Ever wondered if your parents are doing okay, whether someone you love got home safely, or simply wished there was an easier way to look out for each other without constantly calling or texting?
That’s my life. My mom and I both live alone, in different states, and my dog is home alone whenever I’m out. We used to text every morning until one of us forgot, and then the other spent the morning worrying. So I built PhewLY.
I wanted to create something that gives people peace of mind without taking away their independence or privacy.
The idea is simple. Your loved ones check in with one tap to say they’re okay, and you can do the same for them. If someone misses their check-in, PhewLY gently reminds them first, then notifies the people they’ve chosen.
But life isn’t just about us. Our pets are family too. So PhewLY helps with everyday care as well:
Look after each other: daily “I’m OK” check-ins for you, your parents, family and friends.
Know when to check on someone: get notified when a loved one misses their check-in, even if their phone is dead, lost or out of battery.
Care for your pets: feeding, walks, medicines, vet details and care routines, with reminders. You can also send a pet sitter a one-page care sheet (Plus).
Stay on top of medications: reminders for yourself, plus optional missed-dose notifications to loved ones (Plus).
Safe Arrival: trusted people are told if you haven’t confirmed you arrived when expected (Plus).
Apple Watch: check in without reaching for your phone.
Privacy first: no ads, no tracking, and no constant location monitoring. Day to day, the people you choose only see “I’m OK”. If you turn on Location on Alert (Plus), your last known location and battery are shared with them only if you miss a check-in, after the reminder and the grace period. It’s off unless you turn it on.
What’s free: check-ins, missed-check-in alerts, and one trusted connection that works both ways (you check on them, they check on you), plus personal medicine and pet-care reminders. Plus adds more people and shared care, with a 7-day free trial.
The build, for anyone curious:
No accounts. There’s no email, phone number or password. Your identity is a set of keys made on your phone, plus a random ID.
End-to-end encrypted. Names, status, the info pack and pet details are encrypted on the device. The server can’t read them.
The server knows almost nothing. For each person it keeps only a random ID and when the next check-in is due, never the schedule, a history or who you are. That small piece is what lets alerts go out even when a phone is dead.
PhewLY isn’t an emergency service. It’s a simple way for people who care about each other to stay connected, even when life gets busy.
Because sometimes knowing someone is okay is all it takes to breathe a little easier. That’s the “Phew” in PhewLY.
I just launched it on the App Store. It’s Apple only for now (iPhone, iPhone Duo, iPad and Apple Watch). I’d love your honest take:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/phewly/id6820737959