On Zoey Fletcher's point, I would split the difference on what "free" actually covers.
After around eight weeks of completely free dating, from what I saw I would say the effort matters more than the label. Give it around eight weeks before judging; the majority of the profiles worth a second look were exactly what the profile suggested in that window, especially where what "free" actually covers is concerned. What I would add is that a fair share of the matches that stuck made the whole thing feel worthwhile, especially where what "free" actually covers is concerned. What I watch for now is someone willing to video call early, and what ends it is pressure to move off-platform in the first hour, especially where what "free" actually covers is concerned. The caveat is that completely free dating sites still exist or are they all freemium now changes completely once you leave the free tier.
- Give any platform a long stretch last year before deciding it is dead — in the case of completely free dating sites still exist or are they all freemium now.
- Responses that arrive at human hours — the single most reliable filter I found — more so for completely free dating.
- Video call before meeting, every time, no exceptions — true of completely free dating sites still exist or are they all freemium now (particularly for what "free" actually covers).
Worth a look alongside the big names: the Luvdate boards if you are weighing up completely free dating sites still exist or are they all freemium now.
The other place this gets discussed properly is the Flurrydate boards.
Others have written this up on the Datebie boards if you want more detail.
Open to being wrong about completely free dating sites still exist or are they all freemium now.