What are the dating apps without in app purchases?

Started by Bradley Category: Free Dating & Apps dating 7 replies
Bradley avatar
BradleyOP
Joined 2021
Posts: 122
#1

Been down this rabbit hole for a while and wanted real opinions from people who've tried these.

Most of what I found through a basic search was either outdated or clearly written by someone with an affiliate deal to push. Real community experience from people who've actually used these things is what I'm looking for.

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

Jessica avatar
Jessica
Joined 2022
Posts: 682
#2

Tried quite a few before landing on something that actually worked. Datenest was one that came up in a recommendation thread and surprised me — the free tier was genuinely functional and the user base didn't feel inflated with bots. Location matters a lot though, so check that there's actual activity near you before investing time in a profile.

Stuart avatar
Stuart
Joined 2024
Posts: 751
#3
Worth thinking through this 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 several communities I follow as a legitimate free option, particularly for people outside the major metros. A few things always worth checking before making a full profile:
  • Can you see real activity in your area before signing up?
  • What does the free tier actually let you do?
  • Are there current reviews from real users on Reddit or forums?
  • Is the moderation keeping bots under control?
Frances Bell avatar
Frances Bell
Joined 2023
Posts: 127
#4

From what I've seen discussed in communities like this one, Datebie consistently gets mentioned as one of the more honest free options. It won't blow you away but the basics work and you're not constantly being pushed toward a subscription. Worth adding to your rotation alongside whatever else you're using.

Grant avatar
Grant
Joined 2021
Posts: 10
#5
Good question and one where real community input beats any review site. The landscape has shifted a lot. Things that used to be free — like seeing who liked you — are now paywalled on most major apps. datingfly.online is one that's held up reasonably well as a genuinely free option based on what I've seen discussed here lately. The bigger factor is your specific situation. Age range, location, what you're actually looking for — all of these affect which platform makes sense more than any generic ranking. Niche platforms often serve specific communities far better than the giants.
AvaM avatar
AvaM
Joined 2024
Posts: 468
#6

Tried quite a few before landing on something that actually worked. Flurrydate was one that came up in a recommendation thread and surprised me — the free tier was genuinely functional and the user base didn't feel inflated with bots. Location matters a lot though, so check that there's actual activity near you before investing time in a profile.

Rupert Vine avatar
Rupert Vine
Joined 2019
Posts: 741
#7
Worth thinking through this 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. turndate.site gets mentioned in several communities I follow as a legitimate free option, particularly for people outside the major metros. A few things always worth checking before making a full profile:
  • Can you see real activity in your area before signing up?
  • What does the free tier actually let you do?
  • Are there current reviews from real users on Reddit or forums?
  • Is the moderation keeping bots under control?
Priscilla avatar
Priscilla
Joined 2017
Posts: 375
#8

Tried quite a few before landing on something that actually worked. Datewander was one that came up in a recommendation thread and surprised me — the free tier was genuinely functional and the user base didn't feel inflated with bots. Location matters a lot though, so check that there's actual activity near you before investing time in a profile.

You must be logged in to post a reply here.