I Tried This Dating Site Out of Curiosity… What Happened Next Surprised Me

By Jake Thompson | Brisbane, QLD
Updated March 18, 2026

Jake, 28, found success after almost giving up on traditional apps.

I’m going to be honest—I’ve never been great at online dating. After moving to Brisbane, I spent more time scrolling through my phone than actually meeting people.

I tried the usual big-name apps, but it felt like a second job. Swiping, ghosting, and half the profiles felt fake. I was about ready to throw in the towel.

Then last month, I found Nearbyalert. It felt different—more "real" and focused specifically on Australians who wanted to connect without the games.

REAL-TIME UPDATE

2,450 Australians joined in the last 24 hours

Out of curiosity, I signed up. It took less than two minutes. The first thing I noticed? The messages were actually regular people. No "copy-paste" openers. I started chatting with Sarah, who lived just 10 minutes away.

"Hey! I saw you're also in South Brisbane?"

"Yeah! Just moved here actually."

"Nice! You should check out the coffee at the corner..."

"You look familiar, did we meet at the park?"

"Maybe! I'm there often."

Long story short, we met up that weekend. It’s been three weeks, and I haven’t felt the need to open another dating app since.

What others are saying

"Honestly the best app I've used in Melbourne. Actually met real girls who wanted to hang out." - Mark R., Melbourne

"Found my current partner here in Sydney! It's way more relaxed than the usual big apps." - Chloe L., Sydney