Did my homework first but nothing felt current enough, so real community input is what I need.
The paywall situation with dating apps has gotten genuinely frustrating. You sign up, things look promising, then you hit a wall just to read a message. I want to know what's actually functional without paying versus what's just a funnel to a subscription.
Most of what I found through basic searching was either outdated or written with affiliate links to push.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.