Updated September 28, 2026 · FlingCue Editorial Team
FetLife vs SDC (Swingers Date Club)
Where FetLife and SDC (Swingers Date Club) differ
| Compare |  FetLife |  SDC (Swingers Date Club) |
|---|---|---|
| What is free | 99.9% free; paid support for nice-to-have extras | Free signup plus 3-day trial; messaging and browsing |
| Profile verification | Optional badge via government ID or profile photo | Email code plus Helpdesk photo review |
| Audience focus | Kink and fetish social network, not a dating site | Swingers, open-minded couples and singles |
| Members | 13,071,441 members as of 2026-09-26 | Over 3 million members (2026) |
| Renewal and cancelling | Refunds within 7 days; no auto-renewal | Auto-renew on by default; cancel in account; no refunds |
| Privacy and data | No data sales; deletion erases all your data | Discreet; names encrypted; data never sold |
| Categories | Fetish, Swinger | Casual, Discreet, Swinger, Mature, Fetish, LGBTQ, TransCovers more |
| Monthly price from | Not confirmed | $26.99 |
| Plans | Not confirmed | 1, 3, 6, 12 months; lifetime |
| Credit system | Not confirmed | Subscription plans plus SDC Premium media; no credits |
| App store rating | Not confirmed | App Store 4.6 (13K ratings), Sep 2026; Play 4.2 (3.12K), Sep 2026 |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- SDC (Swingers Date Club) scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Support channels: only SDC (Swingers Date Club) offers Phone.
- Founded is lower at SDC (Swingers Date Club): 1999 vs 2008.
- Categories: only SDC (Swingers Date Club) offers Casual, Discreet, Mature.
Our verdict on each
FetLife
FetLife suits adults who want a kink and fetish community rather than a dating site, and it has 13,071,441 members as of 2026-09-26 members. It is nearly free, with paid support for nice-to-have extras, and privacy is stated plainly.
SDC (Swingers Date Club)
SDC suits adults who want a long running, swinger focused service and can absorb a higher starting price. It pairs Free signup plus 3-day trial; messaging and browsing with a sizeable audience of Over 3 million members (2026), though $26.99 a month puts it behind cheaper options on cost alone.
Score breakdown
| Area | FetLife | SDC (Swingers Date Club) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 8.4SDC charges $26.99 monthly from the outset, above €0.67 to €1.50 and €0.83 to €2.50. |
| Offer | 9.5 | 9.9Higher |
| Trust | 8.9 | 9.8Higher |
Feature by feature
| Categories | FetLife | SDC (Swingers Date Club) |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | No | Yes |
| Discreet | No | Yes |
| Mature | No | Yes |
| LGBTQ | No | Yes |
| Fetish | Yes | Yes |
| Swinger | Yes | Yes |
| Trans | No | Yes |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | FetLife | SDC (Swingers Date Club) |
|---|---|---|
| Hookup sites and apps | 168 of 478 | 161 of 478 |
| Fetish and BDSM dating | 24 of 47 | 23 of 47 |
| Swinger and couples sites | 15 of 52 | 14 of 52 |
| Free hookup sites | 134 of 358 | 127 of 358 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | FetLife | SDC (Swingers Date Club) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Features | App, Verified profiles | App, Verified profiles |
| Legal entity | BitLove Inc. & BitLove Ltd. | SDC Media LLC (US); SDC Ventures LTD (NL) |
| Headquarters | Canada | United States |
| Founded | 2008 | 1999Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community | Email, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | FetLife | SDC (Swingers Date Club) | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price from | Not confirmed | $26.99above the median | $15.99 |
Median across 69 listed casual dating sites.
Pros and cons
FetLife
Pros
- 99.9% free; paid support for nice-to-have extras, so the core service stays free and payment covers nice-to-have extras
- Privacy is stated clearly: No data sales; deletion erases all your data
- Refunds within 7 days; no auto-renewal, so paid support does not renew on its own
Cons
- Kink and fetish social network, not a dating site means you are joining a social network, not a matching service
- Verification is opt in, so most profiles carry no checked badge
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, with no phone line listed
SDC (Swingers Date Club)
Pros
- Free access covers Free signup plus 3-day trial; messaging and browsing, so adults can browse and send messages before paying anything.
- Profile checks follow Email code plus Helpdesk photo review, so screening does not stop at the sign up form.
- Privacy is described as Discreet; names encrypted; data never sold, which matters to adults who keep this side of life private.
Cons
- The starting monthly figure of $26.99 sits well above €0.67 to €1.50 and €0.83 to €2.50.
- Billing terms are Auto-renew on by default; cancel in account; no refunds, so plans renew unless the cancellation in the account is made in time.
- The payment model is Subscription plans plus SDC Premium media; no credits, so media extras arrive through Premium rather than a credit pack.
Who each suits
FetLife
Who it suits
- Adults who want a kink and fetish community rather than a dating site, as Kink and fetish social network, not a dating site makes clear
- Adults who would rather not pay for the core service, since it is 99.9% free; paid support for nice-to-have extras
- Adults who put data deletion high on their list, given No data sales; deletion erases all your data
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers shopping for a paid subscription with a fixed monthly price and a single market of members
- Anyone wanting conventional matching, since Kink and fetish social network, not a dating site
- People who need phone support, with email, help centre and community offered instead
SDC (Swingers Date Club)
Who it suits
- Adults who want a service aimed at Swingers, open-minded couples and singles rather than general dating.
- Adults who like testing a service first, since Free signup plus 3-day trial; messaging and browsing covers messaging and browsing.
- Adults who weigh privacy highly and are reassured by the Discreet; names encrypted; data never sold description.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers on a tight budget: EroFantasie starts at €0.67 to €1.50, well under SDC.
- Adults after a mature focus: Senior.dk Dating lists DKK 2.30 as its starting monthly price.
- Adults wanting a BDSM specific service: BDSM-baari runs €0.83 to €2.50 at the entry point.
Current offers
FetLife
Current offer
Discount code
KinkyTease
Linked in site footer with utm tracking; no public terms read
Source, checked September 26, 2026
SDC (Swingers Date Club)
Current offer
Free trial
3-day trial membership with full app access: 3 days free
New app installs; 3-day full access then paid subscription
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | FetLife | SDC (Swingers Date Club) |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | No | Yes |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
FetLife
What does FetLife cost?+
Access is 99.9% free; paid support for nice-to-have extras, with paid support kept for nice-to-have extras. The core of the network stays free, so the budget only matters if you want the optional extras. That makes FetLife an easy first step for readers weighing price before anything else.
Is FetLife free to join?+
Yes. The model is listed as free and the service describes itself as 99.9% free; paid support for nice-to-have extras. Paying is optional rather than required, which is unusual in this category and keeps the cost of testing a kink community low.
SDC (Swingers Date Club)
What is free on SDC?+
Free access covers Free signup plus 3-day trial; messaging and browsing, so a newcomer can register, browse and send messages before choosing a plan. Anything past that sits inside the paid structure, where Subscription plans plus SDC Premium media; no credits shows subscriptions and SDC Premium media rather than a credit pack. The free part is enough to read the room before money changes hands.
How much does SDC cost a month?+
The starting monthly price is $26.99, and 1, 3, 6, 12 months; lifetime lists shorter and longer terms plus a lifetime option, so the monthly figure can move on a longer commitment. Payment runs on Subscription plans plus SDC Premium media; no credits. Adults who only want a short window should read the term list before they commit.