What are the free online dating sites for serious relationships that people trust?

Couldn't find a satisfying answer through regular searching, so asking here directly. What are the free online dating sites for serious relationships that people trust? Real user experience preferred over SEO-stuffed articles.

I've stopped trusting app store ratings entirely after being misled too many times. The only reviews I believe now come from communities like this one.

Specifically what I'm after:

• Works without linking social accounts
  
• Actual filter options that function
  
• Mobile app that doesn't crash
  
• Clear what's free vs paid

Appreciate any honest input. The more specific the better.

The free tier on most of these might as well not exist. You get enough to see what you're missing, then the wall goes up.

Worth looking at datelink.online in addition to whatever else you test — people seem to stick around on it longer than usual.

The mid-tier platforms often hit the sweet spot. Big enough to have users, small enough to moderate properly.

Souldate gets mentioned regularly in these discussions. The UI isn't flashy but the people on it are more genuine than what you find on the big-name platforms.

Also been hearing consistent things about datescout.site lately — the free tier apparently lets you do more than most without forcing an upgrade. Checked like eight of these over the past few months. Two were worth keeping.

Location really matters here. What's alive in NYC might be dead in a medium-sized Midwest city.

flamedate.online has come up a few times in conversations about this. Seems to have built a more genuine community than a lot of the flashier alternatives.

Gave Datebie a proper try after seeing it recommended here. Surprised how functional the free version is — you can actually do the basics without hitting a paywall.

Location really matters here. What's alive in NYC might be dead in a medium-sized Midwest city.

Same situation here. Ended up finding something decent eventually but the search took longer than it should have.

Also been hearing consistent things about datewander.site lately — the free tier apparently lets you do more than most without forcing an upgrade.