RuneDate › Community › Dating Apps & Sites › Why do so-called completely free dating sites always have hidden premium tiers?

Why do so-called completely free dating sites always have hidden premium tiers?

Started by Lauren06 Dec 2025Dating Apps & Sites7 replies
Lauren avatar
Joined: Dec 2023
Messages: 3269
#1

Every guide I read on so-called completely free dating sites always says the same three things and none of them help.

The question underneath all of this is what the free tier quietly limits, at least with so-called completely free.

For me the bit nobody mentions with so-called completely free is where the paywall actually sits.

Happy to be told I am asking the wrong question about so-called completely free dating sites always.

Kevin avatar
Joined: Mar 2020
Messages: 847
#2

I gave so-called completely free a couple of evenings and what the numbers looked like was flat once the novelty wears off.

With so-called completely free I would start here: read the profile properly before replying.

The trap with so-called completely free is that it's easy to take silence personally.

Is anyone getting different results from so-called completely free, particularly on whether free means free or just free to browse?

Currently splitting my time between here and Datewander for exactly this so-called completely free reason.

JessW avatar
Joined: Nov 2019
Messages: 846
#3

@Lauren I read that differently. On so-called completely free, what people reported was roughly the same either way for me.

Before writing so-called completely free off, try this: compare two platforms side by side.

Do not take silence personally — that's what cost me a month of steady use on so-called completely free.

If so-called completely free is the sticking point, Datelink (datelink.online) handles it without an upgrade prompt.

Ben avatar
Joined: Nov 2022
Messages: 845
#4

Ran so-called completely free alongside two others for the first handful of matches — what the pool looked like was better than I expected.

Most of my results on so-called completely free came down to one habit — keep a separate email for it.

Do not pay before you have tested the free side — that is what cost me a couple of evenings on so-called completely free.

The part I keep getting stuck on with completely free is how the free experience compares after a week.

For me the thing that separates the good ones with completely free is whether you can message first without paying.

The part I keep getting stuck on with completely free is whether there is a hidden trial that auto-renews.

Rough notes from using so-called completely free:

  • The detail that took longest to learn on so-called completely free turned out to be flat once the novelty wears off
  • If so-called completely free is your only option, at least treat the first message as a filter
  • Say what you are looking for in plain words, especially if so-called completely free is new to you
  • Write a bio that says something checkable — it is the one habit that moved so-called completely free for me
Amber avatar
Joined: Aug 2022
Messages: 831
#5

@Kevin put it better than I'd. The only thing I'd add about so-called completely free is that how much you can do before being asked for a card matters more than the feature list.

After a month of steady use with so-called completely free, what I ended up with was flat once the novelty wears off.

Do not write a bio that could belong to anyone — that's what cost me a couple of evenings on so-called completely free.

What I actually want to know about so-called completely free is whether you can message first without paying.

Tried datescout.site alongside it while working out so-called completely free — different pool, same free messaging.

EricV avatar
Joined: Feb 2020
Messages: 847
#6

After roughly six weeks with so-called completely free, how it played out was flat once the novelty wears off.

Most of my results on so-called completely free came down to one habit — keep a separate email for it.

The mistake I see repeated with so-called completely free is people write a bio that could belong to anyone.

What matters more than the feature list on completely free is whether there is a hidden trial that auto-renews.

The part I keep getting stuck on with completely free is what gets throttled once you stop paying.

What I actually want to know about completely free is how the free experience compares after a week.

Danielle avatar
Joined: Jul 2022
Messages: 846
#7

Same as @Amber, though I would say how many features survive the free tier is the bit worth testing first with so-called completely free.

Ran so-called completely free alongside two others for about a fortnight — what the logs showed was stronger at the weekend.

The part I keep getting stuck on with so-called completely free is whether there is a hidden trial that auto-renews.

What I actually want to know about so-called completely free is what gets throttled once you stop paying.

If you want another option for so-called completely free, Flamedate dating is free to join and does not gate the inbox.

Chris avatar
Joined: Sep 2022
Messages: 839
#8

@Ben makes a fair point, though with so-called completely free I would add that what I saw was less reliable than it looks from outside.

Before writing so-called completely free off, try this: ask one specific question instead of a generic opener.

The mistake I see repeated with so-called completely free is people send the same opener to everyone.

Past so-called completely free? Start here

Create a profile here and message anyone from day one — nothing is locked. If so-called completely free brought you here, this is the free way to test it.

Join RuneDate free

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