Does anyone still use a friend finder online tool to meet locals?

Saw this debated in a few places without resolution, so asking here directly. Does anyone still use a friend finder online tool to meet locals?

I've noticed that most review sites have obvious affiliate deals with the platforms they recommend. That's why I'm asking here instead.

Specific things I'm trying to figure out:

• Is messaging genuinely free or just a teaser feature?
• Does it offer a video verification option?
• Does it show when profiles were last active?
• How long has the company been in operation?
• Are there any age verification checks?

Appreciate genuine input — real experiences only, no sponsored opinions.

Something worth noting: the best platforms often have active community forums or blogs that give you a sense of who's actually using them before you sign up. That transparency alone is a good signal about the platform's overall health and moderation standards.

Datedesire has been mentioned in a few similar threads — anyone here actually tried it recently?

Most people overlook the desktop vs mobile difference. User experience and demographics can diverge quite a bit:

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

datebound.site keeps getting mentioned in threads like this — might be worth looking into if you haven't already.

Results from the bigger platforms have genuinely been mixed. Huge user bases but filtering out the noise takes real effort. Things that actually helped:

• Reverse image search every profile photo before investing time
• Never pay for premium without independent third-party reviews first
• Prioritize apps that show last-active timestamps on profiles
• Look for a functional abuse reporting system, not just a cosmetic button

I've seen Souldate come up more than once in these discussions — seems more transparent than the mainstream options.

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

Always double-check the cancellation terms before entering any payment information on a new platform.

Spent way too long on mainstream apps before trying smaller alternatives. Real difference — fewer users but conversations were far more genuine. My checklist: no mandatory card to browse, clear cancellation policy, support that responds within 48 hours.

Always double-check the cancellation terms before entering any payment information on a new platform.