Nextdoor is a private social platform designed to enable users to know and connect with their neighbors.
Launched in the United States in 2011, the platform has grown tremendously and now covers more than 11 countries.
Not only Nextdoor, there are several other sites like Nextdoor that help you to connect with your neighbors. Nearlist, Olio, Citizen to name a few.
Though the best neighborhood app like Nextdoor is Meetup. Not only does it help you connecting with likeminded individuals from your vicinity but also helps you finding events, making groups, joining classes or simply engaging with neighbors for fun.
More about Nextdoor and why explore alternatives
Using Nextdoor, newcomers can easily connect with people near their homes and stay abreast with the local news. It’s also a great platform to locate and support local businesses around your area.
Even non-profit organizations use it to find and engage with those who need their support as well as find donors.
When bored or in need of networking, Nextdoor helps you to discover events happening around you, from community meetings, local performances, street fairs, garage sales, and much more.
Despite all this, Nextdoor may not be the best option for you. For eg: If you’re in an area where the app isn’t widely used or you’re a business owner not getting the required recommendations to push your business, you would essentially want to try other options.
Let’s take a look at some of the other apps that are similar to Nextdoor but can serve you better.
Best Neighborhood Apps Like Nextdoor
1. Nearlist
Nearlist brings together all your favorite spots within your neighborhood. You can easily find events happening around your area.
The app is available in six cities including San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, Sausalito, Cambridge, and Boston.
As long as you’re in these cities, you can quickly connect with local businesses to either book appointments, organize a purchase, or inquire about their promotions.
Similar to Nextdoor, Nearlist users won’t be caught off-guard by the happenings in their environment. The platform keeps them updated whether they are home or away.
If businesses around you are giving coupons, you can easily redeem the ones you’re interested in or save them for later use.
Nearlist is free to use and can be downloaded from the Apple Store.
2. Olio
Olio is a community-driven sharing app designed to combat waste and foster local connections.
Launched in 2015 to address food waste, it allows individuals to list surplus edible items, from homemade meals to grocery leftovers, that nearby users can request and pick up for free.
Over time, the app has expanded to include non-food items like books, clothes, toys, and household goods, promoting reuse and reducing the need for new purchases.
Olio also partners with businesses such as supermarkets, cafes, and office canteens to redistribute unsold food through trained volunteers known as “Food Waste Heroes.”
With its core philosophy of “don’t buy it, or bin it—Olio it,” the app empowers millions of users around the world to reduce their environmental impact, build stronger communities, and support a more sustainable, circular economy.
You can download the app from Google Play and Apple Store and sign up for free.
3. Neighbors By Ring
Neighbors by Ring is a platform that fosters security within a neighborhood. Like Nextdoor, it unites neighbors and creates a sense of belonging and safety.
When you’re away from home, your neighbors can easily update you on what’s happening in your area. They will also share safety alerts if there is a crime nearby and you can quickly call the cops.
The app helps you to be your brother’s keeper. It’s available for download on the Google Play and Apple Store and it’s free to use.
Upon signing up, the app creates a radius around your home using your address. So, when someone shares a security alert within that area, you will be notified.
And if you share a security alert on the platform, your neighbors will also be notified. To ensure your neighbor’s safety, you can comment with additional or necessary information about the issue, sharing tips to help your neighbors stay safe.
Neighbors By Ring never displays your personal information on the platform nor does it share your private information with third-party users.
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4. Citizen
Citizen is another neighborhood app like Nextdoor designed to help people connect and protect themselves and the people around them.
You get access to real-time security alerts and immediate help from neighbors and crime responders.
That means that if there is an incident like a fire or robbery, users can quickly share the news, alerting others to avoid the area or keeping them updated on how events pan out.
Since it was launched in March 2017, Citizen has recorded more than 10 billion alerts from over nine million followers. The platform has saved lots of lives and helped reunite family and friends.
Through Citizen, neighbors can look out for each other and this is a similarity it shares with Nextdoor. Users can create and watch live videos on how incidents unfold and follow until they’re resolved.
Public agencies like the fire departments use Citizen to direct resources to affected locations. When they see the intensity of the fire from the Live Broadcast, they will respond faster.
The ER surgeons on the other hand prepare the operating rooms before wounded persons are brought in.
Citizen is free to use and can be downloaded from the Google Play and Apple Store.
