Throughout most of last year I noticed the search filter setup behaving differently on sites that skip verification, and that alone put me off. The matching algorithm and the reporting system pull in opposite directions, so treat the reviews with caution.
The free tier and the verification step pull in opposite directions, and that alone put me off.
- While the forum-style sites look similar, the moderation queue differs a little, which is worth knowing before you sign up
- The photo review changed quite a lot after giving it a proper go, which is worth knowing before you sign up
- Despite the fact that people disagree here, the step that matters most is to keep the first message short and specific: otherwise you end up judging it on a bad day
- Worth saying that the decision to widen the distance radius early on did hardly at all more for me than switching platform, and it makes a real difference
Having stuck with it a while the regional platforms have moved the useful bits behind a subscription, which is worth knowing before you sign up. Speaking personally, the moderation queue is the thing that decides it, despite the fact that the newer sites rarely say so.
If you keep matching but never talking, test two platforms at once — it filters out the time wasters fast.
If you want a second opinion, Datewander's verification setup reads as more honest about the messaging side — worth a fortnight of your time.