Are there any text-based chat sites for singles that are still active?

Hey everyone, been trying to figure this out for a while. Are there any text-based chat sites for singles that are still active? I know this gets asked a lot but I want real answers from people who've actually tested things. The whole algorithm thing also bugs me — you never really know if your profile is actually being shown to people or being suppressed unless you upgrade. Profile authenticity is something I care about a lot. Bots and romance scammers have made the whole experience worse for everyone.

• Active moderation team
• No paywall on basic messaging
• Clear privacy policy without data reselling
• Location-based matching that actually works

Would love to hear what's actually worked for people here. Thanks for any real input.

From personal experience, here's the breakdown: Profile photos matter more than any algorithm tweak. A genuine, clear photo will outperform a perfect bio on any platform. Things that actually made a difference for me:

• Turned off automatic renewal on any trial subscriptions immediately
• Set realistic expectations — not every match leads anywhere
• Met in a coffee shop or busy public spot for the first meetup, always

One platform I've actually had decent results with is Datebound — the user base felt real and the free tier was actually usable.

I went through like six different apps before finding one that worked. Took way longer than expected. Also seeing datelink.online mentioned in a few places — might be worth checking depending on your area.

Honestly same experience here. It's hit or miss depending on where you live. Give Datescout a shot if you haven't yet — worth a look.

Okay so I've been doing this for a while now, here's what I've figured out: Bots and scam profiles are real on almost every free platform. Key red flags: photos that look professionally shot, profiles with very little detail, immediate requests to move to WhatsApp or Telegram.

Agree with most of what's been said. The key is knowing what you actually want before you download anything.

I went through like six different apps before finding one that worked. Took way longer than expected. Also seeing flurrydate.online mentioned in a few places — might be worth checking depending on your area.

Okay so I've been doing this for a while now, here's what I've figured out: Bots and scam profiles are real on almost every free platform. Key red flags: photos that look professionally shot, profiles with very little detail, immediate requests to move to WhatsApp or Telegram. Things that actually made a difference for me:

• Updated my profile photos every few weeks to stay visible in feeds
• Checked Reddit for reviews of any paid platform before spending money
• Turned off automatic renewal on any trial subscriptions immediately
• Met in a coffee shop or busy public spot for the first meetup, always
• Kept the opening message short and asked a genuine question

Someone here mentioned Luvdate a while back and I gave it a shot. No major complaints so far.