4 Simple Ways to Use Plenty of Fish - wikiHow (2024)

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1Signing Up

2Navigating POF (App and Desktop)

3Sending a Flirt

4Upgrading from the Free Version to a Paid Account

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Article Summary

Written byJohn Keegan|Edited byDarlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: April 29, 2024

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Plenty of Fish (POF) is an online dating service you can access through a web browser or mobile app using your active phone number. If you're looking to meet and date new people, you're in the right place! We've put together a guide on how to sign up for and use the Plenty of Fish dating service–from setting up a profile, to navigating the app, to messaging potential dates. We'll also cover the differences between free and premium accounts.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Signing Up

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  1. 1

    Launch Plenty of Fish. You can either use the mobile app (the icon that looks like a fish that you can find on one of your Home screens, in the app drawer, or by searching) or go to https://www.pof.com in a web browser.

    • If you don't have the Plenty of Fish app, you can download it for free from either the App Store or Google Play Store.
  2. 2

    Click Register. You'll see this in the top right corner of the page.

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  3. 3

    Enter your information. You'll need to enter your username, password, email address, gender, birth date, country, and ethnicity to continue.

  4. 4

    Click Continue. If there are any issues with your account information, such as an invalid email address, the field in question will be highlighted red. Refill that text box and continue.

  5. 5

    Finish the questionnaire. All fields are required to be answered to continue; click the "Select" text to drop-down a menu with possible answers, then click an answer to select it.

    • The first few sections include drop-down menus for you to choose an answer from. As you scroll down, you'll find text fields where you need to type your headline, description, interests, and optional conversation starters. To fill out your description, use at least 100 characters, so you can talk about your hobbies, goals, and aspirations, what makes you unique, your taste in music, or anything else you wish.
    • Do not include sexual language in your profile headline, description, or interests as that could qualify your account for deletion.
  6. 6

    Click Create My Profile Now!. You'll find this at the bottom of the page.

  7. 7

    Verify your account with your phone number. If you don't have a phone number, you can't create an account.

    • Enter the code that was texted to you. You have a limited time to verify with the code, so make sure you have access to that phone as soon as you enter the number to verify.
    • If you're using a mobile phone, you might be prompted to share your location with POF. Tap Allow to proceed.
  8. 8

    Choose pictures to upload. You must upload a picture of yourself to continue. You'll want to make sure your face is clearly visible in the image, but pictures including cartoons, celebrities, and any bare torsos will be deleted.

    • Any pictures including nudity will get your account deleted.
  9. 9

    Click Continue To Final Step. You'll see this at the bottom of the page and can only proceed if you have uploaded a photo.

    • You have finished signing up with POF and created a profile. Continue filling out tests and quizzes to get matches more and more relevant to you.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Navigating POF (App and Desktop)

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  1. 1

    Launch Plenty of Fish. You can either use the mobile app (the icon that looks like a fish that you can find on one of your Home screens, in the app drawer, or by searching) or go to https://www.pof.com in a web browser.

  2. 2

    Click Inbox near the top of the page. You can see all the messages you've sent and been sent from your inbox. Click on a message to open it and read it. You can reply to the message, attach an image already uploaded to your profile, attach a gift, for which you have to be signed up for a paid subscription to use, or delete the conversation.

    • If you're using a mobile phone, you need to tap the Messages icon in the center of your screen.
  3. 3

    Click My Matches near the top of the page. This tab shows you all the profiles matching your criteria specified when you created an account, such as if you would date anyone who smoked.

    • If you're using a mobile phone, tap the fish logo > My Matches.
    • You can refine your matches by changing the defaults in the drop-down menus that you'll see in the middle of the page in the web browser.
    • If you haven't taken the Relationship Needs Assessment, you'll be prompted to in red text.
  4. 4

    Click Contacts near the top of the page. This page shows you your top prospects from the people you've already contacted.

    • If you're using a mobile phone, tap the fish logo > Will Respond to see your matches that will most likely reply to your message.
  5. 5

    Click Meet Me near the top of the page. This page will show you the profiles in your area. You can click No, Maybe, Super Yes, or Yes if you want to meet them.

