A rough distance, never a pin
You see that Aunt Carol is about a mile away. You never see where she is.
Nearby
Just around the corner? Now you’ll know.
At the same street fair, the same ballgame, the same airport? Nearby shows which of your family are within three miles, as a rough distance and never a place on a map.
Features / Nearby
How it worksNearby, step by step.
- Open More and tap Nearby.
- Choose to share. Until you do, nobody sees anything.
- See the family within three miles on the rings: one, two and three miles out.
- Read the list: each person as a rough distance, and how long ago their place was updated.
What you see
The details that make it work.
- Less than a mile, about a mile, about two miles. Never a pin on a map.
- Only while you have chosen to share, and forgotten when you stop.
- Only your family on Porchlight, nobody else.
Why it matters
Made for a family, not a feed of strangers.
Only while you share
Nothing is shared until you choose to, and turning it off forgets your location.
Only your family
Nobody outside your family on Porchlight ever sees it.
Questions
About Nearby.
Is my location tracked in the background?
No. It is shared only while you have chosen to share it, and it is forgotten when you stop.
The Porch
Your family at a glance: what is coming up, what is waiting, who has been posting.
Learn moreFamily Feed
Photos, stories and voice notes from everyone, in one gentle stream.
Learn moreThe Flash
Once a week, one surprise question goes to everyone at once.
Learn moreShare Something
This week’s question for everyone, with every answer gathered together.
Learn moreGive your family a home.
Free, invite only, and on the web today. The iPhone app is in testing.