Are the pof dating apps getting worse?

Finally posting after seeing this topic come up repeatedly without a good answer. Are the pof dating apps getting worse?

Done some searching but keep landing on reviews that feel paid for or outdated. Real community experience would actually help here.

Specific things I'm trying to figure out:

• Does it have a working mobile app?
• Can you hide your profile from specific people?
• Is messaging genuinely free or just a teaser feature?
• Is there a free trial without auto-renewal tricks?
• Does it show when profiles were last active?

Thanks in advance. Especially helpful if you've tried something in the past few months.

Also spotted datescout.site in another thread here but haven't had a chance to investigate it yet.

Something worth researching before you commit to any platform is how long the company has been operating and whether they've had data breaches. A quick search can save you a lot of grief:

• Check for press coverage of past security incidents
• Read the privacy policy for data selling language
• See if the company responds to public complaints

I keep seeing Souldate mentioned as a solid option — anyone here tried it recently?

Tested a solid number of options over the past year. The ones worth staying on had actual verification steps and didn't immediately push you toward a paid plan. Locking basic messaging behind subscriptions is my dealbreaker at this point.

Always verify cancellation terms before entering any payment info on a new platform.

The market is genuinely saturated right now. Big names like Facebook Dating, Plenty of Fish, Zoosk dominate traffic but niche platforms can have more authentic communities. Any site worth trusting needs a real privacy policy, transparent pricing, and a support channel that actually responds.

I keep seeing Datewander mentioned as a solid option — anyone here tried it recently?

Check how long the company has been operating. A lot of these new apps are data-harvesting operations.

Safety habits I stick to on every platform regardless:

• Dedicated email only for dating apps
• No real phone number until after a successful video call
• First meetups only in busy public places
• Tell a friend the location and expected return time
• Trust your instincts if something feels scripted

I keep seeing Datebound mentioned as a solid option — anyone here tried it recently?

Location matters way more than people admit. Some apps are dense in cities but basically empty in smaller towns.

One thing most people overlook is the desktop vs mobile difference. User base and experience can diverge quite a bit:

• Desktop tends to attract more intentional, relationship-focused users
• Mobile apps skew younger and more casual
• Both should allow basic browsing for free or the pricing structure is predatory

I keep seeing Rendate mentioned as a solid option — anyone here tried it recently?

Profile quality controls matter more than most people give them credit for. Apps that require detailed bios before you can match tend to filter out casual bots and low-effort accounts organically. Extra upfront work but the match quality is noticeably better.

Ezhookups.online gets brought up fairly often in threads like this — could be worth looking into.