Sugarbook Review [Is This Sugar Dating Site Worth A Try?]

Aiming to connect the beautiful with the generous, Sugarbook is one of the many sugar dating sites out there. With so many options, you’re probably wondering how Sugarbook stacks up. 

And that’s what brought you here. VIDA Select’s dating experts have managed dating profiles for tens of thousands of clients since 2009, and we’re well acquainted with all the sugar dating platforms. 

In this Sugarbook review, we'll share our insights, backed by data from our team, to help you decide if this is the right sugar site for you.

Let’s get start with…

The Controversial History Of Sugarbook

Sugarbook was founded by Malaysian entrepreneur Darren Chan in 2017, and is currently operated out of Cyprus. 

Most popular in Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines, Sugarbook has plans to expand into other markets. That being said, it attracts singles from other countries, with users in the United States as well. 

Sugarbook began as a mainstream dating site, but evolved to embrace the sugar dating trend. In an interview with Global Dating Insights, The Sugarbook team had this to say about the change: 

“Over the years, we have observed that money is at the forefront of relationships. We have pivoted the company and focused significantly on relationships based on finances, hence our tagline, Where Romance Meets Finance, because we believe that love and money go hand in hand.”

Sugarbook was founded in Kuala Lumpur, but banned in Malaysia in 2021 after it gained traction among young university students as a way of earning income during the pandemic. 

Conservative politicians heavily pushed to block this site in Malaysia on the grounds of preventing “immoral activities” among its younger users.

As Chan told Vice: 

“When we first launched in Malaysia, I was confident but also knew that our operations would be controversial in the country. I do feel that public perceptions are very fixed and wanted to change that. I just didn’t foresee the magnitude of how big the backlash against us and our members would be. It hit me the most when I was arrested that afternoon.”

Chan was arrested for “inciting fear to the public” in Malaysia and he has chosen not to fight the Malaysian government. Instead, he’s considering leaving the Malaysian market completely. 

The platform invests in marketing efforts to destigmatize sugar dating and focus on honest, transparent arrangements. In fact, members must be upfront about their expectations in their “Terms of Relationship” to use the dating site.

Sugarbook Pros & Cons

Controversy aside, Sugarbook is a legit dating site in that it aims to connect singles interested in exploring the sugar lifestyle. 

But as with any online dating platform, there are benefits and drawbacks you’ll want to consider before deciding whether or not it’s worth your time to give it a try.

Sugarbook Pros 

• Searches can be filtered by who's been recently active, nearby, featured, in college, and who you can “afford” based on their expected financial level. 
• Multi-language support is available as it attracts users from all over the globe.
• Private picture galleries increase member security. These can be shared with specific users once your profile has been approved.
• Real-time messaging, live streaming and video features are available (but it might cost you extra).
• You can add users to your favorites list for free.
• Profile approval is necessary for sending messages and sharing private photos, which can help cut down on the number of fake profiles and bots that tend to proliferate on sugar sites.
• Account approval usually takes 24 hours or less.

Sugarbook Cons

• Launched in 2017, Sugarbook has not built up the member base you’ll find on other more established sugar dating websites, especially in the US.
• The free trial does not grant sugar daddies access to all of its features. For example, you cannot search for members outside of your immediate vicinity unless you upgrade to a premium account.
• It’s expensive for sugar daddies when compared to some other sugar dating sites. 
• Premium features like searching in different locations, seeing who favorited you, and browsing profiles in private mode require upgrading.
• The site is location specific, so you cannot sign in if your location isn’t set to where you currently are.
• Real-time messaging is limited, unless you pay for the upgrade.
• Users have said in several online forums that premium subscriptions paid by credit card can be difficult to cancel, and full/partial refunds are not available.
• The mobile app is not available through Google Play or the App Store.

Sugarbook Review Verdict

Overall, Sugarbook has a minimalist design that makes it easy to navigate and offers premium benefits similar to other sugar websites. Modern features like live streaming, private pictures, and real-time messaging give you plenty of opportunities to interact with members.

But depending on where you live you may not find as many users as you would on other platforms. 

If you’re in Southeast Asia where the site is more popular, it’s worth trying. But if you’re looking for a sugar relationship in the US, we’ve found you’ll likely get better results on Seeking or Secret Benefits.

Sugarbook Cost

How much Sugarbook costs depends whether you sign up as a sugar baby or a sugar daddy.

Sugarbook offers free premium accounts to sugar babies who are female college students, as long as they can offer proof of enrollment. This is part of their Student Program, which they consider to be a modern way to avoid student debt, network, and find a mentor.

Otherwise, for both sugar babies and sugar daddies, signing up is free but you are limited in what you can do. 

All of the communication features require a paid membership, so you’ll need to invest in a subscription if you want to actually meet anyone on Sugarbook.

A 1-month premium membership on Sugarbook costs around $71, with the price per month decreasing when you invest in a longer subscription:

Keep an eye out for promotions that can discount memberships anywhere from 10% to 50%, depending on the length.

Curious how those prices compare to other sugar dating sites you may be considering? Let’s take a quick peek:

Premium Sugarbook features include:

• Increased visibility, as your profile is featured on the dashboard
• Read receipts 
• Unlimited messaging
• Advanced search features
• Hiding your online status, join date, and last login country
• Seeing who saved you as a favorite and who viewed your profile
• Private browsing
• Expedited profile approval

Now, let’s take a look at what users are saying about their Sugarbook experience. 

What Users Are Saying About Sugarbook

There aren’t many online user reviews for Sugarbook, although you will find a handful on Trustpilot.

