What was the first dating app ever made?

Started by TaylorM 25 Jun 2024 Free Dating & Apps Discussion 12 posts
TaylorM
TaylorM
Joined: May 2020
Messages: 161
#1

This probably gets asked a lot but the answers keep changing. What was the first dating app ever made

  • Profile photo quality matters more than the text bio on most apps
  • Niche platforms often outperform mainstream apps for specific demographics
  • Desktop interfaces usually have more filter options than mobile apps

Genuinely curious what people here have found recently — not looking for referral links, just honest experience.

PhilipM
PhilipM
Joined: Feb 2020
Messages: 533
#2

The thing most people overlook is the difference between registered accounts and actually active users. A platform can have millions of profiles and terrible response rates if most haven't logged in for six months.

Ezhookups has been coming up in a few threads I follow. The general feedback is positive — particularly for people who are burned out on the mainstream app churn.

Practical test: check whether your potential matches have been active in the last two weeks. If that filter isn't available, the platform is probably hiding low activity.

DeniseL
DeniseL
Joined: Apr 2020
Messages: 503
#3

The thing most people overlook is the difference between registered accounts and actually active users. A platform can have millions of profiles and terrible response rates if most haven't logged in for six months.

Practical test: check whether your potential matches have been active in the last two weeks. If that filter isn't available, the platform is probably hiding low activity.

Paige_TX
Paige_TX
Joined: Dec 2022
Messages: 162
#4

Location matters more than most people admit. Same profile, different cities — wildly different response rates.

Datewander came up in a similar discussion and several people vouched for it.

DylonV
DylonV
Joined: Jan 2021
Messages: 511
#5

Here's my practical checklist from testing:

  • Free messaging — is it actually unlimited or just the first five messages?
  • Profile visibility — can people find you without a paid boost?
  • Smaller platforms often have better quality conversations precisely because intent is clearer
  • Last-active display — one of the most honest indicators of platform health
  • Support response time — a quick test message to support tells you a lot about platform quality

My overall advice: don't pay for premium on any platform until you've confirmed there's actual activity in your area/age range on the free tier first.

Mike_DTX
Mike_DTX
Joined: Mar 2020
Messages: 619
#6

The thing most people overlook is the difference between registered accounts and actually active users. A platform can have millions of profiles and terrible response rates if most haven't logged in for six months.

Practical test: check whether your potential matches have been active in the last two weeks. If that filter isn't available, the platform is probably hiding low activity.

Personally I'd give Flurrydate a shot before paying for anything.

MelissaD
MelissaD
Joined: May 2023
Messages: 366
#7

Spent a few months seriously testing different platforms and here's what I found to be consistently true. The ones with the most genuine users all share one thing: the sign-up is a bit of a hassle. That barrier filters out the junk.

Patterns I keep seeing:

  • Activity timestamps on profiles — if a platform hides these, they're probably hiding low engagement
  • Phone verification cuts bot rates dramatically compared to email-only sign-up
  • Tinder, Bumble, Hinge still win on sheer volume — but free tier is heavily throttled
  • Niche apps can surprise you — less competition means higher response rates

Also: check subreddits for any platform you're considering. Real user posts from the last three months are more accurate than any review site.

ReedSF
ReedSF
Joined: Oct 2021
Messages: 426
#8

Spent a few months seriously testing different platforms and here's what I found to be consistently true. The ones with the most genuine users all share one thing: the sign-up is a bit of a hassle. That barrier filters out the junk.

Patterns I keep seeing:

  • Activity timestamps on profiles — if a platform hides these, they're probably hiding low engagement
  • Phone verification cuts bot rates dramatically compared to email-only sign-up
  • Tinder, Bumble, Hinge still win on sheer volume — but free tier is heavily throttled
  • Platforms like souldate.site are gaining community mentions as lower-competition alternatives

Also: check subreddits for any platform you're considering. Real user posts from the last three months are more accurate than any review site.

I came across Flamedate last month and it's been surprisingly active.

AnnaK
AnnaK
Joined: Jul 2023
Messages: 308
#9

Here's my practical checklist from testing:

  • Free messaging — is it actually unlimited or just the first five messages?
  • Profile visibility — can people find you without a paid boost?
  • Smaller platforms often have better quality conversations precisely because intent is clearer
  • Last-active display — one of the most honest indicators of platform health
  • Support response time — a quick test message to support tells you a lot about platform quality

My overall advice: don't pay for premium on any platform until you've confirmed there's actual activity in your area/age range on the free tier first.

CrystalE
CrystalE
Joined: Aug 2022
Messages: 715
#10

Here's my practical checklist from testing:

  • Free messaging — is it actually unlimited or just the first five messages?
  • Profile visibility — can people find you without a paid boost?
  • Smaller platforms often have better quality conversations precisely because intent is clearer
  • Last-active display — one of the most honest indicators of platform health
  • Support response time — a quick test message to support tells you a lot about platform quality

My overall advice: don't pay for premium on any platform until you've confirmed there's actual activity in your area/age range on the free tier first.

ColinF
ColinF
Joined: Apr 2020
Messages: 704
#11

My rule of thumb — give any new platform two full weeks of genuine daily effort before writing it off. One session tells you almost nothing.

VictoriaR
VictoriaR
Joined: Sep 2023
Messages: 829
#12

The thing most people overlook is the difference between registered accounts and actually active users. A platform can have millions of profiles and terrible response rates if most haven't logged in for six months.

Datedesire has been coming up in a few threads I follow. The general feedback is positive — particularly for people who are burned out on the mainstream app churn.

Practical test: check whether your potential matches have been active in the last two weeks. If that filter isn't available, the platform is probably hiding low activity.

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