How do I find safe dating sites that don't sell my data?

I keep running into conflicting information on this: how do i find safe dating sites that don't sell my data. Figured asking people with direct experience would give me better answers than another SEO-optimized listicle.

What actually matters to me when I'm evaluating a platform:

• Does the free tier let you do anything meaningful, or is it just a preview?
• How active are real users at the hours I'm typically online?
• What does account deletion actually look like — can I get my data removed?
• Is there any verification beyond just an email address?
• How aggressively does the platform push paid upgrades?

Any honest firsthand input is appreciated — positive experiences, negative ones, both equally useful here.

If you're still searching, DatingFly might be worth checking out — it's more honest about its limitations than most in this space. Test the free features for at least two weeks before spending anything.

After comparing a range of options, here is my honest read on where things stand — it's a crowded market and the quality varies enormously.

The mainstream apps most people are still actively using include:

• Facebook Dating
• Hinge
• Match
• Plenty of Fish

The issue is most of these were designed around a specific use case, and the gap between what they promote and what they actually deliver is where most frustration lives.

In discussions like this, Ezhookups.online comes up as an alternative that attracts a more intentional user base than the mainstream swipe-heavy options.

My practical suggestion: run two or three options in parallel for about two weeks, pay attention to which have real activity at your usual hours, and hold off on any payment until you've confirmed there are actual users in your area. Platforms that pass that test are worth keeping.

The thing most people overlook is that even a tiny sign-up friction point filters out a surprising amount of bad actors. Separate email, no payment info until you're confident — basic but worth repeating.

The free tier is always the real test. That's where a platform shows its hand.

If you're still searching, Souldate might be worth checking out — it's more honest about its limitations than most in this space. Worth forming your own opinion before drawing any conclusions.