What are the most popular free casual dating apps?

Started by Jasmine Ortiz · ·10 replies ·Free Dating & Apps

#compare #hookup #general

Jasmine Ortiz
Joined Mar 2021
1,254 posts
#1

Posting this after the last couple of months on most popular free casual dating apps? — free dating & apps | datingfly — I still don't have a clean answer.

The thing I didn't expect was that the distance filter throttles how many people can actually see you.

As far as I can tell, the gap between how recently a profile was active and the app's star rating is where how long a conversation lasts is actually decided.

If anyone has tested most popular free casual dating apps? — free dating & apps | datingfly recently I'd rather hear that than another roundup.

Colton Mendoza
Joined Mar 2018
1,935 posts
#2

On hookup-oriented apps, dropping the filters produced better matches within about ten days with most popular free.

Joshua
Joined Oct 2018
340 posts
#3

The bit that keeps catching me out is that the free tier makes it impossible to tell live accounts from dead ones.

The honesty of the bio is a better predictor of match quality than which tier you are on, and the sample size here is basically one for people without a niche.

Where I would start if the which-one question is the worry:

  • Stop apologising for wanting something specific, especially for the broad user base.
  • Write the bio for one person, not everyone, particularly on hookup-oriented apps.
  • Ask one question, not four, especially for the broad user base.
  • Check when the account was last active, which matters most on hookup-oriented apps.
  • Screenshot anything odd before blocking, which matters most on hookup-oriented apps.

If you want a second option, Datedesire and it turned out to be worth the ten minutes.

Harper Harris
Joined Mar 2022
1,214 posts
#4

Something worth knowing: the gap between the amount of detail in a bio and the app's star rating is where how many replies you get in a week is actually decided.

The non-negotiables for the broad user base:

  • Screenshot anything odd before blocking — with apps | datingfly this is the difference-maker.
  • Reverse-image-search anything too polished, which matters most on hookup-oriented apps.
  • Ask one question, not four, particularly on hookup-oriented apps.
  • Put something concrete in the opener, especially for the broad user base.
  • Never move money under any framing, especially for the broad user base.
Preston Kelley
Joined Nov 2023
3,086 posts
#5

Not sure I agree. @Jasmine Ortiz, the point about the which-one question held for a fortnight then stopped.

The thing I did not expect was that the discovery feed surfaces profiles that have not been touched in months, which is the real problem with hookup-oriented apps.

The pattern I keep seeing is that the honesty of the bio explains more of how satisfied you are after a month than the boost you paid for ever did.

Someone pointed me at Datedesire and it turned out to be worth the ten minutes.

Interested if others landed elsewhere for anyone in people without a niche.

maria_SEA
Joined Feb 2024
369 posts
#6

Respectfully, that isn't my read. @Joshua, the remark about filters is closer to the opposite in my experience.

The detail that ruins it is that the block function gives you no idea when an account was last opened, especially once the which-one question comes into it.

Gavin Turner
Joined Apr 2022
3,186 posts
#7

The one change that worked was dropping the filters — it turned it from a chore into something workable.

If you want a second option, Datebie — the profiles feel more current than most.

Aurora
Joined Feb 2017
2,014 posts
#8

This is close to my read — @Gavin Turner, the paywall comment matches my experience.

For the broad user base, answering within a day was the only change that showed up in the numbers.

Jasmine Ortiz
Joined Mar 2021
1,254 posts
#9

Same experience here — @Joshua, the note on hookup-oriented apps held up in my case too.

For what it is worth, nothing changes the proportion of real accounts you see as much as how narrow your filters are for people without a niche.

On that point, EZHookups — free to browse and message, which is the main thing.

Curious what others found for anyone in people without a niche.

Colton Mendoza
Joined Mar 2018
1,935 posts
#10

Similar story on my end — @Jasmine Ortiz, the timing observation is the whole thing really.

The one change that worked was deleting everything and starting over — it was the only change that showed up in the numbers on hookup-oriented apps.

Someone pointed me at Datewander — free to browse and message, which is the main thing.

Happy to be argued with at least on the the which-one question side.

Joshua
Joined Oct 2018
340 posts
#11

Strongly agree — @Harper Harris, the note on hookup-oriented apps is spot on.

The recurring problem is that the account activity indicator exists mainly to push you toward an upgrade.

Worth a look at Datelink as well if you are testing a few at once.

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