- Biggest pro & biggest drawback: Live streams available but not mobile apps
FriendFinder in 5 Seconds
| Monthly visits | over 200K |
| Mobile version/app | yes, but no Android or iOS dating apps |
| Matchmaking filters | basic search filters and the Hot or Not matchmaking feature are free, but power searches (based on body type, education, or last login date) are only available with a premium subscription |
| Messaging on-site | winks, magazines and blogs, live chat, photo and video messages, live webcam viewing |
| Paid or free | free registration and basic features. Silver monthly subscription rates range from $10.58 to $22.94, and Gold monthly subscription rates from $15.82 to $34.94 |
| Site | friendfinder.com |
| Bonuses for new users | 30 free credits after registration and mail confirmation and 1st purchase discount |
Who Is FriendFinder for?
Friend Finder is a part of the FriendFinder Network with a focus on community, companionship, and casual relationships. Users are free to specify their relationship goals in their profiles, so it’s easy to find potential matches with similar interests and expectations. Unlike Adult Friend Finder, this online dating platform is not exclusively explicit but is still pretty diverse and open-minded.
Features and Benefits
Friend Finder has a lively community of like-minded people with a rich feature set that’s a hybrid of social media and dating site tools. You can customize dating preferences, create a personal blog, join groups, and much more. But first, you’ll need to create an account and confirm your email. In my experience, choosing a unique username is the biggest challenge, as many are already taken. Once you’re in, you can start working on your profile, search for matches, or send messages.
Searching Guide
Despite a somewhat outdated look, the search works pretty well on Friend Finder, facilitating matches. Here’s what I learned as I experimented with the platform:
- The Search tab is highly customizable with a list and gallery search results views and different sorting filters available (online users, new members, etc.).
- You’ll find search filters on the left of the search results, while the layout and sorting controls are at the top of the list.
- The basic search is available with a free plan and includes gender and age preferences, along with location and distance settings.
- Advanced search isn’t available for free users and requires a premium membership, unlocking additional preferences, such as marital status, appearance, etc.
- Free and paid members can save search parameters to revisit them and get new results at a later date.
- You can also discover the top users in different categories on the Who’s Popular tab and skip the search step altogether.
I experimented with free and premium filters and was impressed by how specific search results became. And I was especially fond of the saved search feature, as it helped me keep track of my experiments. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it too, especially if you don’t have a particular type.
Messaging Guide
Just like with the AdultFriendFinder app, the free plan doesn’t let members send messages, so I upgraded to a Gold membership to test all available options. Here are my takeaways from the experience:
- You can access the Messages tab by clicking on the envelope icon in the top menu of Friend Finder.
- The tab displays active conversations, your hotlist, highlighted messages, gifts, flowers, etc.
- You can send a message directly from the search results page or from the user profile, but you can also continue the conversation from the Active list.
- Friend Finder warns you not to include your contact information in the first message to users to ensure your message is delivered.
- Messages can include photos, links, emojis, gifts, and more.
I experimented with different messaging tools and had mixed results. From a few hundred messages I sent, I only got responses to half of them and had exciting chats with a handful of gorgeous strangers. I found that users hosting webcam viewing and running magazines, groups, and personal blogs were more likely to engage and flirt back.
Gift Guide
Virtual gifts and flowers add a bit of fun and spice to the Friend Finder online dating experience. As I tried different options, I learned the following:
- You can attach virtual gifts or flowers to the messages you send.
- There’s a “Tip” option under the main profile photo, letting you reward your favorite members with small sums.
- The “Upgrade to Gold” button under the profile photo lets you upgrade anyone’s membership to let them enjoy the benefits of full access.
As far as I could tell, popular members hosting regular live streams have no trouble getting tips, gifts, and membership upgrades from generous fans. I tested the tipping feature but was nowhere close enough to get to the top fans list. So I suggest you start slow and get more generous as you get more comfortable with the Friend Finder app and members.
Free and Paid Membership Guide
Like most reputable dating sites, Friend Finder relies on a freemium model, meaning you can sign up and use basic tools for free, but if you want more access and dating opportunities, a premium subscription will be necessary.
The most notable free services I tested include:
- Profile editingEvery user can upload photo and video files, share personal details, and specify Cupid preferences that help create compatibility charts. However, only Gold members can view all profile details, while free users are limited to basic info.
- Basic searchIn my experience, the free version works fine, especially if you customize your preferences to fine-tune the matching algorithm and don’t mind scrolling through pages of gorgeous photos.
