Krush Review 2026: Legit or Waste of Money?
The Krush dating app is legit: a real, verified-members app for Asian singles and people who want to date within the Asian community, run by a funded US startup and updated every few weeks. The free version is worth a try if you live in a big US city, but Krush Plus costs $29.99 to $39.99 a month on the App Store, and with a small user base and a tight daily profile limit, I would not pay until the free side shows you people nearby who answer.
What is Krush, and who runs it?
Krush (listed as “Krush - Asian Dating & Social”) is a mobile dating and social app built for the global Asian community: Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Thai and mixed-heritage singles, including second-generation and diaspora daters. It is made by Curelation, Co., the seller named on its App Store listing. The Google Play listing gives a Delaware business address (1111B S Governors Ave, Dover) and a New York phone number, and support at krush@curelation.co.
The company is small but real. Global Dating Insights reported in December 2024 that Krush raised seed funding (amount undisclosed) from Mashup Ventures, with founders Moon Kyung-shin and Hong Sung-min, to grow in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The app is actively maintained: the App Store shows version 5.9.0 released in early October 2026, and Google Play was updated October 6, 2026.
Two name traps: “Krush - dating with feeling” on Google Play is a different app, and the krushdates.com page on Trustpilot is a different site. This review is about the Curelation app at krushdating.co.
Who Krush is for (and is it only for Asians?)
Krush is built for Asian singles who want cultural common ground: shared heritage, a shared language, or someone who gets growing up between two cultures. It is not only for Asians. The Krush FAQ says people of any background are welcome, though profiles center cultural background, so it makes most sense if that context matters to how you date. One App Store reviewer who is not Asian reports getting no likes in three weeks, which is a fair warning about how niche the pool is.
It is also open to LGBTQ+ members: the FAQ lists Man, Woman and Non-binary, sexuality options from Straight to Gay, Lesbian and Queer, and same-gender matching. Its main markets, per the FAQ, are the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and Singapore. The App Store rates it 18+ and the interface is English only.
It suits you if you live in a large US metro with a big Asian community, want a serious relationship (dating goals sit on every profile), or like the idea of meeting people at events first. Skip it if you live in a small town, want lots of options every day, or are not interested in the cultural angle. For a broader pool of relationship-minded people, see my picks of serious dating apps.
How matching and messaging work on Krush
Krush is not a swipe-all-night app. According to its FAQ, you get curated recommendations built from your profile and preferences: cultural background, languages, interests, dating goals, MBTI personality and whether you want people nearby, abroad or both. A match happens when interest is mutual, and only then can you chat, so strangers cannot message you first.
- Profiles with depth: heritage, languages spoken, intent, MBTI, Asian zodiac, and a “From friends” endorsement that a friend can write for you.
- Global tab: browse Asian singles in other cities and countries (New York to Seoul, London to Sydney). Cross-border matching is free, per the FAQ.
- Sparks: Krush’s super like. It shows stronger interest and makes you more visible to that person.
- Chemistry score: a playful zodiac and MBTI compatibility score. Treat it as an icebreaker, not science.
- Events: Krush lists community events in some cities (Lunar New Year markets, mahjong nights, runs, parties) where you can see who is going. App Store reviewers who moved to New York single these out as the best part.
The trade-off of curation is volume. App Store and Google Play reviewers describe seeing roughly 3 to 8 profiles a day on the free plan before having to wait or pay. Krush’s own reply to one reviewer confirms that “the number of daily profiles is limited” on purpose.
The waitlist: how long does Krush approval take?
Everyone joins a waitlist after sign-up. Krush says it is a verification step, not a capacity queue, and it does not publish a set time: the FAQ says only that it is free, your profile is kept as built, and Krush Plus gets you through it sooner. In a developer reply on the App Store, Krush says delays come from incomplete profiles, unclear photos, a missing linked social account, or too few members matching your preferences in your area.
So the honest answer is: anywhere from quick to frustrating, and paying shortens it. To speed it up for free, use clear, recent face photos, fill in every profile field, and do not set narrow preferences. I would not pay for Plus just to skip the waitlist: you would be paying before knowing whether there are enough people near you.
