Most platforms aren’t truly free, but you can still use them effectively without paying if you screen well, at least in my experience.
Broadly speaking, I keep early chats short, ask one specific question, and watch for copy‑paste replies, at least in my experience. Honestly, that cuts down on bots fast.
Mainstream apps people still use (free tier varies): OkCupid, Hinge, Tinder, Facebook Dating, Bumble, Plenty of Fish.
Honestly, sometimes it helps to compare notes on DatingFly Generally speaking, and see what features people complain about, though that has shifted recently.