BestDates is not a free dating app in the usual sense. You can create a profile and browse, but meaningful interaction is built around credits rather than one predictable monthly fee.
The practical question is whether that spending gives you a realistic route to a genuine connection and eventual date.
Once you begin chatting, opening content or trying to move a conversation forward, credit costs can build quickly.
That does not prove every profile or conversation is fake, but it does mean you should spend cautiously and avoid assuming that an attractive, responsive profile will automatically lead to an off-platform connection.
Already spending credits or unsure whether a profile is genuine? Use the free Dating Scam & Catfish Checker below before paying more or sharing anything.
Free Dating Scam & Catfish Checker
Check a suspicious dating profile, chat site or advertiser in roughly 60 seconds. Tick every warning sign that applies before paying, sharing ID, sending intimate photos or assuming a profile is real. Your answers stay in your browser and are not submitted or stored.
Important: this is an educational red-flag checker, not proof that a specific person or company is fraudulent. But catfishing signs, advance-payment pressure, identity requests and threats are strong reasons to stop and reassess.
BestDates may suit people who knowingly enjoy paid online conversation and are comfortable tracking credit spending. It is a poor fit if you want unlimited messaging, transparent fixed pricing, quick local dates or a simple route from “hello” to exchanging numbers and meeting. For a clearer route to real conversations, compare my top dating and hookup apps.
Straight reviews. Clear expectations. Platforms with a realistic route to real conversations and dates.
What BestDates Actually Is
BestDates presents itself as a dating and social-connection platform built around conversation, profiles and online interaction. You can create an account for free, browse profiles and explore the service before spending money.
That sounds perfectly normal. The important distinction is that BestDates is not built around a simple monthly subscription with unlimited chat. It uses credits for interactive features, and that changes the economics very quickly.
The site’s own messaging focuses on friendship, conversation, connection and taking things at your own pace. That is not automatically a bad thing. But it also means you should not mistake BestDates for a straightforward local dating app where you match, message freely and arrange a coffee when things are going well.
It is better understood as a communication-first dating platform with paid interaction. That can work for someone who enjoys the experience and keeps a firm budget. It can become frustrating very fast for someone who thinks “free to join” means free to actually talk.
Is BestDates Good for Real Dates?
Possibly — but it is not the clearest, cheapest or quickest route to meeting someone offline.
BestDates says it is designed to help people build meaningful connections. It also says that many users can complete third-party identity verification and that suspicious profiles are monitored.
Those are positive signs. But user feedback repeatedly raises three practical concerns: credits being used quickly, conversations becoming expensive, and friction around exchanging personal contact details.
That is the real issue. A dating conversation should eventually move toward something tangible: a call, a video chat, a coffee, a date or at least a sensible way to continue talking off-platform. If every step remains inside a credit-metered chat system, it can start to feel less like dating and more like feeding coins into an arcade machine that keeps promising the next level is just around the corner.
Want Real Dates Instead of Expensive Credit Chat?
BestDates may work for online conversation, but do not keep buying credits just because a chat feels promising. Before spending more, establish whether the person is local enough, genuine enough and interested in a realistic next step.
For apps with a clearer route from matching to genuine conversation and actual plans, start here:
Always check current pricing and terms before joining. But these options are intended for real-world dating, not an open-ended credit-chat loop.
What BestDates Users Say on Trustpilot
BestDates has a mixed public review profile. Many reviewers praise customer support, friendly conversations and the ease of getting started.
But the most consistent criticisms concern credits, message costs, unclear expectations around free access and the difficulty of moving a conversation toward direct contact.
“I’m frustrated that I signed up and it said free.”
— Trustpilot reviewer, June 2026
“Charge way too much to text with someone.”
— Trustpilot reviewer, June 2026
“Most of them don’t seem like real women so far.”
— Trustpilot reviewer, June 2026
These are individual user claims, not findings independently verified by SteveJabba.com. BestDates says it works to remove suspicious profiles and that many users can complete third-party identity verification.
Still, the sensible takeaway is clear: do not assume a responsive profile is nearby, genuine or worth continuing to pay for until you have asked normal questions, received consistent answers and established whether a realistic off-platform next step is possible.
Why the Credit System Is the Main Downside
The issue is not that BestDates lets you create an account for free. It does.
The issue is what happens when you want to use the platform properly. Public reviews repeatedly describe credits being needed for messaging and other interactive features, with some users saying they were surprised by how quickly those costs added up.
That creates a very different experience from a normal subscription-based dating app.
With credits, every individual cost can seem manageable. But a few conversations, unopened messages, media content and long chats can turn “I will just see how this goes” into a bill that looks like you have been sponsoring a small research project into modern loneliness.
Set a hard budget before spending. Decide what you need to establish before buying more credits:
- They are genuinely in a location that could work for you.
