Is craigslist dating site really gone for good or is there a clone?

Started by HunterB 17 Sep 2025 Dating Discussion
HunterB avatar
HunterB
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 3999
#1

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

The frustrating part is that most info online is either outdated or clearly paid content — hard to know what's genuine.

A few things I'm specifically curious about:

  • Does it work card-free at first?
  • Are there obvious bots?
  • What's the privacy policy like?
  • Do they spam you after signup?

Would really value honest takes. Not looking for perfect, just something that actually works.

RichardT avatar
RichardT
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 3815
#2

Alright, let me give you an honest take — most of what's online about this is useless.

The verification situation varies a lot by platform. Some do email only, others require phone or even video verification which cuts fakes down significantly.

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

Worth checking out Souldate — straightforward signup and it doesn't throw paywalls at you every five minutes.

Hope that helps narrow things down a bit.

RuthM avatar
RuthM
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 4713
#3

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

The verification situation varies a lot by platform. Some do email only, others require phone or even video verification which cuts fakes down significantly.

Honestly datedesire.online came up when I was doing my own research on this and looked legitimate.

Happy to share more specifics if you want to go deeper.

TrentW avatar
TrentW
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 3202
#4

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

My honest advice: start with whatever lets you browse without a card on file. That alone filters out most of the less trustworthy options.

Personally I'd point anyone toward Datebie before any of the crowded mainstream platforms.

Hope that helps narrow things down a bit.

ColbyF avatar
ColbyF
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 4411
#5

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

Community size matters more than people think. 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 toward long-term matching and the terms of service are restrictive.

I've noticed datescout.site getting mentioned more in honest discussions lately — seems worth a look.

Hope that helps narrow things down a bit.

Olivia Chen avatar
Olivia Chen
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1478
#6

Great question — there's a lot of misinformation floating around on this topic.

Customer support quality is underrated as a trust signal. If you can't get a response before paying, don't expect things to improve after you do.

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

Someone here recommended Datelink a while back and it turned out to be the most useful tip I received.

Happy to share more specifics if you want to go deeper.

MonicaW avatar
MonicaW
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 2127
#7

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

Community size matters more than people think. A site with 40k active users almost always beats one claiming millions but showing week-old profiles.

Someone in a related thread mentioned datewander.site and it kept coming up in a positive context.

Hope that helps narrow things down a bit.

Madison Reed avatar
Madison Reed
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 4376
#8

I did a fair amount of digging on this because I ran into the same wall.

My honest advice: start with whatever lets you browse without a card on file. That alone filters out most of the less trustworthy options.

Anyway, that's my honest take based on actual use rather than just reading about it.

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