PingPal is the activity-first social app that connects you with real people nearby. Post what you're doing, find others who want to join, and turn everyday moments into shared experiences.
No swiping. No algorithms. Just real people doing real things nearby.
Post a Ping
Share what you're up to — coffee, a run, brunch, happy hour — and set the time and place.
Get Discovered
People nearby see your ping on the map and can request to join with a message.
Connect
Share your location, chat in real time, tap "I'm Here" when you arrive — all from the ping card toolbar.
Meet Up
Show up, hang out, and give kudos afterward. Add them as a pal to stay connected.
See It In Action
Watch how PingPal works
Co-founder Lauren walks you through the app in just three minutes.
Who It’s For
Built for people who actually want to get out
Whether you’re new in town, tired of dead group chats, or just want someone to grab coffee, explore, or run with — PingPal makes it easier to actually make plans.
New to townLooking for friends, not followersTired of dead group chatsWant people to explore the city withNeed a running partner or coffee buddyJust want people who are actually down to hang
Features
Built for real connection
Every feature in PingPal is designed to get you off the couch and into the moment.
📍
Nearby Map
See active pings around you in real time. Tap any pin to see what's happening and who's going.
🔍
Discover Tab
Browse nearby people, follow local businesses and venues, and see shared interests before connecting.
⚡
Activity-First
Every connection starts with something to do — coffee, a hike, live music. The activity is the icebreaker.
💬
Built-In Chat
Once you're connected, chat about the details, share your ETA, and coordinate in real time.
🔔
Smart Notifications
Get notified when someone nearby posts a ping that matches your interests, or when someone wants to join yours.
⭐
Kudos & Pals
After a great hangout, give kudos and add your new friend as a pal. Build your local network organically.
🛡️
Your Safety, Your Call
Hide your exact location so only an approximate pin shows — no address, no venue name. Not sure where to meet? Choose "Decide later" and figure it out in chat.
🚫
Block, Report, Hide
Someone not your vibe? Block, report, or hide them in a tap. All reports reviewed within 24 hours. Your experience, your rules.
✅
Identity Verification
Get a verified badge for $4.99 via Stripe Identity — upload your ID and complete a face scan to confirm you're you. One-time purchase, permanent peace of mind.
Built in Dallas. Fueled by stubbornness and good coffee.
The Short Version
Social media promised to connect us. Instead, we got doom-scrolling, parasocial relationships, and the vague sense that everyone's having more fun than us. Cool.
PingPal is the antidote. Post what you're doing, find someone nearby who wants to join, and actually go do it. No algorithms. No infinite feeds. Just people showing up in real life.
Why This Exists
Here's the thing nobody talks about: loneliness isn't just a vibe — it's a public health issue. As a clinical psychologist, Jesse has seen it firsthand. The single biggest common factor among people struggling with depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges? A lack of community. Feeling disconnected. Not having people to just... do stuff with.
And most social apps? They're engineered to keep you on the screen. More engagement, more scroll time, more ad revenue. They're not designed to get you off the couch and into a coffee shop with someone new. PingPal is.
Every feature is built around one idea: the fastest way to form a real connection is to do something together. The activity is the icebreaker. You're not auditioning for friendship — you're just grabbing tacos with someone who also wanted tacos. It's that simple.
The Origin Story
PingPal was born in Dallas in 2025 when Jesse and Lauren — who know a thing or two about moving to a new city and starting from scratch — decided to build the app they wished existed. What started as a "wouldn't it be cool if..." conversation turned into late nights and eventually a real app on both app stores.
We launched in Dallas, got our first 1,500 users, caught some press from the Dallas Observer and Dallas Discovered, and started partnering with local businesses and creators. Austin is next. After that... well, let's not get ahead of ourselves. But also, yes, everywhere.
Meet the Founders
Jesse Co-Founder & CEO
Clinical psychologist earning his doctorate in August 2026. Served seven years on active duty in the Navy as an enlisted sailor, deployed twice, and moved more times than he can count. He knows firsthand how tough it can be to make new friends as an adult — and built PingPal to make it easier.
Lauren Co-Founder & COO
Penn State engineer, senior consulting manager. Runs outreach, tightens the UX, field-tests the app, networks with investors, and builds the pitch deck. She makes things happen.
Frankie Chief Pawsitivity Officer
Expert nap strategist. Snack acquisition lead. Approves all PingPal updates with a tail wag or a side-eye.
Get in Touch
Questions, ideas, or want to collaborate? We'd love to hear from you.
You must be at least 18 years old to use PingPal. By creating an account, you represent that you meet this requirement.
Account Security
Keep your credentials confidential. You're responsible for all activity under your account. Report unauthorized use to support@pingpal.co.
User Conduct
Do not: harass others, post illegal or offensive content, spam, hack, create fake profiles, share misleading information, create pings at private residences, or exploit minors.
Identity Verification
Optional identity verification is available via Stripe Identity ($4.99 one-time). Badges indicate completed checks but do not guarantee safety. Non-refundable.
Content & License
You retain ownership of your content. You grant PingPal a license to store and display it for operating the Service. We don't sell your content.