- Their replies are specific and consistent rather than vague, copied or evasive.
- They can discuss a realistic next step beyond endless on-site chat.
- You understand what features consume credits and how much they cost.
- You are not spending purely because flattering messages have temporarily made your judgement go on holiday.
Can You Exchange Contact Details on BestDates?
Public reviews suggest that BestDates uses a controlled contact-exchange process rather than allowing instant sharing of phone numbers, email addresses or social-media handles.
Some users say this is frustrating, particularly after spending heavily on conversation. Others mention successfully requesting a contact-exchange link through customer support.
That does not prove that contact exchange is impossible. But it does mean you should understand the process before you become emotionally or financially invested in one person.
Before buying more credits, ask support directly:
- How does contact exchange work?
- Are there credit or activity requirements before it becomes available?
- Do both people need to agree?
- Can you arrange a video call before exchanging private details?
- What happens if one person stops replying after you have spent credits?
Are BestDates Profiles Real?
I cannot independently verify individual BestDates profiles, and neither can you from a flattering photo and a few pleasant messages.
BestDates says it monitors suspicious behaviour and offers third-party identity verification to many users. That is useful, but it should not replace basic common sense.
Use normal verification habits:
- Ask simple questions about location, lifestyle, work and intentions.
- Watch for answers that seem generic enough to be sent to dozens of people.
- Be careful when somebody becomes intensely affectionate very quickly.
- Do not send money, ID documents, financial information or intimate images.
- Try to establish a video call or another sensible verification step before spending heavily.
- Meet in a public place first if you eventually arrange an offline date.
Is BestDates a Scam?
I would not call BestDates an outright scam based on the available evidence.
It is an active operating platform with public policies, payment information, customer support, a substantial Trustpilot presence and stated moderation and verification processes.
But that does not automatically make it a good-value dating option.
BestDates is best understood as a paid communication platform with dating ambitions, rather than a cheap, simple local dating app. If you knowingly want that model, understand the credit costs and set a strict spending limit, you may decide it is worth trying.
If you want free messaging, a clear fixed monthly price and a quick route to local dates, you will probably find it frustrating.
Who BestDates Might Suit
BestDates may suit you if:
- You enjoy online conversation and do not need instant local dates.
- You understand that credits may be needed for meaningful interaction.
- You are happy to budget carefully for a paid-chat model.
- You are willing to verify people before becoming invested.
- You have the patience to understand the contact-exchange process before spending heavily.
Who Should Avoid BestDates
You should probably avoid BestDates if:
- You want free or unlimited messaging after registration.
- You dislike credit-based or pay-to-message systems.
- You want to meet people near you quickly.
- You expect to exchange numbers or social-media details without extra steps.
- You are likely to keep spending because somebody is responsive and flattering.
- You want a simple predictable monthly cost.
Best BestDates Alternatives for Real Dates
If you want a clearer route from matching to a real conversation and an actual plan, use a platform designed around local dating from the beginning.
Before joining any dating site, check:
- Whether it is designed for local dating or broader online conversation.
- Whether messaging is free, subscription-based or credit-based.
- Whether profile verification is available and meaningful.
- Whether pricing is obvious before you start chatting.
- Whether there is a realistic route from messages to a call or date.
For my current recommendations, see the top dating and hookup apps I would use instead of BestDates.
For more red flags to watch for before spending money, read my 21 warning signs of a scam dating site.
BestDates Review FAQ
Is BestDates legit?
BestDates appears to be a real operating online dating and communication platform. However, it relies on paid credits for interactive features, so whether it is worthwhile depends heavily on whether you are comfortable with that model.
Is BestDates free?
You can create an account and browse for free. But public reviews and company responses indicate that credits are used for certain messaging and interactive features. Check current prices before you begin chatting.
Can you meet people from BestDates?
Possibly, but it is not the clearest or quickest route to local dating. Establish location, intentions and authenticity before spending much money on conversation.
Are BestDates profiles real?
I cannot independently verify individual profiles. BestDates says it monitors suspicious activity and that many users can complete third-party identity verification, but you should still verify people carefully yourself.
Why do people complain about BestDates credits?
Several reviewers say communication costs add up quickly, particularly when conversations continue over time or when they try to access additional features.
Can you exchange contact details on BestDates?
Public reviews suggest there is a controlled contact-exchange process rather than automatic sharing of personal details. Ask support how the current process works before spending heavily.
Is BestDates good for hookups?
Not really. It is better understood as a communication-focused dating platform than a quick local hookup app.
What should I use instead of BestDates?
Use platforms designed around genuine local conversations and actual dating plans. See my top dating and hookup apps for clearer alternatives.
Disclosure: Some links on this page may be affiliate links. SteveJabba.com may earn a commission if you join through them, at no extra cost to you. This review is based on BestDates’ public website information and publicly available user reviews checked in June 2026.