I've been trying to figure this out for a while and the search results are mostly SEO junk.
Privacy is something I think about a lot with this stuff. Not trying to end up on some list or have my data sold to advertisers.
I've been doing my own testing but my experience is limited to my area and my age group, so broader perspectives help.
- Test the free tier thoroughly before paying anything
- Reverse image search any profile photo you're unsure about
- Look for real activity signals — last login dates, post history, etc.
- Avoid sites that gate messaging entirely behind a paid wall
- Always check for recent reviews, not just the homepage testimonials
Even negative experiences are useful — helps narrow down what to avoid.
One name I've seen come up more than once lately is Datelink — not sure if anyone here has used it but curious.