PlentyOfFish.com becomes POF.com
Popular free datingsite PlentyOfFish.com is rebranding to POF.com. Apparently POF.com is easier to remember than PlentyOfFish.com, especially in non-English countries ... [...]
Plenty of Fish (POF) - A Comprehensive Review
In the ever-evolving world of online dating, Plenty of Fish (POF) stands out as a notable platform that has helped millions of people connect with potential partners. With its robust algorithms, expansive user base, and unique personality matching features, POF has carved out a significant niche for itself in the online dating industry. This review delves into the various aspects of POF, assessing its strengths and identifying areas for improvement.
A Brief Overview of Plenty of Fish
Plenty of Fish (POF) is a free online dating service that boasts a rich history dating back to its founding in 2003. Its mission is to facilitate relationships by allowing users to connect with others based on compatibility and shared interests. Over the years, POF has grown exponentially, with members going on over 18 million dates annually. This popularity can be attributed to its user-friendly design, comprehensive features, and, of course, its free-to-use model.
Advanced Matching Algorithms
One of the standout features of POF is its advanced matching algorithms. Users are encouraged to take a comprehensive chemistry test, which assesses personality traits, relationship needs, and individual preferences. The results of this test help POF to create personality profiles and match users based on compatibility. According to POF, its algorithms and technology are unmatched in the dating industry, which underscores its commitment to providing genuine matches for its users.
Remarkably, the efficacy of these algorithms has been recognized in academic circles, with mentions in a Nobel Prize of Mathematics (Fields Medal) paper. This level of scientific backing adds credibility to POF's claim of having a superior matching process.
Safety and User Control
In the world of online dating, safety is paramount. POF addresses this concern by allowing users to control who can contact them. This feature is crucial for users who may want to avoid unwanted advances or interactions that could lead to uncomfortable situations. Additionally, POF actively removes users who are deemed unfit for the dating environment, thereby ensuring a safer space for genuine interactions.
While the platform implements these safety measures, it's always recommended for users to exercise caution and follow standard safety practices when interacting with others online.
A Broad User Base
POF claims to be about five times larger than any paid site, giving users access to a vast pool of potential matches. This wide reach increases the likelihood of finding someone who meets the desired criteria, be it geographic location, interests, or personality traits. For users seeking a diverse selection of potential partners, POF's extensive user base is a significant advantage.
The platform's free access model contributes to its large user base. Unlike many other dating platforms that require a subscription for full functionality, POF allows users to send messages, browse profiles, and utilize other key features without incurring costs.
How to Get Started with POF
Getting started on POF is simple and straightforward. Users can create an account by signing up on the website. The signup process involves providing basic information and completing the chemistry test, which lays the groundwork for personalized matches. Once registered, users can customize their profiles, upload photos, and begin searching for potential dates or partners immediately.
Moreover, POF offers additional features such as chat rooms, photo rating, and advice forums, making it not just a dating platform but also a community for singles seeking interaction and guidance.
User Experience and Interface
POF's interface is designed to be user-friendly, ensuring ease of navigation for its users. However, design preferences vary, and some users may prefer more modern aesthetics. While the platform provides a straightforward experience, there are opportunities for enhancing the visual appeal and interactivity of the site.
On the functionality front, POF performs well with responsive design elements that work seamlessly across devices. This is a critical feature considering the growing preference for mobile usage among online daters.
Potential Areas for Improvement
Despite its numerous strengths, POF is not without its challenges. One of the common user critiques revolves around profile authenticity. The platform's free access model, while beneficial for attracting a large user base, may also lead to an influx of fake profiles or users with less sincere intentions. Strengthening the verification process could mitigate this issue and enhance user trust.
Furthermore, POF could expand its services by incorporating more innovative features or enhancing existing ones, such as video calls or more personalized matchmaking suggestions. These additions could increase user engagement and satisfaction.
Conclusion
Plenty of
Not awful, expecially considering the price.
I'm starting to think the whole online dating process is almost hopeless. An incredibly high percentage of the women I meet don't look very much like their photos. Some look 15 years older. There are a few a lunatics too. On the other hand, I did have a couple of "near misses" where we were almost, but not quite compatible. BUT, here's the important part: the mediocre rating that I give to POF is exactly the same as what I give to Match.com, which I finally left. The bottom line is that ALL these sites are slow, frustrating, and don't have very good batting averages. So I used to spend a lot of money getting almost nowhere, but now I'm getting almost nowhere for free. So I guess that's an improvement, huh? If you get easily frustrated and impatient, don't use any dating site, free or paid, because they'll all irritate you. If you do have the patience, this one is a little better than average, and it's FREE. By the way, I would give the same review to okcupid.
Pros
The batting average is low, but it's not zero. And it seems as good/bad as match.com, which is expensive. This one is FREE.
Cons
The batting average isn't zero, but it's low.
Does what it promises - a lot of these reviewers are whiners
It's free, the profiles are real, and the service is well run. One importnat feature is that they show you how long it has been since the person was online (most paid services don't do this because they want to give you the illusion of thousands of members when actually most of them haven't been online in months)
The only change I'd like to see is being able to "hide" a profile you're not interested in so you don't have to wade through the same ones every time you search.
As for all the negative reviews here, these people are whiners. If women aren't writing you back IT'S BECAUSE THEY AREN'T INTERESTED. If you meet someone who turns out to be a psycho IT'S NOT THE SITE'S FAULT, it's your fault for not being picky.
