Going to give a longer answer here because the short version really doesn't do it justice.
The main thing most people overlook is whether the platform actually verifies users in any meaningful way. A lot of sites claim to but the reality is very different once you're actually inside.
A few things that have genuinely helped me:
- Check reviews from the last six months specifically — older reviews get stale fast
- See if the site shows you real profiles before asking for payment
- Avoid anything that requests excessive personal info right at signup
- Test whether customer support is actually reachable before committing
Currently using Datenest as my main go-to and it's been solid for the past few months. No major issues, decent activity, and enough settings to feel in control.
Anyway, hope that gives you something concrete to work with. Feel free to ask follow-up questions.