Plenty of Fish 2023 reviews: Is it worth it?

Plenty of Fish (POF) was launched in 2003 when most online dating sites required a subscription to join, so POF stood out by being 100% free. Now, each day more than 3 million people in 20 countries and in 11 languages use the POF site and app.

But after signing up for the app and comparing it to other dating sites, I can say that in a sea (pun intended) of dating apps, Plenty of Fish is still a worthwhile dating app:

• Large number of people using it (large dating pool increases chances of success, depending on what you are seeking)
• Low prices
• Robust FREE version
• Emphasis on conversations, opposed to swiping on photos
• Easy-to-use tech. See the app:

However, if you know you definitely want a serious, committed partnership, there are other apps.

Here are our top three dating app recommendations:

eharmony	Tinder	Hinge
– A- BBB rating – Focused on serious relationships – 150-point personality report – Apps for iOS and Android – 100% member verification (no catfishing) – 25% off with promo code WSM25	– Billions of potential matches worldwide – For love, casual dating, and hookups – No long sign-up process – Easy, swipe-based matching – Photo verification	– Focused on serious relationships – Lots of free features, including messaging – Algorithm designed to match compatible people – Prompts encourage conversation – Hybrid between eharmony and Tinder

Our No. 1 recommendation for a dating site is eharmony, with an A- BBB rating, and proven success of helping singles find happy relationships and marriage.

Still interested in PoF? Read below to learn more:

• How PoF works
• Is PoF a good dating site?
• How much PoF costs
• Pros and cons of PoF
• Is PoF worth it?

How does Plenty of Fish work?

Creating a profile on Plenty of Fish is easy:

1. Go to Plentyoffish.com, or download the app from Apple or Google. 
2. Create a username and password, fill out where you live, your date of birth, gender, and ethnicity. 
3. Fill out a brief questionnaire about your dating preferences including the type of relationship you're looking for, as well as more obscure questions, like how ambitious are you, whether or not you drive your car, and your longest relationship.
4. Choose one personality type that describes yourself, and the possibilities are endless with choices including rockstar, yuppie, and yogi.
5. Create your bio, offering just enough information about yourself without disclosing personal information (POF warns against this).

Plenty of Fish uses 2-factor authentication to verify your account. So, you'll need to use a mobile device that accepts text messages.

Once your profile is done, it’s time to start mingling with the other catches on the site. If you're using POF on a computer, the layout is a bit different than a dating app. On the homepage (which resembles a social networking app circa 2005), there’s an online tab that shows users who are actively using POF. You'll also find a “Meet Me” page that’s very similar to Tinder, and a search page that allows you to look up profiles. You can also discover profiles in your area as well as who's new on POF.

While the desktop version puts messages front and center, POF’s app is designed to look more like a typical dating app, prioritizing the Meet Me feature.

Need help with your profile? 14 examples of good dating profiles and how to pick profile pics.

Is Plenty of Fish a good dating site?

Yes, Plenty of Fish is as good as any dating app or website out there. What makes Plenty of Fish stand out is that it puts conversation at the forefront of making a connection. It’s also one of the few dating websites where you don’t need a premium upgrade to fully get all the benefits; its free version offers a lot of features including message, while other dating websites (like Match and eharmony) have limited features for free users.

Is Plenty of Fish full of fake profiles?

Plenty of Fish surprisingly doesn’t get many complaints concerning fake profiles and cheaters. However, like most dating apps, POF isn’t immune to scammers and bots. As always, take precautions when using any dating service; never disclose any personal information or send money to anyone who you don’t know. 

How much is Plenty of Fish per month?

POF's free version has many great features that make it stand out from other dating apps:

What you get with POF’s Free version:

• Free messaging (which is not typical for a dating app today)
• Add members to favorites list
• Get matches and view profiles
• Send voice messages
• Join forums

Plenty of Fish premium pricing:

• $10.70/mo for 12 months
• $16.05/mo for six months 
• $21.40/mo for three months

What you get upgrading to PoF’s premium plan:

• Priority on “Meet Me” page
• Access to every user's Extended Profile
• See if your emails were read or deleted
• Ad-free content
• See the date and time someone viewed your profile
• Increase in emails and people viewing your profile
• Upload 16 images

In addition to a premium subscription, Plenty of Fish offers tokens for purchase.

Tokens are boosters for your profile. You can get one for $4.27, a five-pack for $16.00, or a 10-pack for $21.29 You can use them to send super likes to other members or to be featured on POF’s “Today’s Catch List”

Is Plenty of Fish premium worth paying for?

A premium subscription may help your profile get more noticed by other users and it may be worthwhile if you’re really seriously dating, but POF still has plenty of features you can use for free. This is great because then you can try it out for a couple of months before you take the plunge and subscribe.

Pros of using Plenty of Fish:

POF puts conversation first.

