It’s possible that Plenty of Fish is one of the most well-known dating applications now available. This is possibly due to their advertisements that began airing in the early 2000s with the slogan “find your other half.” These advertisements are comparable to the expression “lots of fish in the water,” which is a common term used in dating. There is a good chance that even those who have been married for many years are familiar with Plenty of Fish.
However, we are all aware that the quality of anything does not always depend on its level of popularity. As a result of this, we desired to get to the bottom of the matter and determine if the success of POF can be attributed to a first-rate application or to first-rate marketing.
It seems that throughout the course of the past ten years, Plenty of Fish has experienced a significant number of glow-ups, and there is a great deal to talk about. If you are interested in determining whether or not Plenty of Fish is the best dating app for you, all you need to do is go through our comprehensive reviews of the service that are provided below.
Is Plenty of Fish Worth It? – The Nuts and Bolts Up Front
There are a few reasons why POF is an intriguing dating site to use. A number of years ago, the online dating site had a rather negative image, mostly due to the low quality of its members. This is partly attributable to the fact that there are relatively few requirements to sign up for the site and that it is mostly free to use. Scammers, spammers, those who create bogus identities, and anyone searching for something to do quickly will find this recipe for success.
POF, on the other hand, went through a comprehensive redesign a few years ago. They not only upgraded their marketing message but also their logo, which included a little fish. They received a completely new site. But did it work?
It really depends on the perspective that you choose. Does the site appear better? Absolutely. Does the marketing message depict a different kind of experience when dating? You bet. On the other hand, there wasn’t much of anything done to address the obstacles in the way of admission. It is still a totally cost-free dating website, and creating an account takes only a few moments of your time. It’s true that they included certain procedures for verifying your phone number, and although those processes have been somewhat helpful, the process is still mostly the same.
During our reviews, POF received a score of 6.5 out of a possible 10 points. Our primary concerns were on the quality of participation of our members, a sign-up procedure that was far too simple (which encouraged the creation of false identities), and profiles that were lacking in necessary information and images.
In the end, we believe that Plenty of Fish still has some ground to make up in order for it to compete successfully in the major leagues. If you have absolutely no money to invest into online dating and are content with swimming in the weeds, it could be worth looking into whether or not it’s right for you. However, if you are serious about choosing something special, whether it be for a casual or serious occasion, there may be certain alternatives that are more suitable. Below, we have provided you with a list of several more amazing dating apps that you might want to try using; some of them even have free trials!
POF Alternatives
The primary factor that led to our conclusion that Zoosk is the most viable alternative to POF is the fact that it most closely resembles “what POF is attempting to be.” People searching for serious relationships, casual dating, hookups, or everything in between may find what they’re looking for on this platform, which has more than 35 million users. However, the security and screening standards that are in place at Zoosk are far more effective than those that are in place at POF. This is the key distinction. As a consequence, users will have a better overall experience, there will be less phony or fraudulent profiles, and there will be a greater quality of discovering precisely what they are searching for.
5 Things You Should Be Aware Of Regarding POF
- Plenty of Fish had a significant facelift a few years ago, which resulted in a number of welcome improvements. Nevertheless, we believe that they have a considerable distance to travel before the quality reaches the point where we are satisfied with it.
- It’s encouraging to note that more than 3 million users utilize POF on a daily basis, making this figure very interesting.
- Plenty of Fish is consistently adding new features, which is something that is always encouraging to see. However, a significant number of the features appear to muddy the platform, have an adverse effect on user usability, and fall short of their goal of bringing you closer to discovering that one special person.
- In 2015, Plenty of Fish was acquired for $575 million by Match Group, the same company that owns Match.com and Tinder.
- The most recent feature that we’ve seen introduced to POF is called Live!, and it functions similarly to how Twitch or Facebook Live does. It is a feature that has been effectively established, but when it comes to being used for dating reasons, it seems to completely miss the goal.
Who Would Benefit from Plenty of Fish?
