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How-to

How to find friends nearby

Finding friends nearby is easier when you can see who is actually around you. iS Gather is a free map-based social app for iPhone, Android and the web: people near you appear as 3D avatars on a live map, and you can say hi with a one-tap ice breaker instead of a cold message. This guide walks through it step by step, including how to stay private.

iS GatherPublished by Transcend Technologies, Inc.
3 min
iS Gather 2D live map on a phone showing you and a friend nearby in Midtown Manhattan
On this page
  1. 1. Get iS Gather and create your profile
  2. 2. Make your 3D avatar
  3. 3. Choose who can see you
  4. 4. Open the live map and look around
  5. 5. Break the ice
  6. 6. Find friends through what people share
  7. Tips for meeting people nearby safely
  8. See who is on iS Gather in your city
  9. Questions

1. Get iS Gather and create your profile

Download iS Gather from the App Store or Google Play, or open isgather.com in any browser. Sign in with email, Apple or Google. iS Gather is free and is for people aged 16 and older.

Add a photo and a short bio. A clear bio gives people nearby a reason to reply. iS Gather works out your city from your location, and profiles in Public mode are listed on that city's public page, such as Meet people in New York.

2. Make your 3D avatar

Your avatar is how you appear on the map. You create it in the app and choose hair, skin, outfit and accessories. On the map it walks, runs or stands still depending on how fast you are moving.

3. Choose who can see you

Before you go on the map, pick a privacy mode in Settings. Public shows you on the map to everyone. Friends Only shows you only to your connections. Ghost Mode hides your location from everyone.

You can change modes at any time, for example Public at an event and Ghost Mode at home. You can also block or report anyone from their profile or a message.

4. Open the live map and look around

The map shows people near you in real time. Tap an avatar to open that person's profile and see their bio, posts and short videos. This is the main difference from a feed-based app: you start from where people are, not from an algorithm's guess.

Not ready to share your location yet? Browse public city pages first, such as New York, Houston or Kawasaki, to see who is on iS Gather there.

5. Break the ice

When someone looks interesting, send an ice breaker: a one-tap introduction you pick from a short list. It is a low-pressure way to say hello, and the other person can reply, connect or ignore it.

Once you are talking, move to messages. Connecting with someone also lets them see you when you are in Friends Only mode.

6. Find friends through what people share

People nearby also post short videos and posts with hashtags. Watching the short-video feed or browsing trending hashtags is a good way to find people who like the same things you do, then say hi on the map. Some members also go live, and you can join their stream.

Tips for meeting people nearby safely

Meet new people in public places first. Don't put your home address or daily routine in your bio or posts. Use Friends Only or Ghost Mode when you would rather not be seen, and block or report anyone who makes you uncomfortable.

iS Gather is for friendship and local connection, not dating. For other options, see our comparison of apps to meet people nearby.

See who is on iS Gather in your city

Questions

How can I find friends near me?
Use an app that shows people around you. On iS Gather, open the live map to see nearby people as 3D avatars, tap one to view their profile, and send a one-tap ice breaker to start talking.
Can I find friends nearby without sharing my exact location?
Yes. In iS Gather you can switch to Friends Only, so only your connections see you, or Ghost Mode, which hides your location from everyone. You can also browse public city pages on isgather.com without signing in; only profiles in Public mode are listed there.
Is iS Gather free?
Yes. iS Gather is free on iPhone, Android and the web at isgather.com.
Is iS Gather a dating app?
No. iS Gather is a social app for making friends and meeting people nearby, for ages 16 and older.