Plenty of Fish gets a lot of brownie points from users because of its free messaging service. When done well, messaging allows people to have meaningful conversations with each other. Another pro is that some users have a “will respond” badge on their profile, so you can ensure that your messages won’t go unnoticed. 

POF’s search feature makes it really easy to filter profiles.

Plenty of Fish’s search page lets you search for profiles from all over the country, which can be beneficial if you’re traveling or moving to a new state. You can also filter out matches based on what you’re looking for (something casual vs something serious), age, lifestyle, and background.

While most dating apps make you set these preferences while you’re setting up your profile, POF makes it easier for you to change up your searches based on your wants and needs.

POF has lots of users.

POF is of the most popular dating apps with large numbers of people to connect with. Users include single moms, single dads, those looking for friends with benefits or serious relationships, cougars dating younger men and more.

Cons of using Plenty of Fish:

You can’t filter by location on POF.

At a first glance, I noticed how many profiles and messages I got from people who aren’t based in NYC. Getting messages — no matter how quality — from people around the country or world is not helpful if are not actively seeking a long-distance relationship.

Free POF messaging may backfire.

POF’s free messaging feature makes it really easy for members to get unwanted and sometimes inappropriate messages. That’s why POF offers suggestions on topics to talk about when you’re messaging other members. The company also realizes is ready to block accounts reported for inappropriate messaging.

Both the website and app are outdated

There’s a lot happening on Plenty of Fish. With profiles appearing everywhere and different options to meet people, this dating website may feel overwhelming for some people. Plus, while the app does resemble some of the more popular dating apps, it still lacks some modern features, such as connecting your Spotify or social media accounts which is standard on other dating sites today.

Plenty of Fish reviews

Reviews on Plenty of Fish are mixed. While it’s not accredited or rated by the BBB (neither is their parent site, Match Group, LLC), customers' reviews on Match Group’s BBB page give the company 1.03 / 5  stars.

However, TrustPilot gives Plenty of Fish a favorable 3.6 out of 5 stars, with reviewers saying that POF is “easy to use” and it’s “great for meeting people.”

POF reviews on Reddit:

There are a lot of people on Reddit asking for real experiences on Plenty of Fish:

Have there been any GOOD results on POF?
by u/kogashiwakai in datingoverthirty

plenty of fish
by u/Inevitable_Escape948 in datingoverforty

Most Plenty of Fish reviews on Reddit are negative:

POF Is the Worst
by u/pofra in PlentyofFish

How to delete a POF account

So you gave Plenty of Fish a try and didn’t like it. I found that out of all the dating apps, this one was the easiest to delete. Here is what I did:

1. Go to the site’s help page.
2. Search “delete your account.” You will find a link that leads you to a short questionnaire.
3. Answer a couple questions about how many people you met and why you’re deleting your profile (with an option to declare, “I give up”).
4. Boom, your profile is gone. 

Need help with your profile? 14 examples of good dating profiles and how to pick profile pics.

Which is better: Tinder or Plenty of Fish?

While Tinder came on to the scene almost a decade later than Plenty of Fish, both dating services cater to anyone looking for a connection (whether it’s a casual hookup or something serious). It’s just how they approach it that’s different:

Tinder lets you swipe away for free, while POF allows you to message any member for free. And with that freedom, both apps are really what you make of it. You may need to do some digging to find quality matches. Tinder and Plenty of Fish share a rating of 1.03 out of five stars on BBB (they’re both under Match Group, LLC).

Now the differences: POF has a better Trustpilot rating at 3.6 out of five stars, while Tinder’s rating is 1.2. POF also promotes compatibility, urging their users to discuss hobbies and interests when you message. Tinder allows their users to have free reign when creating their profile, letting them add as much or no information. Also, Tinder lets you add your first and last name on your profile, where POF makes you create a username. 

Plenty of Fish also offers more free features than Tinder. With POF, you can message without matching and search for profiles outside of your town. If you’re using Tinder, you’d have to purchase one of the three subscriptions to access these features.

As for which dating service is better? In my experience, people on Tinder are more active, and it’s easier to find matches in your area. However, Plenty of Fish puts compatibility at the forefront of their users’ dating experiences. If you have the flexibility to match with people outside of your town, then POF might be a good option. If you’re looking for convenience (and have some patience) then Tinder might be a good go-to.

Interested in checking out other dating sites and apps? Here are some dating app reviews:

eharmony	Zoosk	Tinder
Christian Mingle	Adult Friend Finder	Match.com
Bumble	OKCupid	Elite Singles
Christian dating apps	SingleParentMeet	Catholic dating sites
Seeking Arrangement	Dating.com	Hinge

But if a serious, committed relationship is your main goal, eharmony is our recommendation.

The bottom line: Is Plenty of Fish worth it?

Plenty of Fish is a legit dating app that puts compatibility and conversation at the forefront. While it all depends on location and the effort to truly get to know someone, it’s worth trying at least the free version which has a lot of features and access when compared with other dating apps.

How to choose the right pics for your dating profile