GROWLR: Gay Bears Near You 17+

Aside from the formatting of some of the features it’s definitely a good alternative if you’re a bit on the heavier side. Or even if you’re just into bigger guys. Honestly the only things I would complain about are sort of nit picky. I don’t love the color scheme, and the way you get to some of the features.

I think a darker theme could be cool, like a night mode or something. Or the option to customize the color scheme or something. Just something to set this app apart a bit more. Make the other devs jealous lol idk.

Honestly my primary issue right now is one I’m not sure of the cause for, but it’s probably just me. When I’m using my Data I can get on just fine. But using my moms home Wifi it won’t get off of the load screen. And I don’t have this issue with any other apps. Though, Bumble can’t locate me, and I don’t have cell service at my moms place. So I can’t just use data. So, that kinda hinders my usage of the app for the moment. But oh well I guess. That’s probably just a me problem.

This app is good for bigger guys and those that can appreciate them, lately though there’s been a little more of everything here so honestly, if you’re looking for an alternative give this app a shot. That said, the features are what you would expect for an app like this, a grid with people nearby, basic messaging, video calls, and now a great live platform. However, the messaging and photos sections of this app need A LOT of work… first thing I’d like to see is photo watermarking. If you’re going to have an explicit save function, even in private media or in messaging, a watermark is very necessary. If someone decides to run with these pics, yeah I know bad on me for putting them out in the first place, but I’d like to know if that person was at least snagging them from here, and not just a spiteful ex or something. Also multiple profile pictures would be GREAT… I’m tired of having to add more photos to my private album just for someone to ask me to unlock, thinking they’re going to get a sneaky peek and then be rude when it’s just face. The messaging is very basic, which is fine, but an aesthetic overhaul there and throughout the app would be appreciated. Especially a dark mode! I’m tired of going blind at night 😅

Aside from these complaints, this is probably one platform I actually feel accepted and comfortable on. People are generally respectful of boundaries, and it’s just a great place to chat and meet new people. 😁

So when Growlr launched, the user had access to a lot more features, such as several hundred profiles, etc. as time went on, the app developers retracted and limited most of a free users access to those features behind a premium access paywall. I’m of the opinion that if you give users something, you should not take away features but rather innovate new features and charge for those. So because of that, I give Growler devs fairly low marks for being shady.

Fast forward to now, the chat feature is interesting because it’s clearly an odd combination of only fans, just for fans, and a chat feature without the sex…. On an app that’s ostensibly designed to get men together… for relationships and the idea of sex because well, we’re men.

My objection to this feature is this, people pay money to collect coins to spend on tipping content creators who are being entertained via this app. The developers don’t want the app to become a den of sleaze and sex, which is understandable but the app is designed to get horny men together to have sex. Then you have the bans. When people pay real money and then you ban them and effectively take that money away, that’s underhanded. I don’t hear of people being compensated after they get banned so it’s developers just taking peoples money without remuneration. That’s predatory at best. Fraudulent under the guise of being a puritanical watchdog.