When Free Gay Dating Has Strings
When it comes to dating online, gay guys are spoilt for choice. There are thousands of gay dating sites, and with cheap, off-the-shelf dating and networking website templates freely available the number is set to grow and grow.
The bigger UK gay dating sites all offer a choice of membership plans - a free option where you can enjoy limited functionality without paying a thing, and a higher membership tier that gives you access to all features in return for a fee.
There are some exceptions, but in most cases even if you do pay, the amount you pay is far less than most straight dating sites - so your happy choice is usually between free gay dating and cheap gay dating.
Free Gay Dating
If you’re looking for completely free gay dating then you’ll notice a big difference in what different sites provide.
Gaydar is highly restrictive and limits the number of messages you can send, the profiles you can view and the searches you can perform in any day. It also hides all X-rated content and applies restrictions at peak hours. Recon applies similar restrictions.
Other sites can limit you in less obvious ways. Caffmos Community applies complex search restrictions and IM limitations, and Ladslads only allows you to read your messages for free if you allow them access to your email accounts including giving them your email passwords.
Mothership Gay Dating gives you unlimited messages, profile views, searches and allows you to see who’s looked at your profile, all for free, and with no catches.
Cheap Gay Dating
There is a common misconception that running a website is very low cost - this is not the case! Server costs can be very high, as is marketing (those new members have got to come from somewhere), and staff costs. In short, it costs a lot to run a gay dating service online, and the site will seek to recover these expenses, and make a profit.
When you do make the decision to upgrade to a site’s premium membership tier there are a few things to watch out for. First of all, make sure you comply with the site’s rules - if you breach them they could terminate your account, and you’re unlikely to get a refund.
Secondly, watch out for recurring subscriptions - a recurring subscription means you have to remember to cancel it when you don’t need it any more - and many guys will forget - that’s what they’re relying on!
Also, don’t pay too much for your gay dating - no more than Gaydar’s £8 a month. You can get it significantly cheaper than that too. One of the best value plans is Mothership Gay Dating where one month costs just £4.95.
As I write this Mothership have a special offer to celebrate the launch of their new gay dating tool, Gay Crush. If you upgrade in May 2009 you receive an extra 50% Club Class membership days for free. This means you could get your monthly cost down to £1.67 if you buy a 2 year plan. Plus on some plans you can claim a Mothership Store gift certificate too!
To summarise I’d say shop around…and do consider upgrading to paid membership - you’ll get much more from the site, and if it helps you meet the right guy then it is money well spent!
by David Abrehart
(c) Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Related posts:
Men Seeking Men Online
Cheap Gay Dating
Mothership Gay Dating Videos
Replying to Messages on Gay Dating Sites