- People who are single and on a very limited financial means
- Individuals interested in casual dating with no long-term obligations
- Individuals who are comfortable sifting among singles who are less involved in the relationship
Who Plenty of Fish is Not Probably the Best Choice For?
- Because the typical user in the United States is over 35 years old, younger singles may not find what they are seeking for on dating websites.
- Individuals who are seeking for a personality-based dating service that provides a deeper level of matching.
- People who dislike online dating services that are filled with advertisements
Rating All Together on POF
- Quality Is Equal to 6.0 out of 10.0
- Features 7.5/10.0
- 9.0 out of 10.0 for Ease of Use
- Support 7.5/10.0
- Cost 7.5/10.0
Overall 6.5/10.0
Plenty of Fish is a dating app that has both pros and cons.
Pros
- Signing up for the service and getting started using the app both sign very little time.
- If you want to test out the app before committing to purchasing it, there is a free version available for download.
- There is a significant population of available singles utilizing POF (over 3 million daily active users).
Cons
- A lower overall quality of available singles in comparison to other applications of its kind.
- There is no feature for video chat.
- The free version of the app has very few features available, and it is packed with advertisements.
What exactly is the Plenty of Fish?
Plenty of Fish, sometimes known as POF, is one of the most popular online dating services in the world. In 2003, CEO Markus Frind established this firm with its headquarters in Canada. This came about four years after he graduated from the British Columbia Institute of Technology with a degree in computer systems technology.
Frind managed the site on his own until 2008, when the scope of the project grew beyond what he could handle single-handedly and he began recruiting help. This turned out to be a really good choice for Plenty of Fish Media, Inc.. By 2010, the POF app had been released for both iOS and Android, which contributed to an increase in the number of users.
Frind was pleased with what he had accomplished as well as the connections that Plenty of Fish had established. He once claimed that the website was responsible for “nearly one million kids being conceived as a result of the website.” A catchy title that is likely to get people’s attention. And it did…
In point of fact, they were able to attract the interest of the Match Group, which ultimately led to the purchase of the POF app in 2015 for a staggering 575 million dollars. Frind is reported to have personally benefited over $525 million despite having just roughly 75 employees at the time in question.
What can we say about the state of affairs now that Match is in charge? To tell the truth, not a lot. Although there were some modifications made to the matchmaking standards, in the end, the POF app is still exactly the same.
Plenty of Fish has maintained its rapid expansion, and the number of its registered users is currently well over 100 million. In addition to this, it is reported that they receive over 3 million daily logins and over 2 billion visits per week!
- Site Name(s): pof.com, Plenty of Fish, POF dating site, and POF
- Paid or Free: This is a paid site, however there is a free trial available.
- Average Sign-Up Time: 2-3 minutes
- Pricing for Paid Memberships begins at only ten dollars a month for the cheapest plan.
Some Interesting Information Regarding the POF App:
- POF was initially launched in 2003 but underwent a significant rebranding in 2019.
- At the beginning of 2021, we were awarded many times by user votes.
- 4.2 out of 5 stars on the Apple Store, with over one million total reviews.
- 3.9 out of 5 stars on Google Play, with over 1.5 million total reviews.
- There are more than 100 million users who have registered to use POF.
How does Plenty of Fish operate?
POF is a relatively conventional dating service that operates on the basis of user profiles and messages exchanged between users. Every member is required to produce a profile that describes them to other users, and these profiles are seen by those users. If a user spots someone they find attractive, they have the option of initiating discussion with them by sending a “flirt” or a message.
Even though POF has some extra features that might assist make finding a match a little bit simpler, the platform’s primary focus is on user profiles and messaging between users. In the following part of our reviews, we will go through these extra features in further detail.
An Outline of Some of POF’s Features
POF is constantly striving to improve its things and has, as a result of its acquisition by Match Group, introduced a number of new features into the mix, in addition to the more conventional profile and messaging things. There are certain features of the design that we find quite appealing, while others don’t quite hit the point for us. The following is a brief overview of some of the most significant features that are important to point out.
