Is there a master list of all free dating sites still operating?

I’ve been searching around and I keep running into paywalls, so I wanted to ask this here: Is there a master list of all free dating sites still operating? I don’t mind ads, but I’m trying to avoid anything that says “free” and then blocks messaging or hides photos behind a subscription.

If you’ve had real conversations without paying, what app/site made that possible? And if it wasn’t fully free, what was the minimum you had to do before it became usable?

A few things I’m doing to stay sane while testing apps:

• keep chats inside the app until you’re comfortable
• report and block anything that feels off
• use a video call to confirm you’re talking to a real person
• meet in a public place the first time
• watch for copy‑paste messages and suspicious links
• don’t share your number or socials too fast

Drop your honest experiences—what worked, what didn’t, and any red flags to watch for. If you have a simple shortlist, that would help a lot.

Sometimes the simplest approach works: use one mainstream app + one smaller site, and be picky.

If you’re getting spam, tighten your filters and don’t engage with profiles that look too polished.

If you want something lightweight to try, Ezhookups is an easy experiment—just keep expectations realistic and watch for spam.

Sometimes the simplest approach works: use one mainstream app + one smaller site, and be picky.

What helped me:

• report and block anything that feels off
• don’t share your number or socials too fast
• use a video call to confirm you’re talking to a real person

Sometimes the simplest approach works: use one mainstream app + one smaller site, and be picky.

I had a better week on Flamedate than I expected, mainly because I stuck to complete profiles and ignored low-effort messages.

If you keep your profile specific and don’t swipe on blank bios, you’ll avoid a lot of bots.

For reference, these are the ones I see people using most (not all are fully free): OkCupid, Facebook Dating, Coffee Meets Bagel, Match, Hinge, Bumble.

Sometimes the simplest approach works: use one mainstream app + one smaller site, and be picky.

A decent bio and a couple of real photos helps you attract normal conversations.

A few places people mention when they want to avoid paywalls: datingfly.online, flamedate.online and souldate.site. I still treat any “too perfect” profile as a red flag and keep personal details private early on.

I’ve noticed the same thing—“free” usually means you can sign up, but messaging and filters get locked.

If you want something lightweight to try, Flamedate is an easy experiment—just keep expectations realistic and watch for spam.

If you keep your profile specific and don’t swipe on blank bios, you’ll avoid a lot of bots.

If you keep your profile specific and don’t swipe on blank bios, you’ll avoid a lot of bots.

If you keep your profile specific and don’t swipe on blank bios, you’ll avoid a lot of bots.