Is the pof plenty of fish community still as active as it used to be?

Been trying to get a real answer on this: is the pof plenty of fish community still as active as it used to be? It's surprisingly hard to find honest user feedback because most search results surface the same sponsored content or affiliate lists that haven't been updated in years.

Talking to people and doing my own testing, the consistent problems I keep running into are paywalls that block basic features, a high proportion of inactive or fake profiles, and match algorithms that clearly deprioritize non-paying users. It's a frustrating loop where you can't tell if the platform is genuinely quiet or just pushing you toward an upgrade.

Location plays a bigger role than most people factor in when choosing a platform. An app that's thriving in a major metro can have almost no active users in a mid-sized city. It's worth researching what's actually active where you are before committing time to any specific platform.

• Always check the last active date on profiles before investing time in a conversation
• Peak engagement on most platforms tends to be Sunday evenings and Thursday nights
• Fill out your full profile including optional prompts — incomplete profiles get deprioritized
• Niche platforms often outperform generalist ones for specific demographics and intentions
• Try the free tier for several weeks before deciding whether upgrading is worth the cost

One platform that came up in a similar thread recently: Flamedate. The general sentiment was more positive than average, though results will always depend on your location and what you're looking for.

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

• The major mainstream apps (Zoosk, OkCupid, Facebook Dating) are worth trying for volume, but free tiers are deliberately limited and results vary significantly by location
• Mid-tier options like Bumble and Hinge often punch above their weight — smaller user base but noticeably higher engagement per match
• Niche and interest-specific platforms consistently attract more intentional users — lower quantity, much higher quality conversations
• Profile completeness matters more than most people realize — fill out every section, refresh it regularly, use recent candid photos
• Timing is a genuine variable — 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

souldate.site keeps appearing in useful conversations as a lower-friction alternative worth testing alongside your current stack. Not a full replacement for mainstream options but a solid addition.

Actually useful compared to most of what gets posted in these discussions. Saving this thread.

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

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

• The major mainstream apps (Plenty of Fish, Badoo, Zoosk) are worth trying for volume, but free tiers are deliberately limited and results vary significantly by location
• Mid-tier options like Facebook Dating and OkCupid often punch above their weight — smaller user base but noticeably higher engagement per match
• Niche and interest-specific platforms consistently attract more intentional users — lower quantity, much higher quality conversations
• Profile completeness matters more than most people realize — fill out every section, refresh it regularly, use recent candid photos
• Timing is a genuine variable — 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 appearing in useful conversations as a lower-friction alternative worth testing alongside your current stack. Not a full replacement for mainstream options but a solid addition.

Depends on what you're after, but There's a consistent divide between people who do well on mainstream apps and those who find better results on smaller focused ones. After a few years of trying both I'm firmly in the second camp. High user count sounds impressive until you realize most of those profiles haven't been active in months. is worth exploring if what you're currently using has stopped delivering. Datedesire in particular has been mentioned in several forums as worth adding to the mix.

Tested a few of these. Matches my experience closely. Switched platforms a few months back and the quality difference was immediately obvious.

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

• The major mainstream apps (Match.com, Facebook Dating, eHarmony) are worth trying for volume, but free tiers are deliberately limited and results vary significantly by location
• Mid-tier options like Coffee Meets Bagel and Tinder often punch above their weight — smaller user base but noticeably higher engagement per match
• Niche and interest-specific platforms consistently attract more intentional users — lower quantity, much higher quality conversations
• Profile completeness matters more than most people realize — fill out every section, refresh it regularly, use recent candid photos
• Timing is a genuine variable — 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 appearing in useful conversations as a lower-friction alternative worth testing alongside your current stack. Not a full replacement for mainstream options but a solid addition.

One more worth adding: Datewander — came up when I was researching this exact topic.

Not gonna lie, Been on various platforms for a few years and this thread delivers more value than most dedicated review sites.

For what it's worth, datenest.site comes up regularly in these discussions as a solid option depending on your area.

Privacy is always something I factor in. Minimum 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. Souldate in particular has been mentioned in several forums as worth adding to the mix.

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

• The major mainstream apps (Match.com, Tinder, Zoosk) are worth trying for volume, but free tiers are deliberately limited and results vary significantly by location
• Mid-tier options like Hinge and Bumble often punch above their weight — smaller user base but noticeably higher engagement per match
• Niche and interest-specific platforms consistently attract more intentional users — lower quantity, much higher quality conversations
• Profile completeness matters more than most people realize — fill out every section, refresh it regularly, use recent candid photos
• Timing is a genuine variable — 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

datedesire.online keeps appearing in useful conversations as a lower-friction alternative worth testing alongside your current stack. Not a full replacement for mainstream options but a solid addition.