On this page13 sections
- Ratings and complaints
- Plenty of Fish vs. competitors
- Pricing
- Step by step
- Plenty of Fish legitimacy and licensing
- Plenty of Fish cost
- How Plenty of Fish works
- Plenty of Fish complaints and how to avoid problems
- How to cancel Plenty of Fish and get a refund
- Your rights and the rules that apply
- What customers say
- Alternatives
- FAQ
Plenty of Fish, or POF, is one of the better free options because you can search and message without paying, which suits budget daters who want a broad pool. It is a legitimate dating app founded in 2003 in Vancouver and owned by Match Group since 2015. The tradeoffs are scam and inactive profiles, subscriptions that auto-renew, and purchases that are generally nonrefundable. POF doesn't run criminal background or identity checks, so use Selfie Verification, keep chats on the app at first, and never send money to a match.
Your options
- Owner
- Plentyoffish Media ULC (U.S. users), part of Match Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTCH); Match Group bought it for $575 million in 20151
- Founded
- 2003; BBB lists the business start as May 5, 20035
- Free version
- Create a profile, search and message for free3
- Paid options (App Store)
- 1 Week $19.99; 1 Month $29.99; Upgrade $38.99; tokens from $1.99, as listed October 20263
- Refunds
- Generally nonrefundable; special rules in 12 states and the EU, UK and Switzerland; virtual items always final2
- Safety checks
- No criminal background or identity verification checks; optional Selfie Verification2
- Age
- 18 and older2
Pros
- Search and message without paying
- Detailed search filters plus a swipe mode
- Selfie Verification badge
- Option to block one or two word first messages
- Backed by Match Group, a large public company
Cons
- Trustpilot score of 1.7, driven by fake profiles and billing complaints
- No criminal background or identity checks
- Purchases generally nonrefundable; tokens always final
- Subscriptions auto-renew and must be canceled where you paid
- Account may be closed if you file a chargeback through an app store
Best for: Budget daters who want to search and message a broad local pool without paying.
Skip it if: You want a curated, relationship-focused pool or responsive customer support.
Plenty of Fish vs. competitors
| Company | Free messaging | Paid options (App Store) | App Store rating | Trustpilot | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plenty of Fish | Yes, search and message | 1 Week $19.99; 1 Month $29.99 | 4.3 (about 1.8 million) | 1.7 | |
| OkCupid | Yes, message matches | Premium $7.99 to $59.99 | 4.3 (about 289,000) | 1.2 | Read review |
| Tinder | Yes, message matches | Plus $9.99; Gold $13.99 to $24.99 | 4.2 (about 1.75 million) | 1.1 | Read review |
| Hinge | Yes, with daily like limits | $14.99 to $34.99 | 4.4 (about 1.1 million) | 1.2 | Read review |
Dating apps we reviewed
-
Plenty of Fish This review BestGuide rating: 3.6 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Budget daters who want to search and message a broad local pool without paying. -
Tawkify BestGuide rating: 4.4 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Busy singles who want a long-term relationship, are open to blind dates, and can spend thousands of dollars to have a matchmaker do the searching. -
Hinge BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Singles who want a relationship, are willing to write a real profile, and live in or near a city with an active Hinge community. -
Christian Mingle BestGuide rating: 4.2 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Christian singles who want a faith-specific dating pool and will commit to a longer plan to keep the monthly cost down. -
eharmony BestGuide rating: 4.0 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Singles, often 40 and older, who want a committed relationship and like quiz-based matching. -
OkCupid BestGuide rating: 3.9 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Daters who want to match on values and answers to questions, including LGBTQ daters who want many identity options, and who are happy to stay on a free plan. -
Tinder BestGuide rating: 3.9 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Adults in cities or suburbs who want the widest pool of people nearby and are comfortable screening matches themselves. -
Bumble BestGuide rating: 3.7 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who want a second swipe app beside Tinder or Hinge, cheap Boost add-ons, or a way to meet friends through BFF.