POF Live!
Because of the success and widespread use of streaming applications like Twitch and YouTube, a number of social networks have began adopting their own versions of live broadcasting. Plenty of Fish, too, has gotten on board with this trend by introducing their Live! function.
POF Live! gives users the ability to live broadcast themselves for the viewing pleasure of their matches as well as future matches. It is a fun way to get more information about your personality out there, but what makes it even better is that it can be used as a means to discover more about your matches before wasting too much time. Participating in the broadcasts is a true joy, and if you want to grab the attention of the person who is streaming, you may send them virtual gifts. Streams are available on Twitch and YouTube.
In general, the execution of this feature is really good. However, to what extent does it assist you in finding dates? Based on our testing and use of the product, it appears to be an additional form of Twitch that is a poor fit for the purpose for which it was originally designed. In addition, users have the ability to acquire tokens and buy presents for other users who are going live, both of which, in our opinion, miss the mark.
Meet Me
Some dating apps have started to draw ideas for interesting new ways to meet in person from more traditional forms of dating, such as blind dates and speed dating. These applications are trying to compete with traditional methods of meeting people. This function may be found on Plenty of Fish and is referred to as “Meet Me.”
The utilization of this function is uncomplicated. You are presented with a number of singles of single people, each accompanied by some of the individuals’ fundamental profile information. If you are interested in the person seen, you will swipe right on the photo, and if you are not, you will swipe left.
When you swipe right on a profile holder who has also swiped right on your profile, a private conversation will open up between the two of you so that you may discuss meeting up in person and decide whether or not to do so. Some users especially love the fact that this technique of meeting eliminates the restrictions of personality matching and other similar aspects of dating.
It is quite similar to using Tinder, except users have the option to revert to a profile-based matching approach at any time throughout their session.
Messages of Highest Priority
If you have ever tried online dating, you are probably aware that the messages in your inbox may get rather chaotic over a period of time. You might send a message to a potential match, but you might never hear back from them. You probably feel quite terrible about it, but you could get some solace from the fact that communications are frequently lost due to simple human error and that it has nothing to do with you personally.
You are able to get around this thanks to priority messages! When you send a message to someone with the priority setting, the message is moved to the top of that person’s inbox and pinned there. It will cost you one token, which is the in-app money of POF and can be purchased for less than $2 each.
Controls and Filters for Message Transmission
One feature of POF that we appreciate is the opportunity to exercise a great deal of control on the people who are able to message you messages. You have the ability to specify requirements for things like the minimum length of the initial message and whether or not the person must include a photo. Although we believe this to be a positive development, we are curious as to why it is not mandatory for each user to upload a photo of themselves. To reiterate, these are just our own opinions based on the POF review, but we felt it was important to bring it up. In any case, having the function is unquestionably preferable than the alternative of not having it at all.
Plenty of Fish’s Commitment to Providing Quality singles for Its Single Users
Although the selection and diversity of singles on Plenty of Fish did not particularly wow us, our overall experience using the site was not at all negative. In many regions, there is no shortage of available singles, but the demographic tends to be more senior citizens who have less experience with technology. This indicates that all of those high-scoring professionals working in industries such as technology, engineering, and other similar fields are likely to be located on more recent applications.
In addition, an analysis of POF should consider the objectives of the individuals using the dating app to find a partner. We have received feedback from a significant number of users indicating that the majority of the users they meet on the app are searching for casual hookups and are not very subtle about their intentions. Yes, we are talking about photographs that you would not want to look at that were delivered to you without your permission and other similar things. Although this is not the case for all users of the app, it is the app from which we have heard the most number of accounts similar to the one you describe.
How to sign an Account on POF?
