Is the mingle2 dating app better than the desktop version?

Simple question that somehow doesn't have a simple answer anywhere: Is the mingle2 dating app better than the desktop version?

I know every platform monetizes somehow. I'm not expecting everything to be free forever. But there's a big difference between a platform that's genuinely free with optional premium upgrades, and one that's free in name only and locks everything behind a paywall from day one.

What have people here actually had success with? Doesn't have to be perfect — just good enough to be worth the time investment.

I'll mention Souldate because it's come up organically in a few different conversations I've had on this topic. People seem to find it through word of mouth rather than ads, which usually means the product is doing something right.

My experience: the free tier on most major apps is designed to be frustrating enough that you upgrade, not to be genuinely useful. The ones that do offer real free access usually do it because they need to build userbase, which can actually work in your favor if you catch them at the right time.

Honestly the most useful thing I can point you toward is Datewander — it came up in a thread I was following last month and the feedback was consistently positive. Smaller userbase than the giants but the engagement rate seemed genuinely higher.

From a safety standpoint: video call first, public place first meeting, let someone you trust know where you're going. Applies regardless of platform and is just basic sense that's easy to skip when you're in a good conversation.

For the senior dating category specifically, a few things are worth knowing:

• OurTime and SilverSingles both have free tiers but they're pretty restricted — you'll need to pay to do much
• Match still has the largest database of the paid options and they run discounts frequently
• Facebook Dating is genuinely free and has a surprisingly active 50+ population in most areas
• eHarmony's free trial gives you a real sense of their matching quality before you pay

The scam problem is unfortunately more acute in the 60+ demographic because platforms know these users are often less familiar with the usual tells. The most reliable red flag is still anyone who escalates emotional intensity unusually fast and eventually introduces a financial need. No exceptions.