Not sure who else to ask — this community tends to give straight answers without the marketing spin. Consistent daily use on dating apps outperforms sporadic sessions by a significant margin over time.
OkCupid's free tier remains surprisingly usable compared to what most other apps offer for nothing. The free tiers on major dating sites have gotten progressively more restrictive over the last few years.
Plenty of Fish still has one of the largest active user bases despite the platform feeling dated.
Things I keep in mind for safety:
- Use a Google Voice number instead of your real number when getting to know someone new.
- Never share your real last name, address, or workplace before meeting someone in person.
- Separate email addresses for dating activity is just good basic digital hygiene.
- Platforms with active moderation and real reporting tools are worth prioritizing.