The process of signing up with POF is really simple and very fast…almost too fast. Hold on, may I ask what that means? We are overjoyed that POF has simplified the sign-up procedure, but we do wish that there were a few more hoops that users had to pass through in order to establish profiles. This would make it more difficult for spammers and scammers to create accounts. In spite of this, one of the most positive aspects of this review is the streamlined registration process.
You may sign POF by creating an account on their main website or by using their mobile app. Both approaches are really straightforward, and all you need to do is follow the instructions in these step-by-step guides:
Signup Up on Desktop:
- Navigate to the website of POF and select the “Register” tab.
- After selecting a username and providing your email address, continue filling out the profile information questions.
Signing an Account on the App:
- Obtain the app from either Google Play or iTunes (for Apple phones) (Android Phones).
- Launch the app and then type in your name.
3. Tap on “Sign Up.”
4. To finish creating your profile, just follow the on-screen directions.
Cost | How Much Does It Cost to Use POF?
POF offers a large number of features that are free to users at no cost, including messaging. You may, however, pay a fee in order to upgrade to a premium account, which will get you access to more features in exchange for your payment. These include the ability to examine an expanded profile of another user, view previous interactions with that user, view read receipts, determine who is interested in you, and view the date and time that someone saw your profile.
Is it a worthwhile investment to make the upgrade? Maybe. It is really affordable, and you get some wonderful benefits in exchange for doing so. Having said that, we believe that you may make some better financial bets with your dating money by using some of the alternatives to POF that we suggested previously. Check out our POF cost breakdown right away if you’re interested in learning more about the pricing and payment methods, as well as the specifics of what you do and do not get with your purchase.
Options for Offering Support to Customers
On both their website and their mobile app, POF has a pretty helpful assistance section. Finding answers to your questions and doing a search for particular features is really simple. They also incorporate video lessons and interlinking to make it easier for you to get all of the information you want as fast as possible.
On the other hand, we have a strong aversion to websites that do not provide direct contact ways for customer care. On their assistance website, there is a form that you can fill out to send an email inquiry to them, but that is as far as it goes. There is no live chat feature offered, and the company makes it clear that they do not have a contact number. If you discover a number for them by Googling, they warn that you should not call it since it is a hoax. On the other hand, we were able to locate their customer support phone number buried deep inside their terms of service.
If the firm wants to see an increase in the reviews of Plenty of Fish, it may really want to work on improving the overall customer experience, beginning with providing easier access to customer support.
Plenty of Fish Frequently Asked Questions – Answers to Your Concerns Regarding POF
Do I Need to Purchase a Monthly Subscription to Use POF?
No! You won’t get full access to all of POF’s features if you utilize the free version of the service. Paid members get access to additional features such as prolonged profile viewing, the ability to post more photographs, read receipts, the absence of advertisements, and many more.
Where Might I Put My Tokens to Use?
You are able to use your POF Tokens for the following:
- Boosts
- Super Yes
- Messages of the Highest Priority
How Much Do Tokens Cost?
Tokens may be purchased individually for a price of $3.99 each. Nevertheless, if you buy them in large quantities, you will spend less money overall. They can be purchased in quantities of 10 for $19.90 (which works out to be 1.99 per unit), or 5 for $14.95 (which works out to be 2.99 per unit).
Is It Possible to Use the POF App Without Linking a Phone Number to Your Account?
No. When you sign up for the POF app, you will be required to link a cellphone number in order to authenticate your account. This is done to ensure the safety of user accounts and to reduce the number of fraudulent profiles. Until you complete this step, you will not be able to sign in or look through the profiles of singles.
Is Plenty of Fish a Good Place to Find a Long-Term Romance?
When it comes to dating, POF offers a lot of different options. It’s a terrific way to meet new people, whether you’re looking for a passionate hookup, a short-term relationship, or a lifelong companion. The only catch is that you might have to sift through a large number of other people who are interested in different things than you are. If you want to get the most out of your online dating experience, make sure to state your objectives in the material you provide for your profile so that potential matches get that information right away.