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Markus Frind founded the dating website Plenty of Fish in 2003, and it grew so successful that Match Group bought the property in 2015. Since it launched, Plenty of Fish has endeavored to make online dating less awkward and more fun. The online platform offers interactive games and messaging features to help users make the most of their dating experience.
It can be difficult to navigate the modern dating scene, but Plenty of Fish reminds daters why going after love is worthwhile.
“We’re here to help you create the same magic online that you would IRL,” said the Plenty of Fish team.
Plenty of Fish embraces single people in a welcoming community where everyone can be themselves. POF sees folks of all backgrounds and orientations, and it helps them find like-minded connections. Some singles can feel like they have to put up a facade to be accepted on a superficial dating app. Trust me, I’ve been there, and it doesn’t help you find what you’re truly looking for at the end of the day.
Plenty of Fish is a free dating site where users aren’t pressured into chats and matches. They can explore on their terms and use the membership options to increase their chances of finding a good match.
Thanks to Plenty of Fish, singles have space to be authentic and let potential matches know what’s important to them. A lot of users leave the online dating app or site feeling more confident and in control of their love lives.
“Taylore kept seeing my profile pop up but thought I was out of their league. I kept seeing theirs and thinking the same. One night after I’d been out I thought, ‘what’s the worst that could happen?’ and finally sent a message,” said Brooke, a Plenty of Fish user in a testimonial.
A POF Free Trial Invites Users to Explore
Online dating can get pretty pricey! First you deal with online dating membership fees, then you have to pay for the dinner, movie, or coffee date, and singles often invest in their wardrobe and style to look good for potential matches. And if you’re paying a dating coach as well, the cost of being single can get into hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Fortunately, singles don’t have to worry about going bankrupt on Plenty of Fish. The dating app offers both a free and paid subscription that have great advantages depending on what you’re looking for in the dating world.
Plenty of Fish has useful features for free that help identify compatible matches and save users a lot of time and costs – while still giving them the opportunity to build romantic connections. With a free membership, POF members can create an online dating profile, add up to eight photos to their gallery, and view other member profiles based on search filters and preferences.
As I mentioned earlier, members can send and receive messages to one another for free as well. There are some limits on the free communication to keep spammers at bay, but it’s enough to get the ball rolling and start a conversation.
Plenty of Fish also has advanced filters to provide more benefits and shortcuts to online daters. And we’ll dive into what the paid subscriptions entail in the next section of our review article.
If you’re looking to save money but still make the most of your online dating, you might want to look into the POF free trial option, which is available to test the online dating site’s full features without payment.
The Premium Membership Includes Even More Perks
As you can imagine, Plenty of Fish can’t pay the bills as a totally free dating site that never charges any person anything ever. The dating service has a premium membership with exclusive features designed to spice things up.
Premium features include: adding up to 16 photos to your profile, super likes, and a higher ranking status in searches. Premium members also have an ad-free experience on the site and app.
The premium membership isn’t a huge financial commitment by any means. Plenty of Fish offers three types of premium membership:
- 12-month membership for $10.47 a month (total of $125.64)
- Six-month membership for $15.70 a month (total of $94.23)
- Three-month membership for $20.94 a month (total of $62.82)
Users should choose a plan based on their budget and level of commitment to their online dating experience. A shorter membership may be better if you’re looking for a casual connection, but a longer membership is actually cheaper per month, so it might make sense for long-term love seekers to make a longer commitment to POF.
“This is the first of many apps that I’ve tried that actually lets you have a conversation with a real person and doesn’t charge you an arm and a leg to do it,” said Peter Houston, a Plenty of Fish user in a review.
FAQs: What Are the Best Free Alternatives to Plenty of Fish?
Plenty of Fish is by no means the only fish in the online dating industry. Plenty of alternatives have free features that have successfully helped daters find friendship, romance, and even true love. Here’s a short list of our favorite Plenty of Fish alternatives.
1. Match
Relationships: Friends, Dates, and Relationships
Match System: Browse by zip, age, appearance, more
Our Experts Say: “Match is a popular choice for your area singles, having led to more dates, marriages and relationships than any other dating site…” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| All Singles* |
49%*
51%*
|
39.7 Million* | Try Match FREE |
Match is a great option to explore if you’re looking for a serious relationship. As one of the oldest online dating apps around, Match has evolved and expanded to give singles what they want and create strong matches. New users can browse online dating profiles and send messages to their Top Picks at no charge. Match doesn’t have unlimited messaging like Plenty of Fish does but its larger dating pool can help expedite the dating process.
2. OurTime.com
Relationships: Dates and Relationships
Match System: Search by profiles by zip and more
Our Experts Say: “OurTime is well-known in the over-50 dating crowd, particularly because it has a ton of helpful search features and an easy layout…” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| Mature Singles (50+)* |
48%*
52%*
|
8.9 Million* | Over 50? Try It FREE |
OurTime is a senior dating app that caters to singles over the age of 50. OurTime focuses on older singles who want to find a companion or love interest for their golden years. While Plenty of Fish is open to single adults of all ages, OurTime keeps its membership base small and targeted to better serve the senior population. Seniors dating lives have truly benefited as a result. With a free membership, users can create a dating profile, browse matches, and flirt to express interest online.
