POF or Plenty of Fish is one of the most well-known dating sites in the world. It is used by countless people from all over the world and has been doing so since it took off in the early years of its inception.

POF is a highly lauded online dating site that allows users to create profiles, connect with prospective matches, and initiate conversations.

From when it began in 2003, it has surged into becoming a pioneering dating app in the massive universe of online dating.

POF provides a number of features that facilitate in getting its users to make strong connections.

The dating site’s mantra is that there are plenty of fish in the sea. Irrespective of whether you are seeking a serious or casual relationship, POF is a prime destination for lots of people each day.

It’s a free dating site that was founded by Markus Frind, a computer systems technology graduate from the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

The POF app for iOS and Android was set in motion in 2010, and more than 80% of the dating site’s traffic was coming via mobile in 2014.

In 2015, POF was purchased by Match Group.

Plenty of Fish has over 140 million users located all over the world, with over 3 million active daily users, and more than 60,000 new singles signing up each day.

It’s easy to sign up on the website or through downloading the app at the app store.

Creating A Dating Profile

1. The Chemistry Test

These are well-designed questions that cover a number of important points that include self-confidence, family orientation, self-control, agreeability and social dependency.

2. Relationship Needs Assessment

These are multiple choice questions that cover themes such as communication, intimacy, interdependence, relationship readiness, viewpoints on love, self-efficacy, favored expressions of affection, and conflict resolution.

3. Write A Headline

Enter a headline that resonates with you and gives users an introductory impression of who you are.

4. Upload Photos

Take the time to upload quality photos to your dating profile. The better and more recent the photos, the better the quality and volume of matches you receive.

5. About Me

Fill out more information about yourself. This information is what gives a potential match an insight into who you are as a person and what your personality is like.

6. Interests

Fill out your interests in life. Think about your hobbies and pastimes for instance.

7. First Date Idea

Use your imagination to describe what you would like to do on a first date and what that looks like.

This completes your basic dating profile and it’s now time to find potential matches.

Finding Potential Matches

1. Basic Search

Use basic filters in search such as city to find a potential match.

2. Advanced Search

Using more distinct filters for your search such as income increases the chances of finding a potential match.

3. Meet Me

Say “Yes,” “Maybe,” or “No” to users who show an interest in you. Where there is a mutual match, a chat box opens up.

4. Ultra Match

A list of individuals that have the greatest compatibility with you based on your date preferences is provided to you. Message those that you find interesting.

Registration and every type of matching is provided for free on this dating site, and as a bonus, you see who’s viewed your dating profile and can send and receive messages.

POF has a swiping option too, where you swipe on people you are interested in. A swipe right is an indication of interest and a swipe left is an indication of no interest.

Given that POF is so large, it caters to those in search of both serious and casual relationships.

Pros of POF

1. Huge User Base

As the most populated online dating site in the world, there are plenty of prospective matches. This large user base sets it apart from other dating sites. With such a massive user base, POF provides an environment where everyone has an opportunity to meet that special someone. With this volume of users, you won’t have much trouble finding your other half, despite your tastes.

2. Free Messaging

It is not necessary to upgrade your membership to a paid subscription to send a message to someone that you have mutually matched with. This gives you an instant idea of what it is like to communicate with people on the dating site so that you know whether upgrading to unrestricted messaging is beneficial to you.

3. Advanced Filters

There are lots of dating apps that force users to pay for advanced filters. Not so on POF. People who are using the platform for free have access to advanced filter settings. These settings are far more comprehensive than what basic filters provide. With advanced filters, it’s substantially easier to rifle through profiles. These filters include income, religion, and a few other distinctive ones.

4. A Variety of Dating Options

The diversity on this online dating site ensures that you find what you are looking for, irrespective of how eclectic your choices in a partner are. There is a wide array of users of all backgrounds, body types, and ethnicities.

5. Effortless Navigation

POF is chockfull of features that are easy to navigate through, regardless of how savvy or unsavvy you are with technology.

6. Endless Success Stories

POF has been around long enough that there are already a massive amount of success stories from people who have used the platform to find a compatible partner. These success stories are seemingly endless and ever-present.

7. Easy Registration

Beginning your online dating journey on POF is as easy as clicking on its interface and registering within seconds.

8. Superior Matchmaking

POF has elite technology that matches its users with stunning accuracy. Its technology is adept at picking up on what you like in reference to who you want to match with, and uses this information to send you highly compatible matches.

9. Solid Messaging System

The platform excels with communication. It’s a dating app that streamlines messages with such aplomb, users exchange messages with each other without any hassle whatsoever.

10. User-Friendly

It’s easy to navigate for everyone, whether you are technology-savvy or not. Past experience on dating apps isn’t required to master POF and use the platform to your benefit.

Cons

1. Inconsistent Match Quality

Having such a massive user base means that not all users are of high quality. This is inevitable when you are on a dating site of this enormous size. This means that there are bound to be scammers.

