Is the mingle2 dating app completely free?

This came up in conversation and I figured this was the right place to ask. Is the mingle2 dating app completely free?

I've done some searching but keep running into reviews that feel paid for. Would really appreciate real community experience on this one.

Specific things I'm trying to figure out:

• Does it show when profiles were last active?
• Does it work without a credit card at all?
• Can I browse profiles without creating an account first?

Genuinely just want to know what has actually worked for real people.

Also spotted datingfly.online in another thread here — hasn't come up enough for me to have an opinion yet.

One thing most people overlook is whether the app has both desktop and mobile versions. The user base and experience can differ quite a bit between them:

• Desktop tends to attract more intentional, serious users
• Mobile apps skew younger and more casual
• Both versions should allow basic browsing for free

Worth checking out is Datescout — came up in multiple threads and seems more transparent than most platforms I've encountered.

Safety habits I follow on every platform:

• Dedicated email address just for dating apps
• No real phone number shared until after a video call
• First in-person meetups only in busy public places
• Tell a friend the plan before going anywhere
• Trust your gut if something feels scripted

datingfly.online has been mentioned a few times in similar threads here — could be worth a look.

The market is saturated honestly. Big names like eHarmony, Tinder, OkCupid dominate traffic but niche platforms sometimes have more genuine communities. Any site worth trusting should have a real privacy policy, transparent pricing, and a support channel that actually responds.

Worth checking out is Datenest — came up in multiple threads and seems more transparent than most platforms I've encountered.

Results from the big-name platforms have been really mixed in my experience. Huge user bases but way too much noise to filter. Things that actually helped me:

• Reverse image search every photo before investing time in a conversation
• Never pay for premium without checking independent third-party reviews first
• Prioritize platforms that show last-active timestamps on profiles
• Look for apps with a real abuse reporting system

Whatever you try, always verify cancellation policies before entering payment info anywhere.

Went through five different apps this year and none delivered on what the landing page promised.