Cimilar
iOS betaComing soon

Good connections are closer than you think

Discover people nearby. Find what you have in common. Connect when you’re ready.

Explore Cimilar How it works
Cimilar's “Your public card” screen: Sam Rivera, Product engineer, a short bio, skills and LinkedIn and X links, marked as self-provided and not verified.
Left: the Nearby list, recreated with fictional people. Right: a public card in the Cimilar app (sample profile).A public card in the Cimilar app (sample profile).

How it works

Three steps, all in your control

Cimilar uses Bluetooth to find people nearby who also have it open. You decide when you’re visible and what you share.

  1. 01Make yourself discoverable

    Turn Nearby on whenever you’re open to meeting people. Turn it off and you’re no longer visible.

  2. 02Discover someone nearby

    Explore public profiles from people around you and find the skills and interests you share.

  3. 03Connect when you’re ready

    Request a connection. Personal contact details are shared only with permission.

Interactive demo

From nearby to connected

Try it below. Fictional profiles, no Bluetooth.

Demo · fictional profiles

Nearby

Nearby

Off · Not visible to anyone

Nearby is off

Turn on Nearby to share your public card with people around you who also use Cimilar, and to see theirs. Nothing is shared until you turn it on.

Tap the switch to turn Nearby on.

Why Cimilar

You don’t always need the perfect opening line

Three friends leaning in together, smiling down at the camera against a blue sky.
  1. You notice someone interesting.
  2. You’d like to say hello.
  3. You’re not sure how to begin.

Cimilar gives you somewhere to start: a name, what they do, what they’re into. So the first hello feels a little more natural.

Where connections happen

Good connections can happen anywhere.

At an event, over coffee, or on campus, Cimilar makes it easier to discover people nearby and find a reason to say hello.

Meet beyond the name badge.

Discover other Cimilar users nearby, explore their public profiles and turn introductions into meaningful connections.

A conversation could start right here.

Sometimes someone interesting is closer than you think. Cimilar makes that first introduction a little easier.

Connect beyond your usual circle.

Meet fellow students using Cimilar nearby, discover shared interests and make connections across campus.

Two friends laughing together over one phone outdoors on a sunny day.

Lifestyle photography, not a specific venue. Cimilar doesn’t detect places: it shows people within Bluetooth range who have turned Nearby on.

Privacy and control

Your connections. Your choice.

No account needed. Your profile stays on your phone, and you decide what leaves it.

  1. 01

    Visible when you choose

    Nearby is off until you turn it on, and you can turn it off at any time. It pauses when you leave Cimilar or lock your phone.

  2. 02

    Your number, your decision

    Your WhatsApp number is never on your card. It’s shared only with someone whose request you accept, and you can keep requests turned off.

  3. 03

    Viewed, block and report

    Cards you open stay in Viewed for 60 minutes, encrypted on your phone only. Hide, block or report any card from its menu.

Good to know: what Cimilar can’t control
  • Cards are self-provided and not verified. Cimilar can’t confirm who anyone is.
  • While Nearby is on, anyone nearby with Bluetooth tools could read your public card, so only add what you’re happy for people around you to see.
  • Cimilar can’t stop someone taking a screenshot of what you’ve shared. People who open your card keep it in their Viewed for up to 60 minutes.
  • There’s no map and no exact location. Bluetooth range varies by device and surroundings.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Anything else? Email [email protected].

What is Cimilar?

Cimilar is an app for meeting people around you. Turn on Nearby to see the public profile cards of people nearby who also use Cimilar (their headline, short bio, skills and links), then ask to connect when you’re ready.

How does Cimilar discover people nearby?

With Bluetooth. While Nearby is on, your phone shares your public card with nearby phones running Cimilar and reads theirs. Range varies with the device and the surroundings, such as walls and crowds. Nearby works while Cimilar is open: it pauses when you switch to another app or lock your phone, and resumes when you come back.

Do I need internet?

Not to discover people. Nearby discovery uses Bluetooth. Opening WhatsApp, LinkedIn or someone’s other links happens in those apps or websites, which may need an internet connection.

Can people see my WhatsApp number?

No. Your number is never part of your public card. If someone sends you a request, you see their public card first and choose to share your WhatsApp or decline. Your number is shared only with that person, and only if you accept.

Can I turn Nearby off?

Yes, at any time. Nearby stays off until you turn it on. While it’s off, you aren’t visible to anyone and you won’t see anyone new.

Is my exact location shared?

No. Cimilar has no map and doesn’t show where anyone is. It only shows that someone’s phone is within Bluetooth range.

Is Cimilar available on Android?

Not yet. Android is in development. iPhone comes first.

When can I download Cimilar?

Cimilar isn’t available to download yet. We’re preparing an iOS beta. If you’d like to hear about early access, email [email protected].

Your next connection could be right beside you

  • iOS · Beta coming soon
  • Android · In development
Email us for early access

Opens your email app to write to [email protected]. There’s no sign-up list yet.

Two friends laughing as they look at their phones outdoors under a blue sky.