How do I complete a pof sign up for free without linking a phone?

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.

Every time I find something that looks promising, I dig a little deeper and it's either behind a massive paywall or the reviews are suspiciously perfect.

Any input is appreciated, whether positive or a warning. Both are useful at this point.

Tried a handful of options over the past year. Flamedate stood out because they actually enforce their terms instead of just listing them. Made a big difference in the quality of interactions.

The community on forums like this helped me more than any review site when I was trying to figure this out. Real experience beats marketing copy every time.

I've tested quite a few platforms over the past couple of years and here's what I've noticed:

• Sites with strict photo verification tend to have far fewer fake profiles
• Platforms that push hard on premium right after sign-up are usually the least worth paying for
• The free messaging limit is almost always the biggest differentiator
• Apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge are well-known but heavily swipe-based
• OkCupid still has a decent question-matching system if you're willing to fill it out

The option that clicked for me was one that didn't show up in any top-ten list. Found it through a thread similar to this one.

A friend pointed me toward Turndate when I was in the same spot. Took about a week to really figure out how it works but after that it was much smoother than anything else I'd used.

Yeah this really depends on what you're actually looking for. Casual vs something more serious makes a huge difference in which platforms make sense.