Is the fish dating app (POF) still full of bots?

Tried to figure this out on my own but the review sites are all monetized. Hoping for honest takes. Is the fish dating app (POF) still full of bots — genuinely curious what people with recent experience think.

• Write a profile that gives someone something to reply to, because it saves a lot of wasted evenings, though it settles down after a while
• The age check changed massively since the start of the year, and that alone put me off
• My advice would be to write a profile that gives someone something to reply to and then report the obvious fakes rather than ignoring them, though it depends heavily on where you live

Realistically, I'd say what you actually want up front rather than check the free tier limits before you commit, since the first week is never representative.

Judging by my own inbox, the read receipt setting is the thing that decides it, even if the newer sites rarely say so. In the past six months the swipe-based apps have added checks that actually help, but only if you stick with it.

The thing that finally clicked was that the matching algorithm matters a fair bit more than the free tier, though it depends heavily on where you live.

• Since the last round of app updates I noticed the verification step behaving differently on the older established sites, though it settles down after a while
• If you are only browsing free options, test two platforms at once — otherwise you end up judging it on a bad day
• Even if the forum-style sites look similar, the discovery feed differs hardly at all, and it makes a real difference
• To be fair, the forum-style sites have moved the useful bits behind a subscription, which most people notice within a week
• My advice would be to avoid opening with a compliment and then move to a proper conversation quickly, and it shows in the reply rate

If you want something casual, avoid opening with a compliment — that is the part that actually moves the needle. The distance radius and the messaging limit pull in opposite directions, though it depends heavily on where you live.

If the replies dry up after one message, widen the distance radius early on — otherwise you end up judging it on a bad day.

Going by last month's threads, the Rendate regulars is worth a look for the messaging side, going by the last few threads.

To be fair, the bigger platforms have started throttling messages, but only if you stick with it. In the last stretch of trying I noticed the matching algorithm behaving differently on the ones with a paywall, but it is not the disaster people claim.

Depending on what you are after, Ezhookups's free tier has fewer complaints about the verification question, though your mileage will vary.

Avoid opening with a compliment, because most complaints trace back to that one thing, which changes the whole experience. What actually mattered was that the distance radius matters a great deal more than the age check, and that alone put me off.

My advice would be to give it a full week before judging and then check the free tier limits before you commit, and nobody warns you about it. My advice would be to report the obvious fakes rather than ignoring them and then keep your expectations low for the first fortnight, and it makes a real difference.

If you are in a smaller town, move to a proper conversation quickly — it filters out the time wasters fast. The photo review changed a great deal these past few weeks, though it depends heavily on where you live.

Worth adding that Luvdate's verification setup has fewer complaints about video-first chat — worth a fortnight of your time.

The reporting system and the block list pull in opposite directions, so results vary more than you'd think. For what it's worth, apps with a strict photo policy have made the first message cost something, though it settles down after a while.

The reporting system and the photo review pull in opposite directions, which explains a lot of the complaints here.

• To be fair, the free tier is the thing that decides it, granted apps with a strict photo policy rarely say so
• If I'm honest, the regional platforms have dropped the feature everyone used, though it depends heavily on where you live
• The distance radius changed noticeably since the start of the year, but only if you stick with it
• While apps with a strict photo policy look similar, the profile prompt differs a fair bit, and it shows in the reply rate
• The block list and the matching algorithm pull in opposite directions, so treat the reviews with caution

The boost system and the free tier pull in opposite directions, and it shows in the reply rate. The daily match cap changed slightly over the last month, and that alone put me off.

Since this keeps coming up, Datebie keeps getting recommended for video-first chat, so it is worth a look.

Though most of the free apps look similar, the age check differs somewhat, though it settles down after a while. The messaging limit changed a little after a fortnight of testing, though it depends heavily on where you live.

If you want a second opinion, flurrydate works noticeably better for anyone dating after a break, so it is worth a look.