A word up front
I'm Nick Landreth, and I build Amarbis. So yes, my app is at the top of this list. I'm going to show you exactly why it belongs there.
Can free members talk?
On InternationalCupid, free members can only message paid members, and reading messages is a paid feature. If you and the person you like are both on the free plan, you can't really have a conversation.
On Amarbis, once you match, you can message each other as much as you want for free. No credits, no per-message charges.
Price
A single month of InternationalCupid Gold has been listed at about $41.50, and Platinum at about $50. Amarbis Basic is $4.99 a month in the US, and Plus is $9.99.
Translation and language
InternationalCupid is available in 32 languages, and translating messages is a paid feature. Amarbis is available in 53 languages, and every member gets free chat translations every month, with more on each paid plan.
Choosing where to meet people
On Amarbis, you set your destination: one country, a region, a single city or the whole world. If you want someone from Buenos Aires or Addis Ababa, you can look right there.
Who's on the other side of the screen
Every Amarbis profile needs a real face photo and a real location, and I review profiles myself before they go live.
The verdict
If you want to talk to the people you match with without paying first, Amarbis is the clear choice.