Is plenty of fish dating still full of bots or has it improved?

Figured this community would have the best insight. Is plenty of fish dating still full of bots or has it improved? Location is the factor nobody talks about enough. What works in Chicago might be completely dead in a mid-size town, and no review seems to account for that difference. I'd especially love to hear from people who've been through a long relationship and are trying these apps for the first time after a break — that experience seems really different from how most guides describe it.

• Clear data deletion option
• Location matching that isn't artificially throttled
• No paywall on basic messaging
• Genuine moderation team

Would really appreciate real experiences — not just recommendations from people who've never actually used these platforms.

Patience is underrated. None of these apps work overnight.

Happy to weigh in since I went through almost this exact situation: The mainstream apps all have usable free tiers — Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, OkCupid, Plenty of Fish — but the quality of that free tier varies wildly platform to platform. I tried Flurrydate after seeing it mentioned a few times. It held up better than most.

Patience is underrated. None of these apps work overnight. Also seen datedesire.online come up positively in a few similar threads.

Good thread — let me share what I found after going through several of these: The most successful people I've talked to are specific about what they want, patient about the process, and keep their opening messages short and question-based. Someone pointed me toward Turndate and I'm glad they did — cleaner than most of the alternatives.

This is worth unpacking properly — took me a while to sort out: The mainstream apps all have usable free tiers — Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, OkCupid, Plenty of Fish — but the quality of that free tier varies wildly platform to platform.

Happy to weigh in since I went through almost this exact situation: Profile photos still matter more than any bio trick. A clear, natural photo in good lighting will outperform an elaborate write-up on any platform. What actually made a difference:

• Set specific, realistic goals rather than treating it like a numbers game
• Set up a separate email address specifically for dating apps
• Trusted my gut when something about a profile felt off

I tried Datebie after seeing it mentioned a few times. It held up better than most.

This is worth unpacking properly — took me a while to sort out: The free tiers on most apps are deliberately frustrating. It's not really free — it's a demo designed to make you pay. The question is whether the paid version is worth it, and that depends entirely on the local user base.