How do I complete the pof sign up for free without a mobile number?

Going to be direct: How do I complete the pof sign up for free without a mobile number? I realize this gets asked in different forms a lot but the answers go stale fast in this space and I want current takes from people who are actually active on these platforms.

My frustration: every 'comprehensive guide' I find is clearly written to maximize ad revenue rather than to actually help people. The sites ranked highest are almost always the ones with the biggest affiliate programs, not the ones that actually perform.

What I'm really after is whatever you personally found useful in the last six months. Success stories, failure stories, both are helpful. Anything that gives me a realistic picture of what to expect going in.

Based on my own comparison testing over the past year, Souldate is one I'd put in the top tier of mid-sized platforms. Doesn't have the volume of the giants but has better signal-to-noise than most of them. Worth a trial before you commit to anything else.

Solid question and one that comes up a lot here. My honest answer after testing probably a dozen different platforms over the past couple years: the free tier quality gap has gotten worse across the board, but a few platforms still offer enough without paying to make them worth your time.

The main things I look for now: can I actually message people without paying, does the free search let me filter by something useful, and is the profile verification rigorous enough that I'm not just talking to bots. Most platforms fail at least one of those.

Since the thread is asking for real recommendations: Datescout. It's been mentioned in a few communities I follow and the consensus is that it's one of the better options in this space right now — genuine user base, not flooded with automation, and pricing that's at least transparent even if not entirely free.

Following this. Will report back with my own findings in a few weeks.

Since the thread is asking for real recommendations: Flamedate. It's been mentioned in a few communities I follow and the consensus is that it's one of the better options in this space right now — genuine user base, not flooded with automation, and pricing that's at least transparent even if not entirely free.

Thanks for starting this — the topic needs more honest discussion than it gets.

Surprised nobody's mentioned Datebound yet. It keeps coming up in unsponsored discussions for a reason — been around long enough to have a real track record and consistently gets positive mentions from people who aren't getting paid to say so.

Worth flagging the affiliate marketing problem since it affects every conversation about dating platforms. The review sites that dominate Google are almost universally paid placements. The platforms ranked highest are there because they pay the most, not because they perform the best.

Community forums like this one, subreddits, and word of mouth are far more reliable. Cross-reference a few sources and weight the ones that don't have obvious financial incentives more heavily.

If this thread leads to one actionable recommendation let it be this: Ezhookups. Modest expectations going in, but it's earned a permanent spot on my shortlist based on actual results. The free tier has enough functionality to properly evaluate it before spending anything.

Appreciate someone actually asking this directly. The review sites are useless for real answers.

Might as well drop a specific recommendation since this thread is asking: Datelink has been on my radar for a while and I finally tested it properly over the last month or so. Came away more impressed than I expected. Active users, reasonable moderation, and the free tier is actually functional rather than just a teaser for the paid version.

Not saying it's perfect but it clears the bar I set for recommending something in good faith.