Explore more apps like Citizen here.
5. Peanut
Peanut is slightly different from Nextdoor in that the former app focuses more on women. However, both platforms provide access to a community who are there to listen and help when needed.
Women who are navigating fertility, pregnancy, motherhood, or menopause don’t have to do so alone. These periods can be overwhelming and it’s nice to have support.
You can find women who are at a similar stage, share your vulnerable moments with them, and then encourage each other all the way.
Ask questions, and listen to podcasts and experts to gain more clarity.
Download the application from Google Play. and Apple Store.
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6. Lotsa Helping Hands
Lotsa Helping Hands is another Nextdoor alternative designed to help users organize help for their family, friends, or neighbors in need. They can schedule tasks and keep each other informed.
Lotsa Helping Hands is simple to use with an intuitive interface. Caregivers who need help organizing help for a loved one, friends and family who want to help others, and volunteers who want to help people in their neighborhood can sign up on the platform.
You can schedule meals, rides, and appointments for your elderly neighbors. If you are working as a team, you can easily communicate with your members and send them words of encouragement.
The apps are available on both iOS and Android.
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7. Vibemap
Vibemap is for the city-curious, and the newbies who want to explore places in their new city. No matter what vibe you’re looking for, Vibemap will connect you to the places and people that match it.
The platform connects you to locations and people you want to be with based on your vibe. That’s the major difference between this app and Nextdoor. As the name implies, Vibemap focuses on users’ vibes.
You’ll discover and create new connections with people from different walks of life and I think that’s the most exciting part. It’s easy to share spaces with people who share the same vibe as you.
Whether you’re a party person, or an introvert, you’ll find your tribe here.
Vibemap is so easy to use and is 100% free to download on Android and iOS devices.
8. Meetup
The name pretty much explains what the platform does. It’s a place to meet new folks in your area, connect with them, find support, grow your business, and explore other interests.
In a world where people are getting lost in the daily hustle and bustle, it’s great to make time to attend in-person or online events and meet people who share your interest.
There are thousands of events happening every day around you. Whether it’s gaming, photography, yoga, hiking, or arts and crafts, Meetup keeps you updated on all of them just like Nextdoor. It’s easy to find your community and build a meaningful connection from there.
You can even start your group and bring people with the same interests together. The app is 100% free to download from Google Play and Apple Store.
9. Freecycle
If you are big on doling out your old properties or surplus food items, or you’re new in town but not buoyant enough to afford new household items, Freecycle solves all these needs.
It’s a social platform that connects neighbors at the grassroots to reduce waste and save resources. People in a particular area can give out and receive stuff for free.
Freecycle currently has over nine million members from more than 5,000 local towns across the globe. Everything posted on the platform must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages.
Like Nextdoor, Freecycle strengthens community bonds. All you need to sign up is your username, email, and password. There is also an option to sign up with your Facebook account.
Once you’ve signed up, you can then find and join local town groups of your choice. When you make posts about the things you need or items you want to give out, members reply and you can arrange for pickup.
You can also invite your friends nearby and form a Friends Cycle for lending and gifting amongst yourselves.
Freecycle is completely non-profit and is run by volunteers and moderators.
As of now, they only operate through their website. Apps are not available but it can change in future.
10. Buzzly
Buzzly is a social-discovery app designed to help users connect with nearby people, groups, and events based on shared interests.
It allows users to search for individuals using keyword filters and approximate location, making it easy to find people offering services, companionship, or shared hobbies.
Users can join or create local groups and explore or host real-world events like meetups, classes, or networking sessions.
Buzzly does not include in-app messaging. Instead, users can share contact details such as email or social media profiles to continue conversations.
The app emphasizes real-world interaction and privacy, making it suitable for those seeking meaningful local connections.
Buzzly is available globally on both iOS and Android platforms and is intended for users aged 17 and up.
Wrapping Up
All the platforms reviewed above share similar features with Nextdoor. They help you discover places, connect with your neighbor, and share valuable information.
You can connect with likeminded people who share similar interests.
For example, Peanuts helps to connect women in different stages of life while Lotsa Helping Hands helps to connect those who want to help.
Apps like Neighbors By Ring, and Citizens are perfect for those who want to have friends around in case of an emergency.
One thing is similar with all apps though, you can make friends for lifetime.