Scruff Review September 2026
- More than 12 million members worldwide
- Swiping and advanced search for matches
Scruff in 10 seconds
- Scruff is a safe and reliable social application where gay, bi, trans, and queer guys can connect
- Works by suggesting potential matches where users swipe left or right or by using the app's advance search tool
- Scruff used to be a hookup-based app, but it has evolved into a more than fling dating app and has concentrated on serious relationships
- The app enables friendships, networking, dating, and no-strings-attached sex
- Scruff has a community of more than 12 million members all over the world
- Most members are from the United States - Learn more here
- The app has many advertisements
- The app is available for iOS and Android users
- Offers general free services and options to upgrade - Learn more here
“Registration on Scruff is painless and secure enough that you're sure there are minimal to no fake profiles floating around the app. The special features are engaging, the users are active and 100% real, and we can foresee members using the site for a prolonged amount of time. ”
Who is Scruff for, and not for?
- For GBTQs who are looking for friendships and profound connections
- For gays, bisexuals, trans, and queer singles who are looking for casual dating with no strings attached
- For GBTQs who are looking for their perfect matches
- Individuals who are looking for transactional relationships like sugar daddies/mommies/babies
- Not for lesbians seeking fun sex and casual hookups
- Not for straight singles who are looking for love
Scruff pros & cons
- Provides useful blogs and forums for the GBTQ+ community
- The app is available in 10 languages
- Has a global gay companion that alerts users on the safety of their destinations
- Most Scruff profiles are incomplete and don't have photos
- The app crashes when used simultaneously with other applications
- The pop up advertisements hinder the user's dating experience
How does Scruff work?
- Enhance your profile with multiple photos, detailed personal information, and hashtags to express your interests
- Send a Woof to show interest in another user's profile
- Upgrade to access premium features like advanced browsing, unlimited messaging, and an ad-free experience
Scruff is a social networking app designed for gay, bi, trans, and queer individuals to connect with each other. It facilitates connections within the LGBTQ+ community through customizable profiles, location-based browsing, and diverse communication tools. Its unique features, such as "Woofs," event discovery, and travel planning, enhance user interaction and engagement.
What it really costs
Compared with other dating services, Scruff is average-priced.
| Plan | Duration | Per month | Total | Notice period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scruff Pro | 1 month | 14.99 USD | 14.99 USD | 1 day |
| Scruff Pro | 3 months | 13.33 USD | 39.99 USD | 1 day |
| Scruff Pro | 12 months | 10.00 USD | 119.99 USD | 1 day |
Pricing proof
Can you try Scruff for free?
- You can test Scruff free of charge
- You can at least read a message for free to try the service
Free services
- Using the site without an account
- Profile creation
- Browsing profiles
- Sending, receiving, and reading messages
- Responsiveness insights (View how often they respond to messages)
Paid services
- No ads
- Up to 1,000 guys nearby
- Unlimited private album sharing
- Advanced grid sorting (Sort by date, distance, or last online)
- Browse anonymously
- Unlimited search and filters
Scruff can be used perpetually even without a paid subscription. However, there are some unique and a lot of interesting Scruff Pro features. Some of the ones not listed above are: being able to unsend messages, protecting your privacy by hiding your profile from the Global Grid, and turning off push notifications while you sleep.
The most unique one is the intersect toggle for the search bar. For example, you ticked both Twink and Drag in the "He is" field of your search criteria. If your intersect is OFF, you will see profiles that are Twink and Drag, Twink only, and Drag only. If your intersect is ON, you will only see profiles who are Twink and Drag; not Twink only or Drag only.
Payment options
Member numbers you find online are usually very inaccurate, so we estimate how many people are really on Scruff from traffic data and interest in the service, updated monthly. (2026-09)
Gender proportion: 10% ♀ / 90% ♂
Scruff age range and age distribution
- Scruff members have wide range of interests
- All users are members of the LGBTQ+ community
- Most members are from the United States
- Some members are travellers or are living around the neighborhood
- Claims to have no fake members or bots
Scruff members are gays, bisexuals, trans, and queers who are looking for fun hookups or serious relationships. Scruff used to be a purely hookup app but it has evolved to cater for singles who are looking for deep commitments.
Most of the members are from the United States and it has a growing population from different countries as well. The app is available in ten languages so you will find members from other races and cultures too. The members are mostly in their early 20s and 30s.
Find out if Scruff is the right service for you or if there are better options.
Scruff in detail
Signing up at Scruff ★★★★★ 3.0/5
- You must be at least 18 years old to sign up
- You must sign up to browse Scruff
To sign up, visit the Scruff website or download the Scruff app, available on iOS and Android. To complete the registration, provide all required information.
Required information
- Name
- Date of birth
Optional information
- Profile picture upload
Scruff verifies new profiles via:
- Phone number verification (required)
Making contact on Scruff ★★★★★ 3.0/5
- Instead of a chat, you can send a Woof - "the Scruff way of saying hey"
- You can message anyone, anytime
- Different modes of communication available: a text message, a GIF, a photo, or a snapshot of your location
- You can tick a box on their profile if you're interested in meeting the other user
You can send a message to anyone, anytime. Matching with them or payment are not required. If you're tired of saying boring "Hey"s or you've run out of pick up lines, you can click on the Paw button. This sends a Woof and notifies the user. You now have their attention, and they can send the first chat if they like what they see.
There's a special choice on the bottom of a user's profile that lets you tick appropriate boxes whether you're interested in meeting them or not. If you like each other, Scruff will notify you both. Within the chatbox, you can send someone a text message, a GIF (powered by GIPHY), photos and videos, or your current location. Very convenient and useful for hook-ups.
