Faro is a simple check-in timer for going out solo. It automatically alerts the contacts you choose, but only if you don't check in as "OK" before your timer expires. It's built to give you freedom and the people who care about you peace of mind.

Anyone who wants an extra layer of reassurance when they're out on their own: a night run, a first date, a solo hike, a trip somewhere new, or just heading out alone for the evening. It's for people who want a quiet safety net without the constant back-and-forth texting.

You set how long your activity will take and add a short note about your plan. That note matters, because it's the context your contacts get if an alert is ever sent. Once you start the timer, Faro runs quietly in the background. Before it ends, you'll get a reminder to check in. If you don't check in by tapping "I'm OK", Faro alerts your trusted contacts for you.

"Faro" means lighthouse in Spanish and Italian. A lighthouse is a beacon of guidance, standing against the elements to help travelers find their way safely to shore. I wanted a name that captured that feeling: a quiet, steady presence that gives light and reassurance on your journey, whatever it may be.

Your trusted contacts receive an email (and SMS, on the paid tiers) with your name, the note you wrote about your plan, and the route recorded while your timer was active.

No, and that's the core idea of Faro. Your contacts aren't bothered when you head out. They're only contacted if your timer runs out and you haven't checked in. That way you can go about your plans without anyone worrying.

Faro sends you reminders before your timer ends. If you miss those and an alert goes out, the best thing to do is to message your circle directly to let them know you're okay.

No. Faro runs in the background. Once you start a timer, you can close the app and use your phone as normal.

Yes, your location still syncs with our servers. But Android and iOS both limit location and network access for closed apps, so how often your location updates depends on your phone and your settings.

The alert system runs on our servers, so an alert still goes out even if your phone loses connection after you set the timer. You do need a connection to send location updates during your activity and to check in as "OK" at the end. If you've been out of range for a while, it's worth opening the app when you can so your location can sync.

That's fine. Your trusted contacts don't need Faro installed. They get alerts by email and/or SMS. It's worth telling them you've added them so they recognize an alert if one ever arrives.

No. This is important to be clear about: Faro alerts the personal contacts you chose. It does not and cannot contact official emergency services. If you ever feel you're in immediate danger, your first action should always be to contact your local authorities directly.

Location tracking is optional: you choose whether to turn on "Track my location" each time you set a timer, and you can switch it off for any adventure.

When it's on, Faro only records your route while that timer is active. The moment you check in as "OK", that whole route is permanently and immediately deleted from our servers.

The one exception is if your timer runs out and an alert is sent: then we keep that route for 30 days, and we do it only to keep you safe. If the situation is only recognised or escalated later, your route is still there for you, your contacts or the authorities to use. After 30 days it is automatically and permanently deleted. We never sell your location data.

No. You can allow or deny Faro's permission to use location services. Just know that if an alert goes out, we won't be able to include your location for your circle.

Your account and timer data live in a database hosted in the EU. Faro's backend runs there too, including the check that decides whether to alert your contacts. Keeping it in the EU means it's protected by European privacy law (GDPR).

A few other services each handle one small piece of the job:
• Supabase (EU): your account, timers, contacts and location path
• Sinch (EU): sends SMS alerts to your contacts (Standard and Premium)
• MailerSend (EU): sends email alerts to your contacts
• Sentry (EU): receives crash and error reports so I can fix bugs
• RevenueCat (US): handles your subscription status. It receives your purchase information, not your timers, contacts or location.

I chose EU hosting wherever it was an option. RevenueCat is the exception: it's US-based and has no EU hosting, so transfers to it are covered by the EU's Standard Contractual Clauses. Everything is encrypted in transit and at rest, and each service only gets the data it needs for its one job. Your location path is deleted the moment you check in with "I'm OK". If an alert was sent, it's deleted after 30 days. I never sell your data.

For the details, see the privacy policy.

Faro has three tiers:
• Free: 1 trusted contact, 2 timers a month, email alerts.
• Standard (€3.99/month): 5 trusted contacts, 10 timers a month, SMS & email alerts.
• Premium (€9.99/month): 5 trusted contacts, 30 timers a month, SMS & email alerts.

You can manage or cancel any time through your phone's App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) subscription settings.