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 Review New Zealand October 2026
Scruff is a dating app for GBTQ men - gay, bisexual, trans, and queer. All about Scruff in New Zealand.
4.0very good
Scruff is a dating app for gay, bisexual, trans and queer men looking for casual sex or long term relationships
- More than 12 million members worldwide
- Swiping and advanced search for matches
Casual dating
Hookups
Flirts
Is Scruff right for me?
last updated
Members in New Zealand60,000
Women / Men
10% 90%
From$16.66/mo
Age
Scruff New Zealand 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
Is Scruff right for you?
Find out if Scruff is the right service for you or if there are better options.
Better than Scruff
Who is Scruff for, and not for?
Scruff is 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
…and not for
- 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
What Scruff really costs in New Zealand
Compared with other dating services, Scruff is average-priced.
Scruff Pro
12 Month subscription with the same Pro features. You pay 199.98 NZD up front, and it renews unless you cancel.Total
1 month
24.98 NZD / month
24.98 NZD
3 months
22.22 NZD / month
66.65 NZD
12 months
16.66 NZD / month
199.98 NZD
Our pick: 12 Month costs 16.67 NZD per Month, 33% less per Month than the first row. It is the cheapest way to get the full Pro features for a year.
Scruff costs last updated on Oct 17, 2026
Payment options in New Zealand
Credit CardVia Mobile Phone
No anonymous payment.With Scruff you cannot pay anonymously, the charge appears on your bank statement.
On your bank statement
Apple, Google, or Stripe processes the charge
Scruff costs screenshot
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.
Free vs. paid services in New Zealand
FeatureFreeScruff Pro
Using the site without an account
includedincluded
Profile creation
includedincluded
Browsing profiles
includedincluded
Sending, receiving, and reading messages
includedincluded
Responsiveness insightsView how often they respond to messages
includedincluded
No ads
not includedincluded
Up to 1,000 guys nearby
not includedincluded
Unlimited private album sharing
not includedincluded
Advanced grid sortingSort by date, distance, or last online
not includedincluded
Browse anonymously
not includedincluded
Unlimited search and filters
not includedincluded
In the free account you can create a profile, browse profiles, read and send messages, and see responsiveness insights. You can also use the site without an account.
Is Scruff right for me? →
How to cancel your Scruff subscription →
Is Scruff right for me?Who is signed up on Scruff in New Zealand?
Exclusively on DatingScout: online member numbers for dating services are usually far off, so we estimate how many people are really on Scruff from traffic data and interest, updated monthly, with history.
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.
1,640-76%
Rough estimate of active members
20,000
Weekly active members in New Zealand
60,000
Members in New Zealand
4.5
App Store rating in New Zealand
4.1
Google Play rating worldwide
7k
2k
2k
3k
2k
2k
MayJunJulAugSepOct
Estimated active members, last 6 months
Gender
21%
18-24
31%
25-34
22%
35-44
15%
45-54
12%
55+
Age of members
Where Scruff is most popular in New Zealand
Strongest regions
- Wellington100%
- Canterbury61%
- Auckland59%
Last data update: October 2026
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
Signing up at Scruff
★★★★★ 3.0/5
Sign up with
Email & password
Where
Website, iOS and Android app
Minimum age
18
Browse without an account
No
Required information
- Name
- Date of birth
Optional information
- Profile picture upload
Verification
No verification is required to sign up at Scruff.
Making contact on Scruff
★★★★★ 3.0/5
- 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
- Everybody can send messages for free
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 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
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
Finding people 1
Scruff MatchFree
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.
Community and events 2
Scruff VentureFree
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 EventsFree
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.
Final results
4.0very good
“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. ”
Is Scruff right for me?
tested October 2026
Signup3.0
Making contact3.0
Profile quality3.0
Field test4.0
Overall4.0/ 5
Alternatives: Better than Scruff
Compare Scruff with other dating sites
Scruff experience reports
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.
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.
You did not find your question? Ask us!
Thank you for your question. We will answer it as soon as possible.
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 can sign up at Scruff without a phone number.
- Can you erase your personal data on Scruff?
- Yes, Scruff provides an option for users to erase their data.
Why can you trust us?
- We have been testing and publishing online dating reviews for over 17 years
- We have carefully reviewed over 3,579 dating services
- Our dating site reviews and results are objective and independent in contrast to many other comparison sites
- We update our reviews every month based on new site/app offerings and feedback from our readers
- We are the Author of the Book "Online Dating for Dummies" - read more on our About Us page
- Our Dating Experts are constantly cited by press and TV outlets, find out more here
Founder of DatingScout and Author of the book "Online Dating for Dummies"
Chris founded DatingScout 17 years ago, and today he is one of the leading Online Dating Experts. He is the author of the book "Online Dating for Dummies" and the author of the Internet's largest online dating study analyzing 20 Million Profile Pictures with artificial intelligence. Chris Pleines holds a master degree in media science and appeared in numerous television interviews and publications to give expert advice as well as tips about online dating.