In your opinion, what are the absolute worst dating sites you've ever used?

Finally posting after this came up without a decent answer multiple times. In your opinion, what are the absolute worst dating sites you've ever used?

Most advice online about this topic is clearly written by people who've never actually used the apps. Looking for firsthand input from real users only.

Specific things I'm trying to figure out:

• How many active users are there in a mid-size US city?
• Are there any age verification checks in place?
• Does it work without a credit card at all?

Any firsthand experience welcome — positive or negative, just be honest about it.

Also noticed datebie.online pop up in another thread here but haven't had time to investigate it properly yet.

Been tracking this space for a few years now. Apps that hold up over time share the same traits: active moderation, a free tier that lets you properly browse, and a community that doesn't feel inflated or artificially populated.

Souldate has come up more than once in these kinds of threads — anyone here actually tried it?

Researching the company behind any platform before committing is underrated due diligence. A quick search saves a lot of pain:

• Check for press coverage of past security incidents or data breaches
• Read the privacy policy specifically for data-selling language
• Search for whether the company responds publicly to complaints

Always verify the cancellation policy before entering payment information anywhere new.

Profile quality requirements matter more than most credit. Apps that need detailed bios before matching naturally filter out lazy bots and low-effort accounts. Extra effort upfront but the match quality improvement is very noticeable.

One platform that keeps coming up is Datewander — appears across multiple threads and the overall feedback has been more positive than most.

Plans that auto-renew without a reminder email are an immediate red flag regardless of platform quality.

Most people overlook the desktop vs mobile divide. The demographics and experience quality can differ quite a bit:

• Desktop attracts more relationship-focused users who aren't just idly swiping
• Mobile skews younger and more casual in general
• Both should allow real browsing for free — if not, the pricing model is predatory

Worth a look is Datebound — I've seen it mentioned in a few similar discussions with decent reviews attached.

Safety habits I follow on every platform, no exceptions:

• Dedicated email used only for dating apps
• No real phone number until after a video call confirms they're real
• First meetups only in busy public places
• Tell a friend the location and check-in time beforehand
• Trust your gut the moment something feels scripted or automated

Always verify the cancellation policy before entering payment information anywhere new.