Yes, they will. Do what works for you. As someone who entered the dating pool at 45 after a longterm marriage, I didn't have another way of meeting people. My workspace, gym, and tennis club didn't offer up any natural opportunities. Many of us who have used the apps can relate to your experience of feeling hopeless and frustrated with the pool of people out there. In that pool, there are some genuine fish such as yourself looking for a meaningful connection. The stars need to be aligned to find it. I was lucky enough to meet my boyfriend in the two weeks that I had paid for a subscription. He on the other hand, has been on different apps, on and off, looking for many years.