Our verdict
Plenty of Fish is one of the oldest free dating sites, founded in Canada in 2003 and now part of Match Group. You can search, swipe and message your matches without paying, which keeps it busy but also attracts more low-effort and fake profiles.
Bottom line: Pick POF if you want to meet people without paying and prefer searching to swiping. If you want a more serious, better-moderated crowd, Hinge or Match fit better.
Great for: Free messaging and searching a big pool yourself
Not ideal for: People who want curated matches or a highly moderated community.
How the Plenty of Fish dating site works
This Plenty of Fish review covers one of the oldest free dating sites. It started in Canada in 2003, and POF is now part of Match Group. You can use it on the website at pof.com or in the iPhone and Android apps, and you must be 18 or over.
There are three ways to meet people. Search is open to every member, free included, and you can filter by gender, location, age, distance, religion and more. Meet Me is the swipe mode: swipe right to like, left to pass, and if you both like each other you become Mutual Matches. Discover shows who’s online. POF’s search widens on its own, so you may see people outside your age or distance settings, and you can’t switch that off (POF).
Messaging on POF
This is what POF is known for, and it’s changed. You can message Mutual Matches as much as you like for free. To write to someone you haven’t matched with, you send a First Contact. You get a limited number a day, and you can buy more or get unlimited ones with POF Prestige (POF). The person who receives it chooses whether to reply. If they don’t, you can’t send a follow-up. You need a main photo to send a message.
So POF is still one of the more generous free services, but it isn’t the unlimited free messaging it’s remembered for.
Is Plenty of Fish good for serious relationships?
It can be, but intentions are mixed. Because it’s free and very large, you’ll meet people who want something serious and people who don’t. Say clearly what you want on your profile, and use First Contacts on people whose profiles suggest the same. If a relationship is your main goal, Hinge or Match will filter more of that for you. Our serious relationship ranking compares them.
Who you’ll meet
POF has a broad membership across ages, and it’s used widely in the US, Canada and the UK. POF doesn’t publish an age breakdown. Its size makes it useful outside big cities, where smaller apps run out of people, and it’s in our dating sites for farmers ranking for that reason.
Is POF legit and safe?
POF is a real, long-running service, rated 4.3 out of 5 from about 1.8 million ratings in the US App Store and 3.7 from about 1.67 million reviews on Google Play (checked November 1, 2026). Free sign-up does attract more fake profiles than paid sites. Selfie Verification gives real members a badge, and some regions now require a Face Check scan or an age check. Share My Date lets you send friends your date details, and it’s worth using. Never send money to anyone you meet here; our romance scam guide shows the usual script.
One setting to check: Expanded Discovery can show your profile on other Match Group services. You can turn it off under Settings → Your Privacy Choices → Match Group Data Sharing.
POF vs OkCupid
OkCupid is also free to start, and it matches on answers to questions rather than search. See Plenty of Fish vs OkCupid.
Our tip
Don’t spend First Contacts on one-line hellos. The other person chooses whether to reply, so pick up on something from their profile. Use Meet Me for volume and First Contacts for the few people you really want to reach.
Plenty of Fish at a glance
| Audience | 18+, broad ages; popular in Canada, the US and the UK |
|---|---|
| Typical goal | Casual dating to relationships |
| Free version | Yes — Search and filter members, Meet Me swiping, Unlimited messages with Mutual Matches, A limited number of First Contacts a day |
| Paid from | ≈ $19.99 (US App Store) (see all plans) |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web |
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free messaging with matches
- Huge, broad membership
- You can search and filter yourself
- Works on the web as well as in apps
Cons
- More fake and inactive profiles than paid sites
- Limited First Contacts on the free plan
- Search widens beyond your settings
- Ads in the free version
- Mixed intentions
Key features
- Search yourself
- Browse and filter members by age, location, religion and more. Results widen on their own if few people fit.
- Meet Me
- Swipe to like or pass, and a mutual like becomes a Mutual Match with unlimited free messages.
- First Contacts
- Write to someone before you match. You get a limited number a day, and they choose whether to reply.
How much does Plenty of Fish cost?
| Plan | Indicative price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Search and filter members, Meet Me swiping, Unlimited messages with Mutual Matches, A limited number of First Contacts a day |
| POF Plus | Shown in your account; App Store upgrades start at $19.99 | Unlimited likes, Extended profile details, First look at new members, Up to 16 photos and no ads |
| POF Premium | ≈ $29.99 for 1 month (US App Store) | Everything in Plus, See everyone who liked you in one view, Read receipts |
| POF Prestige | Shown in the app (some US iPhone members only) | Everything in Premium, Unlimited First Contacts, Unlimited priority likes |
Prices are indicative, in US dollars unless another currency is shown, and were checked November 1, 2026. Apps often charge different amounts by country, age, platform and plan length — confirm the final price in the app before paying.
Want the full breakdown and ways to save? Read our Plenty of Fish pricing guide and free trial options.
Is Plenty of Fish safe?
Free sign-up means more scammers. Look for the Selfie Verification badge, use Share My Date, video-call before meeting and never send money. See our romance scam guide.
Before meeting anyone, follow our verification checklist.
Not sure Plenty of Fish is right for you?
These alternatives may suit you better depending on your goals. See all Plenty of Fish alternatives.
Best for: Matching on values and answers as well as photos
- Match percentage based on real answers
- Free messaging with matches
- Over 60 gender and orientation options, plus pronouns
- Free version
- Yes
- Paid from
- ≈ $10/mo
Best for: Finding a relationship in your 20s and 30s
- Detailed, conversation-friendly profiles
- Strong focus on real relationships
- Free version is usable, with free faith and ethnicity filters
- Free version
- Yes
- Paid from
- ≈ $16.99 (US App Store)
Best for: Serious daters who like to search
- Large, relationship-minded community
- Free members can chat with their matches
- Strong search, on the web and in apps
- Free version
- Yes
- Paid from
- ≈ $19.99 (US App Store)
Best for: Meeting lots of people fast
- Huge, active user base almost everywhere
- Free version lets you match and chat
- Very fast and easy to use
- Free version
- Yes
- Paid from
- ≈ $9.99 (US App Store)
Best for: Trying online dating without paying anything
- Completely free
- Huge potential audience
- Profiles separate from your main Facebook
- Free version
- Yes
- Paid plans
- None
Compare Plenty of Fish
Plenty of Fish FAQ
Is Plenty of Fish free?
Yes. You can search, swipe and message your Mutual Matches for free, and send a limited number of First Contacts a day. POF Plus, Premium and Prestige add extras such as no ads and unlimited likes.
Is POF good for serious relationships?
It can be, but intentions are mixed. Say clearly what you want on your profile and filter carefully. Hinge or Match will do more of that sorting for you.
Can I reactivate a deleted POF account?
No. Deleted accounts can’t be restored, and your photos and chats are removed. A paid upgrade doesn’t transfer to a new account either.