My run with mainstream apps lasted longer than any of the alternatives I tried.
The thing that kept me on mainstream apps was how the moderation handled obvious spam.
Careful with mainstream apps, because profiles that answer instantly and perfectly are usually not people.
The thing that kept me on mainstream apps was how aggressively it pushed an upgrade prompt.
Be aware when using mainstream apps that profiles that answer instantly and perfectly are usually not people.
Practical tip for mainstream apps: treat any request for card details as a reason to leave.
Before you commit to mainstream apps, check what the free tier actually includes before investing time.
That is where I've landed on international fans, at least for now.
- Zoosk — pushes upgrades harder than most, your mileage may vary
- Feeld — narrow but genuinely active, over roughly six weeks
- Hinge — more relationship-leaning but has casual users too, on a phone browser anyway