Been mulling this over for a while and figured this was the right place to get real opinions. Subscription-free platforms that monetize through optional boosts are the most ethical model available.
Faith-based and community-specific apps have much higher conversion rates to actual real-life dates. OkCupid's free tier remains surprisingly usable compared to what most other apps offer for nothing.
Things I keep in mind for safety:
- Payment requests from any match should always be treated as a scam regardless of the story.
- Screen recording during video chats is a real concern — keep personal details off screen.
- Video calling before a meet is the fastest way to confirm someone is who they claim to be.