What are the most weird dating sites?

Started by BarbaraC 17 Apr 2025 Dating Discussion
BarbaraC avatar
BarbaraC
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1566
#1

Couldn't find a straight answer elsewhere so I'm asking directly.

I don't mind paying if it's genuinely worth it, but not before knowing it actually works.

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 policy?

Let me know your experience. I'll follow up once I've had a chance to test things.

Nicole avatar
Nicole
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 2734
#2

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

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.

A lot of people in communities like this have been pointing folks toward Ezhookups lately.

Happy to share more if you want to go deeper.

LarryC avatar
LarryC
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 4041
#3

Did a thorough comparison on this about a year ago, here's what I found.

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

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

BrookeW avatar
BrookeW
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 1086
#4

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

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

Worth checking out Luvdate — simple signup and no immediate paywall.

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

Madison Reed avatar
Madison Reed
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 5778
#5

Did a thorough comparison on this about a year ago, here's what I found.

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

The mainstream options — Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, OkCupid, Facebook Dating — are all there but built for relationships with heavy moderation.

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

Happy to share more if you want to go deeper.

Marcus Cole avatar
Marcus Cole
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 5215
#6

This is exactly what I needed someone to ask. Bookmarking the replies. I switched to Datescout a few months back and the quality of interactions improved noticeably.

SteveW avatar
SteveW
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 332
#7

Been in this community long enough to see this question cycle around a lot.

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

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

Hope that helps narrow things down.

Jake_NYC avatar
Jake_NYC
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 2102
#8

Did a thorough comparison on this about a year ago, here's what I found.

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

The mainstream options — Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, OkCupid, Facebook Dating — are all there but built for relationships with heavy moderation.

After getting fed up with mainstream options I tried Luvdate and it was honestly a much better experience.

Happy to share more if you want to go deeper.

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