SugarBook is the dominant sugar dating platform in Southeast Asia. It was founded in Kuala Lumpur in 2017, grew rapidly across Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines, and became the first Asian platform to seriously compete with Seeking for regional market share.
It also had its founder arrested by Malaysian police, got banned in Malaysia, was pulled from Google Play, and became the subject of a Netflix-adjacent documentary investigation.
Whether you should use it depends on where you are and what you're looking for. Here's a complete picture.
What SugarBook is
At its core, SugarBook functions similarly to Seeking: sugar daddies pay for premium membership, sugar babies join free. The platform connects wealthy older men with younger women interested in mutually beneficial arrangements.
The feature that distinguishes it from Western competitors is the Terms of Relationship (TOR) system. Rather than leaving arrangement details to private negotiation, SugarBook asks both parties to formally define the relationship type within the app — frequency, arrangement type, expectations — creating a documented framework before conversations begin. This was designed to reduce ambiguity and protect both parties.
The other distinctive feature: SugarBook has historically published its data on university sugar babies. The platform regularly releases reports on which universities have the most members and what students report earning, creating significant press coverage and controversy.
The 2021 crisis
In March 2021, Malaysian police arrested SugarBook founder Darren Chan Keng Loon. Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah ordered the platform taken down, describing it as promoting "immoral activities." The app disappeared from the Malaysian Google Play store.
The founder was released, the charges were eventually dropped, and the platform continued operating — accessible via VPN in Malaysia and fully available in other countries. But the incident permanently affected the platform's reputation in its home market and raised questions about its legal status across Southeast Asian jurisdictions.
In 2021, SugarBook also removed its "university sugar babies" feature and its income verification system in an attempt to reduce regulatory scrutiny. The move reduced some of the platform's differentiating features.
Current state: who can use it and where
SugarBook operates freely in:
- Singapore
- Philippines
- Thailand
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- Most of Europe
It is restricted or blocked in:
- Malaysia (accessible via VPN; technically not officially available)
- Indonesia
- Most Middle Eastern countries
The platform has an iOS app and an Android APK (direct download, not through Google Play in most regions). The iOS App Store version is available in countries where the platform operates legally.
Pricing
Premium membership for sugar daddies:
- 1 month: $71.90
- 3 months: $55.95/month
- 6 months: $39.95/month
This is notably more expensive per month than SugarDaddyMeet ($50) and Seeking ($110) — positioned in the mid-range but without Seeking's scale or SugarDaddyMeet's verification depth.
The university student program: Female university students can apply for free premium membership by submitting proof of enrollment (student ID or enrollment letter). This was a significant growth driver for the platform and remains available in regions where it operates.
What the platform is actually like to use
SugarBook's user base is predominantly Asian — Malaysian, Singaporean, Filipino, and Thai users make up the core. In Western markets (US, UK, Australia), the platform has a presence but is significantly smaller than Seeking or Secret Benefits.
For users in Southeast Asia: SugarBook is the strongest regional platform with the most active local user base. Seeking has global scale but thinner density in Southeast Asian cities. SugarBook is the better choice for users in Singapore, Manila, Bangkok, and similar markets.
For users in the US or UK: SugarBook is an add-on platform at best. You'll find activity, particularly in major cities with large Asian diaspora communities, but not the density of Seeking or Secret Benefits.
The TOR system works well in practice for users who prefer defined expectations upfront. It reduces the awkward "what are we" conversation early in an arrangement by making both parties commit to terms before investing time in the relationship.
What users report
The platform's reputation is polarized. In Southeast Asian dating forums, it's generally considered legitimate and functional — the primary option for that market. In Western sugar dating communities, it's viewed as a secondary platform with higher-than-average fake profile rates in non-Asian markets.
Common complaints across review sites:
- Subscription cancellation is difficult — multiple users report charges continuing after attempting to cancel
- Customer support response times are slow
- Outside core Asian markets, fake profile volume is higher
Common positives:
- The TOR feature genuinely reduces arrangement ambiguity
- Active and real user base in Singapore, Manila, and Bangkok
- The university student program creates a genuinely younger demographic than most Western sugar platforms
SugarBook vs. Seeking for Asian markets
| SugarBook | Seeking | |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast Asia density | High | Moderate |
| US/UK density | Low | High |
| TOR system | Yes | No |
| University student program | Yes | No |
| Income verification | Removed (2021) | Optional badge |
| Mobile app | iOS + Android APK | Android only |
| Monthly cost | $71.90 | $109.99 |
| Legal status | Restricted in Malaysia | Available globally |
The honest assessment
SugarBook built something real in Southeast Asia. The platform genuinely serves its core market well, and the TOR system is a design choice that more platforms should consider. The university student program, whatever its controversy, drove real growth and created a distinctive user demographic.
Outside Southeast Asia, it's a harder sell. The legal history creates uncertainty, the subscription is more expensive than some alternatives, and the user density in Western markets doesn't compete with Seeking or Secret Benefits.
Use SugarBook if: You're in Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, or another core Southeast Asian market where it's the dominant local platform. The TOR feature and local density make it the strongest regional option.
Use something else if: You're in the US, UK, or Australia and looking for maximum density — Seeking and Secret Benefits will serve you better. SugarBook can be a secondary profile, but it won't be your primary platform in these markets.
The legal history is worth acknowledging without letting it be definitive. The platform survived its 2021 crisis and continues to operate. If you're outside Malaysia, the regulatory risk is low. The more practical concerns are subscription management and platform density relative to your location.