🔞 Dating app · Plenty of Fish review
Plenty of Fish: a huge free pool, not built for hookups.
One of the oldest free dating apps, with a big pool of singles in the US, Canada, the UK and beyond. How it works, what the paid tiers add, and the best sites like Plenty of Fish for hookups.
ViceHunt’s take: A generous free tier, huge numbers and decent safety tools. But it’s built for dating and relationships, so hookups take a lot more searching.
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Chat nowPros & cons
The good
- Free members can search, like and message matches
- Large user base in many countries
- Selfie verification and Face Check
- Apps plus a web version
The bad
- Dating-focused, not a hookup app
- Daily limit on messages to people you haven’t matched
- Profiles can show on other Match Group apps unless you opt out
- Security lapses in 2011 and 2019
Plenty of Fish vs the alternatives
The full Plenty of Fish review
What is Plenty of Fish?
Plenty of Fish, or POF, was started in Vancouver in 2003 by Markus Frind. Match Group, which also owns Tinder, bought it in 2015 for $575 million.
It’s popular in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, among others, and works on iPhone, Android and pof.com. Most people are there to date, not just to hook up, and POF dropped its “intimate encounters” option back in 2013.
How Plenty of Fish works
Set up a profile, then swipe in Meet Me or search with filters for age, distance and more. A mutual like opens a chat, and you can also send a limited number of First Contacts each day to people you haven’t matched with.
You can earn a verified badge with a video selfie, and in some countries POF requires a Face Check scan to use the app. Once a chat gets going, Conversation Powers unlock voice messages and photo sharing.
Free vs POF Plus, Premium and Prestige
The free version lets you search, like and message mutual matches. POF Plus adds unlimited likes, extended profiles, a first look at new members and no ads. POF Premium adds Interested in Me, so you see everyone who likes you, plus read receipts.
POF Prestige, so far only for some US iPhone users, adds unlimited First Contacts and priority likes. Boosts, Super Likes and extra First Contacts are sold one at a time. Prices depend on your country and plan, subscriptions renew until you cancel, and POF says they’re non-refundable.
Is Plenty of Fish good for hookups?
Not really. It can work, mostly because of the numbers, but most members want dates or relationships, so be upfront in your profile. Also check your privacy settings: POF can show your profile on other Match Group apps unless you turn off Expanded Discovery.
Its record isn’t spotless either. A 2011 hack exposed data on nearly 30 million accounts, and in 2019 the app leaked names and postal codes that users had set to private. If you want people who already want the same thing, Feeld or Pure waste less of your time.
Is Plenty of Fish safe?
POF has solid safety tools, but meeting strangers still calls for the basics:
- Favour profiles with the verified badge
- Turn off Expanded Discovery to stay POF-only
- Never send money or gift cards to a match
- Meet somewhere public first and tell a friend
Read our safety guidelines for more.
ViceHunt’s verdict
Plenty of Fish is one of the best free dating apps for sheer numbers, and its safety tools have caught up with the big names. For hookups, though, it’s slow going: most people want something longer.
Want the biggest pool of all? Try Tinder. Want people who are there for casual, open-minded fun? Try Feeld or Adult FriendFinder.
Plenty of Fish FAQ
Is Plenty of Fish free?
Yes. You can search, like and message mutual matches for free, with a daily limit on First Contacts. POF Plus, Premium and Prestige add extras like unlimited likes and seeing who likes you.
Is Plenty of Fish good for hookups?
It’s built for dating, so most people want something longer. The numbers mean it can work, but apps built for casual meetups waste less of your time.
What’s the difference between POF Plus, Premium and Prestige?
Plus gives you unlimited likes, extended profiles and no ads. Premium adds Interested in Me and read receipts. Prestige, available to some US iPhone users, adds unlimited First Contacts and priority likes.
Is Plenty of Fish safe?
It has selfie verification, Face Check in some countries, and blocking and reporting tools. It had security lapses in 2011 and 2019, so use a unique password and never send money to a match.
What are the best Plenty of Fish alternatives?
Tinder for the biggest pool, Feeld for open-minded and casual dating, and Adult FriendFinder for fully explicit hookups.
More sites like Plenty of Fish
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