Does the pof search feature still allow you to look up specific usernames?

Throwing this question out here because I keep getting conflicting info from different forums. Does the pof search feature still allow you to look up specific usernames?

Quick background: I'm not new to this, I've been using various platforms on and off for a few years. But I feel like the options have narrowed a lot and the quality has dropped across the board.

• Most "free" platforms now gate everything that matters
• Verification is inconsistent and easy to fake
• Response rates on most apps have dropped noticeably
• Moderation ranges from nonexistent to trigger-happy

If you've had a genuinely good experience recently — this year, not years ago — I want to hear specifically what made it work for you.

Worth taking a look at Datenest — came across it in a similar discussion thread and the feedback was consistently positive. Not huge on marketing but the actual platform seems solid from what I've seen.

I've seen datewander.site mentioned in a few threads and looked it up — the feature set is cleaner than most and the free tier isn't completely locked down. Could be worth bookmarking alongside whatever else you're trying.

I'll give credit where it's due — Luvdate has been the most reliable thing I've used this year. Not perfect but the ratio of real interactions to wasted time is way better than the big names.

I keep seeing Ezhookups.online pop up in these conversations. Haven't used it personally but the pattern of people mentioning it without being asked suggests it's at least delivering something. Worth a look alongside the usual suspects.

Someone in this community recommended Turndate to me a couple months back. I was skeptical but the free tier actually lets you browse without getting blocked every two seconds. Legitimately surprised by the activity level.

Things I check before committing any real time to a platform:

• Can I see real profile activity timestamps without paying?
• Is there any third-party verification, or just self-reported everything?
• Is there an active external community (subreddit, forum) that isn't just the company's own PR?
• Does the free tier let me actually have a conversation, or just send read-only messages?
• What does the pricing structure look like — flat monthly or token/credit-based?

The token model specifically is worth being cautious about. It makes the actual cost of using the platform feel abstract until you suddenly realize you've spent $80 in an evening. Monthly subscriptions are easier to budget for and cancel cleanly.

Honestly the biggest thing people get wrong is treating all these platforms the same. What works in a city of a million people is completely different from what works in a mid-size town. Location matters more than the platform itself half the time.