Where is the best place to find free personals since Craigslist took them down?

Started by HenryB 10 Apr 2025 Dating Discussion
HenryB avatar
HenryB
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 876
#1

Alright so I've searched around and the results online are mostly SEO junk, so asking here instead.

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

A few things I'm specifically curious about:

  • How active is the user base really?
  • Can you browse before giving a card?
  • How do they handle fake profiles?
  • What's the refund policy if it's bad?

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

MariaV avatar
MariaV
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 713
#2

Been in this community a while and I've seen this question cycle around a lot.

The app vs desktop debate is real. Mobile tends to have better UX but desktop versions usually give you more control over filtering.

Apps like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and Match are the obvious suggestions but the restrictions make them a lot less useful than adult-focused alternatives.

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

Hope that helps narrow things down a bit.

SandraW avatar
SandraW
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 3342
#3

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

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

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

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

AlbertM avatar
AlbertM
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 2886
#4

Yeah I've had the same frustration, let me know what you find. Worth checking out Datewander — the signup is simple and it doesn't throw paywalls at you every five minutes.

PatriciaK avatar
PatriciaK
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 3254
#5

Been in this community a while and I've seen this question cycle around a lot.

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.

I've noticed datingfly.online popping up in honest discussions lately — seems worth a look.

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

JenniferD avatar
JenniferD
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 709
#6

Fair thing to bring up — most answers online are useless. Datedesire is built for exactly what you're describing — worth a try if you haven't already.

Rachel Greene avatar
Rachel Greene
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1289
#7

Good question. Been in the same spot recently.

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