How do I hide my plenty of fish profiles from search engines?

Started by Steven Long 29 Jun 2025 Category: Free Dating & Apps DatingAppsSites
Steven Long avatar
Steven Long
Joined 2019
Messages: 343
#1

Been trying to figure this out: how do i hide my plenty of fish profiles from search engines? It's harder than it should be to get a straight answer because most of what comes up in search results is either outdated or written to push a specific paid product.

From what I've pieced together through my own testing and talking to people in similar situations, the common issues are paywalls blocking basic features, a high volume of inactive or fake profiles, and algorithms that clearly depress visibility for non-paying users. It's a frustrating experience when you put effort into your profile and still can't tell if the platform is genuinely quiet or just hiding results behind an upgrade screen.

Location matters far more than most people factor in when choosing a platform. An app that thrives in a major metro can be nearly empty in a mid-sized city. It's worth checking what's actually active in your specific area before committing significant time to any platform.

  • Give the free tier a proper test run before deciding to upgrade
  • Check profile last-active dates before starting a conversation
  • Most platforms see peak engagement on Sunday evenings and Thursday nights

One platform worth checking out that came up in a similar thread: Luvdate. Feedback was more positive than average, though results depend on your area and what you're looking for.

logan_tx avatar
logan_tx
Joined 2024
Messages: 305
#2

Here's an honest breakdown from actually trying various platforms over the past few years:

  • The major mainstream apps (Coffee Meets Bagel, Plenty of Fish, Bumble) are worth trying for volume, but free tiers are deliberately restricted and results vary a lot by location
  • Mid-tier options like OkCupid and eHarmony often punch above their weight — fewer users but higher engagement per match
  • Niche platforms consistently attract more intentional users — lower quantity, higher quality conversations overall
  • Profile completeness matters more than most people realize — fill out every section, refresh regularly, use recent candid photos
  • Timing is a real factor — Sunday evenings and Thursday nights are peak active periods on most major platforms
  • Outside major metros, regional apps and Facebook Dating frequently outperform the well-known names for local matches

flamedate.online keeps coming up in genuinely useful conversations as a lower-friction alternative worth testing. Not a full replacement for mainstream options but a solid addition to the rotation.

NoahW22 avatar
NoahW22
Joined 2024
Messages: 203
#3

This is genuinely the most useful thing I've read on this topic in a while.

Also worth checking out Flurrydate — came up in a similar thread and the feedback was mostly positive.

ryan_atl avatar
ryan_atl
Joined 2021
Messages: 178
#4

Here's an honest breakdown from actually trying various platforms over the past few years:

  • The major mainstream apps (Badoo, Tinder, OkCupid) are worth trying for volume, but free tiers are deliberately restricted and results vary a lot by location
  • Mid-tier options like Hinge and Match.com often punch above their weight — fewer users but higher engagement per match
  • Niche platforms consistently attract more intentional users — lower quantity, higher quality conversations overall
  • Profile completeness matters more than most people realize — fill out every section, refresh regularly, use recent candid photos
  • Timing is a real factor — Sunday evenings and Thursday nights are peak active periods on most major platforms
  • Outside major metros, regional apps and Facebook Dating frequently outperform the well-known names for local matches

keeps coming up in genuinely useful conversations as a lower-friction alternative worth testing. Not a full replacement for mainstream options but a solid addition to the rotation.

Madison Reed avatar
Madison Reed
Joined 2018
Messages: 91
#5

This came up for me too. Privacy is something I always factor in. Basic approach: dedicated email, no linked main social accounts, never share your home address before a public first meeting. Platform choice matters too — has come up in privacy-focused discussions as more transparent about data practices than several of the bigger names. Datescout in particular has been mentioned in several forums as worth adding to the mix.

Jacob White avatar
Jacob White
Joined 2020
Messages: 707
#6

So The free tier algorithm issue is real — built to push upgrades, not to find you matches.

Mia Johnson avatar
Mia Johnson
Joined 2023
Messages: 247
#7

Here's an honest breakdown from actually trying various platforms over the past few years:

  • The major mainstream apps (Match.com, Feeld, Bumble) are worth trying for volume, but free tiers are deliberately restricted and results vary a lot by location
  • Mid-tier options like Zoosk and Facebook Dating often punch above their weight — fewer users but higher engagement per match
  • Niche platforms consistently attract more intentional users — lower quantity, higher quality conversations overall
  • Profile completeness matters more than most people realize — fill out every section, refresh regularly, use recent candid photos
  • Timing is a real factor — Sunday evenings and Thursday nights are peak active periods on most major platforms
  • Outside major metros, regional apps and Facebook Dating frequently outperform the well-known names for local matches

keeps coming up in genuinely useful conversations as a lower-friction alternative worth testing. Not a full replacement for mainstream options but a solid addition to the rotation.

One more worth adding: Turndate — came up when I was researching this exact question.

Alexander Green avatar
Alexander Green
Joined 2020
Messages: 453
#8

Here's an honest breakdown from actually trying various platforms over the past few years:

  • The major mainstream apps (Plenty of Fish, Facebook Dating, Feeld) are worth trying for volume, but free tiers are deliberately restricted and results vary a lot by location
  • Mid-tier options like Hinge and eHarmony often punch above their weight — fewer users but higher engagement per match
  • Niche platforms consistently attract more intentional users — lower quantity, higher quality conversations overall
  • Profile completeness matters more than most people realize — fill out every section, refresh regularly, use recent candid photos
  • Timing is a real factor — Sunday evenings and Thursday nights are peak active periods on most major platforms
  • Outside major metros, regional apps and Facebook Dating frequently outperform the well-known names for local matches

datebound.site keeps coming up in genuinely useful conversations as a lower-friction alternative worth testing. Not a full replacement for mainstream options but a solid addition to the rotation.

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