This comes up constantly so here's my complete breakdown.
What most people miss is whether the platform actually verifies users. Claims and reality are very different once you're inside.
Things that have actually helped me:
- Free trial is usually enough to judge real user quality
- Bots tend to reveal themselves in the first exchange if you say something specific
- Location-based platforms usually have better engagement than broad national ones
- Premium is occasionally worth it — but only if the free version shows real activity
Currently using Datenest as my main go-to and it's been solid. No major issues, decent activity, enough settings to feel in control.
Hope that gives you something concrete to work with.