On Trustpilot, Sugarbook has a 3-star rating based on 5 user reviews. The majority are 1 star, with a 5 and a 3-star review mixed in:

The 5-star Sugarbook reviewer thought it was a good site. That being said the review seemed less than credible, as he posted the exact same review for 2 other sugar dating sites and appeared to be looking for photos of sugar babies:

The user who gave 3 stars in his Sugarbook review said he wasn’t impressed with his experience:

And the remaining Sugarbook reviews were all 1 star:

On Reddit, Sugarbook user reviews were mixed. Some sugar babies reported meeting quality sugar daddies, like this one:

“I found my first(current) SD on there! The competition on that site is really loose so if you're attractive enough you'll find a SD in no time!!”

While other sugar babies had yet to meet anyone via the site:

I've chatted with some guys and havent met in person yet. With a lot of messages could be overwhelming where you try to filter out potential SD.

One user noted that her experience with the app was disappointing:

 “My experience there wasn't the best. Last time I reinstalled that app it turned into a video streaming mess. Never again.”

In another Reddit conversation, these users pointed out that Sugarbook was more popular in some countries than others:

“I don't think it's used in US/Europe, but Asians consistently mention it and seem to consider it legit.”

“I just made an account and LOL it looks exactly like SA [SeekingArrangement]!!! Seems to not work nearly as well, though....when I put in my location it brings up all these SDs in Malaysia (I'm in USA). I also put in a big city near me and the same thing happened, so perhaps some technical issues going on....”

And this user said that while Sugarbook was legit, the quality of matches wasn’t ideal:

“Its legit but dont expect good sds. Site is full of hookers.”

Now that you know what some Sugarbook users had to say about their experience, let’s talk about… 

Signing Up For Sugarbook: What To Expect

The first step is entering your gender and registering as a sugar daddy or a sugar baby.

Next, fill out personal and basic information like your email, password, net worth, annual income, physical features, and education. 

Then comes the “Terms of Relationship” section, a feature that’s unique to Sugarbook.

Sugarbook Terms of Relationship (TOR)

You cannot truly access Sugarbook until this section is complete – it will continue to pop up until you fill it out.

TOR lets sugar daddies state what they are willing to offer in a mutually beneficial relationship such as a weekly or monthly allowance, mentorship, travel companion, hookups, etc.

Sugar daddies can select up to 5 TOR specifics on Sugarbook from this list: 

Who Are You Looking For? 

When you are describing your ideal sugar baby, you want her to picture spending time with you. So, instead of focusing on physical attributes you find attractive, be specific about the type of lifestyle you’re offering her. This will catch her interest! 

For example, comment on activities you hope to share with her and personality traits that would be compatible with yours, like this:

Sugarbook Primary Photo 

Arguably the most important aspect of your sugar dating profile, your primary photo should complement your bio by showcasing the lifestyle you describe for yourself. This will also help her to visualize what a date with you will be like. 

For example, if you travel often, make that the focus. Show her how easy it would be for you to pack up and take her on a romantic getaway at a moment’s notice, like this:

When you are uploading a primary photo, keep these tips in mind:

• Choose a high-quality image. Not only will this prevent it from getting pixelated on the site, using a clear, well-lit, attractive photo shows you’re invested in how you present yourself.
• Closeups generally work best as a primary pic, although for sugar dating full body shots can be effective if they hint at your lifestyle in a compelling way. In either case, make sure your eyes are visible so she’ll feel more of a connection.
• Be the only person in the photo, so she knows who you are. 
• Avoid uploading a selfie. Research shows that selfies aren’t as well-received as photos that are taken by another person.
• Choose a photo that supports the lifestyle you describe in your profile because this will add to your authenticity. 

Want more advice on choosing the best primary photo? Check out these science-backed tips!

How To Verify Your Sugarbook Account

You’ll receive an email to “Activate Your Account” shortly after signing up. Confirming your email is the first step to verifying your account.

Next, you will have to upload two proofs of identification and your payment information. This can take 2 to 3 days, and you will receive an email when this is complete. 

When you are verified, a blue verification badge appears next to your name on your profile and in search results. This tells everyone on the site that you are who you say you are, and Sugarbook claims having a verification badge increases your profile views.  

While you can choose not to verify your account via proof of identification, you must verify your email to continue using the site. 

How To Delete Your Sugarbook Account

To deactivate your Sugarbook account, first you’ll want to cancel your membership subscription via the payment merchant.

Then, go to the settings page and choose “Deactivate Account.” You’ll be prompted to add a reason, and you can also add feedback if you want.

Keep in mind deactivating your account is not the same thing as deleting it.

To delete your Sugarbook account, you have to contact them via email to request it. It takes approximately 48 hours to process your cancellation request. 

Per the Terms Of Service, “please note that your information including your message history will be left intact and any users which you have previously interacted with will still be able to access and view the messages you have exchanged, and it also may be retained on the Company’s backup systems for some time in accordance with the Company’s Privacy Policy.”

The Easiest Way To Find A Quality Sugar Relationship 

Whether you’re a sugar daddy or a sugar baby, being successful on Sugarbook comes down to effective marketing. There’s a lot of competition, so your profile and messages need to stand out.

Why not let VIDA’s dating experts help? VIDA Select has been helping singles meet high-quality matches since 2009. No matter what type of relationship you’re seeking, VIDA can help you find your ideal partner.

A 100%-done-for-you service, we handle everything: profile optimization, photo selection, match screening, even the back and forth messaging! We’ll set up your dates with highly compatible singles who are eager to meet you. 

Intrigued? Learn more about VIDA’s modern approach here!