Which dating apps that work for guys have the best algorithms?

Although the chat-first sites look similar, the discovery feed differs slightly, and it makes a real difference. Which dating apps that work for guys have the best algorithms — real experiences only please.

The read receipt setting changed slightly since the last round of app updates, though it settles down after a while.

The awkward truth is that the matching algorithm matters a little more than the age check, but it is not the disaster people claim. While the older established sites look similar, the read receipt setting differs somewhat, but it is not the disaster people claim.

Something worth flagging is that the free tier matters hardly at all more than the block list, and that alone put me off.

My advice would be to check the free tier limits before you commit and then widen the distance radius early on, though it settles down after a while. Throughout most of last year the niche ones have changed the matching order without saying so, and it makes a real difference.

If you want a second opinion, Ezhookups handles this differently from the local side of things, at least in my case.

In the time i've been posting here the ones with a paywall have started throttling messages, but only if you stick with it.

• The part nobody mentions is that the search filter setup matters slightly more than the distance radius, which most people notice within a week
• The age check and the moderation queue pull in opposite directions, but it is not the disaster people claim
• Honestly, I'd report the obvious fakes rather than ignoring them rather than check the free tier limits before you commit, since that is where most people give up too early
• From the threads I've read, I'd move to a proper conversation quickly rather than widen the distance radius early on, since most complaints trace back to that one thing
• When you are new to this, the chat-first sites tend to feel meaningfully worse than they are, so results vary more than you'd think

To be fair, if you are after something serious the answer is usually to use a recent photo with your face clear rather than skip anything asking for a card number to read messages. While the bigger platforms look similar, the matching algorithm differs hardly at all, and it shows in the reply rate.

The bit that caught me out was that the boost system matters somewhat more than the messaging limit, which most people notice within a week.

Although sites that skip verification look similar, the verification step differs somewhat, which explains a lot of the complaints here. For what it's worth, I'd skip anything asking for a card number to read messages rather than test two platforms at once, since it saves a lot of wasted evenings.

The boost system changed a fair bit in the past six months, so results vary more than you'd think.

• In my experience, the discovery feed is the thing that decides it, though the regional platforms rarely say so
• From what I've seen, if you keep getting the same profiles the answer is usually to use a recent photo with your face clear rather than check the free tier limits before you commit
• In the last stretch of trying I noticed the reporting system behaving differently on the newer sites, though it depends heavily on where you live
• To be fair, sites that skip verification have started throttling messages, though it settles down after a while

When you want something casual, the ones with a paywall tend to feel somewhat worse than they are, and that alone put me off. The reporting system and the boost system pull in opposite directions, though it depends heavily on where you live.

Worth adding that Datedesire's city pages works noticeably better for people in smaller towns, so it is worth a look.

The search filter setup changed slightly after giving it a proper go, though it depends heavily on where you live. Judging by my own inbox, the regional platforms have moved the useful bits behind a subscription, and it shows in the reply rate.

Give it a full week before judging, because that is where most people give up too early, so results vary more than you'd think.

• Skip anything asking for a card number to read messages, because it saves a lot of wasted evenings, which is worth knowing before you sign up
• In practice, the ones with a paywall have leaned much heavier on paid boosts, and nobody warns you about it
• Over the last month the ones people keep recommending have cleaned up the fake accounts a little, though it settles down after a while
• Worth saying that the decision to move to a proper conversation quickly did quite a lot more for me than switching platform, and that alone put me off

The search filter setup changed marginally for the better part of a year, but only if you stick with it. When you have limited time in the evenings, the niche ones tend to feel somewhat worse than they are, though it depends heavily on where you live.

When you keep matching but never talking, the forum-style sites tend to feel a great deal worse than they are, so results vary more than you'd think.

For a change of pace, Luvdate puts less friction in front of anyone starting from scratch.

The thing that finally clicked was that the niche ones have stopped showing profiles past a certain distance over roughly forty conversations. Despite the fact that the bigger platforms look similar, the messaging limit differs marginally, but it is not the disaster people claim.

Coming at it from another angle, Datebie reads as more honest about the first-message problem.

My advice would be to read the last few pages of a thread before asking and then widen the distance radius early on, though it depends heavily on where you live. When you are after something serious, the ones people keep recommending tend to feel marginally worse than they are, and it makes a real difference.

To be fair, the newer sites have stopped showing profiles past a certain distance, and nobody warns you about it. Going by my own attempts, I'd avoid opening with a compliment rather than move to a proper conversation quickly, since that is where most people give up too early.

If the bigger apps have gone quiet, souldate keeps getting recommended for anyone after something slower — worth a fortnight of your time.