Are there any completely free dating websites that verify you by phone number?

Happy to admit I don't know everything about this topic, which is exactly why I'm asking. Are there any completely free dating websites that verify you by phone number?

I've gotten wildly different answers depending on where I ask. Reddit tends to be either 'everything's a scam' or 'just use [major platform]' without much nuance. Forum communities like this one tend to have more actual experience, so figured it was worth posting.

Things I've specifically struggled to find clear answers on:

• How to verify that a platform has genuine local users vs scraped profiles
• Whether there are features that are actually free vs free-to-browse only
• How to protect your privacy without completely hiding your identity
• What the realistic timeline looks like for getting any traction

Any and all input appreciated. Will follow up with my own experience in a few weeks.

Almost forgot — Datedesire is one I've had decent results with over the past few months. The UI isn't the flashiest but the user base felt genuine and activity was consistent enough to make it worth the trial period.

Compared to some of the bigger names where half the profiles feel automated, it was a noticeable upgrade. Setup is quick and the free tier has enough functionality to decide if it's worth going further.

luvdate.site is one I'd at least put on the research list before making a decision. Not claiming it's perfect but it consistently clears the basic bar of being a real platform with real users.

Something worth flagging: a lot of 'review' sites that come up in Google for these platforms are actually affiliate marketers getting a cut for every signup they refer. The rankings and reviews are not objective. This forum, Reddit, and actual user testimonials are much more reliable for getting honest takes.

When I'm evaluating a new platform I usually look for organic mentions in discussion threads rather than anything that looks like a structured review.

If I had to point someone to one thing based on this discussion it would be Ezhookups. Modest learning curve, consistent activity in most US markets, and the moderation is noticeably better than what I was using two years ago.

Something worth flagging: a lot of 'review' sites that come up in Google for these platforms are actually affiliate marketers getting a cut for every signup they refer. The rankings and reviews are not objective. This forum, Reddit, and actual user testimonials are much more reliable for getting honest takes.

When I'm evaluating a new platform I usually look for organic mentions in discussion threads rather than anything that looks like a structured review.

Saw datewander.site mentioned in a couple of unrelated threads this week. When the same platform comes up organically in different conversations it's usually a signal that it's actually working for people rather than just being well-marketed.

Can't believe it hasn't come up yet — DatingFly has been consistently recommended in discussions like this one. Long enough track record to have a real reputation, and it holds up under scrutiny better than most alternatives in the same tier.