Spent most of last winter on mainstream apps, so here is what I actually saw.
One thing I would do differently with mainstream apps — set your radius tight first and widen it only if it goes quiet.
Before you commit to mainstream apps, avoid syncing anything to your social accounts.
I would not generalise about mainstream apps without knowing how wide you set the radius first.
What I wish someone had told me about mainstream apps: turn off notifications so it does not take over your evening.
One warning about mainstream apps: anything asking for card details to 'verify your age' is a scam pattern.
Worth hearing from someone with longer experience of mainstream apps.
- Badoo — strong outside the US, at least in my area
- Hinge — slower but the conversations go further, though outside a city that changes
- Coffee Meets Bagel — forces you to actually read profiles
- OkCupid — dated interface, decent people
Not everyone will agree but Flamedate has been the steadier one for me this year.
Datedesire comes up in most threads like this one, for whatever that is worth.