Plenty of Fish pricing at a glance
Plenty of Fish in-app purchases in the US App Store, as listed October 20263
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 Week | $19.99 |
| 1 Month | $29.99 |
| Upgrade | $38.99 |
| Tokens | From $1.99 |
POF's terms say prices vary by region, plan length, bundle size, past purchases and account activity, and that subscriptions auto-renew until you cancel. Some purchases can be paid in four installments. Plan contents are not published outside the app.
Plenty of Fish, step by step
Sign up free
Create a profile on the app or pof.com. You must be at least 18.
Verify your photos
Use Selfie Verification so matches can see you're the person in your pictures, and look for the badge on others.
Search or swipe
Search with filters, or use Meet Me to swipe. Mutual likes open a chat, and you can message for free.
Upgrade only if needed
Paid plans and tokens add extras. Subscriptions renew automatically, so set a reminder before the renewal date.
Cancel or delete
Cancel through Apple, Google or the POF account page, wherever you paid. Deleting your account doesn't stop app store billing.
Plenty of Fish legitimacy and licensing
Yes. Plenty of Fish was founded in 2003 in Vancouver, and Match Group bought it for $575 million in cash in 2015. Match Group’s 2026 filings still list Plenty Of Fish among its brands, alongside Tinder, Hinge, Match and OkCupid. For U.S. users the service is run by Plentyoffish Media ULC, with business conducted partly from Dallas, Texas.
The company is real; some profiles are not. On Trustpilot, POF scores 1.7 out of 5 from more than 52,000 reviews, with fake and scam profiles the top complaint, and POF hasn’t replied to negative reviews there. The BBB rates it B, not accredited, with 144 complaints in three years. The app itself rates 4.3 in the App Store from about 1.8 million ratings, so many people use it without trouble.
POF’s terms say plainly that it does not run criminal background or identity checks on users, though it reserves the right to screen against public records. Treat every match as a stranger until you’ve video chatted and met in public.
Plenty of Fish cost
POF is free to join, search and message. In October 2026 the U.S. App Store listed in-app purchases of $19.99 for 1 Week, $29.99 for 1 Month, $38.99 for an Upgrade and tokens from $1.99. POF doesn’t publish a full plan list outside the app, and its terms say prices vary by region, plan length, past purchases and account activity, and that it runs promotions and tests.
Paid subscriptions renew automatically at the same price and length until you cancel. Some purchases can be split into four installments. Tokens and other virtual items are final and nonrefundable, even if your account is later closed.
How Plenty of Fish works
You can search for people with filters or use Meet Me, a swipe feature where a mutual like opens a chat. Super Like flags strong interest. Unlike many swipe apps, POF lets you message people without a mutual match, and you can set a minimum first-message length so you don’t get one or two word openers.
Selfie Verification. A check where you take a live selfie so the app can confirm you match your profile photos. Compare dating apps lets other users see that you match your photos. It isn’t an identity check. App Store reviewers report that some verified profiles still use fake or AI-altered photos, so verify with a video call before you meet.
What customers say about Plenty of Fish
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Free sign-up, search and messaging
- A large local pool, useful outside big cities
- Detailed search filters
- Some reviewers met people they went on to date
Common complaints
- Fake, scam and inactive profiles, even some with verification badges
- Charges and renewals users say they didn't expect
- Login, password reset and verification problems
- Template replies from support that don't fix the issue
- Bans or deletions with little explanation
Plenty of Fish complaints and how to avoid problems
The recurring complaints are fake or inactive profiles, unexpected charges or renewals, trouble logging in or resetting passwords, slow template replies from support, and bans with little explanation. Romance scams are the biggest risk: the FTC warns that scammers build trust and then ask for money, gift cards or crypto, often after moving you to another app.
To protect yourself, never send money to someone you haven’t met, keep early conversations on POF, report profiles that push you off the app, and set a calendar reminder before any renewal. If you pay through Apple or Google, manage the subscription there.
