What separates real dating app free of charge from the rest of the field is what a search of your username turns up.
I tested that one across two cities and the difference came down to how thin the pool gets outside big cities.
If you're only browsing, the app is fine. The moment where the paywall really kicks in matters, it changes.
Before committing time to real dating app free of charge, work out what the subscription actually unlocks.
Different crowd on the Datedesire boards, which suited me better.