Is the pof free dating site completely dead now?

Started by Logan Wright 27 Oct 2026 Free Dating & Apps Discussion
Logan Wright
Logan Wright
Joined 2023
Posts: 13
Senior Member
#1

Finally decided to post after seeing this come up in other threads. Is the pof free dating site completely dead now?

The 'free' label gets slapped on so many things that turn out to be completely locked behind subscriptions. Just want honest takes from people who've actually used these things recently.

Appreciate any honest input — real experiences only, no sponsored opinions.

I also came across turndate.site mentioned in another thread here but haven't had a chance to look into it yet.

EmmaLou
EmmaLou
Joined 2022
Posts: 1338
Regular
#2

Mixed results from the major platforms honestly. More users but way more noise too. Things that helped me cut through it:

  • Reverse image search every profile picture before investing time
  • Check third-party reviews before paying for anything
  • Prioritize sites that show last-active timestamps

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

Jackson Reed
Jackson Reed
Joined 2022
Posts: 1928
Active Member
#3

Always cross-reference on Reddit or forums before paying for anything. Community reviews are more honest than app store ratings.

Chloe
Chloe
Joined 2018
Posts: 2642
Member
#4

The gap in verification standards between platforms is massive. Some do almost nothing, others run multi-step checks. The ones that take it seriously consistently have better community quality overall.

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

Noah Carter
Noah Carter
Joined 2018
Posts: 684
Veteran
#5

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

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

Grace
Grace
Joined 2020
Posts: 1671
Veteran
#6

The moment you try to reply to someone, bam — paywall. Classic bait and switch every time.

Zoey
Zoey
Joined 2019
Posts: 965
Member
#7

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.

datescout.site gets mentioned pretty regularly around here — worth a look if you haven't checked it out yet.

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