    • To use Super Yes, you must have tokens, which cost about $1.99 per token.
    • If you're using a mobile phone, tap the fish logo > Meet Me.
  6. 6

    Click New Users near the top of the page. This page shows you the last 20 signups that match your dating criteria, which includes a 50-mile radius of your zip code.

    • The POF mobile app does not have this feature.
  7. 7

    Click My City near the top of the page. This page shows you people in your city.

    • If you're using a mobile phone, tap the fish logo > Nearby. You'll see how far the person is from you under their profile picture.
  8. 8

    Click the notification bell icon at the top of the page. A menu of all your recent notifications will drop-down, including recent profiles that want to meet you. Un-checked notifications appear with a blue background, and checked notifications appear on a white background. If you want to see more details about the notifications, click on them. Some features are only available to upgraded members.

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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Sending a Flirt

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  1. 1

    Launch Plenty of Fish. You can either use the mobile app (the icon that looks like a fish that you can find on one of your Home screens, in the app drawer, or by searching) or go to https://www.pof.com in a web browser.

  2. 2

    Navigate to a profile you like. You can find a profile in multiple areas, including Meet Me and My Matches.

    • Tap a profile to go to the profile's page.
  3. 3

    Click Show Interest. You'll see this button next to "Send a Flirt." This will send a message that says "Hey there:)" to that profile's inbox.

    • You can also use the text box under the profile picture to write a message if you want.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Upgrading from the Free Version to a Paid Account

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  1. 1

    Launch the Plenty of Fish app. You can either do this on mobile (the icon that looks like a fish that you can find on one of your Home screens, in the app drawer, or by searching) or go to https://www.pof.com in a web browser.

    • Use this method if you want to pay for additional features, such as being able to see who has liked your profile.
  2. 2

    Click Upgrade. You'll see this pink button on the navigation menu near the top of the page or at the top of your screen if you're using a phone.

  3. 3

    Choose a plan. You can pick between the 8, 4, and 2-month plans.

    • You'll see the benefits of an upgraded membership in the panel on the right side of the page, including experiencing POF ad-free.
  4. 4

    Enter your payment information. You can pay by either entering a credit/debit card's information or by clicking PayPal and entering your PayPal information.

  5. 5

    Click Upgrade. You'll get an email confirmation of your subscription start date, how much you were charged, and when it will automatically renew.

    • To hide or delete your POF profile, you can click Help from the navigation menu near the top of the page and click Delete account in the center of the page, which you'll have to scroll to see.
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      Tips

      • The mobile app works similarly to the website when you're signing up, sending a flirt, and navigating the site, so you can use these methods to help you even if you're using the app instead of a web browser.

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      About This Article

      4 Simple Ways to Use Plenty of Fish - wikiHow (47)

      Written by:

      John Keegan

      Dating Coach

      This article was written by John Keegan and by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA. John Keegan is a Dating Coach and motivational speaker based in New York City. With over 10 years of professional experience, he runs The Awakened Lifestyle, where he uses his expertise in dating, attraction, and social dynamics to help people find love. He teaches and holds dating workshops internationally, from Los Angeles to London and from Rio de Janeiro to Prague. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Humans of New York, and Men's Health. This article has been viewed 29,027 times.

      10 votes - 70%

      Co-authors: 6

      Updated: April 29, 2024

      Views:29,027

      Categories: Dating | Online Dating

      Article SummaryX

      1. Go to https://www.pof.com/ in a web browser.
      2. Click Register.
      3. Enter your information.
      4. Click Continue.
      5. Finish the questionnaire.
      6. Click Create My Profile Now!.
      7. Verify your account with your phone number.
      8. Choose pictures to upload.
      9. Click Continue to Final Step.

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      • Send fan mail to authors

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 29,027 times.

