When does cruush open beta start?
cruush open beta starts July 31, 2026 in NYC first. Other city requests help decide where the map opens next.
FAQ
faq
Short answers for the waitlist, the open beta, the first-500 offer, city requests, privacy, and what is still a preview.
What do the first 500 signups get?
The first 500 waitlist signups get one free month of cruush+ and a 15% ticket coupon code for THOTOGRAPHY 101.
What will stay free?
Viewing the map and messaging users will always be free. cruush+ starts at $9.99 weekly, with a $18.99 one-month plan, a three-month plan at $11.99 per month, and a six-month plan at $9.99 per month for people who want full filter access, local feed posting, to see everyone who has a cruush on them, I'm Feeling Lucky, to see all profile views, and Stealth Mode.
Why NYC first?
NYC has the density, movement, and queer overlap a map-first product needs. A strong first city makes cruush better before it expands.
Can I request another city?
Yes. Use Request another city on the homepage. You can enter a city, state, or country, and you can add multiple city requests with semicolons.
Is the map final?
No. The map preview is illustrative and may not reflect the final product. It shows the intended direction: dark map, heart pins, last-active context, layers, and profile previews.
What privacy controls are planned?
cruush launches with visibility controls that decide who can see you, Ghost Mode that randomizes your shown location inside a chosen radius, T4T, Sapphic, and Gay Crowds that let you be visible only inside Crowds you choose without showing those Crowds on your profile, hidden recently active status, hiding yourself from new users, block, report, private messaging, and encrypted photos. We will never sell your data.
Is cruush end-to-end encrypted?
Not in the open beta. The goal is to apply it where it makes the product safer without weakening reliability, moderation, account recovery, or user safety. cruush uses server-side encryption at rest for sensitive data, including messages and photos at open beta launch, with separate server-side keys for different data types and purposes, authenticated encryption to detect tampering, and versioned key derivation. Login sessions use 256-bit random tokens, with only hashed session tokens stored server-side. This lets cruush support matching, visibility controls, account recovery, moderation, and abuse prevention during beta. We plan to evaluate end-to-end encryption after launch.
How do trust scores and reporting work?
cruush uses reporting, blocked keywords, and trust scores to reduce harassment, illegal material, soliciting, chasers, spam, and consent violations. Blocked keywords help filter messages and local feed posts, while trust scores can affect access to features like Crowds.
How does cruush protect Crowds and Ghost Mode?
Your Crowd selection and Ghost Mode are designed to ensure that only eligble, authorized users can see you on the map. New users and users with low trust scores cannot use Crowds, and gender/Crowds can only be changed once every 30 days.
How specific can search get?
cruush is planned around a huge variety of gender options, plus search by gender presentation, kink, vibes, timing, hosting status, and more.
How will explicit content work?
At launch, DL Mode blurs NSFW photos across the app. You can control who gets to send NSFW nudes, who can see your nudes, and whether full nude reveals are limited to mutual cruushes.
Will cruush be a native app?
No native app is planned for the core product. cruush is browser-first so people can open it fast and so adult-web realities can be handled directly.
Who is building cruush?
cruush is being built by a small team of queer developers, designers, and community members who are passionate about creating a safe and inclusive space for queer connections.
Who is funding cruush?
cruush is being funded by a combination of personal investment from the founding team, private investors, and support from early backers who believe in our vision.