Absolutely! My free encounters make 50-80% of all encounters. It's possible in Pattaya as well, I had several there. All from apps, chance encounters in real life 1-2% for me.
But it takes some time (the boy might have free time only once per week), travel, fringe expenses. Some of them don't speak English (no problem for me). And there is the problem of reproducibility. A few of these encounters were great, and I want a repeat! But the boy is busy with work or other things, or we lose contact. In these cases I wish he were asking for money, so I can have him whenever I want!