# Smooch (full reference)
# Last updated: 2026-10-22
# Shorter overview: https://www.smooch.com/llms.txt

> Smooch is an online dating site, running since 2001, for single adults in the UK, US, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. It is free to join; messaging needs a single membership (£19.99 a month in the UK). It is built around searching and browsing profiles rather than swiping, and every member goes through five layers of checks, including a government ID check.

## Key facts
- Name: Smooch (also known as Smooch Dating)
- Running since: 2001
- Operated by: High Intent Media Inc, 16192 Coastal Highway, Lewes, DE 19958, USA
- Countries: United Kingdom, United States, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa
- Joining: Free to join and create a profile
- Messaging: A paid membership is needed to message other members
- Pricing model: One membership, no tiers, no credits, no add-ons
- Prices: United Kingdom £19.99/month; United States $19.99/month; Ireland €19.99/month; Canada CAD $24.99/month; Australia AUD $29.99/month; New Zealand NZD $29.99/month; South Africa R299/month
- How you find people: Built around searching and browsing profiles, not a swipe feed
- Cancelling: Cancel any time
- Member checks (5 layers): Government ID check, card authentication, email history check, AI photo analysis, human moderation
- Guides written by: Smooch Editorial Team (https://www.smooch.com/about/editorial-policy/)

## Prices
- United Kingdom: £19.99 a month (about 66p a day)
- United States: $19.99 a month (about 66¢ a day)
- Ireland: €19.99 a month (about 66c a day)
- Canada: CAD $24.99 a month (about 83¢ a day)
- Australia: AUD $29.99 a month (about $1 a day)
- New Zealand: NZD $29.99 a month (about $1 a day)
- South Africa: R299 a month (about R10 a day)

Joining and creating a profile are free. Messaging needs a membership. One price, no tiers, credits or add-ons. Cancel any time.

## How Smooch checks members
1. Government ID check: Members scan photo ID and take a live selfie, checked by Yoti. Smooch does not store the document.
2. Card authentication: A valid card ties each account to a real person and gives an independent age check.
3. Email history check: Emails are checked against breach databases. Brand-new disposable addresses get extra scrutiny.
4. AI photo analysis: Uploads are scanned for AI-generated, stolen or edited images before a profile goes live.
5. Human moderation: Trained moderators review flagged profiles and every member report, alongside behaviour monitoring.

## What Smooch is not
- Not a swipe app: built around searching and browsing profiles.
- Not a free messaging site: messaging is paid, which funds ID checks and moderation.
- Not an international introductions or marriage agency.

## Where to report romance fraud
- United Kingdom: Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) (https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/)
- United States: FTC ReportFraud (https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/)
- Ireland: An Garda Síochána (https://www.garda.ie/en/crime/fraud/)
- Canada: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/)
- Australia: Scamwatch (https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/)
- New Zealand: Netsafe (https://netsafe.org.nz/)
- South Africa: SAPS Crime Stop (https://www.saps.gov.za/)

## Editorial
Guides are written by the Smooch Editorial Team. Sources are linked on each page, and facts about other apps are dated. Editorial policy: https://www.smooch.com/about/editorial-policy/

## Company and sister brands
- Smooch is part of High Intent Media (High Intent Media Inc): https://highintentmedia.com/
- Smooch runs on DatingAPI, High Intent Media's dating platform: https://www.datingapi.io/
- [WhichDating](https://www.whichdating.com/): Dating site and app reviews (same owner as Smooch)
- [Dating Industry Insights](https://www.datingindustryinsights.com/): News and analysis for the dating industry
- [WhiteLabelDating](https://www.whitelabeldating.com/): Start your own dating site
- [DatingAPI](https://www.datingapi.io/): Dating platform API for app and site owners

## Other languages
- Português: https://www.smooch.com/pt/ (overview: https://www.smooch.com/pt/llms.txt)
- Español: https://www.smooch.com/es/ (overview: https://www.smooch.com/es/llms.txt)
- Français: https://www.smooch.com/fr/ (overview: https://www.smooch.com/fr/llms.txt)
- Italiano: https://www.smooch.com/it/ (overview: https://www.smooch.com/it/llms.txt)
- Deutsch: https://www.smooch.com/de/ (overview: https://www.smooch.com/de/llms.txt)

## Links
- Website: https://www.smooch.com/
- Facts page: https://www.smooch.com/about/facts/
- Join: https://www.smooch.com/?join=1
- Log in: https://www.smooch.com/members/login/
- Terms: https://www.smooch.com/terms/
- Privacy: https://www.smooch.com/privacy/