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      4 Simple Ways to Use Plenty of Fish - wikiHow (2024)

      FAQs

      How to use POF for free without paying? ›

      The following features remain free when you create a profile on Plenty of Fish:
      1. Sending messages to other users.
      2. A limited number of First Contacts each day.
      3. Uploading a limited number of photos to your profile.
      4. Setting up advanced search filters.
      5. Viewing a limited number of profiles.
      6. Taking the Compatibility Predictor quiz.
      Aug 16, 2023

      How to tell if someone has hidden their profile on POF? ›

      Hidden accounts won't be shown in public areas of the app (Meet Me, Matches, Online), but you will be able to continue to chat with members that you have previously liked or currently connecting with.

      What do people use Plenty of Fish for? ›

      Plenty of Fish is one of many online dating sites. Its goal is to connect users looking for romantic partners with like-minded people and allow them to get to know each other better.

      How do you use POF? ›

      You can either use the mobile app (the icon that looks like a fish that you can find on one of your Home screens, in the app drawer, or by searching) or go to https://www.pof.com in a web browser. Click Inbox near the top of the page. You can see all the messages you've sent and been sent from your inbox.

      Can you chat on POF without paying? ›

      Keep in mind that you can message your Mutual Matches for free - so as another option, if you're out of First Contacts for the day, all you need to do is Like the profile and wait for them to Like you back.

      Can you match on Plenty of Fish without paying? ›

      Plenty of Fish trumpets its number of conversations for one main reason—messaging anyone is free on the app. That doesn't mean POF is not going to ask for your money, though. If someone likes you, the app prompts you to upgrade your account to POF Premium to see who it is.

      Do people use Plenty of Fish for hookups? ›

      You'll find daters looking for just about everything, from a long-term relationship to a hookup. The sheer number of users makes it a great option if you live in a rural area or small city. Unlike other free sites, basic features like messaging your Mutual Matches don't require an upgraded membership.

      What do you get with the free version of Plenty of Fish? ›

      You can upload an image, edit your profile, search for users, and read and reply to messages. You can also view your matches, your favorites and the users who have viewed your profile. Our exclusive “Mobile Users” feature gives you access to singles near you who are also using our app.

      What is the penny method dating? ›

      The process of gradually ''cutting down'' on affection by a partner in a relationship while putting in a little effort and feelings once in a while to keep things steady is known as the penny method.

      Can I search for someone on Plenty of Fish? ›

      The basic search option is pretty easy to find inside the app. You can use it to look for whoever you want via username, location, education, and many of the other search features that were previously available to everyone. You can filter results according to age, workplace, zip code, and location.

      What are the rules of POF? ›

      Treat others how you expect to be treated.
      • Harassment. Don't be rude. ...
      • Violence and physical harm. You should never threaten to harm anyone through your words or physical actions. ...
      • Discriminatory behaviour and hate speech. ...
      • Be kind on your own profile. ...
      • Be kind in the messages you send.

      What do the hearts mean in POF? ›

      Interested in You is the best of both worlds, you get to see who has liked your profile and who has viewed your profile, so get swiping or tap Like on their profile (by tapping on the heart icon). To find your Interested in Me section on the App, click on the heart icon at the bottom of your screen.

      How to view POF for free? ›

      Tips for Finding Someone on POF Without Paying

      The first way is to try searching for the person by their username. If you know the person's username, you can enter it into the search bar on POF and see if their profile comes up. If it does, then you can view their profile without paying.

      Can you browse Plenty of Fish without signing up for free? ›

      In conclusion, yes, you can browse Plenty of Fish without signing up. However, to fully experience all the features and connect with other users on a deeper level, creating a POF account is the way to go. Just remember to stay safe and cautious when sharing personal information online.

      What is a free alternative to POF? ›

      The closest competitor to pof.com are mingle2.com, match.com and vidaselect.com. To understand more about pof.com and its competitors, sign up for a free account to explore Semrush's Traffic Analytics and Market Explorer tools.

      What dating site is totally free without payment? ›

      If you're looking to try dating via app-only platforms, some options with free features include Tinder, Hinge, Bumble and Grindr.

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