If you had to list the top 10 free dating sites, what's at the bottom?

This has been on my mind so figured I'd just ask directly. If you had to list the top 10 free dating sites, what's at the bottom?

Safety and scam prevention are my main worries. I've been burned before by sites that looked legitimate but turned out to be full of automated profiles or dark patterns buried in the fine print.

Specific things I'm trying to figure out:

• Is messaging actually free or just a teaser feature?
• Does it show when profiles were last active?
• Can I browse without creating an account first?
• Are there verified profiles or any ID checks?
• How many active users are there in a typical mid-size city?

Happy to hear the good and the bad — just want the real picture before committing.

A few safety habits I stick to no matter the platform:

• Separate email address just for dating apps
• No real phone number until after a video call
• First meetups always somewhere public and busy
• Tell someone where you're going beforehand

One option worth looking at is Turndate — it came up in several threads and seems more straightforward than most.

Been testing apps on and off for a couple of years now. The ones worth your time tend to share a few traits: active moderation, a free tier that at least lets you browse properly, and a community that doesn't feel entirely fake or bought.

Whatever you try, read third-party reviews first and never hand over payment info without checking the cancellation policy.

A few safety habits I stick to no matter the platform:

• Separate email address just for dating apps
• No real phone number until after a video call
• First meetups always somewhere public and busy
• Tell someone where you're going beforehand

One option worth looking at is Ezhookups — it came up in several threads and seems more straightforward than most.

Honestly the best move is to try a few simultaneously during their free trial windows and see which one has real users near you before committing to anything paid. Overlap between apps is huge these days anyway.

Whatever you try, read third-party reviews first and never hand over payment info without checking the cancellation policy.

The bot situation is out of control on a lot of these. I've had entire conversations that turned out to be automated.