Profile quality ★★★★★ 3.0/5
- You can be categorised into 'communities'
- A partner (boyfriend, husband, etc.) can be linked if they have an existing Scruff account
- Nudity is forbidden in profile photos but not in private albums
- Profiles on the grid are organised into Online, New members, and Most Woof'd
- Other users' responsiveness insights are viewable
- Profile pictures are visible to everybody for free
The communities available are (and hold on to your seats because we're including every single one): Bear, Muscle, Guy next door, Geek, Jock, Daddy, Poz, Leather, Discreet, College, Otter, Military, Queer, Chub, Chaser, Twink, Bisexual, Transgender, and Drag. You can tick multiple ones. How often other members respond to messages can be viewed for free.
By clicking the lock icon on someone's profile, you are giving them access to your private album. They will receive a notification when you do this. Alternately, someone else can go to your profile and give you access to their private album. Profile notes (only visible to you) can be added on other accounts, but you have to subscribe to Scruff Pro to avail of this feature.
The Scruff app
- Scruff is available for iOS and Android users
- The app is free to download
- Crashes when used simultaneously with other applications
- Easy to use
- Has no desktop version
Scruff has an available mobile application that is free to download from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The app crashes when used simultaneously with other applications and has many advertisements that hinder the user's dating experience.
Although it has several glitches, Scruff still remains a top-rated app for GBTQs.
Our field test ★★★★★ 4.0/5
I've been using Scruff for a while now and I can say that I'm really satisfied with the services. The app help me meet a lot oof friends who are like me. I never felt judged and I never met mean people so far. I was able to express myself and accept myself because of Scruff. I always recommend it to my other friends. Currently, I'm dating someone who I met on the site. I really hope this will last. -Brandon, 30
Scruff is a good app, not to mention that it's free. The members also respect each other and those who are not into flings and hookups can actually feel safe and not be violated when chatting other members. You just have to be straightforward about your expectations. There might still be some things that the app can improve. But so far, I am enjoying it already. -Michael, 28
Special features
Scruff Match +
The common swipe-right-to-like, swipe-left-to-ignore matching system of many a dating app. The profiles presented are based on your "Open To" detail. If you're open to dating, you will only see guys who are also open to dating. This is nothing groundbreaking, although there are several functions available that aren't in famous apps. First, you can tap on the photo to view the details of that user's profile. Second, you can select the clock icon if you're unsure - the profile will be presented to you again on the following day.
Scruff Venture +
Scruff Venture is touted as the "global gay travel companion". It is an informative and helpful tool that will help you if you're going to be visiting a foreign city. You are presented with different cities from all over the world (you can add your own, as well). If you click on a city, you will see currently online guys from that city, currently visiting, visiting soon, and ambassadors. You can view a list of upcoming events in the city. There is also a compilation of rooms available for rent, uploaded by Scruff guys themselves (like a gay Airbnb).
Scruff Events +
These are listings of all the events near you (exact distance can be modified as you please). You can see the number of members who have RSVP'd to the event and the popularity of the event by the number of flame icons (3 being the most popular). Scruff Events can be organised by location, popularity, and whether it's sponsored by Scruff or not.
Cancelling your Scruff subscription
How you can cancel
- Via the app store's subscription management
Contact details
| Company | Perry Street Software, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Address | Bryant Park, Manhattan, New York, NY 10018 |
| support@scruff.com |
Do subscriptions auto-renew?
Subscriptions renew automatically, cancel at least 1 day before your current term ends.
Money-back guarantee
- Scruff does not offer a money-back guarantee
Scruff FAQ
When was Scruff created?
The company was created in 2010.
Who owns Scruff?
Scruff is privately held by Perry Street Software, Inc.
Who uses Scruff?
Scruff is used by a community of over 12 million gay, bisexual, trans, and queer men all over the world.
How does Scruff work?
After you create your account, you'll be matched with guys who have similar interests as you. You can also view events in the area and have a handy guide by the GBTQ community for when you're travelling to a different city.
Can I see who viewed my profile?
Yes. Just click on the Paw button at the very top of the Scruff homepage. You will see who sent you Woofs and who viewed your profile.
How does Scruff match me with another guy?
Your matches are based on what you put in your "Open To" section. If you only clicked networking, you will be matched with guys who also clicked networking.
How do I make a private album?
On the homepage, swipe left to see the main menu. Click on your profile photo to get redirected to the Profile Editor. Click on your photo again and you will see a pop-up that says "Would you like to edit your public profile photo or upload a photo to your Private Album?". Select the "Private" option and upload your photos.
How can I block someone?
Go to their profile, click on the three dots on the top right, then choose between "Block" or "Report".
How many blocks do I have?
Free members get 150 blocks while Scruff Pro users have up to 4,000.
What do the Scruff icons mean?
A green icon on someone's profile means online, orange means recently online (active 2 - 24 hours ago), and gray means inactive (active more than 24 hours ago). You can find out more if you look up "Icon Guide" on the Scruff Support website.
What does the leaf mean?
The leaf icon on someone's profile means that they are a new member - someone who joined Scruff within the last 2 weeks.
What does the gray dot mean?
The gray dot means the user was last active more than 24 hours ago.
Is Scruff free?
Downloading the app and most of its basic features are free. But you can also get additional features if you pay for Scruff Pro.
What is Scruff Pro?
Scruff Pro is the premium version of Scruff. By paying for a package, you can access additional features in different time frames.
How much is Scruff Pro?
A one-month subscription starts at $14.99.
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