Map Mates helps people who are new in a city find and meet people nearby. You can add yourself to the map, discover others around you, and send connection requests for coffee, coworking, language exchange, or local advice.

How do I meet people near me?

Visit Map Mates and browse the interactive map. You can filter by category and stage to find newcomers, expats, nomads, remote workers, and locals nearby who are open to meeting.

Is Map Mates free to use?

Yes, Map Mates is completely free to use. You can add yourself to the map, browse people nearby, and send connection requests at no cost.

Building in public

What we're building

MapMates launched on January 3, 2026 as a simple idea: put yourself on a map, see who's nearby, meet for coffee. That feature is still here and always will be.

But the map can do more. Travellers arrive in cities every day with real needs — somewhere to stay, a local who knows the neighbourhood, a co-working spot, someone to split a taxi with. Locals and providers are already on the map. The infrastructure to connect them is already built. What's missing is the layer that makes those conversations happen without friction.

That's what we're building next. No VC roadmap. No growth-hacking. One person, one product, shipping one feature at a time.

Shipped

Live

City SEO pages

25+ city pages so people can find their local MapMates community.

In-app messaging

Chat directly once a connection is accepted.

Privacy modes

Exact location or country-only. You decide what's visible.

Anonymous auth

No signup required to browse. Add a pin when you're ready.

Private community maps

Create a password-protected map for your group, team, or niche.

Interactive world map

Drop a pin anywhere. Browse who's around you.

Coffee meetup requests

Send a connection request to anyone on the map. No algorithms, no swiping.

Building now

In progress

Broadcast feed

A live right-pane feed of what people near you are looking for. Accommodation, advice, a local contact, a co-working spot — posted openly on the map.

AI match alerts

When a traveller posts a need, relevant people already on the map get a smart, specific notification. Not a generic ping — a message that makes sense.

"I'm arriving" pins

Post a future-dated pin for a destination you're heading to. Locals see you're coming before you land.

Up next

Planned

Local insider pins

A distinct pin type for residents who want to be a resource — not travellers, just people who know a place well and want to help.

Space listings

Homestay owners and co-working spaces can list their space with details and a contact link. No booking engine, no platform fee. Just visibility.

Event pins

Time-limited pins for meetups, dinners, pop-ups. They expire automatically. No event platform needed.

Travel buddy matching

Heading to the same destination in the same window as someone else on the map? We'll surface the match before either of you arrives.

On the horizon

Exploring

Community bulletin boards

Each private community gets its own broadcast feed — requests, offers, questions, local tips. Scoped to your people.

Skill exchange on the map

Pins that advertise what you can offer and what you're looking for — beyond just presence.

Provider analytics

For hosts and space owners: see how many relevant broadcasts matched your profile. Know your reach.

What MapMates is not

—Not a dating app. Not a social network. Not an Airbnb with a map on top.
—No algorithm deciding who you should meet. No feed optimised for engagement.
—No 15% platform fee on anything. Providers keep what they earn.
—Not backed by anyone. Built solo, stays independent.

Want to follow the build?

Drop your pin on the map. That's the best way to stay in the loop.

Join the Map →