Our story

Built for real friends and real life.

Mad Buddy helps the friends you already have find each other when they’re nearby — and turn those small moments into real ones. All of it privacy-first, all of it on your terms.

What is Mad Buddy?

Mad Buddy is a gentle way to know when your approved friends — your Muddies — are close by. Instead of maps and exact spots, people simply glow when they’re nearby. A wave, a quick message, and a spontaneous plan is all it takes to turn a passing moment into time together.

Our mission

To help people spend less time scrolling and more time together — by making it effortless to notice the friends already around you, without ever giving away where you are.

Privacy comes first

We designed Mad Buddy backwards from privacy. Your exact location is never shared, there are no maps or pins, and you’re only ever visible to friends you’ve both approved — when you choose to be.

Why we built it

We kept missing each other in the same places — the same café, the same campus, the same part of town — and only finding out later. We wanted something that quietly closes that gap for real friends, without the discomfort of broadcasting a live location to anyone.

How Mad Buddy works

Five small steps, from a soft glow to a real hello.

  1. 1.Glow

    See approved friends nearby through soft proximity signals — never an exact spot.

  2. 2.Wave

    Let a Muddy know you’re around and open to connecting.

  3. 3.Ping

    Start a conversation and see if the moment is mutual.

  4. 4.Plan

    Turn a nearby hello into coffee, a walk, or a proper plan.

  5. 5.Meet

    Bring the connection into real life, where it counts.

Why we’re different

Approved friends only

Nobody appears nearby unless you have both approved each other. No open discovery of strangers.

No maps, no exact spots

You see “Very close”, “Nearby”, or “Around” — never coordinates, pins, or precise distance.

Visible when you choose

Your glow is yours to control. Turn it off any time and simply disappear from nearby.

Community values

People over followers

Built for the friends you actually know, not an audience to perform for.

Privacy-first, always

Every feature starts from the question: does this respect the person using it?

Real life, encouraged

The best outcome isn’t more time in the app — it’s more time together offline.

Safety & privacy

Staying in control should be simple, so the safety tools are always one tap away.

Ghost Mode

Pause your visibility instantly whenever you want a quiet moment.

Mutual approval

Connections are two-way by design, so nearby is always consensual.

Gentle alerts

Optional nudges when chosen friends are around — never noisy, never automatic.

Read the full privacy policy for the details.

Frequently asked questions

Does Mad Buddy show my exact location?

No. Friends only ever see a soft proximity level like “Nearby”. Your exact location is never shared, mapped, or stored as history.

Can strangers find me?

No. You only appear to people you have both approved as Muddies. There is no public discovery of individuals.

Can I disappear when I want to?

Any time. Ghost Mode pauses your glow immediately, and you choose exactly when you’re visible again.

Is Mad Buddy free?

Yes. The free plan includes nearby glow, approved friends, and Ghost Mode. Paid plans simply add more room and extras.

Ready when your friends are near?

Join Mad Buddy and turn nearby moments into real connections — privately, and on your terms.

Get started