What dating platforms do you recommend?

[SlavicNa97]

I am on Boo and Tinder (I struggle to log in but if my account disappeared, I am good with it) and Boo seems to be very good so far (it is rare to spot scammers) and verification is simple (they don't ask you for documents). I signed myself in ZenDate (I remember a while ago Chat GPT told me about that one) and I deleted account within 2 minutes out of fear. Within seconds after making an account, video call requests appear pretty often + few profiles texted me 1 line (different each other) and photos are too professional, too clear and I have found on TrustPilot reviews 1,3 star from 173 reviews and there was only 1 positive opinion but all opinions tell about the same). There you spend "credits" to text more, 1 credit = 1 minute of video call etc etc and Idk if you get credits through daily logging in, watching ads or what but you can spend real money too.
Also I don't like their way of verification: you choose 1 of 4 or 5 and another website appears with taking photos of your ID, passport and rest I forgot..

 

[okidoke]

All dating apps are flawed and designed to keep you on them so it makes the company money. That is a fact, not just my opinion. Miracle connections can happen, but the odds are against you. I wouldn't waste my time on them, again. Yes, I wasted too much time, effort and money on them.

 

[littlefish555]

Good luck to you! I don't know what Boo is, or Zen Date, and I agree with okidoke that dating apps are super flawed. And some of the things you're talking about do sound scary! Not sure about the credits thing you're talking about either, that might be specific to your country, but my understanding was that all these apps are supposed to be free for users unless you're doing like boutique apps where you're paying some company to find you a best match (i've never tried that).

I wanted to share my positive experience though. I was on Bumble and actually met someone wonderful after a long and exhausting bout of weird dates and hurt feelings (and one sleazy encounter I prefer to forget about). It's been three years since I closed the app forever. Was really horrible until it wasn't. Maybe I got lucky, but I recommend Bumble because you can be on there to meet new friends or date. I never tried Tinder, but to me that app seemed like it was all about sex, which might be fun if I was younger.

Things changed for me on Bumble when I switched the "what are you looking for" from "I don't know" to "relationship" and expanded my search to look outside of the big city. Once I was honest with myself that a relationship was why I there, and made that clear on my profile, even though it felt a little vulnerable and embarrassing, I found a really excellent match. Someone I was unlikely to have ever met in 'real life' too.

I had never really 'dated' and did not enjoy it, with the apps it's just all condensed and everything happens a lot faster and feels a little unnatural because everyone is trying to not waste time. It's really not fun. But I'm a success story and even made a good friend through the app that really helped get me through the end of the pandemic. So I don't hate on Bumble even though the whole experience until the end success was unpleasant. I also tolerated video chats (which are also awful) because you can get a sense of someone. It's all so awkward but for me it was worth it.

 

[MrLonely86]

+1 on what OkiDoke said . I recommend none, they are all like .... programmed that way that you get best people last, and so they can money milk you. So yeah - none.

 

[TheRealCallie]

I personally don't feel that dating sites are that much different than finding someone the old fashioned way. You still have to get to know someone, you still have all the risks, you are still going to get rejected until you find the right person and even after you do find the right person, you could still get hurt. People lie in real life as much as they do online.

Now the differences are this. You can read body language and hear tone in real life. You will have a larger pool to fish from online and have access to people you may not have ever met in real life.

As for which sites are better....none of them? Though, I think Tinder is more for hookups than actually finding someone to spend your life with. Not saying it won't happen there, but it's probably less likely. It's way too focused on looks (not that the rest aren't, of course....even real life is based on looks for most people). I'm not even sure if all the options in America are available to other countries. I would assume so, but I don't know for sure. It's going to be hit or miss on any site you go to. It's going to be hit or miss in real life. You just have to keep trying until you find someone you mesh well with.

I don't know much about the different dating sites personally. I know several people who have successful happy marriages through Match. I've met some decent guys on Plenty of Fish. I'm pretty sure you get better (more serious) results on the paid sites, but I assume that is out for you? Eharmony makes you fill out pretty extensive questionnaires to try to actually pair you with a compatible person, but the free version is pointless since I don't think you can't actually message anyone.