Safety & Meetups
PingPal facilitates connections but doesn't supervise offline interactions. Always meet in public places, tell someone your plans, and trust your instincts.
Payments
PingPal+: $4.99/month auto-renewing via App Store / Google Play
Verified Badge: $4.99 one-time
Subscriptions renew unless cancelled 24 hours before the billing period ends
Refunds are processed through Apple/Google within their refund windows
Termination
We may suspend or terminate accounts for violations. You may delete your account anytime via the app or by emailing support@pingpal.co.
Governing Law
These terms are governed by the laws of Texas, United States. Disputes are resolved through binding arbitration in Travis County, TX (you may opt out within 30 days of account creation).
We collect account information, approximate location, usage data, and device information to provide and improve PingPal.
How We Use Your Location
Your approximate location is used for showing nearby pings, determining your discovery radius, and powering map features. Your exact coordinates are never shared with other users.
What We Don't Do
We do not sell your personal data
We do not share your exact coordinates
We do not store payment card information
Data Retention
Active accounts are retained while in use. Deleted accounts are purged per our data retention policy.
Third-Party Services
Firebase — infrastructure and backend
Stripe — payments and identity verification
Expo — push notifications
Your Rights
You may access, correct, or delete your data at any time. Full rights are honored for California (CCPA) and EU (GDPR) residents.
Tap the + button in the bottom nav → Start Ping → choose capacity (1:1 or group), add a title, date, time, and location → Publish Ping. Your ping will appear on the Nearby map for people around you to discover.
On your Dashboard, switch to Nearby → swipe through the tray cards or tap a map pin → tap "Request to Join" → add an optional message. The creator will review and accept or decline your request.
Public: Visible on the Nearby map to all nearby users. Choose 1:1 or multiple capacity. Professional/Event: Created by Pro accounts with purple accent. Supports RSVP. Private: Direct 1:1 invitation to an existing pal only. Group: Invitation to a specific pals group.
Go to Profile → tap the three dots (⋯) → Edit Profile. Update your bio, photos, intentions, and attributes, then tap Save.
After Joining
The ping appears in your My Pings (Active tab), in-app chat opens automatically, and you can coordinate details directly. Chat remains available for 24 hours or until either user ends the ping.
After a ping ends, you can give Kudos, add them as a PingPal, archive the conversation, or delete it.
Subscriptions
PingPal+ is a $4.99/month subscription that gives you 15 daily ping credits (vs. 3 on the free plan) and priority visibility in nearby feeds. Cancel anytime via your App Store or Google Play settings.
PingPal Pro is for businesses and venues. It includes recurring pings, broadcast messaging to followers, a follower system, event RSVPs, and satellite pings. It's free during our Dallas pilot — reach out to jesse@pingpal.co or lauren@pingpal.co to get started.
Safety
Tap the three dots (⋯) on any profile, ping card, or chat → Report or Block User. All reports are reviewed within 24 hours. Blocked users can no longer see or contact you.
Your approximate location is used to show nearby pings, but your exact coordinates are never shared with other users. You can also choose "Decide later" for ping locations to coordinate privately in chat.
Account
Go to Profile → Edit Profile → scroll to the bottom → Delete Account. You can also email support@pingpal.co to request deletion.
Go to your device's App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) settings → Subscriptions → PingPal+ → Cancel. You'll retain access until the end of your current billing period.
PingPal exists to help people connect in real life. These guidelines keep our community safe, welcoming, and worth showing up to. Violating them results in warnings, suspension, or permanent ban.
1. Be Respectful & Inclusive
Treat everyone with dignity. PingPal is for people of all backgrounds, identities, and walks of life. Discrimination, prejudice, or exclusionary behavior has no place here.
2. No Harassment, Threats, or Hate Speech
Don't threaten, bully, intimidate, or harass anyone — in pings, chat, or profiles. This includes targeted language based on race, gender, sexuality, religion, disability, or any other identity.
3. No Explicit, Violent, or Illegal Content
Don't post sexually explicit material, graphic violence, or anything that promotes illegal activity. Keep it clean — this isn't that kind of app.
4. No Spam, Scams, or Commercial Solicitation
Don't use PingPal to sell products, run pyramid schemes, or spam people with unsolicited promotions. If you're a business, apply for PingPal Pro instead.
5. No Fake Profiles or Impersonation
Be who you say you are. Don't impersonate other people, create fake accounts, or misrepresent yourself. Identity verification is available for a reason.
6. Meet in Public Places Only
All pings should be set at public locations — cafes, parks, restaurants, gyms, bars. Never create pings at private residences. Your safety comes first.
7. Report Violations
See something off? Tap the three dots (⋯) on any profile, ping, or chat and hit Report. All reports are reviewed within 24 hours. You can also block or hide anyone at any time.
8. Zero Tolerance for Child Exploitation
PingPal has an absolute zero-tolerance policy for child sexual abuse or exploitation (CSAE/CSAM). Any such content or behavior is immediately reported to authorities and results in permanent ban.
9. Consequences
Depending on the severity, violations result in a warning, temporary suspension, or permanent ban. We don't negotiate on safety.
Follow Along
Join the community
See what we're up to, catch local events, and connect with us on social.
Instagram
@pingpal.co
Facebook
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