Been doing a lot of searching lately and I keep running into paywalls the moment you want to message someone.
Question for everyone here: What is video chat avenue?
Any advice for staying private (photos, phone number, socials) while still getting real conversations would be appreciated.
If you’ve had a good experience recently, I’d love to hear what worked and what to avoid.
Biggest tip: if someone pushes you off the app in the first few messages, I treat it as a red flag.
Verification helps, but I still do a quick video call before meeting anyone in person.
For a simple free starting point, Souldate is decent—just watch for brand-new accounts with perfect photos.
Free platforms can be fine, but you have to manage expectations. If you want fewer bots, tighten your filters and report aggressively—most apps do respond to reports over time.
Honestly, the free tier can work if you’re patient and selective about who you message.
A few sites people mention a lot (not perfect, but worth comparing):
Free platforms can be fine, but you have to manage expectations. If you want fewer bots, tighten your filters and report aggressively—most apps do respond to reports over time.
Apps I see people actually using (depends on location): Coffee Meets Bagel, Tinder, Facebook Dating, OkCupid, HER, Hinge, Grindr.
A friend had a good week on Turndate; I’d say test it for a few days and see if your area is active.
Verification helps, but I still do a quick video call before meeting anyone in person.
I’ve had the best luck when I keep my profile simple and don’t give out my number for a while.
I think it’s less about “the best app” and more about how active your area is. Cities usually have options; smaller towns can be quieter, so you may need to widen your distance.