From download to safe and connected, in under two minutes
BuddySOS is intentionally simple. Three steps from installing the app to having your whole group on a live shared map with a one-tap SOS button between every person.
How do I set up BuddySOS before an event?
Download BuddySOS free from the App Store or Google Play and sign in with your phone number. BuddySOS texts you a one-time code, so there is no password to set. Tap 'Create group,' name it after the event or the people in it ('Coachella Weekend 1,' 'Family,' 'Night shift'), then invite people by phone number or send them the invite link. Each person accepts the invite on their own phone. Setup takes about 90 seconds per person. Do it the night before an event so no one is dealing with onboarding while standing in a line outside the gates.
While you are in setup, add your emergency contacts. These are the people who get a text with your location when you press SOS, and they do not need the app. Pick them from your contacts or type a number in.
What happens when I arrive at the event?
Open BuddySOS when you arrive and turn on location sharing for the group. Each person shows up as a named pin with their distance and direction relative to you, so you skip the 'where are you?' texts and the screenshotted festival map with arrows drawn on it. Tap a pin for walking directions or to call that person.
Two optional tools save effort. Draw a safe zone, a circle on the map around a meeting point, a campsite, or home, and the group gets an alert when someone enters or leaves it. Or set a tracking window with a start and end time for the event, and BuddySOS sends a reminder before it opens. If you are in more than one group, a switcher at the top of the map flips between them, and each map shows only that group's members.
What if something goes wrong during the event?
If something goes wrong (separation, medical situation, anything where you need help) hit the SOS button. Each buddy in the group gets an alert with your live GPS position and a one-tap directions link to walk to you. Your emergency contacts get a text with your location at the same time.
The SOS keeps broadcasting your position after you lock the screen. BuddySOS does not contact emergency services, so if someone needs an ambulance or the police, call 911 as well. When the event is over, pause the group or leave it. BuddySOS keeps no history of where anyone went.
Ready for your next event?
Free on iOS and Android. Create your first group tonight, be ready for the weekend.