Frequently asked questions

Around Me (also written AroundMe) is a free app for finding local businesses near you that you can walk into — restaurants, grocery shops, fuel stations, pharmacies, barbers, dentists, garages and more. It shows how far away each place is, its opening hours and contact details, and lets you call or get directions in one tap.

Yes. Around Me and AroundMe are the same app and service. The official website is aroundme.guide.

The official website is aroundme.guide. It explains how Around Me works, has guides for business owners, and links to the app.

Around Me is operated by FTV London Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales (company number 07685945). See about Around Me.

Yes. Finding businesses, calling them and getting directions is free, with no account needed. Businesses can also list for free; only the optional Gold and Platinum upgrades are paid.

Around Me only lists businesses customers can walk into, and each one is added by someone standing at the premises with the app. Listings have to be confirmed from the premises every 6 months or they drop out of search, so you are less likely to find a place that has closed or moved.

It describes what the app does: it shows businesses around you, based on where you are standing, within a distance you choose.

Email hello@aroundme.guide or use the contact form.

Open the app, allow location, and tap a category on the home screen — for example Restaurants, Grocery, Fuel or Pharmacies. You can also search by name. Results show the nearest places first within your chosen distance.

Yes. Places that are open right now are shown first, then places that haven’t given opening hours, then places that are closed. Each result shows its hours, such as “Open until 22:00”.

Yes. Many categories have types — for example Restaurants includes Desi food, Chinese & Asian, Italian & pizza, Burgers & grills and Middle Eastern. Pick “All” to see everything in the category.

No. Customers can search, call and get directions without signing up. An account is only needed to add or manage a business listing.

Yes. Searching, calling and getting directions are free, and you don’t need an account.

You choose: 1, 2, 3 or 5 miles in the United Kingdom; 1, 3, 5 or 10 km in Australia; 1, 3, 5 or 10 km in Canada; 1, 3, 5 or 10 km in Egypt; 1, 3, 5 or 10 km in India; 1, 3, 5 or 10 km in Ireland; 1, 3, 5 or 10 km in Italy; 1, 3, 5 or 10 km in New Zealand; 1, 3, 5 or 10 km in Nigeria; 1, 3, 5 or 10 km in Oman; 1, 3, 5 or 10 km in Pakistan; 1, 3, 5 or 10 km in Saudi Arabia; 1, 3, 5 or 10 km in South Africa; 1, 3, 5 or 10 km in the United Arab Emirates; 1, 2, 3 or 5 miles in the United States. You can change the distance on the results page at any time.

Around Me is open in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Egypt, India, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. The app works out which country you are in from your location.

Businesses can upgrade to Gold or Platinum. Platinum listings appear first, then Gold, then Silver. Within each tier, the nearest business is shown first. Every tier is labelled, so you can always see why a listing is where it is.

No. Businesses can only be added in the app, by someone standing at the premises, because the app records the exact location from the phone. That is what stops fake and out-of-date listings.

It is the date the business last opened the app at its own premises and confirmed the listing. A listing that is not re-confirmed within 6 months (plus a short grace period) is hidden from search.

Get Around Me for Android on Google Play. You can also find all download options on the download page.

Not yet. Our Apple developer account is being set up, and the iPhone app will follow. The Android app is available now — leave your email on the Get the app page and tick the box to hear when the iPhone app is ready.

Get Around Me for Android on Google Play. You can also find all download options on the download page.

No. The app only uses your location while you are searching or adding, confirming or moving a business listing — never in the background. It uses your location to show what is near you and does not build a location history.

To show businesses near where you are and to measure distances. Business owners also use it to place their business exactly on the map from the premises.

Yes. In the app, go to More → Country and choose Manual, then pick a country from the list. Automatic uses your location to work it out.

No. Around Me does not show adverts and does not sell your data. Businesses can pay to appear higher in results, and those listings are always labelled Gold or Platinum.

Yes. Open the business in the app and tap Write a review. Rate the price, quality and staff from 1 to 5 stars and add a short comment if you like. You sign in with your email so each person reviews a business once; you can edit or delete your review at any time. Only the name you choose is shown.

Each review rates price, quality and staff. A review’s score is the average of its three ratings, and a business’s score — the number you see on cards, such as ★ 4.8 — is the average of all its visible reviews. Businesses can’t pay to remove reviews or change their rating.

Yes. Open the business in the app and tap Share. Your phone shows the apps you can send it with, such as WhatsApp, Messages or email. The link opens a page with the business’s address, hours, call and directions — it works even if your friend doesn’t have Around Me yet.

