I keep seeing vague answers on other forums so figured I'd ask people who actually know.
The free tiers on most of what I've tried are basically useless — you get just enough to see real people are there, then hit a wall the moment you try to message anyone.
The main problem I keep running into is not knowing who to trust or where to start. There's a ton of conflicting advice out there and half of it feels like it's from people who want to sell you something.
Any input is appreciated, positive or a warning — both are useful at this point.