While people think that it’s easier to date if you’re gay (because guys just get each other you know?), that is far from reality. Dating in the gay scene can be pretty hard especially if you’re looking for anything remotely more serious than a one-night stand. Plus, there is a lot of body and race issues that are present in the gay community as a lot of people disguise their prejudice as preference when it comes to dating.
Grindr is one of the apps where you can see this blatant discrimination first hand which has lead to a lot of people (mostly gay men or trans people who don’t fit neatly into a hot, white, physically fit box) have decided to leave Grindr and seek out other apps. SCRUFF is one of those other apps – along with Gaydar – that has surfaced in Grindr’s wake.
So, is SCRUFF really that different from Grindr? Or is it a total let down? Read on to find out what I think!
First Impressions
SCRUFF doesn’t really bill itself as a dating site. When you go onto their website they ask you to “Join their community of 12+ million guys”. So SCRUFF is more than a dating app? Okay, let’s investigate this claim a little more.
Not only does SCRUFF have their dating service but on the app you can find the “Venture” and “Events” tab. “Venture” is a travel companion for gays. It helps you get in touch with guys where you’re visiting and helps you ask for tips. You can chat with other men before you get there and make sure you’re making gay-friendly decisions on where you’re staying or going out.
Under the “Events” tab is where you can find events that are powered by SCRUFF. This is a great place to find an up-to-date agenda of GBTQ parties, events, festivals, etc. They also offer free SCRUFF Pro (which is their premium membership) by RSVPing and attending SCRUFF recommended events.
I’d say they definitely follow through on that promise that they’re a community, not just a dating app.
Features
SCRUFF looks like a lot of dating apps when you’re looking at the match screen. You’re met with a grid of guys who are near you based on your location. From there you can look through them and start conversations. They promise that they remove bots so you shouldn’t be met with spam. You can also filter your search results and chat with people from around the world without upgrading.
In addition to the match screen, you can find “Venture” and “Events” down at the bottom. That’s where you can explore the rest of the SCRUFF community. It’s super easy to navigate, and the layout is pretty streamlined if you think about how much this app can actually do. I’d say they did a pretty good job when it came to the design.
Pricing and membership details
Okay, now let’s talk about upgrades. Their premium membership is called SCRUFF Pro. This allows you a few different perks that you wouldn’t ordinarily get as a basic member. They promise you access to 30+ features, but there are only eight specifically listed on their site. These features include things like having access to more guys on your grid and advanced grid sorting.
In addition to an ad-free experience, you’ll also get advanced search and filters as well as unlimited chat history, the ability to send and receive videos, and the ability to browse anonymously in Stealth mode.
All in all, this seems like what most sites make you upgrade to. But like most dating apps you’ll be able to get the job done without blowing a ton of money on a membership.
Pros
Community!: The way that SCRUFF has set itself apart from the rest of the dating apps that you might find, is because of the community aspect. There are very few apps that allow you to chat with people about things like events and travel. These are usually things you’d find in the kink community but are also very indicative of the gay community.
I love that you can find events, dates, and travel tips all on one site. And all of these features make sense together on one site. Why? Because think about what you’re looking for at events or when you’re traveling (especially if you’re single): sex. This is such a great way to connect with people before and during events.
NO DICK PICS, NO MYSTERIOUS CROTCHES, NO TENTED BOXERS: If you’re anything like me, you like when things are left up to the imagination. When I’m trolling through a dating app I usually hate when guys pot a ton of pictures of their bodies… but the one thing I hate more is when men think that their crotch is an appropriate profile picture. That’s the kind of stuff you can send to me in private…
More inclusive: This site definitely goes to great lengths to make sure that you’re not going to get dick pics all over your grid, but they also make sure to put out a very inclusive vibe out to its user base. When you go online, they don’t preach about inclusivity, but they use men of varying body types, ethnicities, and ages to market the site.
They also have an entire tab on their website that links out to LGBQT resources. This is an app that not only cares about getting you laid but they care about keeping you safe and keeping you connected with the gay community. Now, this is the content that I like to see!
Cons
Are there cons?…: Honestly, I’m at a loss for word when it comes to coming up with some cons for this site. The only thing I can think of is that they aren’t as popular as Grindr so you’re likely to find fewer people on this site… but then again SCRUFF has become very popular… I think that the only way that their slightly more limited user base would affect you is if you’re in the middle of butt fuck (ha, get it?) nowhere.
To be completely honest, I love this gay dating app. I really can’t find anything terrible to say about them.
Conclusion
I fucking love SCRUFF (both the app and on a man). I think that this app is paving the way for gay dating because there is a lot more to being gay than getting with dudes. Sure, that’s a huge part of it. But at the same time, there’s a huge gay community that is inherently connected with the dating and casual sex scene. I think that this app does a great job of connecting gay dating, gay traveling, and gay events with one fairly easy to use app.
5/5 Stars.