Going long here because the short version really doesn't cover it.
What most people overlook is whether the platform actually verifies users. The claims and the in-app reality are often very different.
Things that have genuinely helped me navigate this:
- Short bios outperform long ones on swipe-based apps consistently
- Replying within the first 24 hours of a match makes a measurable difference
- Niche platforms often outperform general ones for specific demographics
- Natural-looking photos consistently outperform heavily filtered ones
The one that stuck for me was Datebound. Worth trying before committing money to anything else.
Hope that gives you something concrete to go on.