Fact Checked by: Debbie Gutfreund, MA
Plenty of Fish might be one of the most well-known dating apps out there. This is probably thanks to their “find your other half” commercials that they began running in the early 2000s or their akin to the popular dating phrase “plenty of fish in the sea”. Even those who have been married for decades have likely heard of Plenty of Fish.
Still, we all know that something being popular doesn’t necessarily make it good. Because of that, we wanted to fish for the truth and see if POF is popular because of a top-notch app or top-notch advertising.
Turns out, Plenty of Fish has gone through quite a few glow-ups over the last 10 years, and there is a lot to discuss. So, if you are interested in figuring out whether POF is the right dating app for you, we strongly recommend buckling up for our full POF review.
A Rough Reputation and Advertising for Other Dating Apps?
Years ago, Plenty of Fish had a pretty rough reputation mainly surrounding the quality of the members. This was probably due to the fact that the site is largely free to use with minimal barriers to entry. This is a recipe for scammers, spammers, fake accounts, and people looking for something quick.
Since then they were acquired by Match Group and have made some changes including a few new features (which we’ll discuss in depth later in the review) and multiple design overhauls. But has the app really improved?
Well, it depends on how you look at it. Does the site look better? Sure. Does the marketing message portray a different type of dating experience? You bet. However, not much at all was done in regards to the barriers to entry or the core functionality that’s held this app back. It’s still a completely free dating site that only takes a few minutes to sign up.
Yes, they added in some phone number verification steps which have helped some, but it’s still relatively the same process.
But here’s the weirdest thing of all – With the latest redesign POF has started pushing users to other dating apps. On top of various ads placed throughout their app, you can now fins a “try other apps” page in the main navigation menu under My Profile (We’ve included desktop and mobile screenshots below as proof):
I mean c’mon… No legit dating app does this! And despite some efforts to lower the number of scammers getting in how can we really believe in a brand that doesn’t believe in itself?
POF scored a 5.8 out of 10 possible points (Lowered from our previous POF review). Our main problems were with the continuing member quality issue (too-easy of a sign-up process inviting fake accounts), incomplete profiles, multiple reports of unsolicited and inappropriate photos, an excessive amount of ads, and blatantly pushing users to other apps.
So, is Plenty of Fish worth it? Despite an impressive number of users, we think POF still has some growing to do if it wants to swim in the big leagues. If you have absolutely zero dollars to put towards online dating and are okay swimming in the weeds, it might be worth checking out. But if you’re serious about finding something special (casual or serious), there are better options (And clearly the team at POF agrees). Our recommendation would be to take their advice and “try other dating apps”.
Pros
- It is super fast to sign up and begin using the app.
- There is a free version of the app you can try before deciding to buy.
- There is a huge pool of singles using POF (over 3 million daily active users).
- The developers are actively working on the app’s design and features.
Cons
- Lower quality of singles when compared to similar apps.
- Technical issues are common and hurt user experience.
- No video chat functionality (and POF Live doesn’t help).
- The free version of the app is limited in features and is inundated with annoying ads.
- Multiple user reports of unsolicited NSFW pics.
- The app has started recommending other dating apps.
- The age of an average US user skews a little older (35+)
5 More Things to Know About POF
- POF has undergone multiple design changes in recent years which shows they’re actively trying to change the brand’s image. However, we still think they have a long way to go to bring the quality up to a level we’re happy with.
- There are reportedly over 3 million active users logging into POF every day which is a positive statistic to see. There are also over 1.6M user reviews in the App Store and Google Play.
- POF is actively rolling out new features which is always nice. However, many of the features seem to cloud the platform, impact user friendliness, and miss the mark with getting you closer to finding someone special.
- Plenty of Fish was purchased by Match Group (the owners of Match.com and Tinder) back in 2015 for $575 million.
- New features like Live and Que’d up are fun, but not really built to create matches or real connections. They are clearly not trying to invite serious daters to the app (Which is fine as long as that’s what you’re looking for).
5.98/10.0
Testing Results – Overall and Breakdown
| Factor | Results (out of 10) | Weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety and Security | 5.6 | 20% | Moderately improved safety features like phone verification and message controls. Still plagued by fake profiles, spam, and persistent issues with unsolicited explicit images. No strong encryption or advanced safety features compared to newer competitors. |
| Profile Engagement | 5.0 | 15% | Huge user base, but many incomplete or low-effort profiles. Users often seeking casual flings rather than meaningful connections. Reports of unsolicited explicit photos lower engagement quality. |
| Feature Effectiveness | 6.5 | 15% | Newer features like Live! and Que’d Up are fun but don’t directly drive high-quality matches. Basic search and Meet Me remain useful, though overshadowed by ads and occasional technical glitches. |
| Pricing | 7.0 | 15% | Affordable compared to many competitors. Free tier is usable but extremely ad-heavy. Tokens add up quickly in cost if used regularly. |
| UX and Usability | 6.5 | 10% | Modernized interface, but cluttered with ads and promotional pushes for other apps. Many technical issues reported, especially on mobile. Experience feels patchy overall. |
| Popularity | 9.0 | 10% | Over 3 million daily active users globally. Very well-known brand, which sustains high sign-ups, though retention and satisfaction remain mixed. |
| External Reviews | 5.5 | 10% | Reviews are highly mixed. Many praise the large user base, but consistent complaints remain about scammers, technical issues, and ad overload. POF’s own actions pushing users to other apps harm confidence. |
| Feature Growth | 6.5 | 5% | Actively adding new features like Que’d Up and Live!, but many feel superficial and miss the goal of creating deeper connections. Text verification a good step, though belated. |
| Overall | 5.98 | ~ | ~ |
Learn more about how we test and score here.
