GROWLR: Gay Bears Near You

GROWLR: Gay Bears Near You

Meet, Date, and Chat

50K ratings
1705 reviews
With Ads#96 in top-grossing Social Networking
🌟 Lifestyle
🌐 Social Networking
Free
In-App PurchasesWith Ads

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • November 25, 2010
  • August 26, 2026

Features

GROWLR: Gay Bears Near You screenshot #1 for iPhone
GROWLR: Gay Bears Near You screenshot #2 for iPhone
GROWLR: Gay Bears Near You screenshot #3 for iPhone
GROWLR: Gay Bears Near You screenshot #4 for iPhone
GROWLR: Gay Bears Near You screenshot #5 for iPhone
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About

Connect with Bears and Bear Chasers globally. This app facilitates meeting new people, dating, and chatting through instant messages, video calls, and photo sharing. Discover local and international events, bars, and runs.

Meet Bears and Bear Chasers
Global community
Instant messaging
Live video calls
Event listings (Bear Runs, Bars)
Photo and video sharing
Check-in features
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What users say

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What's New in GROWLR

16.50.1

August 26, 2026

- Bug fixes and performance optimizations

Subscription plans

GROWLr PRO Membership

Become a PRO member and enjoy: 100 More "Nearby" Bears 100 More "Online" Bears 100 More Bears in Galleries 100 More Favorites 100 More Blocks Ad-Free Browsing

$3.991 Month
How to cancel GROWLR subscription ⁉️
3

In-App Purchases

$4.99

SHOUT! (5 Miles)

SHOUT! (5 Miles)

Charts

Top Grossing

This app rose +1 position in Social Networking chart.

Last updated on September 12, 2026.

User reviews

Video Call Not Working

What happened to video calls? New format / update regularly doesn’t connect video calls. Screen sits on “connecting” for both users. Rarely connects. No other changes to cell service, WiFi, etc…. Just the app update. Will have to discontinue use if not fixed.

Mostly terrible

-Super dated interface. I was off the app for literally 10 years, and the interface hasn’t/has barely been updated at all.
-Badge for new messages on phone Home Screen rarely works correctly. Force closing the app is the only thing that TEMPORARILY fixes this.
-Search does not work correctly.
-Literal cities and towns are not accessible in Search.
-Exact user names do not pull up any profiles in Search.
-Messages aren’t time stamped.
-Messages often go missing to then appear days later.
-Messages are saved locally I guess, which means if you get a new phone or have to reinstall, you lose ALL of your message history. What app still does this? Makes no sense.
-Added the useless live feature that no one asked for before improving the functionality of the regular chat.
-Little connection between the live function and the regular chat function. If this was intentional (WHY?) then they should have just made Live a separate app. It certainly looks and functions like something not related to regular chat.
-Screen names can be different in live versus regular chat making it hard to find people you want to chat with outside of the live public room (because Search is so shoddy).
-Links on guys in live chat DO NOT link back to the guy’s main profile so getting a message to them outside the public live channel is near impossible (partly because their Search function is so broken).
-The one good thing to note is GROWLR’s users, but if the app had a sleeker, more user friendly UI (that worked), they’d have even more users. Look at Scruff’s user count. It’s because they stayed current.
-It’s sad what GROWLR has become. The Meet Group needs to do better.
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The best

The best thing ever happened since sliced bread

Good app

Try to call won’t work

Face ID

Working now

User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

5 issues

Messages not delivering or disappearing

Bug

Notification issues and inconsistencies

Bug

Crashes when switching between apps

Bug

Profile photo upload problems

Bug

Incorrect distance/location display

Bug

Requested Features

6 requests

Dark mode option

Feature

Ability to send multiple photos at once

Feature

Better message syncing across devices

Feature

Improved location tracking and nearby user display

Feature

More granular profile customization options

Feature

Enhanced moderation and spam/bot detection

Feature

FAQ

What is GROWLR?

GROWLR is a social networking application designed for gay men who identify as Bears and for those who are attracted to Bears (Bear Chasers). It allows users to connect, chat, and meet people within this specific community globally.

What are the key features of GROWLR?

Key features include meeting other Bears and Bear Chasers, instant private messaging, live video calls, photo and video sharing, and an events section with listings for Bear Runs and Bear Bars. It also offers check-in features and notes.

Is GROWLR free to use?

The app is free to download and use, offering core features for connecting and chatting. However, it also offers a 'GROWLR PRO' membership with subscription options for enhanced features, which can be purchased within the app.

Who can use GROWLR?

GROWLR is exclusively for males aged 18 years or older. The app focuses on connecting gay men within the Bear community and those who appreciate them.

How can I find events or places to meet people?

GROWLR features an Events section that provides up-to-date listings for Bear Runs and Bear Bars. This section helps users discover gatherings and venues relevant to the Bear community, both locally and internationally.