Krush price: what Krush Plus really costs
Krush’s pricing page describes three ways to use the app (free, Hearts and Boost one at a time, or a Krush Plus subscription) but publishes no prices: it says they vary by country and points to the app stores. The US App Store lists these in-app purchases:
| Purchase | Price (App Store, US) | Works out to |
|---|---|---|
| Krush Plus, 1 month | $29.99 or $39.99 | $29.99 to $39.99 a month |
| Krush Plus, 3 months | $59.99 or $79.99 | $20.00 to $26.66 a month |
| Krush Plus, 6 months | $89.99 or $119.99 | $15.00 to $20.00 a month |
| Krush Plus Streak Promo, 1 month | $33.99 | one month |
| 5 Hearts | $14.99 | $3.00 per Heart |
| 10 Hearts | $24.99 | $2.50 per Heart |
| 1 Boost | $9.99 | one Boost |
Prices checked October 2026 on the Krush App Store listing. The listing shows two prices for each plan length and does not say which one a given member is offered; the price shown in the app before you confirm is the one that counts. Google Play does not show prices on its listing.
What Plus adds, per the pricing page: unlimited Sparks and chats with matches, everyone who liked you (sorted as you like), double the daily recommendations, full event guest lists, Undo, advanced preferences, no ads, and a faster route through the waitlist. Boost and extra recommendations stay separate one-time purchases even if you subscribe.
Is Krush free? What you get without paying
Yes, Krush is free to download and, per its pricing page, free to build a full profile, get recommendations, like, match and chat with matches, with “limits” on some activity that the page does not quantify. You do not need to enter payment details to try it. Free members see some ads.
Here is where the official line and users disagree. Krush says the core experience is free. App Store and Google Play reviewers say the free tier feels thin: a handful of profiles a day, likes you cannot see without paying, and chats that need Hearts when several conversations run at once. Both are true: you can match and talk for free, but slowly. One Google Play reviewer (January 2026) quotes Plus at “29.99 USD a week”; the App Store lists no weekly plan, so I would trust the store’s 1, 3 and 6 month prices and check the screen in the app before you buy.
Who should pay:
- You live in New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco, the free side shows you relevant people, and the daily limit is the only thing slowing you down: a 3 or 6 month plan is the cheaper per month.
- You date in bursts: a few Hearts to open a specific chat cost less than a month of Plus.
- You are outside a big metro or getting no likes after two weeks: do not pay. More visibility cannot create members who are not there.
Safety and verification on Krush
Krush’s strongest point is verification. Its Safety & Trust page says photo verification is required for every member before matching, backed by AI-assisted and community moderation and in-app reporting and blocking. The store description calls it AI-powered face verification. The FAQ adds that identity verification is available as an extra step, and that blocking someone does not notify them.
Krush is careful to say what verification is not: it shows that a member resembles their photos, which is “a useful signal, not an identity or safety guarantee.” That matters, because it does not stop a real person from running a scam.
Fake profiles and scams on Krush
Verified does not mean safe. A Google Play reviewer (March 2026) writes that both people who matched with them were scammers, and the top Reddit result for “Krush dating app” is a thread where a user says almost every match quickly asked to move to WhatsApp or Telegram. Pulling you off the app is the classic first step of a romance scam, as the FTC’s romance scam guide explains: once you leave, the app’s moderation cannot see what happens.
- Keep chatting inside Krush until you have met in person. You never need to give your phone number to chat.
- Never send money, gift cards or crypto, and walk away from any “investment” talk.
- Report and block from the profile or the chat. If money is involved, also report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, as the FTC advises.
- Meet in public the first time and tell a friend where you are going.
Privacy: what Krush collects
On the App Store, Curelation declares that identifiers may be used to track you across other companies’ apps, and that purchases, location, contact info, user content, usage data and sensitive info may be linked to your identity. Google Play’s data safety section says the app may share location with third parties, that data is not encrypted, and that you can request deletion. That is a lot for a small app; share only what you are comfortable with and keep identifying details (workplace, last name) off your profile.
What users complain about (and praise)
On the App Store, Krush has 4.3 stars from 1.7K ratings; on Google Play, 4.0 stars from 364 reviews and 10K+ downloads (both checked October 2026). The written reviews repeat the same pattern:
- Praised: verification and real-looking profiles, detailed profiles, and events, especially in New York.
- Paywall: limited daily profiles, likes hidden behind Plus, and one reviewer reporting zero matches in three weeks while being asked to pay about $40 a month.
