Turn your light on when you're available.
You choose which family and friends see your light — your signal to them that it's a good time to connect with you.
No scheduling, coordinating, or planning.
Small windows of time, easily understood, no pressure.
Free on iPhone (iOS 17 or later) through Apple’s TestFlight app.
How it works
One tap says "I'm available now." Set a time for your light to automatically click off based on your availability timer.
Maybe it's an hour, maybe 10 minutes.
Spontaneous windows of opportunity — you control the signal, and your people know they can DropBy.
Flip it on or off and your people see the change within about 10 seconds while DropBy is open on their phone.
You select exactly who sees your status light.
Create as many groups as you like — family, college friends, book club, the old crew.
Nobody else. No strangers, ever.
A lit lantern is an open invitation. Tap Drop By and choose how: a call, FaceTime, a text, or in person. Their phone rings with your ask.
They answer yes or no, and the answer comes right back to you.
The visit itself happens off the screen. Everyone picks the ways they're open to, and your own light doesn't need to be on to ask.
We built DropBy for the thing the big apps lost — real connections.
You don't need more scheduling in your busy life — you need to know when it's a good time to reconnect, catch up, and have a quick conversation.
The problem: you want to connect, but the logistics always get in the way.
Driving for the next 15 minutes? Perfect time to have someone DropBy and say hi — and they know you've only got 15 minutes, so nobody feels bad when you have to go.
No feed. No chat. No likes.
Your circle is invite-only, and what you share is one warm signal: the light's on.
Stories from the porch
Morning crossword with coffee and sunrise, Grandma flips her light on and sets for one hour, family only. She doesn't know who might be up, but the beacon of opportunity is burning. At 7:15, Andrew, sixteen and waiting on the high school bus, drops by on FaceTime. 6 minutes about his driver’s permit test, the antics of the new puppy, and her visit next month. "Here's my bus, love you, talk tomorrow!" She smiles as she completes 8 down: 'Memories'
Roger checks the DropBy widget while exiting the checkout line with Italian roasts in hand.
Sister's lantern has 35 minutes left — a fifteen-minute call while driving home fits easily. The upcoming family reunion, brother's medical treatment, latest stories of the grandkids. By the time the car pulls back in the driveway, "Alright, talk soon" is a full goodbye. Nobody apologizes for going.
Fifteen minutes from the office to school pickup. Light on, 15-minute timer, Family only. Two stoplights later, Grammy's call comes through the speakers — she saw your lantern, and she knows the window. The kid's accomplishments this week, the weekend plan to the lake, her heirloom tomato garden and the coming frost.
14 minutes later, the sign-off is easy and understood: "Gotta run, talk soon, love you."
Kids asleep, dishwasher humming. Matt lights his lantern in Miami.
Off-work and cruising the beach, Chris flips the switch in Malibu.
One hour each. College Roommates only.
In Denver, Ryan sees two lights on at once — a rarity — and asks both to FaceTime. Two yeses come back.
On a group video chat, they talk about nothing much - the football team this year, summer vacation plans, the legendary rock concert last month. No agenda, hilarious banter, just like old times. At 10:14 the easy sign-off, no need to plan the next connection, the lanterns will light when the time is right.
7 am: London - work trip takes brother Michael to London.
8 pm: Honolulu - sister Monica is on vacation with family on Oahu.
Lights on, 30 minutes free
Regardless of what the clock says, the welcome light means they're available.
Twenty minutes of catching up on travel, being stuck in airport customs, family, and future travel plans. The conversation winds through Greenwich Park and beneath Diamond Head. The aloha — hello and farewell — at the end of the time box is easy.
Mary quietly clicks the nursery door shut; maybe forty minutes of quiet.
Light on — 30 minutes, moms' group only — and the baby laundry gets folded.
At 1:11, fellow new mom Elizabeth drops by while loading the dishwasher, her baby asleep in the bassinet. Easy talk to bring fellowship during these simple tasks. Discussion meanders through the latest book club read, a new meal plan recipe, and favorite organic cotton pajamas.
Chores done, the timer winds down, and the goodbye comes easy. At 1:42 the conversation wraps up as the littles stir, right on cue; the quiet is gone but the connection of motherhood remains for the next DropBy.
