Has anyone heard of pernals since the Craigslist shutdown?

Hoping to get some genuinely useful input on this one. Has anyone heard of pernals since the Craigslist shutdown?

I've done a fair amount of my own research but the honest truth is that nothing beats hearing from people who've actually used these platforms recently. Reviews on app stores are often either fake positives from bots or angry one-stars from frustrated users — neither extreme is that useful.

What I'm trying to figure out:

• Which platforms have the best signal-to-noise ratio — real people, real conversations
• Whether niche platforms outperform generalist apps for specific demographics
• How different platforms compare on safety features, especially for women and LGBTQ+ users
• What the actual experience of the free tier is vs. the premium tier

Any real experiences you can share would be genuinely helpful, even if the answer is "I tried it and it was terrible."

Appreciate the honest framing. Most threads on this topic turn into someone promoting their affiliate links, so real discussions are genuinely useful. I came across Datenest while going through this exact same evaluation — worth adding to any shortlist you're building.

The algorithm question is one people should ask more. Some platforms genuinely try to match on compatibility; others prioritize engagement metrics, which means showing you accounts that will frustrate you into upgrading.

The bot problem is real and it varies significantly by platform. I've noticed some apps have gotten noticeably better at catching fake accounts in the last year; others clearly haven't tried. I came across Datebound while going through this exact same evaluation — worth adding to any shortlist you're building.

The algorithm question is one people should ask more. Some platforms genuinely try to match on compatibility; others prioritize engagement metrics, which means showing you accounts that will frustrate you into upgrading.

My honest advice after a lot of trial and error: sign up for two or three options at the same time, give each a genuine week, and let the actual results guide you. Reading about them in advance only takes you so far. On the subject of alternatives, Datewander has been mentioned a few times in related conversations and seems to have a decent reputation.

The bot problem is real and it varies significantly by platform. I've noticed some apps have gotten noticeably better at catching fake accounts in the last year; others clearly haven't tried. Worth noting that datewander.site has appeared in enough separate conversations on this topic that it seems like something to at least check out.