How to cancel Plenty of Fish and get a refund
Cancel where you paid. If you subscribed through Apple or Google, cancel in that store’s subscription settings, even if you’ve already deleted the app or your account. If you paid POF directly, log in and go to the Account section. You keep paid features until the end of the current term.
Refunds are generally not offered for partly used periods. Residents of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Wisconsin can cancel a new subscription without penalty before midnight of the third business day after subscribing. Users in the EU, UK and Switzerland have a 14-day refund right. Apple handles refunds for Apple purchases. Canceling doesn’t delete your profile; use Help, then Delete account, to remove it.
Your rights and the rules that apply
POF’s terms require binding individual arbitration for most disputes, with limited exceptions. They also say POF may close your account if you file a chargeback on an app store purchase, so ask POF or the store for a refund first.
In August 2025, Match Group agreed to pay $14 million to settle FTC charges over Match.com’s guarantee, retaliation against users who disputed charges, and hard cancellation. The order bars retaliation against people who file billing disputes. The FTC release lists PlentyOfFish among Match Group’s brands but ties the cancellation terms to Match.com. Report romance scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Alternatives to Plenty of Fish
-
OkCupid
Better if you want matching based on answered questions and still want to message for free.
-
Hinge
Better if you want longer profiles and a pool focused on relationships.
-
Tinder
The largest swipe pool if you live where POF has few active users.
-
Free in-person options
Clubs, classes and local events cost nothing and avoid fake profiles entirely.
Next steps
Plenty of Fish reviews
Written by readers, read by our moderators, never edited by the company.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Plenty of Fish a real company?
Yes. POF has operated since 2003 and has been owned by Match Group since 2015. The company is real, but scam and fake profiles are the most common complaint, so verify matches before meeting.
Is Plenty of Fish free?
Yes, you can create a profile, search and message for free. Paid options in the U.S. App Store included $19.99 for 1 Week and $29.99 for 1 Month in October 2026.
Who owns Plenty of Fish?
Match Group, Inc., which bought it for $575 million in 2015. Match Group also owns Tinder, Hinge, Match and OkCupid.
Does Plenty of Fish do background checks?
No. Its terms say it does not run criminal background or identity verification checks. Selfie Verification only shows that a person matches their photos.
Is Plenty of Fish safe?
It's a mainstream app, but you're responsible for your own screening. Use verified profiles, video chat first, meet in public and never send money.
How do I cancel my POF subscription?
Cancel where you paid: Apple or Google subscription settings, or the Account section on POF for direct purchases. Deleting the app or your account does not stop app store billing.
Can I get a refund from Plenty of Fish?
Usually not. Purchases are generally nonrefundable, but residents of 12 states including California and New York can cancel within three business days, and EU and UK users have 14 days. Apple purchases are refunded through Apple.
Why are there so many fake profiles on POF?
Free messaging and a large user base attract scammers. Report profiles that ask for money or push you to another app, and favor people with Selfie Verification.
Is POF better than Tinder?
POF is better if you want to message without a mutual match and search with filters. Tinder has a similar App Store rating and is better for swiping a larger pool in many cities.
How do I delete my Plenty of Fish account?
Log in, go to Help, choose Delete account and follow the steps. Cancel any app store subscription separately to avoid more charges.
Sources (9)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- SEC: The Match Group to Acquire PlentyOfFish (IAC Form 8-K exhibit, July 2015) (accessed October 13, 2026)
- POF: Terms of Use (effective September 4, 2025) (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Apple App Store: Plenty of Fish : Dating App (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Trustpilot: Plenty of Fish reviews (accessed October 13, 2026)
- BBB: Plenty of Fish (accessed October 13, 2026)
- SEC: Match Group Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 (accessed October 13, 2026)
- FTC: Match Group agrees to pay $14 million (accessed October 13, 2026)
- POF: Features (accessed October 13, 2026)
- FTC: What to know about romance scams (accessed October 13, 2026)
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