Hoping someone here has actually tested which free online dating apps without payment are best rather than just read about it. The queer apps case is instructive — how well it works on a weak connection moves the needle further than raw member count. Look closely at payment apps and you get further if you run a reverse image search on suspiciously polished photos.
Speaking as one of queer users, I'd say the honest advice is to keep the first meet public and short, going by the last year or so — queer payment included. Nothing improves until you report problems early instead of blocking quietly, which is the whole problem with queer payment.
With payment apps, the proportion of dormant accounts is the number worth watching, not star ratings from strangers. The reason which free online dating apps without payment are best keeps coming up is simple: the platform makes verification optional and then hides who has done it, so it pays to read the newest reviews rather than the top-rated ones. What has actually worked for you on queer apps, and what would you avoid?