findatime is a free social scheduling app that finds when you and your friends are both free. You mark your available hours each week, share a single link, and findatime automatically surfaces the times that overlap — so you can stop the back-and-forth of 'when are you free?' texts and just make the plan.

How do casual plans work on findatime?

Instead of polling a group chat, you post what you're up for — a gym session, a hike, a coffee — along with a time. Share it with a Group so the whole crew sees it at once. Friends who are free tap 'I'm Keen'. No RSVPs to chase, no one feels pressured.

Does findatime sync with my calendar?

No. findatime does not sync with Google Calendar, Outlook, or any calendar app. You manually mark the hours you're free each week, which takes about 30 seconds. Your contacts and calendar data stay completely private.

Can I use findatime to catch up with friends overseas?

Yes. findatime works across timezones. You mark your free hours in your local time, your friend marks theirs in their local time, and the app shows you the overlap in your own timezone — no mental math required.

Yes, findatime is free to use. Set your availability, share your link, and start making plans at no cost.

How is findatime different from a group chat?

Group chats require back-and-forth messages to find a time everyone's free. findatime eliminates that: you mark your availability once, share a link, and the app shows the overlap automatically. For casual plans, you post once and see who's keen — no chasing RSVPs.

Making Friends in Los Angeles: A Guide for the Car City

The LA challenge

Los Angeles is a city of 4 million people spread across 500 square miles. The car is the primary mode of transport, and every friendship is a drive. The geographic spread is the single biggest barrier to friendship in LA.

The LA-specific challenges

The geographic spread. A friend in Santa Monica, you in Silver Lake, another in the Valley — a "quick coffee" is a 45-minute drive each way.
The car culture. You can't walk to a friend's house. Every plan requires a drive, which adds friction.
The industry culture. For people in entertainment, the work culture is demanding and social — but the socialising is often performative, not friendship-building.
The transient population. Many people are here for the industry, and many leave when they don't "make it."

The fixes

1. Neighbourhood loyalty

In LA, this is the single most important strategy. Build your weekly friendships within a 15-minute drive. Save the cross-city drives for monthly close-friend dinners. You'll see your local friends weekly and your distant friends monthly.

2. The morning walk

LA's beaches and parks are spectacular in the early morning — before the traffic, before the heat. The Venice boardwalk, Griffith Park, Runyon Canyon. A 7am walk is protected from the drive and the work.

3. The activity-first plan

Don't plan a dinner (which requires a drive and a reservation). Plan a walk, a hike, a beach hang — activities where the drive is the only cost, and the activity is free and flexible.

4. Share your availability

Mark your free hours, share your findatime link, and let the overlap find you. In a city where the drive is the barrier, removing the scheduling tax is the biggest lever.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is LA hard to make friends in?

It's harder than in dense, walkable cities — the geographic spread is a real barrier. The key is neighbourhood loyalty: build your weekly circle close to home.

How do I handle the traffic?

Don't fight it — plan around it. Morning walks (before traffic), weekend mornings, weekday evenings after 8pm. The traffic is worst at rush hour; avoid it for social plans.

What if all my friends are in different neighbourhoods?

Tier your friendships: neighbourhood friends for weekly contact, cross-city friends for monthly. Don't try to see everyone every week — the driving will burn you out.