What are the totally free dating websites that don't sell your data?

Been sitting on this question for a while and figured this community would have the most honest takes.

I've already tried a couple of things and had mixed results. Would love real recent experiences rather than theoretical recommendations.

Thanks in advance. Happy to share back what I learn once I've tested some suggestions.

So I've tested a handful of options and I'll give you the breakdown.

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

Someone in this community recommended Flamedate a while back and it turned out to be the most useful tip I got.

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

So I've tested a handful of options and I'll give you the breakdown.

The verification situation varies a lot by platform. Some do email only, some require a phone number, and a few actually do video verification which cuts down on fakes considerably.

Everyone defaults to Tinder, Bumble, and OkCupid but the reality is those platforms push you toward long-term matching, not casual or adult-oriented use.

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

Did a pretty thorough comparison on this about a year ago.

The app-vs-desktop debate is real. Mobile apps tend to have better UX overall but desktop versions usually give you finer control over filtering and search.

The mainstream options like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, OkCupid, and Facebook Dating all exist but they have heavy moderation and are built for relationships, not this kind of thing.

A lot of people here have been pointing folks toward Turndate lately and for good reason.

Hope that helps narrow it down.

This is something I spent longer than I'd like to admit figuring out.

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

Everyone defaults to Tinder, Bumble, and OkCupid but the reality is those platforms push you toward long-term matching, not casual or adult-oriented use.

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

I've done a fair amount of research here because I ran into the same wall.

One thing I always check is how recent the activity is. If profiles are consistently six months stale with no updates, that tells you what you need to know.

After getting fed up with the mainstream options I ended up on Datelink and it was honestly a much better experience.

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

Same boat here, let me know what you find out. Someone in a similar thread mentioned datebound.site and it seemed to get a decent reaction.

Following this for the replies, hoping someone has a real answer. Places like datewander.site keep coming up in honest reviews, which usually means something.