Now on the App Store

Discover friends of
friends nearby.

The people you almost know are closer than you think. Ships surfaces the friends of friends around you — so a familiar face becomes a new friend.

Download on theApp Store See how it works
✓ Free to download and use ✓ Made for iPhone ✓ You control who sees you
The Ships map showing nearby people, each ringed as a friend or a friend of a friend. Invitation envelopes waiting to be opened in the Ships feed. A Ships invitation in the feed, with a brunch grazing-board photo.
The Ships loop

Three steps from stranger to friend

Warm introductions. Familiar faces. Just the people already in your orbit.

01

Discover

See the friends of friends around you — the people you're a single introduction away from.

02

Invite

Send a real invitation — to coffee, a run, a table you saved — from one simple feed.

03

Meet

Turn a familiar face and a shared friend into a plan — and a plan into a friendship.

Invitations

Invitations worth opening

Pick a place, a time, and who's coming. Ships wraps it in a beautiful sealed envelope that lands right in their feed.

  • Coffee, runs, dinners, game nights — your plans, your style.
  • Set a spot on the map, a guest list, plus-ones, even what to bring.
  • Tap to RSVP — accepted plans add straight to your calendar.
An open Ships invitation — Swan Lake Swim — showing the date, place, and who's going.
On the map

Every plan, right where it's happening

The invites you've sent and received live on the map — sorted by what's nearby and what's next — so you always know where to be.

  • See what your friends are up to this week at a glance.
  • Find the sunset on the pier or the table at the corner store.
  • Tap a pin to RSVP and automatically sync with your calendar.
The Ships map with a plan — 'Live music in the park' — pinned to where it's happening. Event details — date, location, and 18 of 40 spots filled.
The friends going to the event. Accept or decline the invitation.
In person

Made for meeting in person

Ships is built for the moment you actually meet — turning a chance encounter and a shared friend into a real conversation.

  • See who you know in common.
  • Break the ice with shared interests and conversation starters.
  • Make a plan before you say goodbye.
Two people meeting and laughing over coffee at an outdoor café. The Ships chats list, with recent conversations. A chat thread planning a road trip. A chat thread arranging to grab coffee together.
Privacy first

You're always in control of your location

Ships only works because you decide how much to share. Dial your visibility up or down any time — soften your spot to an approximate area, or disappear completely.

Friends only Approximate area Fuzz your location Privacy mode Disappear anytime

Choose exactly who can see you — friends, friends of friends, or no one. Your precise location is never sold.

Ships location and privacy controls — choose who can see you and set an approximate area.
Good to know

Questions, answered

What is Ships?

Ships is a friendly way to discover the friends of friends around you — and turn those almost-connections into real plans. Think of it as the nudge that finally makes the introduction.

How does Ships find people near me?

With your permission, Ships uses your location to surface friends of friends who are nearby. You're always in control — share with friends only, show just an approximate area, or turn discovery off whenever you like.

Is my location private?

Yes. You choose who can see you — friends, friends of friends, or nobody — and you can blur your exact spot down to an approximate area, or hide completely. Your precise location is never sold.

Is Ships free?

Yes — Ships is free to download and use on the App Store.

What do I need to get started?

An iPhone and a minute to set up your profile. Add a few friends to start, and Ships begins showing you the familiar faces around you.

Have more questions?

We’re happy to help. Email us at support@shipsfriends.com, or send feedback right from inside the app.

Your next friend is already nearby.

Download Ships and discover the people you're one introduction away from.

Download on theApp Store