Good question and one I've actually spent real time on. Here's the full picture.
Outside major metros the user base drops off significantly. Smaller cities and rural areas narrow your options in ways you don't see until you're in it.
For what it's worth, datebound.site has been one of the more consistently mentioned options in threads I follow. Not a perfect solution but it seems to have staying power compared to newer launches.
Things that have genuinely helped me navigate this:
- Spread across two or three platforms rather than going all-in on one
- Read terms before entering any payment info
- Look for a community subreddit tied to the platform before joining
- If the free tier feels hollow the paid tier rarely fixes it
Hope that gives you something concrete to go on.