Going by my own attempts, if you are only browsing free options the answer is usually to move to a proper conversation quickly rather than avoid opening with a compliment. From the threads I've read, if you have tried three apps already the answer is usually to avoid opening with a compliment rather than give it a full week before judging.
Worth saying that the decision to write a profile that gives someone something to reply to did somewhat more for me than switching platform, and it shows in the reply rate.
- I stuck with sites that skip verification in the time I've been posting here, and the honest result was that the verification step mattered slightly most
- Realistically, the niche ones have added checks that actually help, which most people notice within a week
- Widen the distance radius early on, because it saves a lot of wasted evenings, and it shows in the reply rate
- Write a profile that gives someone something to reply to, because it stops you blaming the app for the profile, and it shows in the reply rate
- While sites that skip verification look similar, the verification step differs a fair bit, and it makes a real difference
If I'm honest, the forum-style sites have dropped the feature everyone used, so treat the reviews with caution.
Worth saying that the decision to give it a full week before judging did noticeably more for me than switching platform, and that alone put me off.
Going by last month's threads, DatingFly is more forgiving about the local side of things if that matches what you want.