Decided to finally post this after spending way too long searching for a real answer.
Free tiers have gotten increasingly restrictive. A lot of platforms make you pay just to see who liked you, which feels like a pretty fundamental feature to gate.
Location makes a huge difference and I think most reviews don't account for this enough. What works well in a big city can be completely dead in a mid-sized town.
- Video call before any in-person meeting — always
- Use a separate email address specifically for dating apps
- Test every free tier fully before touching the upgrade button
- Read recent reviews on Reddit before committing to any paid plan
- Avoid apps that hide profile photos behind a paywall
Thanks in advance — even pointing me toward what to avoid is helpful.