of interest discreetly. Most members prefer the mobile app as you can easily search, send messages, gifts, and photos quickly from your mobile device, which is less likely to catch your spouse’s attention.

Ashley Madison app

The Ashley Madison desktop version will suffice, but if you travel often, having the mobile app will prove to be useful as you are not always able to access your computer while on the go. Unlike the desktop version, the Ashley Madison app requires that you make credit purchases through your iTunes or Google Play account.

Membership Options

You may be wondering, “How much does Ashley Madison cost?” If you are a woman seeking a man, Ashley Madison is free to use. However, if you are a man seeking a woman or a woman seeking a woman, you will need to invest in credits to make any kind of meaningful connection with another person. Credits are used in a variety of ways and take the place of a monthly subscription package. The more credits you purchase, the better price you receive. Keep in mind that upon your initial credits purchase, you will be able to enjoy 30 days free of ‘Priority Man’ status. To get things started on the right foot, you will also receive 24 hours of free chat on your first day. It is important to note that there may be a one-time $19.99 activation fee applied to your account.

Here is a quick guide of Ashley Madison credits explained:

Ashley Madison cost

There are three tiers of membership available. Membership is not billed as a monthly subscription like most dating websites. Instead, you can purchase increments of credits to be used on features such as but not limited to messaging, chat rooms, and sending gifts.

Basic

The Basic membership is the least amount of credits you can purchase at one time. The Basic package includes 100 credits and costs $59. This price is inclusive of all taxes. The Basic plan is a great membership level if you are new to the Ashley Madison platform, and you want to try it out before you invest in a bigger credit package.

Classic

The Classic membership package will provide significant savings in comparison to the Basic level. At just 34 cents per credit, you will have a bank balance of 500 to start with at the Classic level. The Classic package is ideal for someone who has tried out the site and wants to replenish their credit bank. Having additional credits will give you the ability to participate in chat rooms and other features. To give you an idea of how fast a credit balance can be depleted, a 30-minute chat session will cost 30 credits.

Elite

The Elite package was created with the frequent user in mind. Costing the most, but providing the best bang for your buck, $289 will equip you with 1000 credits and ample opportunities to engage with others. When you invest in the elite package, the chances are high that you will have an exponential amount of fun before you deplete your credit bank.

*Keep in mind that all packages include a 30-day trial period and 24 hours of free chat.*

The Bottom Line

For those looking for a way to spice up their life with an extra-marital affair, Ashley Madison is known all over the world as the best place to find like-minded people with the same relationship goals. Whether you are seeking emotional or sexual fulfillment, Ashley Madison provides a discreet atmosphere where adults can interact, flirt, and satisfy needs through conversation, dating, or adult fantasies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ashley Madison free?

Ashley Madison is free for women seeking men. For men seeking women or a woman seeking a woman, there is a cost associated with using the website.

What payment methods are accepted on Ashley Madison?

Ashley Madison is committed to providing a discreet atmosphere for like-minded adults seeking a good time. In addition to accepting credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal, Ashley Madison also takes certain retailer gift cards as payment. Retailers include but are not limited to Home Depot, Best Buy, and Target.

Why do members delete Ashley Madison account?

Members may choose to delete their account for a plethora of reasons. The most common reason is that a person was caught cheating by their spouse and has been prohibited from using the service in order to keep thier marriage intact.

How to delete Ashley Madison account on mobile?

Deleting your Ashley Madison account on your mobile device requires that you cancel any subscription services that you have set up. Otherwise, you will continue to be charged even if you no longer have an account. Then, under account settings, in the profile section, you can deactivate or delete your account. After your account has been deleted, you will then need to delete the Ashley Madison app from your device.

How can I contact Ashley Madison customer service?

Typically, Ashley Madison allows for customers to call or send an email when there is a question or a concern while using their site. However, due to the unprecedented situation of the Covid-19 pandemic, they have altered their business operations and are only accepting customer service inquiries via email until further notice.

Which is better – Adult FriendFinder vs. Ashley Madison?

The answer to this question is truly subjective, as it depends on what you are looking for. Ashley Madison prides itself on offering discretion and unique features that keep your privacy intact. Adult FriendFinder is great if you are more interested in a ‘swinger’ relationship instead of an extra-marital affair.

Is it possible to acquire Ashley Madison free credits?

From time to time, Ashley Madison will offer a promotional deal to members and potential members to entice them to use the website on a more frequent basis. It is also possible to find free credit coupon codes on bargain websites.