Encountering a number of fake dating profiles that are created by scammers doesn’t always make for a seamless experience on POF. Scammers and escorts use POF’s massive size to their advantage, choosing to pass themselves off as real and hoping that POF’s algorithm misses it.

2. Stiff Competition

Given that it is free and large, it is natural that competition abounds. Users want to get seen in such a huge platform. To get eyeballs on their dating profiles, users put in extra effort to create dynamic dating profiles. Heed this. The more dynamic and interesting your dating profile is, the likelier you overcome the competition and get what you want out of the app.

3. No Option To Hide Profile

There are dating apps that provide an incognito mode option as a distinct feature. This isn’t the case on Plenty of Fish. You don’t have the option to hide your dating profile and only divulge it to users you like.

4. Ads

As pioneering as POF is, it isn’t any different from a lot of dating apps in regards to ads. As a free member, you don’t have the luxury to avoid ads. A paid subscription is required to have an ads-free experience.

POF Plus and POF Premium are paid subscription versions of the dating app that provide access to exclusive features not obtainable with the free version. These exclusive features further facilitate in the process of finding a compatible partner.

POF Plus Features

1. Unlimited likes

Like an infinite number of dating profiles without worrying about any restrictions. This gives you an abundance mindset which makes for a healthy escapade on the dating site.

2. Read receipts

With read receipts turned on, you see when users look at the messages you send them. This keeps you from stressing over whether a message you took the time to create and send was read.

3. Upload As Many As 16 Photos

By adding as many as 16 photos to your dating profile, you increase the number of views from users, which leads to a greater number of matches. Dating sites are visual mediums. The more photos you have on your dating profile, the greater attention it receives from the algorithm and users at large. A variety of photos are permitted. This empowers you to post a wide array of photos that illustrate a fun and diverse lifestyle.

4. No Ads

Without having to worry about ads that interrupt your time on the dating site every so often, you have a much smoother time of it. As you peruse profiles, you aren’t being constantly inundated with advertising, which makes for a less annoying time on the dating site.

5. First Look At Brand New Subscribers

Since you have the privilege of seeing the newest subscribers, you are the first to interact with them if you so choose. As the first, you have the undivided attention of the newest subscribers without any competition. This facilitates in finding suitable matches.

6. More Extended Profile Content

With greater access to additional extended profile content, more information about a potential match is available to you, including whether a potential match has or wants children, and what their lifestyle habits entail.

Pricing

$19.99 per month
$20.00 per month for a 3 month bundle
$10.00 per month for a 6 month bundle
$8.00 per month for a 12 month bundle

POF Premium Features

1. No Ads

Not having to worry about a constant flow of ads as you navigate through POF makes for an effortless time on the app.

2. View Extended Profiles

An extended profile provides more information about a user than what is in a typical profile. This gives you more to work with, which facilitates the process of finding a compatible match.

3. Read Receipts

See whether a user read or deleted your message. This takes away any guesswork on whether someone of interest received your message. It gives you a level of peace of mind in knowing whether a user read or deleted your message.

4. Priority Placement on Meet Me and Search Results

With this priority placement on Meet Me and search results, you have wider visibility and see who said “Yes” to you. This makes for a significant uptick in matches.

5. Access to Interested in Me

See every user that likes your profile all at once. This is an orderly view of those who like your profile, which saves time.

6. Username Search

Considering that there are a significant number of online dating sites that don’t even have a search option, having access to doing searches makes it so much easier to find people of interest by username. This also means that you have the luxury of searching for people that you know.

7. Obtain Additional First Contacts

Send a message to a profile that you have viewed and taken a liking to, without having to match with said user first. It’s a powerful way to make a user aware that you’re interested in knowing more about them.

Pricing

$29.99 per month
$20.00 per month for a 3 month bundle
$15.70 per month for a 6 month bundle
$10.47 per month for a 12 month bundle

POF Boosts

Without having to pay for a POF membership, increase your profile’s visibility by acquiring a Boost. This bolsters your profile in the Meet Me section, which is the location where users swipe on profiles.

POF Boosts persist for a duration of 30 minutes. According to POF, this exposure and length of time gives you 10 times more profile views.

To instigate a profile Boost, click on the lightning icon in the Meet Me section.

Boosts can be bought one at a time, but buying them in bulk comes with a discount.

Pricing

$4.99 for 1 Boost
$3.59 per Boost for 5 Boosts
$2.49 per Boost for 10 Boosts

POF Superlikes

Yet another venue to get premium-like services without having to pay for a full-fledged premium membership. With Superlikes, you boost your dating profile’s visibility and propel your messages to the top of a user’s inbox.

Pricing

$1.99 to $3.99 per Token

Recommendation

POF is a dating site that caters to both those seeking casual relationships and those seeking serious relationships. Its massive user base gives you a wide and eclectic range of people that have the potential to meet whatever type of relationship you are seeking. There are sure to be people who have similar interests and values that you do on the platform.

As a free dating site that lets you message people that you match with for free, odds are good that you connect with someone. There are a plethora of features that makes for a better online dating experience. With this many advantages, joining POF is a no-brainer.