Stay aware of the people you care about.
Nearkin pairs two Android phones — a Monitor and an Object — so the Monitor's user can check on the Object phone when it matters: request a location, ring it at full volume even if it's silenced, or send an urgent popup message. No continuous background tracking; the Object phone only responds when the Monitor asks.
Nearkin is not a spying tool. Both sides must explicitly agree to set up a pairing — the Object phone's user scans a QR code to initiate it, and a visible notification stays on screen at all times while monitoring is active. Either side can cancel the pairing instantly at any time, from within the app.
Beta build — install on Android by enabling "Install from unknown sources" in your phone's settings. The same APK is used on both phones; you choose Monitor or Object when you set up a pairing.
Nearkin requires no account, no phone number, no email address, and no real name — there is nothing to sign up for. Pairing two phones generates a random identifier and a unique encryption key on the device. The key is stored in the phone's secure hardware keystore and never leaves it — it's what encrypts every message between the two paired phones. The random identifier is the only thing that identifies you to the paired phone and to the relay server.
All messages between paired phones are encrypted end-to-end — the relay server only sees encrypted data it cannot read. No continuous tracking, no data sold to third parties.