Safety Overview Testing
Safety continues to be a strong concern for users (and potential users) of POF. This revolves heavily around data usage and also, as you’ll see further in our testing that POF is not totally transparent about its intentions as a dating app (or a gateway to other apps).
| Factor | Score (0-10) | Weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Privacy Policy Protections | 6.0 | 15% | Privacy policy is clear, but broad data collection and sharing typical for free apps. Not as comprehensive or user-friendly as newer apps. |
| Third-Party Data Usage | 4.5 | 15% | Shares considerable data with partners for marketing, especially due to Match Group ownership. Users often unknowingly exposed to partner advertising. |
| App and Data Encryption | 6.5 | 15% | Uses standard encryption for transmissions but not industry-leading. No standout security implementations beyond basics. |
| Block and Report Options | 6.5 | 15% | Block/report options exist but sometimes ineffective. Fake profiles and scammers reappear frequently. Reports of harassment and unsolicited content persist. |
| Account Verification Options | 7.0 | 10% | Phone verification recently added, a solid improvement, though it’s not foolproof. No photo-based verification system. |
| Data Minimization Practices | 5.0 | 10% | Gathers large amounts of personal data beyond immediate dating needs, typical of a freemium model. |
| 2FA Available | 3.0 | 10% | No two-factor authentication offered for account logins. Major security gap, especially for a large platform. |
| TOS Acknowledges Safety | 6.0 | 5% | Terms acknowledge safety concerns, but lack specific proactive safety commitments beyond user responsibility. |
| Strong Password Requirements | 7.0 | 5% | Enforces reasonably strong password standards, but no guidance for additional security layers like 2FA. |
| Overall | 5.6 | ~ | ~ |
Popularity Testing
When you ask people to name dating apps, POF tends to always make its way onto the list. Here is some of our data from testing about the popularity of POF.
| Factor | Testing Score | Weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search Trends | 9.2 | 25% | Consistently high search volume over years; recognized as a top-tier dating platform. |
| Internal Testing | 9.0 | 25% | Strong usability and feature set; intuitive interface and useful matchmaking tools. |
| Search Volume | 8.8 | 15% | Among the most searched dating apps, particularly outside the top-tier global brands. |
| Traffic | 9.5 | 15% | Over 3 million daily active users globally, with steady website and app engagement. |
| News Coverage | 8.7 | 10% | Regular press mentions about updates and acquisitions; brand remains top-of-mind. |
| Social Reach | 8.4 | 10% | Active across social platforms with strong follower counts and periodic campaigns. |
| Total | 9.00 | ~ | ~ |
There has been significant fluctuation over the years, especially with the rebrand, but for now, popularity testing shows it remains strong.
Features That Feel More Like Social Media
In addition to the traditional profile and messaging features, there are some additional things that POF has added to the mix (mostly after being purchased by Match Group) to try and make things better. Some of the features we’re fans of, some of them we think missed the mark, and some are downright annoying. Here’s a quick look at some of the more meaningful POF features.
POF Live!
Many social platforms have begun implementing a live system thanks to the success and popularity of streaming apps like Twitch and YouTube. Plenty of Fish has jumped on that train as well with their Live! feature.
POF Live! allows users to live stream themselves for their matches and potential matches to see. It is a fun way to get more info about your personality out there, but is even better as a way to learn more about your matches before wasting too much time. The streams are genuinely fun to participate in and you can pass along virtual gifts to get the attention of the streamer, if you’d like.
Overall, this feature is well implemented. However, does it really help you finding dates? From our testing and use of the product, it seems like another form of Twitch that really misses the mark on the intended purpose. Additionally, users are able to purchase tokens and buy gifts for other users who are going live, which again, we think misses the mark for online dating.
Since many of the top POF live streamers have hundreds or more watching them it can make connections hard. Many other dating apps offer one on one date style video chats which we think offer much better results.
We will however give mad props to the POF ModBot for keeping nudity and other NSFW behavior out of these live streams!
Meet Me (Tinder-Style Swipe Dating)
Some dating apps have begun to take inspiration from old-school dating techniques like blind dates and speed dating to come up with exciting ways to implement face-to-face meetups. For Plenty of Fish, that feature is called “Meet Me.”
Using this feature is simple. You are shown a series of photos of singles along with some of their basic info. You swipe right on the photo if you are interested in the person and swipe left if you are not.
