This came up in a group chat recently and I realized nobody had a good answer. Public first meetings are non-negotiable — coffee shop, bar, food court, anywhere clearly visible.
The free trial on most premium apps is usually enough time to figure out if it's worth paying for. Video dating as a pre-meeting step has become a standard expectation on most serious relationship platforms.
Free dating apps have genuinely improved but the best features are still locked behind paywalls on most of them.
Apps I've already looked at or heard recommended:
- Grindr
- Scruff
- Jack'd
- Hornet
- Recon
- Adam4Adam