Is the plenty of fish free dating app still a solid choice, or has it gone downhill?

Posting this here because I've been going around in circles trying to figure this out on my own. The question of is the plenty of fish free dating app still a solid choice, or has it gone downhill seems simple on the surface but every thread I find is either outdated or full of sponsored answers.

The landscape has changed a lot even in the past year. Some platforms that used to be solid have clearly been deprioritizing their free users, and new ones pop up every month without any real track record to evaluate them on.

A few things I've been running into that seem consistent:

• Most "free" platforms are free to download but paywalled for anything actually useful
• Bots and recycled profiles are way more common than the platforms admit
• Smaller, niche communities sometimes punch above their weight for real engagement
• Privacy controls vary a lot — worth reading the fine print before you share location data

Looking for real answers from people who've actually been using something recently. Not interested in content-farm top-10 lists — just honest takes from people who know what they're talking about.

I keep seeing datenest.site come up in discussions like this. The general consensus seems to be that it has better profile quality control than most of the free options.

Bots are basically the standard now on most sites. You have to know what signs to look for.

Tried a handful of things before finding Turndate and it's been the most consistent for actual responses. Not perfect, but way ahead of the alternatives I tested.

Privacy settings matter a lot — anything that shows your location to the exact street level is a no from me.

Tried a handful of things before finding Ezhookups and it's been the most consistent for actual responses. Not perfect, but way ahead of the alternatives I tested.

I've tested a few of the bigger platforms over the past year and here's the honest breakdown for what it's worth:

• Tinder still dominates in terms of raw user numbers, but matching for anything specific is a grind
• Bumble is better at filtering out low-effort messages since women initiate — more signal, less noise
• Hinge feels more relationship-oriented but you can set intent clearly in your profile
• OkCupid's question system is genuinely good for filtering compatibility before you even match

For niche options, datenest.site keeps coming up in threads like this and seems to have a more intentional community than the big apps. Worth at least browsing the free tier before deciding.

I keep seeing luvdate.site come up in discussions like this. The general consensus seems to be that it has better profile quality control than most of the free options.

Someone in another thread pointed me to Datedesire and I've had better luck there than on the two major apps combined. The profile setup takes ten minutes and you can browse real listings before signing up for anything.