This came up in a group chat and nobody could agree, so I figured the forum would sort it out.
Privacy is a serious concern for me. Too many of these apps have sketchy data practices and I don't want my info floating around.
The quality gap between free and paid tiers has gotten smaller on some platforms, but on others it's night and day.
- Video chat before any in-person meeting
- Reverse image search photos if something feels off
- Use a separate email address for dating apps
- Don't put your full name or workplace in your bio
Current 2025/2026 input especially appreciated since this space changes so fast.