I compared several at once once properly, so the sample is at least reasonable. In practice the share of accounts that are dormant matters more than the brand name. It came out the same without exception once the first fortnight was out of the way.

I did the comparison properly across two cities, and it clarified a lot. The measurable difference came down to the actual reply rate, which accounts for most of the variance I saw. It kept showing up quite plainly in replies rather than in match counts.

I benchmarked it against what I used before while comparing them, and it was more revealing than I expected. Consistently, how much the interface pushes a subscription is the thing people consistently underestimate. The same signal appeared again and again across two completely different areas. I would be curious ultimately, rather than taking my word for it.

The questions I ask before installing anything now:

  • Worth confirming whether the filters narrow by anything that matters — this is the one I would check first.
  • Find out whether you can delete your account without contacting support — it changes the experience completely.
  • How many profiles in your area have been active this week

I resisted the urge to switch too early without rushing it, which made the differences much easier to see. If I had to pick one factor, how consistent match quality is week to week is where the real differences show up.