- Winks, flirts, and hotlistThese are free features that signify your interest without messaging. And the hotlist is particularly helpful to kickstart the dating journey, as I added everyone who looked cute and circled back to contact most of them later.
- Dating communityNon-paying members can start blogs or magazines, read others’ entries, comment and participate in groups. I found the experience immensely rewarding, though also extremely time-consuming.
As you’ve probably noticed, the list above lacks some critical tools, like private messaging, which is only available to premium users, but there are other neat features, too. So here’s a list of the site‘s features only a paid member could enjoy:
- Private communicationWith a Gold membership, I could chat with other paid members, as well as free users, exchange photos, links, and more. I used communication tools extensively, so they were definitely worth the upgrade.
- Live webcam viewingIt’s the feature the Friend Finder dating service is most known for. I watched at least one stream every day in my test run. There were always several streams available, but only a few models were exciting enough to warrant regular views. And while I could watch at no extra cost, most models expected tips.
- Unlimited access to user profilesThe difference was pretty striking once I upgraded, as I could then see all photos in high quality, watch full videos, and read all personal details. I believe it could be a game-changer for people looking for companionship or partners.
- Access to contact detailsConsidering few people still use ICQ or MSN, this option was mostly redundant. Besides, most members do not share such information, so I don’t believe it is the biggest selling point. After all, I could exchange contacts via regular messages with no problem.
Although Friend Finder seemed nice enough without a subscription, a premium membership completely transformed my experience, as it unlocked lots of tools and opportunities. Live streams alone were well worth the expense, though being able to see full profiles was also an eye-opener. And private messaging was just the cherry on top.
Tip for Using FriendFinder to Find a Perfect Relationship
Researcher
Friend Finder is different from other dating services, as it highlights community over private messaging. And if you want to capitalize on it as a free member, I suggest you treat it like social media. Scroll through the feeds, read blogs and magazines, add comments, and send flirts and likes before you upgrade to a premium plan, and you’ll have a headstart when it comes to finding casual dates, activity partners, or platonic matches. Just be aware that this approach works only if you have free time to spare to build up your Friend Finder profile.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Lots of free features, like blogs, forums, winks, etc.
- Unlimited instant messaging
- Photo and video messaging
- Live webcam viewing
Cons:
- Somewhat outdated design
- Private communication with silver or gold membership
- No apps on Google Play and App Store
Your Safety on FriendFinder
Like other dating apps with a solid reputation, Friend Finder works hard to keep the dating pool safe and comfortable for everyone. The dating site administration has a robust security system in place which includes the following:
- Internet Dating Safety recommendations available to all users
- Thorough profile and photo verification process
- Blocking and reporting features to notify platform moderators of suspicious activity
Still, a small percentage of fake profiles is a known issue on Friend Finder; it pays to be vigilant and careful despite the security measures in place. We’d like to remind you of a few simple security practices, such as:
- Your sensitive personal information should be safe from strangers you meet online
- Sending or accepting money from strangers in any form, including gift cards, is a bad idea
- Your intimate photos and videos should only be shared with people you trust
- Using Google image search can help identify real owners of the pictures on social media
- Blocking suspicious users and reporting them to Friend Finder administrations keeps everyone safe
Unfortunately, no dating apps or sites are absolutely secure, but if you use common sense and trust Friend Finder to screen member profiles, you should be relatively safe.
5 Ways to Make Your Dating App Profile Stand Out From the Crowd
- Make the most of free winks, flirts, and comments. Show your interest directly by sending winks or flirts or joining discussions if you’re too shy to reach out first.
- Upload a video introduction. Though only premium users can watch these clips, even a short video will make your profile stand out.
- Update your magazine or blog. Friend Finder is all about creating a comfortable and welcoming community, so the more you post, the more likely other users will take notice and engage.
- Change your status from time to time. Just like on social media, your profile activity will reflect any status updates, so potential friends will be aware of what is happening with you.
- Host live streams if you’re comfortable with it. There are always silver and gold members seeking live entertainment, and you can catch their eye by sharing a slice of your life.
Conclusion
I signed up for a month-long Gold membership and squeezed every last ounce of dating goodness out of it. Daily live streams, hundreds of messages, and a hotlist of dozens of hotties is what I have to show for it. Just like Adult Friend Finder members, FriendFinder users are a lively bunch, so I never lacked for people to chat with. The only possible downside of using Friend Finder is its addictive nature, making me lose track of time. Overall, it’s an enthusiastic recommendation from me.
