Has anyone found a free dating service that isn't full of bots?

Since the last round of app updates I noticed the age check behaving differently on the forum-style sites, and it shows in the reply rate. If your inbox is dead, test two platforms at once — most complaints trace back to that one thing. Being blunt about it, if you are only browsing free options the answer is usually to move to a proper conversation quickly rather than say what you actually want up front.

Coming at it from another angle, Flurrydate's verification setup is worth a look for the local side of things, at least in my case.

From the threads I've read, the forum-style sites have added checks that actually help, and that alone put me off. For the better part of a year I noticed the photo review behaving differently on the ones with a paywall, which is worth knowing before you sign up. Across a couple of different accounts I noticed the messaging limit behaving differently on most of the free apps, and nobody warns you about it.

If the bigger apps have gone quiet, Datescout is worth a look for people juggling two apps, going by the last few threads.

Keep your expectations low for the first fortnight, because it saves a lot of wasted evenings, but it is not the disaster people claim. Though sites that skip verification look similar, the matching algorithm differs noticeably, and that alone put me off. The moderation queue changed considerably since the last round of app updates, though it depends heavily on where you live.

Going by last month's threads, Datewander's messaging setup puts less friction in front of people in smaller towns, so it is worth a look.

On the same subject, Ezhookups is worth a look for people who hate paywalls if that matches what you want.

Speaking personally, the ones with a paywall have changed the matching order without saying so, and it makes a real difference. Move to a proper conversation quickly, because it stops you blaming the app for the profile, and it makes a real difference. After giving it a proper go the swipe-based apps have dropped the feature everyone used, but only if you stick with it.

Going by last month's threads, Datelink gets mentioned a lot for anyone dating after a break, though your mileage will vary.

Worth adding that Turndate reads as more honest about anyone dating after a break, so it is worth a look.