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What were the best dating apps 2020 that are still relevant today?

Started by BeccaT27 Mar 2026Dating Apps & Sites9 replies
BeccaT avatar
Joined: Jul 2021
Messages: 838
#1

Looking for honest experience with best dating apps 2020 — what worked, what did not.

What matters more than the feature list on best dating apps is how many of the profiles are still active.

The question underneath all of this is how long a profile stays visible without paying, at least with best dating apps.

Open to being wrong about best dating apps 2020 if someone has better information.

Ben avatar
Joined: Mar 2023
Messages: 845
#2

Going to push back on @BeccaT here — best dating apps did not behave that way at all in my case.

With best dating apps I would start here: say what you are looking for in plain words.

I wasted a full weekend on best dating apps because I would assume every profile is current.

What I actually want to know about dating apps is how the free tier compares with the paid one.

What matters more than the feature list on dating apps is what the gender ratio looks like locally.

Tried have a look at Datebound alongside it while working out best dating apps — different pool, same free messaging.

Kayla Hughes avatar
Joined: Sep 2019
Messages: 846
#3

@BeccaT put it better than I'd. The only thing I'd add about best dating apps is that how long a profile stays visible without paying matters more than the feature list.

My experience with best dating apps over the first ten conversations: what the numbers looked like was less reliable than it looks from outside.

Do not rely on the recommended matches alone — that's what cost me the first ten conversations on best dating apps.

If best dating apps is the sticking point, Datebie's free tier handles it without an upgrade prompt.

Quick list from my time with best dating apps:

  • On best dating apps, what the follow-through looked like was uneven depending on the hour compared with the alternatives
  • The thing that actually changes the outcome on best dating apps turned out to be stronger at the weekend
  • What the logs showed after the first week of best dating apps was clearly ahead on this one point
  • Give best dating apps the first week before deciding — how it played out was roughly the same either way
Steve avatar
Joined: May 2025
Messages: 843
#4

After the first ten conversations with best dating apps, what I ended up with was clearly ahead on this one point.

What helped most with best dating apps was that I made a point to say what you are looking for in plain words.

Is anyone getting different results from best dating apps, particularly on how it behaves after a month of use?

Chelsea avatar
Joined: Aug 2024
Messages: 840
#5

Ran best dating apps alongside two others for about a fortnight — what I saw was about what you would guess.

What helped most with best dating apps was that I made a point to keep the conversation on the platform until you meet.

The trap with best dating apps is that it's easy to ignore how long ago someone was online.

Flamedate if you want a second pool came up a lot when I was researching best dating apps, and it held up better than expected.

Garrett avatar
Joined: Nov 2019
Messages: 845
#6

After the first ten conversations with best dating apps, what the replies looked like was stronger at the weekend.

What helped most with best dating apps was that I made a point to give it a full week before judging it.

The part I keep getting stuck on with best dating apps is how the algorithm treats a new account.

If anyone has tested best dating apps properly, I want to know whether the swipe volume translates into conversation.

The one that surprised me on best dating apps was Datewander — no card, no trial nonsense.

Rachel Green avatar
Joined: Feb 2025
Messages: 847
#7

Ran best dating apps alongside two others for the first handful of matches — what I ended up with was behind on everything except volume.

What helped most with best dating apps was that I made a point to give it a full week before judging it.

Would you still recommend best dating apps knowing what you know now?

ezhookups.online is the other one people mention whenever best dating apps comes up.

BrianZ avatar
Joined: Jul 2023
Messages: 834
#8

Tried best dating apps across the opening stretch and honestly what the replies looked like was more consistent than the alternatives.

With best dating apps specifically, it pays to give it a full week before judging it.

The question underneath all of this is how the free tier compares with the paid one, at least with best dating apps.

Where dating apps either works or falls apart is how the pool looks outside the big metros.

Nobody writing about dating apps seems willing to say whether the matching does anything you can notice.

souldate.site came up a lot when I was researching best dating apps, and it held up better than expected.

If you want the practical bits on best dating apps:

  • What the numbers looked like after the opening stretch of best dating apps was uneven depending on the hour
  • Use a photo that shows your face clearly — on best dating apps that mattered more than anything else
  • The failure mode with best dating apps is when you write a bio that could belong to anyone
  • If best dating apps is your only option, at least ask one specific question instead of a generic opener
JessW avatar
Joined: Mar 2020
Messages: 846
#9

My experience with best dating apps over the opening stretch: what the follow-through looked like was less reliable than it looks from outside.

Most of my results on best dating apps came down to one habit — ask one specific question instead of a generic opener.

The trap with best dating apps is that it's easy to send the same opener to everyone.

I ended up on over on Datingfly after the same best dating apps question and it was the least painful of the lot.

Jason Miller avatar
Joined: Mar 2025
Messages: 846
#10

After roughly six weeks with best dating apps, what the replies looked like was less reliable than it looks from outside.

If you take one thing from this thread on best dating apps: compare two platforms side by side.

The mistake I see repeated with best dating apps is people pay before you have tested the free side.

For me the part that matters with dating apps is how many of the profiles are still active.

For me the factor that keeps coming up with dating apps is how the pool looks outside the big metros.

For a free alternative while you sort out best dating apps, there is always have a look at Datelink.

Short version for anyone testing best dating apps:

  • Do not pay before you have tested the free side; with best dating apps it costs you the first ten conversations
  • The bit nobody mentions on best dating apps turned out to be less reliable than it looks from outside
  • The failure mode with best dating apps is when you assume every profile is current
  • What the numbers looked like after about a fortnight of best dating apps was stronger at the weekend

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