Open the business in the app and tap “Report this listing”. Choose what is wrong, add details if you like, and send. Our team reviews every report.

Download the app, go to More → My business and sign in with your email. While you are at your premises, tap Add a business, let the app capture your location, then add your details. It takes about two minutes. See the step-by-step guide.

Yes. A Silver listing is free for good. You only pay if you choose a Gold or Platinum upgrade.

Any business with a physical location that customers visit in person — a shop, salon, surgery, café, garage, office with a reception and so on. Online-only businesses, and trades that only visit customers (like mobile mechanics or plumbers without premises), cannot be listed. See who can list.

A Silver listing is free, for good. Gold and Platinum are optional paid upgrades that move your listing higher in search. Prices are set per country — see pricing.

Yes. The app takes your location from your phone’s GPS, so you need to be inside the premises or right at the entrance when you add it.

About two minutes, and it is live in search as soon as you publish. Customers can report a listing that looks wrong, and our team reviews every report.

Yes. Each location is its own listing, added and confirmed from that location. Sign in with the same email to manage them all.

Yes — a member of staff or a family member can add it on their phone while at the premises, signed in with an email address you have access to, so you receive the confirmation reminders.

Because businesses close, move and change hands, and directories rarely find out. A quick on-site check twice a year is what keeps every Around Me listing trustworthy — which is what makes customers use it.

Open the app while you are at the business, go to My business, and tap Confirm. The app checks you are within 150 metres of your listed location. That’s it.

Yes. We email you 30 days, 7 days and 1 day before your confirmation is due.

You get a 14-day grace period. After that the listing is hidden from search — not deleted. Confirm on site at any time and it comes straight back, with the same tier.

Use “We’ve moved” in the app while at the new premises. It records the new location and address, and the listing updates straight away.

No. Confirmation is free on every tier.

Enter your email address in the app and type the 6-digit code we email you. There is no password to remember.

In the app, go to More and tap Delete account under your email, or use aroundme.guide/delete-account. Your account and all your listings are deleted straight away.

Yes. You can remove a listing, its cover photo or brochure, or clear contact details from the app at any time. For anything else, email hello@aroundme.guide. See deleting only some of your data.

No. Around Me does not sell personal data or use it for advertising. See the privacy notice.

You must be 18 or over to create an account or list a business. Anyone can use the app to find businesses.

They are listing tiers. Silver is free. Gold and Platinum are paid yearly upgrades that place a listing higher in results and let the business add a cover photo and a PDF brochure or menu.

Yes, on Gold and Platinum. You can add one cover photo and one PDF brochure — such as a menu or price list — that customers can download.

Higher placement. In any search that includes your business, Platinum listings are shown above Gold, and Gold above Silver. Your listing also carries a Gold or Platinum badge.

Inside the app, from My business. You pay by card on a secure Stripe page; the upgrade covers one listing (one location) for 12 months and does not renew automatically.

In the United Kingdom, Gold is £4.99 a year and Platinum is £9.99 a year. In Australia, free Silver listings are open now and Gold and Platinum prices will be announced soon. In Canada, free Silver listings are open now and Gold and Platinum prices will be announced soon. In Egypt, free Silver listings are open now and Gold and Platinum prices will be announced soon. In India, free Silver listings are open now and Gold and Platinum prices will be announced soon. In Ireland, free Silver listings are open now and Gold and Platinum prices will be announced soon. In Italy, free Silver listings are open now and Gold and Platinum prices will be announced soon. In New Zealand, free Silver listings are open now and Gold and Platinum prices will be announced soon. In Nigeria, free Silver listings are open now and Gold and Platinum prices will be announced soon. In Oman, free Silver listings are open now and Gold and Platinum prices will be announced soon. In Pakistan, Gold is $2.99 a year and Platinum is $6.99 a year. In Saudi Arabia, free Silver listings are open now and Gold and Platinum prices will be announced soon. In South Africa, free Silver listings are open now and Gold and Platinum prices will be announced soon. In the United Arab Emirates, free Silver listings are open now and Gold and Platinum prices will be announced soon. In the United States, free Silver listings are open now and Gold and Platinum prices will be announced soon. See pricing.

Yes. Every tier must be confirmed on site. A paid listing that is not confirmed is hidden like any other — your paid time is not extended while it is hidden, so it is worth confirming on time.

The listing returns to Silver. It stays in search; it just stops ranking above Silver listings.

No. Each country has its own prices, and payment is always taken securely by card through Stripe.