FAQ
Questions,
Questions,
answered.
The most common things people ask us, grouped by topic. If what you're looking for isn't here, email us at office@nearcircle.net and we'll add it.
Category
Privacy
How does NearCircle protect my privacy? +
Location data is end-to-end encrypted between circle members. On-device AI means routines, fall detection, driving behavior, and heat maps never leave your phone. Analytics are anonymous through TelemetryDeck — no cookies, no fingerprinting. We're legally committed to never selling your data.
What data does NearCircle collect? +
Only what the product needs: your precise location (when you choose to share it), your name and a unique identifier from Sign in with Apple, and a push notification token so we can deliver alerts. Battery level is shared with circle members only if you opt in. Everything else — your movement history, learned routines, driving events — stays on your device.
Can I delete my data? +
Yes, anytime. Settings → Privacy Dashboard has two buttons: Export All Data and Delete Account. Delete is permanent and immediate — we don't keep a copy, we don't 'archive', we don't wait 90 days. Your server-side data is gone the moment you confirm.
Do you sell data to brokers or insurers? +
Never. Not now, not ever. Our revenue comes from subscriptions. This is the single commitment we will not break — it's in our terms, it's in our architecture, and it's the reason we exist. Life360 sold precise location data of millions of users including children; we were built as a direct reaction to that.
Category
Pricing & billing
Is NearCircle free? +
Yes. The free tier gives you one circle with up to three members, two saved places, and one day of location history. That's enough for a lot of small households. Plus ($4.99/mo) and Family ($9.99/mo) add more circles, more members, longer history, and safety features like SOS and Elderly Care.
How do I cancel my subscription? +
Open the iPhone Settings app → your Apple ID → Subscriptions → NearCircle → Cancel. You keep access until the end of the current billing period. We don't hide the cancel button behind a chat interview, and we don't email-win-back-campaign you to death — competitors do both.
What's your refund policy? +
Apple handles refunds per their refund policy — request it through reportaproblem.apple.com. We'll happily support any legitimate refund request. We'd rather refund than have an unhappy subscriber.
Can my whole family share one subscription? +
Yes — a single Family subscription covers up to 20 members across 10 circles. You don't need separate subscriptions per family member. One person pays, everyone in their circles gets the premium features.
Do you have a free trial? +
Yes — Plus and Family both include a free trial when you first subscribe. You can cancel any time during the trial and you'll never be charged.
Category
Features
How is NearCircle different from Life360? +
Short answer: privacy, reliability, and price. Life360 sold user location data to roughly 12 brokers, has documented crash detection failures, and charges $24.99/mo for its top tier. NearCircle is end-to-end encrypted, has actually-working SOS, and tops out at $9.99/mo. We also ship Elderly Care, Couples Mode, and temporary circles — features Life360 doesn't have.
Does NearCircle have crash detection? +
We're working on it. The beta includes SOS (manual, 2-second trigger) and fall detection (on Apple Watch, for Elderly Care users). Automatic crash detection is on the roadmap — we're taking time to get it right rather than shipping something unreliable like Life360's widely-criticized version.
Can I use NearCircle for my elderly parents? +
Yes — Elderly Care mode is built in to the Family tier. It includes wandering detection geofences, medication reminders with location context, fall detection on Apple Watch, and a simplified UI mode with larger buttons and minimal cognitive load. We designed it for aging parents specifically, not as an afterthought.
What's a "temporary circle"? +
A circle that auto-expires at a time you choose — perfect for weekend trips, festivals, or one-off events. Everyone in the circle sees each other while it's active; when it expires, locations stop sharing automatically and member data is deleted. No other major tracker has this.
Category
Technical
Does NearCircle drain my battery? +
Life360 is widely reported at near-100% battery usage; we're architected differently. NearCircle uses motion-aware GPS sampling — if you haven't moved, we don't poll the GPS chip. Typical daily battery impact is under 5% in our beta testing. If you see more, tell us.
How accurate is the location? +
Typical accuracy is 5-10 meters outdoors, depending on GPS conditions. We use a combination of GPS, Wi-Fi, and cellular triangulation — the same stack Apple Maps uses — so accuracy in cities, inside buildings, and on transit is solid. If you see a phantom trip (impossible route), report it and we'll investigate.
Does NearCircle work on Apple Watch? +
Yes. The Apple Watch companion shows your circle on a compact map, supports SOS directly from the watch, and — for Elderly Care users — includes fall detection. Standalone mode (watch works without the iPhone nearby, via cellular) is on the roadmap.
When is Android coming? +
2026. Android will be a native build — not a cross-platform shim — so we can deliver the same battery efficiency and reliability. We're not rushing it. A bad Android app would compromise the whole product.
What happens if I lose my phone? +
Your circle members can still see your last reported location. When you get a new phone and restore from iCloud, your circles come back automatically. If you Delete Account before recovery, all server-side data is permanently removed — there's no way to undo that.
Can I export my data? +
Yes. Settings → Privacy Dashboard → Export Data gives you a JSON bundle with every location reading, every safe zone, every routine — everything we have about you. We're required to offer this by GDPR and we'd do it anyway.
Does NearCircle work offline? +
Partially. If your phone loses signal, NearCircle stores location readings locally and uploads them when connectivity returns. You won't see live updates from circle members while offline, but the app doesn't crash or lose data. Full offline mesh networking (peer-to-peer Bluetooth between nearby users) is on our long-term roadmap.
Still have questions?
We'd rather answer you than publish a wall of boilerplate. Email us directly.