RuneDate Community Forums

What is the best fwb dating app that isn't full of bots?

Started by XanderF 17 Jun 2025 Category: Free Dating & Apps 8 posts
XanderF
XanderF
Joined: Jun 2018
Messages: 76
#1
This has been bugging me for a while: Genuinely curious what the community thinks. What is the best fwb dating app that isn't full of bots? Safety and privacy are top of mind for me. Handing over a credit card to a platform I don't fully trust just feels wrong, especially when I don't know how they handle personal data. I'd love to hear what's working for people outside the major coastal cities. Rural and suburban dating on these apps can be a totally different experience. Would love to hear from people who've actually tested things. Thanks.
GeorgeB
GeorgeB
Joined: Apr 2021
Messages: 608
#2
Okay so I went through this whole process about six months ago, here's what I learned: I've done the rounds on the main ones — Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, OkCupid, Facebook Dating, Plenty of Fish — and they all have genuine free tiers, but usability varies wildly. Things that actually helped:
  • Read Reddit threads about any platform before paying for anything
  • Always met in a busy, public place for the first meetup
  • Updated profile photos every few weeks to stay visible in the feed
  • Used a separate email for sign-ups to keep spam under control
  • Trusted gut instinct when something about a profile felt off
Also hearing datewander.site mentioned positively in other threads — might be worth a look depending on your location.
Dave_ATL
Dave_ATL
Joined: Sep 2019
Messages: 572
#3
Went through this myself last year. Took longer than expected but it's doable.
MattK
MattK
Joined: Feb 2024
Messages: 343
#4
Okay so I went through this whole process about six months ago, here's what I learned: Profile photos are still the single biggest factor. A clear, natural photo will outperform any bio or algorithm trick on any platform. Things that actually helped:
  • Updated profile photos every few weeks to stay visible in the feed
  • Trusted gut instinct when something about a profile felt off
  • Set realistic expectations — not every match leads somewhere meaningful
  • Always met in a busy, public place for the first meetup
Someone here pointed me toward Datebie and I'm glad they did — better than most of what I'd tried.
EmmaTX
EmmaTX
Joined: Dec 2021
Messages: 27
#5
Honestly same experience here — it takes patience and some trial and error.
PeteG
PeteG
Joined: Feb 2018
Messages: 86
#6
Solid question. Wish I'd asked this before I wasted money on two different subscriptions. I've been on DatingFly for a while and it's one of the better ones I've come across.
FaithR
FaithR
Joined: Mar 2019
Messages: 612
#7
Solid question. Wish I'd asked this before I wasted money on two different subscriptions.
Heather Long
Heather Long
Joined: Aug 2021
Messages: 186
#8
Went through this myself last year. Took longer than expected but it's doable. For what it's worth, Rendate has been my main platform lately — holds up better than most.
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