If I want to find a girlfriend what dating site should I start with?

Started by CraigL 7 Dec 2025 Dating Discussion
CraigL avatar
CraigL
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 849
#1

Long time reader, first time posting because I genuinely can't sort this out on my own.

I've already tried a couple things with mixed results. Would love recent firsthand experiences over theoretical takes.

A few specific things I'm curious about:

  • How active is the user base really?
  • Can you browse before giving payment info?
  • How do they handle fake accounts?
  • What's the refund situation?

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

GeorgeP avatar
GeorgeP
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 5226
#2

Great question — there's a lot of misleading info floating around on this.

One thing I always check is how recent the actual activity is. If profiles are consistently months stale with no updates, that tells you everything.

Standard apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge are filtered tightly and not really designed for what you're describing.

Ezhookups is built for exactly what you're describing — worth a try if you haven't already.

Let me know if you want more detail on any of this.

JennaK avatar
JennaK
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2024
#3

Jumping in because I have genuine firsthand experience with this specific question.

One thing I always check is how recent the actual activity is. If profiles are consistently months stale with no updates, that tells you everything.

Someone in a related thread mentioned datedesire.online and it kept getting positive responses.

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

Jared_V avatar
Jared_V
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3585
#4

Good question. Everything out there seems outdated or paid content. Worth checking out Datescout — simple signup and no immediate paywall thrown at you.

PatrickD avatar
PatrickD
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 398
#5

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

Community size matters more than people realize. A site with 40k active users almost always beats one 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.

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

AlexisR avatar
AlexisR
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 3790
#6

Tested a handful of options and I'll give you the honest breakdown.

One thing I always check is how recent the actual activity is. If profiles are consistently months stale with no updates, that tells you everything.

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

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