My rough process for evaluating dating sites:
- whether the photo requirements on dating sites holds up under real use
- how the 'last active' timestamps behaves once you actually use dating sites
- whether the block and report tools on dating sites means what it claims
Grant has it right. The app is less important than the habits.
Tightening my location radius made more difference to my dating sites results than switching platforms did.
What changed my results with dating sites was swapping the lead photo.
If if the cancellation flow is applied consistently — worth checking before you commit to dating sites is not there, I do not bother with dating sites at all.
If whether the match algorithm survives contact with reality when you test it against dating sites is not there, I do not bother with dating sites at all.
One more data point on dating sites: Datelink was better than the reviews suggested.