What is the best way to meet people online free for purely friendship?

Been trying to figure this out for a while and couldn't find a straight answer. What is the best way to meet people online free for purely friendship?

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.

Drop your thoughts below. Any platform, any experience level, all welcome.

The market is pretty saturated right now. Heavy hitters like Hinge, Coffee Meets Bagel, Tinder dominate but niche sites sometimes have more genuine communities. Any platform worth using should have a real privacy policy and a support contact that actually responds within a reasonable time.

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

Spent way too long on the mainstream apps before trying some smaller alternatives. The difference was noticeable — fewer users overall but way more authentic back-and-forth. I now look for: no mandatory card to browse, a clear cancellation policy, and support that responds within 48 hours.

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

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.

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

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 — 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 Rendate — it came up in several threads and seems more straightforward than most.

Good moderation is underrated. Platforms with active admins have visibly fewer scam accounts.