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Scruff Review

Scruff Review April 2024

DatingScout.com Author Chris Pleines
From: Chris Pleines
 • Reading Time: 4 minute(s)

Scruff is an online dating application created for gays, bisexuals, trans, and queers who are looking for casual sex or long-term relationships.

3,600,000 Members
 100 % ♂ 
Good For:
4 / 5
3 / 5
3 / 5
Success Rate:
100 / 10
38 / 10
33 / 10
Compare Scruff
Age Distribution:
18-24
25-34
35-49
50+

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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
  • You can use Scruff for free
  • Pricing starts at $10.00 / Month - More Information
DatingScout.com Author Chris Pleines
Chris Pleines
Founder of Dating Scout and Author of the book "Online Dating for Dummies"
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
Back to Overview

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 much does Scruff cost?

Can you try Scruff for free?

  • You can use or try the service for free.
  • All members can send messages for free
  • You can read the first messages in your inbox for free

Is Scruff expensive or cheap?

In comparison to other providers Scruff is average.

Duration / Credits / CoinsCostsTotal
Scruff Pro
1 Month14.99 USD / Month14.99 USD
3 Months13.33 USD / Month39.99 USD
12 Months10.00 USD / Month119.99 USD
Scruff Premium
Free Features
  • Using the site without an account
  • Profile creation
  • Browsing profiles
  • Sending, receiving, and reading messages
  • Responsiveness insights
    ?
    View how often they respond to messages
Premium Features
  • 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. 

How can I delete my Scruff account and cancel my subscription?

Please find more information here

Back to Overview

Who is signed up on Scruff?

Members
3,600,000 from USA
Members activity
800,000 active weekly
Gender Proportion
0 %
100 %
  • Scruff members have a wide range of interests
  • Members are gays, bisexuals, trans, and queers
  • 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.

Females
Males

Scruff Age Range and Age Distribution

  • 18-24
  • 25-34
  • 35-44
  • 45-54
  • 55+

New members at Scruff in April 2024 in comparison

Here you can see how membership figures at Scruff are developing compared to others

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Scruff in Detail

  • Reading time 16 minutes
  • Lots of insider information for more success

How to Sign Up for Scruff

Scruff Registration
  • Registration is free and quick
  • Location must be turned on before signing up
  • You can browse through profiles and features even without an account
  • Scruff will ask you to describe your profile photo
  • The only required fields are name, photo, email, password, and birthday - everything else is optional
  • You can be open to anything from networking to no-strings-attached affairs

The location that you input will be given a corresponding latitude and longitude through Google Maps. Once this is set up, you can only update your location once every 24 hours. Before you upload your profile photo, Scruff will ask "Will this be a face pic?". You have to choose between:

  • My face is clearly visible
  • Only my body is visible
  • I'm not in the photo

Unlike other apps, a face pic isn't necessarily required, but they will still ask you to define your photo. As we proceeded with the test, it became apparent that this was done to categorize accounts. Only profiles with a clearly visible face can be included in Scruff Match. The aforementioned 5 fields are the only required ones and you can leave the others blank. However, a complete and descriptive profile has more chances to be noticed by other guys.

Making Contact on Scruff

Scruff Message
  • Instead of a chat, you can send a Woof - "the Scruff way of saying hey"
  • Messages are free
  • You can tick a box on their profile if you're interested in meeting the other user
  • Sent text messages
  • Share a snapshot of your location
  • Send GIFs and photos
  • All members can send messages for free

You can send a message to anyone, anytime. Matching with them or payment is not required. If you're tired of saying boring "Heys" 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 hookups.

Scruff Profile Quality

Scruff male Profile
  • You can be categorized 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 organized into Online, New members, and Most Woof'd
  • Other users' responsiveness insights are viewable
  • Profile pictures are visible to everyone for free

The communities available are 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 to other accounts, but you have to subscribe to Scruff Pro to avail of this feature.

Since Scruff has stricter photo verification, it claims that there are few to zero fake accounts present on the app.

Scruff App

Scruff Match
  • 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.

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 organized by location, popularity, and whether it's sponsored by Scruff or not.

How can I delete my Scruff account and cancel my subscription?

Uninstalling the app will not cancel your subscription.

How can you cancel your Subscription?

  • You can cancel by managing your app store subscription

Will your subscription automatically renew?

  • Yes, your Scruff subscription will automatically renew. The notice period for opting out of automatic renewal is 1 Day.

Is there a money back guarantee and do you get refunded the full amount?

  • Usually you will not get back the full amount, it will be reduced by the time or credits you used for Scruff.

Scruff FAQ

Facts

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.

What is the average age of users on Scruff?

The average age of Scruff users is between 32-39 years. You can find more information here

Usability

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.

Payment

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.

Security

Does Scruff sell your data?

No, Scruff does not sell your data.

Was Scruff hacked in the past?

No, Scruff was never hacked.

How accurately does Scruff track your location?

Scruff tracks your approximate location.

Do your Scruff profile pictures or profile information appear in Google Search Results?

No, your Scruff photos and personal information will not appear in Google Search Results.

Who can view your pictures on Scruff?

All Scruff users can view your pictures.

Is your phone number required for signing up at Scruff?

No, you don't need a phone number to sign up on Scruff.

Can you erase your personal data on Scruff?

Yes, Scruff provides an option for users to erase their data.

How can I delete my Scruff account and cancel my subscription?

Costs

Can you try Scruff for free?

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  • We have been testing and publishing online dating reviews for over 15 years
  • We have carefully reviewed over 3,070 dating services
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  • Our Dating Experts are constantly cited by press and TV outlets, find out more here

Final Results table

Signing Up: 3.0 / 5
Making Contact: 3.0 / 5
Profile Quality: 3.0 / 5
Real Life Review: 4.0 / 5

More information on Scruff:

Scruff Experiences & OpinionsScruff vs GrindrCalculate Scruff-Members from your city now

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Contact details

Company:Perry Street Software, Inc.
Address:Bryant Park, Manhattan, New York, NY 10018
E-Mail:support@scruff.com
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