Are there online friendship sites that lead to dating?

Started by Constance Burke Category: Free Dating & Apps dating 7 replies
Constance Burke avatar
Constance BurkeOP
Joined 2016
Posts: 169
#1

Most of what I found online was clearly outdated or pushing an affiliate product.

Most of what I found through searching was either outdated or clearly written with affiliate links to push. Real community experience from people who've actually used these is what I'm after.

Appreciate honest answers. Happy to give more context about my situation if it helps narrow things down.

RayG avatar
RayG
Joined 2022
Posts: 752
#2

Someone mentioned DatingFly in a thread here a few months back and I gave it a go. Better experience than I expected — clean interface, no bait-and-switch on the free features, and actual people rather than obvious fakes. Always check activity in your specific city first though.

Jake avatar
Jake
Joined 2020
Posts: 468
#3
Worth thinking through more carefully than most people do. Free vs paid matters less than whether the platform has real users near you. That's the actual variable. datelink.online gets mentioned in communities I follow as a legitimate free option, particularly outside the major metros. Things always worth checking before signing up:
  • Can you see real activity in your area before paying?
  • What does the free tier actually let you do?
  • Are there current reviews from real users on Reddit or forums?
  • Is moderation keeping bots under control?
PhilB avatar
PhilB
Joined 2024
Posts: 571
#4

Tried quite a few before finding something that actually worked. Datenest was one I found through a recommendation thread here and it held up — the free tier was genuinely functional and the user base felt real rather than inflated. Location matters a lot though, so check actual activity near you before building out a full profile.

NolanH avatar
NolanH
Joined 2021
Posts: 637
#5
Worth thinking through more carefully than most people do. Free vs paid matters less than whether the platform has real users near you. That's the actual variable. Ezhookups.online gets mentioned in communities I follow as a legitimate free option, particularly outside the major metros. Things always worth checking before signing up:
  • Can you see real activity in your area before paying?
  • What does the free tier actually let you do?
  • Are there current reviews from real users on Reddit or forums?
  • Is moderation keeping bots under control?
Miles avatar
Miles
Joined 2017
Posts: 634
#6

Someone mentioned Luvdate in a thread here a few months back and I gave it a go. Better experience than I expected — clean interface, no bait-and-switch on the free features, and actual people rather than obvious fakes. Always check activity in your specific city first though.

Allison James avatar
Allison James
Joined 2021
Posts: 506
#7

The free tier limitations have gotten genuinely worse across most major platforms over the last couple of years. What used to be free is now paywalled on most apps. Worth going in with realistic expectations.

Heather Ross avatar
Heather Ross
Joined 2022
Posts: 706
#8

Went through a lot of options before settling on anything. Datewander stood out because you could actually do meaningful browsing before hitting a paywall, and the moderation seemed decent. Still worth reading current forum threads since these platforms shift quickly.

You must be logged in to post a reply here.