Sniffies gay mapping

Does Sniffies have an app?

For years, Sniffies existed only as a web and mobile browser experience, in part because Apple and Google have strict rules against sexually explicit content. The free version gives you access to the basics, but like most apps, the free tier comes with limits, including ads, restricted map access, and fewer tools for organizing your chats and hookups.

That means if you share face pics or nudes, they can be saved without your knowledge.

Sniffies said at the time that the removal was temporary, though the web app remains the platform’s “foundation” and is fully operational on any device. While that battle with Apple plays out, Sniffies has leaned into its web platform as its core product.

Located just off Santa Monica Blvd, Vaseline Alley is just the right amount of shady for some late cruising.

The app also includes privacy controls.

The Sniffies app was created by Blake Gallagher, a former architect who envisioned a platform that would digitize and modernize the spontaneous energy of cruising culture.

The ability to video call with the ‘LivePlay’ tool helps users to see if they vibe before meeting in-person, the platform explains.

User profiles involve a profile photo and certain details which specify what the individual is looking for. Check out the Sniffies map to see who will be there, or commit your profile to the location and see who shows up.

Cruise Vaseline Alley in Los Angeles on Sniffies

Tucker Booth photographed by Wes Smith 

Volunteer Park

Volunteer Park is located in Seattle, and, in fact, features several different areas that are perfect for cruising.

Still, safety ultimately depends on how you use the app. That can be a turn-off for some and exactly the point for others. Bots are another issue, though easy to spot and block. You’re going on there to find guys, have these intimate experiences…”.

The platform provides users with a real time map that is updated to show nearby Cruisers, popular meeting spots, and active groups.

But just two months later, in May 2025, Apple removed the app from its App Store due to “ongoing content restrictions.” Users who had already downloaded the app could continue using it, but new downloads were no longer possible. Together, these features give Sniffies a blend of the old-school cruising spirit with modern tech flexibility. Whether it’s a park, a locker room, or a public bathroom, cruising locations are hidden everywhere in plain sight.

While cruising locations used to be shared via word of mouth, today, the Sniffies map is the simplest way to find the best local cruising spots in your city — from bathhouses to gay bars.

Locals on the Sniffies map note that while the foliage near the tennis courts is enough cover for daytime cruising, the area by the tennis courts is best for night time action, as it’s out in the open. Yet, we keep logging on…

What’s changed recently

The biggest change in 2025 was the brief launch and quick removal of the official iOS app.

Just don’t expect long-term romance.

Beyond one-on-one hookups, Sniffies offers community features. The best value is the six-month option, which drops the rate down to $9.99 per month, though it does require paying upfront.

Cruise Buena Vista Park in San Francisco on Sniffies

Miguel Smith and Justice Carlone, photographed by Chris Fucile

The Ramble

Located in New York City’s Central Park, The Ramble has been a popular cruising location for decades.

A one-month subscription runs $19.99, while three months is $12.99 per month. In addition to its map-based cruising tool, Sniffies has branched out into editorial content, podcasts, and sexy, fashion-forward merchandise.

The best practice is to keep chats within the app, let a trusted friend know where you’re meeting, and protect yourself with tools like PrEP, condoms, or DoxyPEP if that’s available to you.