Are 50 dating sites better for finding companionship or marriage?

Started by SarahD 23 Jan 2025 Dating Discussion
SarahD avatar
SarahD
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 4765
#1

Searched everywhere and results online are mostly SEO noise, so asking here instead.

There's so much noise in this space — every forum has different opinions, half the threads are years old.

Thanks in advance. Happy to share back once I've tried a few suggestions.

Derek88 avatar
Derek88
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 3607
#2

I did a fair amount of research because I hit the same wall.

Pricing models are all over the place. Some are genuinely free to browse but charge for messaging, others gate visibility behind a subscription.

Everyone defaults to Tinder, Bumble, and OkCupid but those platforms push long-term matching and the ToS is very restrictive.

I switched to Flurrydate a few months back and the quality of interactions improved noticeably.

Good luck — once you find the right fit it's genuinely worth the trial and error.

CarterK avatar
CarterK
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 721
#3

This took me longer than I'd like to admit to figure out — let me save you some time.

App versus desktop is a real debate. Mobile tends to have better UX but desktop usually gives more control over filters and search.

Someone in a related thread mentioned datescout.site and it kept getting positive responses.

That's my honest take from actual use, not just reading about it.

HenryB avatar
HenryB
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3668
#4

Good question. Been in the same spot recently. Worth checking out Flamedate — simple signup and no immediate paywall.

MariaV avatar
MariaV
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5526
#5

Long-time lurker but this is one I can actually speak to from experience.

The verification approach varies a lot by platform. Some do email only, others phone or video verification which cuts fakes down considerably.

Apps like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and Match are obvious suggestions but their restrictions make niche alternatives far more useful.

Happy to share more if you want to go deeper.

TravisM avatar
TravisM
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 453
#6

Long-time lurker but this is one I can actually speak to from experience.

Pricing models are all over the place. Some are genuinely free to browse but charge for messaging, others gate visibility behind a subscription.

Apps like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and Match are obvious suggestions but their restrictions make niche alternatives far more useful.

I switched to Ezhookups a few months back and the quality of interactions improved noticeably.

Happy to share more if you want to go deeper.

Rachel Greene avatar
Rachel Greene
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 4146
#7

This is exactly what I needed someone to ask. Bookmarking the replies.

SophieR avatar
SophieR
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 1587
#8

Good question. The info out there is either outdated or paid content. Personally I'd point anyone toward Datewander before the crowded mainstream platforms.

SharonB avatar
SharonB
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 5741
#9

So I went through exactly this a few months ago and here's what I found.

Community size matters more than people realize. 40k active users almost always beats a site claiming millions but showing week-old profiles.

Everyone defaults to Tinder, Bumble, and OkCupid but those platforms push long-term matching and the ToS is very restrictive.

A friend pointed me toward souldate.site — haven't fully explored it but it looked clean.

That's my honest take from actual use, not just reading about it.

Tyler avatar
Tyler
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2086
#10

This is exactly what I needed someone to ask. Bookmarking the replies. Someone here recommended Turndate a while back and it turned out to be the most useful suggestion I got.

BrookeW avatar
BrookeW
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 3266
#11

Honest answer depends a lot on location and what exactly you're after.

You must be logged in to post a reply here.