Relationships: Hookups, Casual Dates, Affairs
Match System: Search by age, location, appearance, and more
Our Experts Say: “With its massive user base and advanced privacy features, Ashley Madison is the #1 site for discreet hookups, dates, or relationships…” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| All Singles & Attached* |
71%*
29%*
|
65 Million* | Start Now for FREE |
Ashley Madison is a married dating site and app where people can find a discreet affair or sexting conversation on the down low. Both single and married people explore Ashley Madison because they want to spice up their love lives and aren’t necessarily looking for a big commitment. Women can send unlimited messages for free on the dating platform. Men on the other hand have to pay for credits to send greetings and responses, but our reviewers say it’s totally worth it!
Is It Worth Paying More for a Premium Dating Site?
It truly depends on what online experience you’re looking for and how much time or money you’re willing to invest in the experience. Sometimes free isn’t the best option – paying for a dating site can give singles access to more quality over quantity. Premium dating sites like eharmony offer more search filters, compatibility insights, and matchmaking guidance (not to mention free communication) for users who subscribe to their monthly plan.
Relationships: Casual Dates, Deep Relationships
Match System: Personality test suggests matches
Our Experts Say: “eharmony has a large, commitment-minded user base in your area, and its unique matching system is ideal for those seeking a serious relationship…” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
4.1 Million* | View Profiles FREE |
Single professionals tend to prefer more mature pay-to-chat spaces for their dating lives because it gives them a leg up on the competition and cuts down on their swiping time. Elite Singles is a premier dating site that provides matchmaking help to single professionals who have high standards and budgets large enough to accommodate a $30 monthly fee.
Relationships: Serious Relationships
Match System: Search, Receive Partner Suggestions
Our Experts Say: “EliteSingles is the premier dating site for educated professionals. Most members are upper-income with college degrees, and its impressive Fraud Detection system ensures no-nonsense dating…” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| All Singles* |
44%*
56%*
|
2 Million* | Browse Profiles Free |
Of course, plenty of online dating success stories have occurred without a payment plan. Free dating apps like Hinge and Bumble allow individuals to match and chat without paying, and we’ve seen testimonials from online daters who said the free membership worked well enough for their needs. Even if it took a little more effort or time on their part.
There are no guarantees in online dating, so no one can predict if a free trial or premium membership will do the trick. Just like anything, an online dating membership is a risk!
How Do I Avoid Scam Sites & Fake Profiles Online?
It’s important to do your research and know the signs of a fake profile. A romance scammer might reveal their true intentions by asking for money or favors, but sometimes catfishers can be more stealth in their approach. Some of the warning signs include a profile with no photo, messages sent in broken English, and refusals to meet in person or talk via video chat or phone call.
If the person seems to avoid providing much personal information about themselves, but wants to know all about you, then you might want to do a background check through social media to see if they have an online footprint.
Most dating sites, including Plenty of Fish, give members the option to report any suspicious behavior they encounter online. Users can also block any person who bothers them in any way. If an online match ever asks you for money, that’s a good enough reason to hit the block button.
You should always verify all online matches as best you can. Even if you have been talking online for weeks or months, you should still take precautions because that person is still a stranger. And of course, a video date never hurts! Over the last few years, more online dating sites have included live video features that make it a lot easier for users to get to know each other and avoid catfishing profiles.
Plenty of Fish has robust video and verification features to keep users safe, so our dating experts rank it highly as a trustworthy place to meet real people.
“After noticing me on POF Live! Klue started tuning into my morning streams. Eventually, he hopped in the date box and I guess you could call it the best speed date ever!” said Pisces, a Plenty of Fish user in a testimonial on the homepage.
Plenty of Fish Can Offer Some Free Features to Get You Started
Whatever you’re looking for in the online dating scene, Plenty of Fish is a great dating app to help you get on your feet. Aside from all the fun games, Plenty of Fish offers personality-driven matchmaking for single people to create new connections. The dating site and app can support online daters looking for romantic relationships and hoping to have some fun along the way.
Dating isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. POF sees users of all types and intentions, and its tools allow individuals to choose their dating adventure in terms of how they connect with others. POF users can take advantage of swiping, search, and video livestreaming features to expand their social circles and meet potential dates.
Looking to the future, the POF team shared that they are actively working toward creating a safer space for users with new features that facilitate finding genuine connections. To find proof of the platform’s success, you only need to read POF reviews from users.
“For our anniversary, this fool got me a card that read, ‘You’re the best thing I’ve ever found on the Internet,” shared a Plenty of Fish user named Annie in a testimonial.
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