When you swipe right on a profile holder who also swiped right on you, a private chat will open to allow you to communicate and decide on meeting up in person. This method of meeting takes away the restriction of personality matching and the like, which some users really enjoy.
The biggest downside to this feature has to be the ad placement. As you saw in the screenshot it’s positioned in a way that leads users to accidentally click it. Annoying to say the least…
Ultimately, Meet Me is like using Tinder, but with the option to switch back to a profile-based matching method at any time.
Priority Messages
If you have done any online dating before, you know that your inbox can get a little wild after some time. Sometimes you can send a message to a match and never hear back. It feels pretty awful, but you might feel better knowing that oftentimes messages are just overlooked and it’s nothing personal.
Priority messages help you overcome this! Sending a priority message means the message is pushed to the top of that person’s inbox and pinned. It costs 1 token, POF’s in-app currency, which you can get for between $2 and $4 a piece.
Text Verification
For an app that’s pretty well known for being full of scammers and other riffraff we were glad to finally see this feature added. With this latest update Plenty of Fish has required that all users link their accounts to an active phone number.
And sure, it’s not a catch all… there are still some unsavory fish in the POF sea, but this was a massive step and we’re giving credit where credit is due. Well done here POF developers!
Message Controls and Filters
One thing that POF has that we do like is the ability to set a lot of filters for who can message you. You can set things like how long the first message has to be or if they have a photo or not. While we think this is a great step, why not just make every user include a photo of themselves? Again, that’s our personal thoughts from this POF review, but it’s something worth noting. Either way, the feature is absolutely better than not having it at all.
Ads, Ads, and lots of Ads (Unless you pay)
We said we would be talking about the features POF offers users, but that doesn’t mean they’re all good. In fact, this last feature drove our review staff to the edge of insanity. As you can see in the screenshot below this dating site has ads everywhere:
Whether you’re looking at the latest matches, new members, users in your city, or even just setting up your profile you’re always going to be seeing ads. Many users have reported this annoyance, and mobile users especially have been pushed away from the app by accidentally clicking it’s invasive ads.
Some Concerning Notes About the App’s Users
We weren’t overly wowed by the selection and variety of singles on Plenty of Fish, but it wasn’t a bad experience at all. There are plenty of singles to be found in many areas, but the crowd is generally a bit older and a little less tech-savvy. This means that all those high-shooting professionals in fields like tech, engineering, etc., are likely to be found on more modern apps.
Additionally, a review of POF does need to look at the intentions of the singles on the app.
We have heard a lot of users report that most of the people they encounter on the app are looking for casual hookups and they’re not that smooth about it.
Yes, we’re talking about pictures you may not want to see… sent unsolicited and such. It’s certainly not the case for everyone on the app, but we’ve heard the most stories like that coming from this app. In fact, even the app’s ownership is aware of it and rather than seeking a real solution has posted this jab; POF’s virtual gallery of Dick Pics (It’s not what you think… Just users named Richard.)
Complaints Circle Around Tech Issues, Scammers and Ads
To give a fair and complete review of Plenty of Fish we wanted you to hear from more than just our team. Here are some complaints that we’ve been emailed from readers who’ve used POF.
- “Several yrs ago I was on POF for quite a while, but no luck. Then got back on but had lot of trouble with site working correctly. At one time I was a paying member.” – J.G.
- “Why cant I sign in?” Lynda J.
- “I’m not receiving any POF email. No notifications or anything letting me know I have messages. It’s almost like my emails from POF are being intercepted.” Cindy M.
In addition to these complaints we also reviewed what users were saying in their app store reviews and we noticed some consistent trends. These include lots of technical issues, an abundance of fake profiles/scammers , and POF being overly pushy with ads. We also noticed a pattern of users saying that match preference features like age, distance, and gender don’t work at all for them.
POF Pricing
| Membership Type | Membership Length | Monthly Cost | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium | 3 months | $20.94 | $62.82 |
| Premium | 6 months | $15.70 | $94.23 |
| Premium | 12 months | $10.47 | $125.64 |
| 1 Token | N/A | N/A | $3.99 |
| 5 Tokens | N/A | N/A | $14.95 |
| 10 Tokens | N/A | N/A | $19.90 |
Do POF Prices Change?
They do indeed. And in fact there are many factors that may impact the cost of POF membership including promotional rates, user location (region), length of subscription, amount of account activity, and number of previous purchases just to name a few. And while the company is clear about this their Terms of Use agreement does also state that the team will do their best to inform users of pricing changes before they go into effect (screenshot below):
Will POF Memberships Renew Automatically?
POF’s Terms of use agreement has the answer for this one clearly laid out as well, and the answer is yes. Any POF premium subscription will auto-renew at the same rate as duration if not cancelled on time. Here’s a screenshot from section 8 of the Terms for further clarification:
By consenting to the site’s privacy policy (which you automatically do by using the app) you allow POF to keep your financial information on file as laid out in section #3. This is common practice among dating apps, but we point it out to let you know that they have the info, and with it they can and definitely will charge your credit or debit card.
If you’re worried about this Auto-Renewal policy or missing the cancellation deadline the