A calmer way to explore the world
We're a small team obsessed with one thing: turning "what should I do here?" into an answer you trust — in Lisbon, Tokyo, or the street you grew up on.
It started with a frustration
Finding great places while traveling is harder than it should be. Three apps open, fifteen reviews read, a map tab on the side — and you still walk into the wrong cafe.
We wanted a single surface: swipe through real venues nearby, ask a quick question in plain language, trust the answer because it points to a place you can actually visit. From Rome to Bangkok to your hometown.
That became NearBy. Three honest tools — Discover, Assistant, Travel — built to feel like one app, not a feature list.
Quiet wine bar near Le Marais, open late?
Two spots with natural wine and a calm crowd:
What we hold ourselves to
Six principles that shape every decision — from feature scope to copy tone.
Discovery first
Everything you see in NearBy is a real place. No filler, no synthetic listings.
AI that earns its keep
The Assistant suggests when you ask, stays quiet when you don't. No content for the sake of content.
Built by travelers
Every feature came from a frustration we had on a real trip — not a roadmap deck.
Local feels global
Same experience for your home block and a city you've never been to. One app, no separate mode.
Privacy first
Your saves, history, and preferences are yours — readable, editable, deletable.
Less juggling
Saves, chat, day plans, and maps live in one place. No tab spam.