This site does what it's supposed to do - features real profiles of currently active members you can easily contact. The first time you're on it can be a little time-consuming going through all the profiles of active members. But after that all you have to do is search for new members to stay updated.
Pros
- profiles are real
- totally free
- shows you how long it's been since they were online so you're only contacting active members
- large number of members
Cons
- only con I can think of is that it would be nice if you could hide profiles from your searches so you don't have to wade through the same profile every search.
Plenty of fatties
I've been on this site for about a year. I met a woman and saw her several times. She turned out to be a headcase although crazy in the head usually means fun in bed which it was. I find that one out of 20 emails get answered. Lots of time for very little return. I've seen the same profiles come up as supposed matches. Very little new talent. I've probably been out on a dozen meetings, but unfortunately my third eye isn't blind. I have encountered more than a couple that started right out by describing their financial woes. If you have a lot of time and energy and can tolerate total rejection by all means sign up because it costs nothing but time.
As a word of caution, beware of women that lack full body photos unless you are looking for somebody that outweighs you. T Rex lives at pof...
Pros
Free
Cons
plenty of problems and head cases. the few decent looking women in my age group are stuck up bitches that truly believe there is no odor to their fecal matter.
straight up about pof.
Most of the reviews about this site are correct. The ladies that i thought were good looking turned out to be snobs and the many scammers just want your money.This is the first site i ever joined and i was almost scammed by the very first person i talked to.The site deletes scammer profiles but only between the hours from 8am to 5pm.Then the scammers have the whole weekend to scam people.I reported a scammer posing as Robin Meade from CNN news on a Friday night and the profile didn't get deleted untill 8am on monday morning.
Pros
Its free but not much different from any other site.
Cons
Just like any other site.Mostly snobs that have been on the site since it started and then you have your scammers that know how to work the site through all of the loopholes.
Plenty of time wasters..
I have been on many dating sites over the years, but this one (pof) is the one I come back to now and then when I am not taking the greatest of interest in getting a woman for my purposes and don't want to spend money..
Of course, that's rather a false economy, when you consider that POF is full of time wasters and without doubt the worst quality of females you will ever see in the world of dating..
Talk about heads up their own backsides, they seem to suffer from the common affliction of women who spend much time on dating sites, they mistake the fact that they are being chased and contacted by many men for validation that they really are "special".. (Well, perhaps they are, special needs more like!)
Some of the profiles are so incredibly negative about men, it is no surprise that this is the words biggest dating site.. After all, the many women on here are unlikely to ever find anyone who would want to take them off this site..!
Pros
Free, and a good way to learn how conceited and awful women can be (and usually are on here!)
Plenty of folk on
Cons
Mostly time wasters and unpleasant women on here. Brings out the worst in women it seems. Very unlikely to get a date off here, and if you do, you will most likely wish you hadnt bothered!
Be prepared to screen heavily!
POF isn't a bad place to get your feet wet if you are leaving a long-term relationship and need to "move on" but don't need/want anything too serious.
I've reached the conclusion that if a person wants to find a serious relationship they shouldn't mind spending a little money for a paid site such as match.com... doing so weeds out quite a few of the men just looking for sex and not much more.
So if you do sign up with a free site such as POF know what you are looking for, communicate that clearly, and be prepared to do a lot of screening!!!!
My personal experience is this... upon re-entering the dating scene after a nearly 20-year hiatus, I needed to move on from my marriage... to be frank, I was looking for an ongoing sexual relationship but I wasn't ready to get deeply emotionally involved with anyone.
I had a lot of interest in my profile from the moment I posted it, and from that I basically screened out the players and the posers as best I could and then ended up meeting with about a dozen guys for coffee or drinks, dinner a couple of times... I was mostly upfront about what I was looking for so that's no doubt why I had so much interest!!! I'm a little above average looking - I'm not ugly but I'm seriously not all that!
I seriously wonder if this is the site to find a long-term serious relationship, I didn't talk to or meet many guys who were seriously looking for that, despite the fact their profile stated that they were looking for a serious relationship. I think the guys say that because that's what they think most women want to hear - so whether or not they are seriously looking for a serious relationship they will list it as such. Then again I stated quite clearly in my profile that I wasn't looking for anything deeply emotional at this time... Note, I stated I was looking for dating and a casual relationship in my profile, but most of the guys who contacted me had what they were looking for as "serious relationship" - so women, screen to find out what they are really looking for!!!!
After about six weeks of cofee/drinks/first dates I met the guy I decided to start something up with... that indescribably something feeling was there (we were strongly attracted to one another) and he was similarly in a transitional point in his life, so.... for about 9-months we served one another - and it was all good.
That eventually ran it's course when he cleared out what was standing in the way of him seeking a serious relationship, while I still have months, if not well over a year or two, to go before I get to that point. Besides, by then I think we both knew we weren't suited to do anything long-term together... just differences in life outlook, so we had an amicable parting and that was that - no regrets.
He was exactly what I needed when I needed it so I could never hate on POF for providing the venue to bring us together! Know what your looking for and be upfront about your needs/wants and expectations and POF may help you find a match.
Pros
Good for finding a not-so-serious relationship... it's probably not impossible to find a serious relationship on POF but do know you will have to talk to, and throw back, a lot of "fish" to find the ones who are seriously looking for something long-term. (This is from a woman's perspective.)
Cons
POF has a well-deserved reputation as a pick-up site. You need to screen carefully for the broke blokes trying to pose as doing something with their lives when in fact they are not even working full time and are simply of POF looking for sex and a woman to live off of!