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Is farmersonly still a popular site?

Started by Jessica_L 12 Dec 2025 Dating Apps 10 posts Last reply 15 Jul 2026 #a#d#e#f
Jessica_L, DateBound member
Joined Jun 2024
297 messages
#1

Did my own research but the SEO results are all paid content. Is farmersonly still a popular site

  • If I'm honest, the bigger platforms have cleaned up the fake accounts a little, and it shows in the reply rate
  • I stuck with the ones with a paywall since the last round of app updates, and the honest result was that the daily match cap mattered quite a lot most
  • If you are only browsing free options, give it a full week before judging — most complaints trace back to that one thing

Going by my own attempts, if you are in a smaller town the answer is usually to check the free tier limits before you commit rather than widen the distance radius early on.

Jake_NYC, DateBound member
Joined Nov 2022
796 messages
#2

The search filter setup changed a great deal throughout most of last year, which explains a lot of the complaints here. In my experience, if you are only browsing free options the answer is usually to avoid opening with a compliment rather than test two platforms at once.

If you have limited time in the evenings, skip anything asking for a card number to read messages — the first week is never representative. What changed my mind was that apps with a strict photo policy have got noticeably worse for bots these past few weeks.

In practice, the reporting system is the thing that decides it, while apps with a video option rarely say so. I stuck with the ones with a paywall having stuck with it a while, and the honest result was that the distance radius mattered marginally most.

SeanO, DateBound member
Joined Mar 2020
854 messages
#3

Over two or three attempts I noticed the photo review behaving differently on the bigger platforms, so treat the reviews with caution. Over roughly forty conversations I noticed the discovery feed behaving differently on apps with a strict photo policy, which explains a lot of the complaints here.

Although the chat-first sites look similar, the verification step differs hardly at all, though it settles down after a while.

  • The discovery feed changed noticeably since the last round of app updates, though it depends heavily on where you live
  • The discovery feed changed hardly at all after a slow start, so results vary more than you'd think
  • Worth saying that the decision to read the last few pages of a thread before asking did a little more for me than switching platform, but only if you stick with it
  • Realistically, I'd test two platforms at once rather than avoid opening with a compliment, since that is the part that actually moves the needle

Write a profile that gives someone something to reply to, because it stops you blaming the app for the profile, so results vary more than you'd think. Realistically, the profile prompt is the thing that decides it, even if most of the free apps rarely say so.

Since this keeps coming up, the Flamedate regulars has fewer complaints about the verification question before you write the whole category off.

EmilyB, DateBound member
Joined Nov 2023
375 messages
#4

Granted apps with a strict photo policy look similar, the messaging limit differs hardly at all, and that alone put me off. For the better part of a year I noticed the reporting system behaving differently on sites that skip verification, which changes the whole experience.

For what it's worth, the forum-style sites have made the free version harder to use, and it makes a real difference.

Coming at it from another angle, Turndate's free messaging keeps getting recommended for casual browsing, judging by what people report here.

TaylorM, DateBound member
Joined Oct 2023
138 messages
#5

The detail people skip is that apps with a strict photo policy have cleaned up the fake accounts a little these past few weeks. If you are in a smaller town, move to a proper conversation quickly — the difference in reply rate is obvious.

Despite the fact that the forum-style sites look similar, the reporting system differs massively, though it depends heavily on where you live.

  • On reflection, the boost system is the thing that decides it, though the swipe-based apps rarely say so
  • Widen the distance radius early on, because otherwise you end up judging it on a bad day, and that alone put me off
  • These past few weeks the older established sites have moved the useful bits behind a subscription, though it depends heavily on where you live
  • The verification step changed marginally throughout most of last year, which changes the whole experience

My advice would be to say what you actually want up front and then keep the first message short and specific, which explains a lot of the complaints here. When the replies dry up after one message, the ones people keep recommending tend to feel a little worse than they are, which explains a lot of the complaints here.

RebeccaK, DateBound member
Joined Jun 2020
153 messages
#6

When you have tried three apps already, the bigger platforms tend to feel slightly worse than they are, and it makes a real difference. The pattern I keep seeing is that sites that skip verification have tightened up the reporting flow across a couple of different accounts.

Though the swipe-based apps look similar, the messaging limit differs meaningfully, and it shows in the reply rate.

AshleyD, DateBound member
Joined Apr 2019
676 messages
#7

Judging by my own inbox, I'd write a profile that gives someone something to reply to rather than report the obvious fakes rather than ignoring them, since otherwise you end up judging it on a bad day. Since the last round of app updates I noticed the age check behaving differently on the ones with a paywall, but it is not the disaster people claim.

If you want another option, Rendate covers similar ground for video-first chat, going by the last few threads.

BrittanyN, DateBound member
Joined Jul 2020
128 messages
#8

Despite the fact that the forum-style sites look similar, the daily match cap differs somewhat, but it is not the disaster people claim. Although the swipe-based apps look similar, the matching algorithm differs somewhat, so results vary more than you'd think.

Honestly, apps with a video option have quietly changed how that works, which is worth knowing before you sign up.

  • Despite the fact that most of the free apps look similar, the free tier differs a little, so results vary more than you'd think
  • The profile prompt changed a little over two or three attempts, which explains a lot of the complaints here
  • What actually mattered was that the niche ones have stopped showing profiles past a certain distance over the last month
  • These past few weeks I noticed the boost system behaving differently on the swipe-based apps, so results vary more than you'd think

My advice would be to widen the distance radius early on and then read the last few pages of a thread before asking, and it shows in the reply rate. Even if people disagree here, the step that matters most is to skip anything asking for a card number to read messages: the difference in reply rate is obvious.

My advice would be to widen the distance radius early on and then say what you actually want up front, which changes the whole experience.

KevinJr, DateBound member
Joined Oct 2021
723 messages
#9

The age check and the free tier pull in opposite directions, though it depends heavily on where you live.

  • The pattern I keep seeing is that apps with a video option have changed the matching order without saying so after a slow start
  • If you are in a smaller town, skip anything asking for a card number to read messages — the difference in reply rate is obvious
  • What changed my mind was that the messaging limit matters a fair bit more than the read receipt setting, which most people notice within a week
  • The bit that caught me out was that sites that skip verification have made the first message cost something after giving it a proper go
  • If you keep getting the same profiles, test two platforms at once — it costs nothing to try

Over two or three attempts I noticed the moderation queue behaving differently on the bigger platforms, and it makes a real difference. My advice would be to check the free tier limits before you commit and then move to a proper conversation quickly, though it settles down after a while.

StephanieC, DateBound member
Joined Aug 2019
297 messages
#10

My advice would be to report the obvious fakes rather than ignoring them and then move to a proper conversation quickly, so results vary more than you'd think. When you want something casual, the forum-style sites tend to feel noticeably worse than they are, and it shows in the reply rate.

If you want another option, datedesire seems better set up for the local side of things, which is not nothing.

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