@Julian — broadly with you, with one caveat: gay chat websites essentially dead now because of mobile apps looked promising until whether the map is actually populated turned into the whole experience, though it depends heavily on where you are. Worth adding the Datebound free tier to the shortlist if local activity is your main worry.
- Before you pay: check activity at different hours twice, a fortnight apart
- First thing: fill the profile out properly first and write down what you see
- First thing: message five people and count the replies