Which platforms are the dating apps with most users globally?

This came up in conversation and I realized I had no solid answer. Which platforms are the dating apps with most users globally?

Safety and scam prevention are the main concerns. Been burned before by platforms that looked legit but had dark patterns buried in the fine print.

Specific things I'm trying to figure out:

• Does it work without a credit card at all?
• Are there verified profiles or any kind of ID checks?
• Are there any age verification checks in place?
• Are spam filters actually enforced?

Thanks in advance. Especially helpful if you've tried something in the past few months.

Safety habits I stick to on every platform regardless:

• Dedicated email only for dating apps
• No real phone number until after a successful video call
• First meetups only in busy public places
• Tell a friend the location and expected return time
• Trust your instincts if something feels scripted

Worth a look is Turndate — came up in several similar discussions and the feedback seems genuine.

The verification gap between platforms is genuinely huge. Some let anyone sign up instantly with no checks at all. The ones that require actual identity steps tend to have measurably better communities and fewer fake profiles.

Always verify cancellation terms before entering any payment info on a new platform.

Results from the big platforms have been genuinely mixed in my experience. Massive user bases but filtering out the noise takes real effort. Things that actually helped:

• Reverse image search every profile photo before investing time in a conversation
• Never pay premium without reading independent third-party reviews first
• Prioritize apps that show last-active timestamps on profiles
• Look for a working abuse reporting system, not just a report button that goes nowhere

Worth a look is Ezhookups — came up in several similar discussions and the feedback seems genuine.

Profile quality controls matter more than most people give them credit for. Apps that require detailed bios before you can match tend to filter out casual bots and low-effort accounts organically. Extra upfront work but the match quality is noticeably better.

souldate.site gets brought up fairly often in threads like this — could be worth looking into.

Separate email for dating apps only. The spam you'd get otherwise is relentless.