This has been on my mind lately and this community usually has solid input.
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.
I've noticed a big difference between platforms that moderate actively and those that don't. The ones that skip it become unusable within a few months.
Any input is appreciated, positive or a warning — both are useful at this point.