NearfolkBirthday reminders that arrive in time to do something
Nearfolk keeps friends' birthdays and other important dates in one tab. A reminder arrives three days before and another on the day, so there is time to write something real. A birthday card is one tap away, and birthdays rise to the top of today's three.
Coming soon to iPhone
How do birthdays get into Nearfolk?
Two ways. You can type a birthday on a person's profile by choosing a month and day, with the year optional. Or you can tap Pick from Contacts when you add someone, and iOS fills in the name, first phone number and birthday of the one contact you choose.
That is the only contact access Nearfolk uses. The system picker hands over just the contact you tap, so the rest of your address book is not read or uploaded.
If a contact has no birthday, nothing is filled in and you can add one yourself later. You can also edit or remove a birthday at any time from the person's edit screen.
When do the reminders arrive?
Three days before at 10:00 and on the day at 09:00. The first gives you time to order a gift or plan a call. The second is the morning nudge to send the message itself.
Both are local notifications scheduled on your iPhone. You can turn them off separately from the daily nudge under Me, then Notifications, by switching Birthdays and dates.
The three-day reminder is deliberate. A card, a gift or a call needs a little notice, and a message sent on the day tends to be one of fifty. The earlier reminder gives you time to write something that sounds like you.
| Reminder | When | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Three days before | 10:00 | Time to plan a gift, a call or a card |
| On the day | 09:00 | Time to send the message |
| Daily nudge | Your chosen time | A drifting friend, at most once a day |
What is on the Dates tab?
The Dates tab lists birthdays and other important dates for the next twelve months, grouped by month. Rows are marked today, this week or in a number of days. Birthday rows have a Card button, and tapping a row opens that person.
Important dates are for the days that matter to a friendship but are not birthdays: an anniversary, a move, a first day at a new job. You add them on a person's profile with a title and a date.
What does a profile show about the next birthday?
On a person's profile, a white card shows Birthday in a number of days with a grey button, Make a birthday card. When no birthday is stored, the same spot shows when the next nudge will come, with a button to change the rhythm.
On the day itself the profile still shows the birthday card button. You can reach the same card from the Dates tab, so you do not need to remember where it is.
How does the birthday card work?
Choose a friend, choose one of eight short lines or write your own, pick a style and share. Lines include 'Have the best day' and 'Thank you for being one of my people'. You can share the card as a 9:16 story or a 1:1 post, save it to Photos, or send the link.
The link opens the card in any browser. Your friend sees a birthday page and can send a card back. Read more in thinking-of-you cards.
Eight birthday lines are included, among them 'Another year of you being great' and 'Celebrate loud or quiet, your way'. The free plan shows the Sky and Paper styles.
- Open the friend's profile or the Dates tab.
- Tap Make a birthday card.
- Pick a line and a style.
- Tap Share, or Save to put the card in Photos.
How do birthdays fit with today's three?
Birthdays within two days always come first in today's three, above friends who are simply drifting. That way the date that cannot wait is never buried under the ones that can.
If you tap Not now on a birthday, the person returns tomorrow. The day itself still sends its own notification, so nothing is lost.
What are the limits on the free plan?
Birthdays, the Dates tab, reminders and birthday cards are all free. The free plan shows the Sky and Paper card styles. Plus adds Dusk and Night. Free keeps up to 10 people, and Plus removes that limit.
Frequently asked questions
Does Nearfolk read my contacts to find birthdays?
No. It does not read your address book. If you tap Pick from Contacts, iOS shows its own picker and Nearfolk receives only the contact you tap, including its birthday if it has one.
Can I add a birthday without the year?
Yes. The year is optional, so you can store a month and day for friends who prefer not to share their age.
Will I get birthday reminders if I skip the daily nudge?
Yes. Birthdays and the daily nudge are separate switches in Me, then Notifications.
Do birthday cards cost anything?
No. Cards and links are free. Plus only adds the Dusk and Night styles.