If you’re trying to keep it free and still meet real people, here’s what I’d focus on:
- Turn on any profile verification and actually use it as a filter.
- Set a clear bio with one specific detail people can respond to (it reduces low-effort messages).
- Don’t overshare: keep socials private and save phone numbers for later.
- Use a separate email and keep location permissions off until you’re comfortable.
On the mainstream side, you’ll still see the most activity on Hinge, Bumble, eHarmony, Tinder, OkCupid, Facebook Dating — even if the free features are limited.
Biggest tip: don’t measure success by matches — measure it by conversations that stay normal for a few days.
If you’re sampling alternatives, Datewander is one of the names that comes up in “free tier” discussions.