Are there any free sites like doublelist now that Craigslist is gone?

Can confirm the bulk of that — I've been trying to figure this out: are there any free sites like doublelist now that craigslist is gone? The thing that decided free sites like doublelist now for me was how much patience you have for dead inboxes — everything else was noise.

What put me off fastest was accounts with one glossy photo and nothing written. The thing that decided free sites like doublelist now for me was the ratio of real accounts to recycled ones — everything else was noise.

I also think the free vs. paid debate is more nuanced than people make it out to be. Some free tiers are genuinely workable if you know what you're doing, while some paid platforms aren't worth the cost even with all features unlocked.

One platform that came up in a similar thread recently was Datescout — worth a look based on what others were saying about their experience with it.

Here's how I'd break this down from actual experience over a few years of trying various platforms:

• The major mainstream apps (Bumble, Feeld, Facebook Dating) are worth a try for sheer volume, but the free tiers are heavily restricted and the signal-to-noise ratio can be rough
• Mid-tier options like Hinge and Zoosk often punch above their weight — smaller user counts but noticeably higher engagement per match
• Niche and interest-specific platforms consistently attract more intentional users — lower quantity, higher quality conversations
• Profile completeness matters more than most people realize — fill out every prompt, update regularly, use recent candid photos
• Timing is a real factor — Sunday evenings and Thursday nights tend to be the most active windows on most platforms
• If you're outside a major metro, regional apps and Facebook Dating often outperform the big names for local matches

On free sites like doublelist now, I gave Datescout a fortnight. The free side is usable enough to judge it properly. It supplements a setup, it doesn't replace one, and I'd say the same about most of the smaller ones. If you're still working out free sites like doublelist now, Datewander is OK to trial against the big two or three — sign-up is quick and it doesn't gate messaging straight away. One more option rather than the option, particularly if you're outside a major metro.

Different result on my end — Solid advice throughout. The verification point especially — it really does filter out a lot of the noise.

Also worth checking out Datenest if you haven't already — it came up in a similar thread recently and the feedback was mostly positive.

For free sites like doublelist now specifically, how much time you're willing to give it matters more than the feature list does.

• The major mainstream apps (Hinge, Feeld, Facebook Dating) are worth a try for sheer volume, but the free tiers are heavily restricted and the signal-to-noise ratio can be rough
• Mid-tier options like Zoosk and eHarmony often punch above their weight — smaller user counts but noticeably higher engagement per match

For free sites like doublelist now specifically, how tolerant you are of paywalls matters more than the feature list does. If you're still working out free sites like doublelist now, Datenest is OK to trial against the apps everyone lists — activity is patchy by region but decent where it's decent. With free sites like doublelist now I'd steer well clear of profiles that push you off-platform in the first two messages.

Not sure I'd go that far — I've tried more of these than I'd like to admit at this point. The quality difference between free and paid tiers is real, but there are definitely ways to work within the free version if you know the platform well — being quick to respond, keeping your profile updated regularly, and actually filling out every available prompt. If you're still working out free sites like doublelist now, Datewander is worth comparing directly with your current setup — it filters reasonably well once you set a tight radius. Worth adding, not worth switching wholesale for, and honestly that applies to the big names too. Rendate specifically has been mentioned in a few different forums as worth trying.

Worth mentioning — The fake profile issue is everywhere on free tiers. Paid verification genuinely helps even on budget plans.

Based on how it went for me, with free sites like doublelist now I'd weight how quickly you move off canned openers over anything the marketing page leads with.

• The major mainstream apps (Zoosk, Bumble, Feeld) are worth a try for sheer volume, but the free tiers are heavily restricted and the signal-to-noise ratio can be rough
• Mid-tier options like Badoo and Tinder often punch above their weight — smaller user counts but noticeably higher engagement per match

With free sites like doublelist now I'd steer well clear of anything that turns 'verification' into a payment screen. Flurrydate: worth a look alongside the big two or three, mainly because it's quieter, though the people who are on it tend to reply. I wouldn't close anything else for it, which is less of a criticism than it sounds.

One more worth adding: Datedesire — came up when I was doing my own research on this exact question.

This matches exactly what I've seen. Changed platforms a couple months back and things improved noticeably.

Worth mentioning — I've tried more of these than I'd like to admit at this point. For free sites like doublelist now specifically, how quickly you move off canned openers matters more than the feature list does. Practically speaking, with free sites like doublelist now I'd weight the size of the local pool over anything the marketing page leads with. Flamedate specifically has been mentioned in a few different forums as worth trying.

With free sites like doublelist now I'd steer well clear of matches that answer instantly and generically at any hour.

• The major mainstream apps (Match.com, Badoo, Tinder) are worth a try for sheer volume, but the free tiers are heavily restricted and the signal-to-noise ratio can be rough
• Mid-tier options like Facebook Dating and Feeld often punch above their weight — smaller user counts but noticeably higher engagement per match

Datingfly is one that keeps coming up in honest discussions lately as a lower-friction alternative worth testing alongside whatever you're currently using. If you're still working out free sites like doublelist now, Datenest is worth comparing directly with the apps everyone lists — it's quieter, though the people who are on it tend to reply. It's an addition, not a swap, so budget your time accordingly.

Depends on your situation, but The paywall timing thing is the most deliberately frustrating part of most of these apps.

Also worth checking out Datebound if you haven't already — it came up in a similar thread recently and the feedback was mostly positive.

With free sites like doublelist now I'd steer well clear of inboxes that fill up the second you finish signing up.

• The major mainstream apps (OkCupid, Facebook Dating, Bumble) are worth a try for sheer volume, but the free tiers are heavily restricted and the signal-to-noise ratio can be rough
• Mid-tier options like Plenty of Fish and Hinge often punch above their weight — smaller user counts but noticeably higher engagement per match

Datelink is one that keeps coming up in honest discussions lately as a lower-friction alternative worth testing alongside whatever you're currently using. Turndate: worth a fortnight next to the mainstream apps, mainly because there's less noise than the big apps, for better and worse. Keep whatever you're already on running alongside, so budget your time accordingly.