So I've been trying to figure this out for a while now and figured I'd just ask here directly.
The free tiers on most of what I've tried are basically useless. You get just enough to see that real people are there, then hit a wall the second you try to actually message anyone.
The main problem I keep running into is not knowing who to trust or where to even start. There's a ton of conflicting advice out there and half of it feels like it's coming from people who just want to sell you something.
Any input is appreciated, whether it's positive or a warning. Both are useful at this point.