- Small pool: Krush itself replied that it launched in New York and had fewer users in California; reviewers outside big cities call it empty.
- Filters: a June 2026 Google Play review says a 0 to 20 mile distance setting still showed people across the country.
- Approval delays: older reviews complain about long waits on the waitlist.
Krush replies to many App Store reviews, which is a decent sign that a real team is behind it.
Krush dating app pros and cons
Pros
- Built for Asian and diaspora daters, not a general app with an ethnicity filter.
- Photo verification required for everyone before matching.
- Free to match and chat; no payment details needed to try.
- In-person community events in some cities.
- Actively updated, with a reachable developer.
Cons
- Small user base, concentrated in a few big metros.
- Only a handful of profiles a day on the free plan.
- Expensive for its size: $29.99 to $39.99 for one month on the App Store.
- Waitlist with no stated time; paying speeds it up.
- Scam reports despite verification, and broad data collection.
How to cancel Krush Plus and delete your account
Krush does not bill you directly: subscriptions run through Apple or Google, so you cancel there. Deleting the app, or even your account, does not stop the billing.
- iPhone: in Settings, tap your name, then Subscriptions, choose Krush and tap Cancel Subscription (Apple’s steps).
- Android: go to your subscriptions in Google Play, select Krush and tap Cancel subscription (Google’s steps). Google notes that uninstalling the app does not cancel it, and you keep Plus until the paid period ends.
- Do it at least 24 hours before the period ends: the Google Play listing says Krush Plus renews automatically unless canceled by then.
- To delete your account, use the delete option inside the Krush app, as the FAQ describes, after canceling the subscription.
Refunds are handled by Apple or Google under their own rules, not by Krush. Krush’s Terms of Service page loads through a third-party script and its text could not be read in October 2026, so check it in the app before you subscribe.
Krush alternatives
- Hinge: a far bigger pool of relationship-minded daters. Better if Krush feels empty where you live.
- Bumble: large and mainstream, a sensible second app to run alongside Krush.
- Dil Mil: if you are South Asian and want a community-specific app with a longer track record.
- Pairs: a large Japan-based app, a better bet if you live in Japan or want to date there.
More options for long-term dating are in my serious dating apps guide.
How I rate it
I give Krush 3 out of 5. The rating is based on public pricing, features, safety tools, app store reputation and value, not on hands-on use. Safety and verification score 4 (mandatory photo verification, moderation, reporting, but scam reports remain). Features for its audience score 4 (cultural profiles, global matching, events). Transparency scores 3 (auto-renewal and cancellation are stated on the stores, but prices are not on the website and the App Store shows two prices per plan). Value for money scores 2.5 and evidence of an active user base 2.5: $29.99 to $39.99 a month is mainstream-app pricing for an app with 10K+ Android downloads and a pool centered on a few cities.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Krush dating app legit?
Yes. Krush is a real app made by Curelation, Co., a US startup that raised seed funding from Mashup Ventures in 2024, and it is updated every few weeks. Every member must pass photo verification before matching. Some users still report scammers, so keep chats in the app and never send money.
Is the Krush dating app only for Asians?
No. Krush is built for the global Asian community, but its FAQ says people of any background are welcome. Profiles center cultural background and languages, so it is most useful if that matters to you. Some non-Asian users report getting few likes.
How long does it take to get approved on Krush?
Krush does not publish a set time. Everyone joins a verification waitlist after sign-up, and Krush Plus gets you through it faster. Krush says delays come from incomplete profiles, unclear photos or too few members matching your preferences nearby.
How much is Krush Plus?
On the US App Store in October 2026, Krush Plus costs $29.99 or $39.99 for one month, $59.99 or $79.99 for three months, and $89.99 or $119.99 for six months. Hearts cost $14.99 for 5 or $24.99 for 10, and a Boost is $9.99. The price shown in the app before you confirm is the one that applies.
Is Krush free?
Krush is free to download, build a profile, match and chat with matches. The free plan limits how many profiles you see each day and hides most of your likes. Krush Plus or Hearts remove those limits.
Is there a Krush promo code?
No promo code appears on Krush’s pricing page, FAQ or store listings (checked October 2026). The App Store does list a one-month Krush Plus Streak Promo at $33.99, offered inside the app. Longer plans are the cheaper way in per month.