Zenly Alternatives in 2026: 5 Social Map Apps for Friends and People Nearby

Zenly was a social map app that showed your friends on a live, playful map. Snap, which bought Zenly in 2017, wound it down and the app stopped working on February 3, 2023. In its SEC filing Snap said it was ending Zenly to focus on Snap Map (TechCrunch; shutdown date per AlternativeTo).

Many former Zenly users still look for the same feeling: opening an app and seeing your world move on a map. No single app copies Zenly, so this guide sorts the options by the job each one does best.

Disclosure: this guide is written by the team that makes iS Gather, so iS Gather is listed first. Every other app is described from its own official pages, linked in each section.

Quick answer: what can I use instead of Zenly?

• Choose iS Gather if you want a live 3D social map with avatars and a way to meet new people nearby.
• Choose Snap Map if your friends already use Snapchat and you want to see them and local Snaps on a map.
• Choose Life360 for private family or group location sharing with alerts.
• Choose Find My if everyone you share with uses an iPhone or other Apple device.
• Choose Google Maps location sharing for simple, cross-platform sharing with a few chosen people.

Zenly alternatives compared

The table is the whole story in one line: four of the five are friend-sharing tools, and only one is a social map where strangers nearby can appear by choice. Zenly was a bit of both, which is why no single app replaces it.

1. iS Gather — best for a live social map with avatars and new people nearby

iS Gather is a free location-based social app. You appear on a live 3D map as your avatar, see who is around you, and start a conversation with a one-tap ice breaker. It also has a short-video feed, profiles and messaging.

The main difference from Zenly is the audience. Zenly was built for friends you already knew. iS Gather is built for meeting people nearby as well, so the map shows other members around you, not only your contacts. It is built for friendship and local connection, for ages 16 and older.

Location stays under your control with three modes, named as in the app: Public, Friends Only and Ghost Mode.

Best for:

• A playful live map with 3D avatars
• Meeting new people nearby, not only existing friends
• Starting a conversation without cold-messaging

Open iS Gather, browse people near you, or read the FAQ. It is on the App Store, on Google Play and on the web.

2. Snap Map — best if your friends already use Snapchat

Snap Map is part of Snapchat. Friends who choose to share their location appear on the map, and the map also highlights places and public Snaps around events.

Snap Map works best when your friend group is already on Snapchat. Ghost Mode lets you stop sharing your location.

Best for:

• Seeing friends who already use Snapchat
• Local stories and places on a map

See the official Snap Map support guide.

3. Life360 — best for private family and group circles

Life360 shares location inside private Circles that you invite people to, such as family or a group trip. It focuses on coordination and safety features like place alerts rather than on social discovery.

Best for:

• Families and invited groups
• Arrival and departure alerts

Learn more at Life360.

4. Find My — best when everyone uses Apple devices

Find My is built into iPhone, iPad and Mac. You can share your location with friends and family and see theirs in the People tab. It needs no extra app, but it only works between Apple devices.

Best for:

• Groups where everyone has an iPhone
• Simple sharing with no new account

See Apple's Find My page.

5. Google Maps location sharing — best for simple cross-platform sharing

Google Maps lets you share your real-time location with chosen people for a set time or until you turn it off. It works on Android and iPhone, which makes it an easy choice for mixed groups.

Best for:

• Sharing with a few people on different phones
• Temporary sharing, for example on the way to meet someone

See Google's location sharing help.

What did Zenly do that these apps split up?

Zenly combined three things: a fun, game-like map, real-time friend locations, and small social signals such as who was nearby. Today those live in different places. Find My, Life360 and Google Maps cover friend and family locations. Snap Map covers friends plus local content. iS Gather covers the live social map and meeting people nearby.

Location privacy checklist

• Share your location only with the audience you intend.
• Check the visibility setting before you open a live map.
• Use Ghost Mode or Friends Only when you want a break.
• Never post your home address or daily routine publicly.
• Block and report unwanted contact.

Frequently asked questions

When did Zenly shut down? Zenly stopped working on February 3, 2023, after Snap announced in 2022 that it would wind the app down.

Is there an app exactly like Zenly? No app copies Zenly feature for feature. iS Gather is closest for a live, playful social map with avatars; Snap Map is closest for seeing Snapchat friends on a map.

Can I meet new people on a Zenly alternative? Most location-sharing apps only show people you invite. iS Gather is built for meeting people nearby, with privacy modes that let you choose who sees you.

Is iS Gather free? Yes. iS Gather is free to download and use on iPhone, Android and the web.

If a live social map is what you miss most, open iS Gather or see who is near you. Curious how the model works? Read what a location-based social network is.