# BearPool

> UC Berkeley student rideshare app for cost-saving and safe travel. (iPhone/iPad app by Maaz Dhalech.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bearpool/id6747465780 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Maaz Dhalech](https://appshunter.io/developer/1821583201)
- Category: Travel, Social Networking
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.70/5 from 12 App Store ratings · 6 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.1 · 44 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2025-11-25
- Data updated: 2026-07-29
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bearpool/id6747465780/reviews.md

## What is BearPool?

BearPool is Cal's biggest rideshare board, built exclusively for UC Berkeley students.

Split costs. Meet riders you can trust. Get where you're going.

Why BearPool?

Berkeley students only. .edu email required.

Post or join rides in seconds.

Built-in group chat to coordinate plans.

Gender preference filtering for your comfort.

Save money on every trip.

Heading to the airport, campus, or out of town? Find a ride with someone already going your way.

## Key features

- Share rides to save money
- Exclusive to UC Berkeley students
- Post or join ride groups
- Gender preference filtering
- In-app group chat for coordination
- Simple and affordable carpooling

## Recent user reviews (6 of 6)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bearpool/id6747465780/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Genuinely a cool app

*2026-05-03*

Splitting costs through BearPool has already saved me more than a few Ubers. For a broke college student trying to get to from SF back to Berkeley, it’s incredibly convenient . Highly recommend to any Berkeley student/resident who travels even semi regularly

### 5/5 — Finally!

*2026-05-03*

Love the app and how easy it is to find others to split rides with in Berkeley. Not tryna pay $100 to go to SFO.

### 5/5 — Saved my life during Cal Day!!

*2026-05-03*

My friends ditched me for cal day and i needed a ride to Palo Alto. Bear pool helped me find some students also going to the Kappa theta delta party!!

### 1/5 — The app is obviously vibe coded

*2025-12-12*

Uber already has this feature but it’s nice to be able to connect with other students but for safety reasons it’s hard to trust the integrity of an app that’s vibe coded

### 5/5 — BEST APP EVER

*2025-11-26*

As a college student, it’s honestly one of the most useful apps I’ve downloaded. It’s way cheaper than Uber, and I feel a lot safer knowing everyone on the ride is a Berkeley student. Posting or joining a ride takes a few seconds, and the group chat makes coordinating super easy. I also appreciate the gender preference option — it makes the whole experience more comfortable. Overall, it’s affordable, convenient, and perfect for getting around the Bay without the usual stress.

### 5/5 — Great App

*2025-11-26*

Wonderful UI and amazing app concept.

## Frequently asked questions about BearPool

### Is BearPool available for all students?

BearPool is exclusively for UC Berkeley students and requires a .edu email address for verification. This ensures a community of trusted users within the university.

### How does BearPool help users save money?

BearPool facilitates ridesharing, allowing users to split ride costs among fellow students. This makes travel to campus, the airport, or other destinations more affordable than solo travel.

### What safety features does BearPool offer?

BearPool prioritizes user comfort and safety by offering gender preference filtering for ride matches. The app also requires .edu email verification for all users.

### How can I coordinate rides with others on BearPool?

The app includes an in-app group chat feature, making it easy to coordinate pickup times, locations, and other travel plans with your ride group. This eliminates the need for external communication methods.

### What is the update frequency for BearPool?

BearPool was last updated on March 3, 2026, indicating active development and maintenance. Users can expect ongoing improvements and bug fixes.

### What devices does BearPool support?

BearPool is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices, ensuring accessibility for a wide range of Apple users within the UC Berkeley community.

### What is the age rating for BearPool?

BearPool has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for users of all ages. This rating suggests no mature content is present within the application.

### Does BearPool have ads?

No, BearPool does not contain advertisements. The app is entirely free to use and does not display any ads to its users.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.0.0 — 2026-07-24

New
- Redesigned chat: reactions, swipe to reply, read receipts, and support for sending links, phone numbers, and photos
- Long-press menus for reacting to messages and managing group members
- New profile editing screen
- New default profile picture
- Redesigned ride details and group settings pages
- New filter options on the Home screen
- Cleaner look throughout app
- New app icon

Fixes
- Smoother, more reliable chat scrolling
- Fixed bug where logging out or deleting your account didn't work right
- Fixed bug where posting a ride didn't return you to Home properly
- Updated notification and blocked-users settings
- General app responsiveness and stability improvements

### 1.2.0 — 2026-03-30

What's New in 1.2.0?

We've rebuilt BearPool's sign-in system from the ground up for a faster, more reliable experience:

Sign in with Google — use your @berkeley.edu Google account to sign in instantly.

Sign in with Apple — quick sign-in using your Apple ID.

Improved sign-up flow — faster account creation with real-time feedback.

Better security — upgraded authentication backend for improved reliability.

Bug fixes and performance improvements.

### 1.1.1 — 2026-03-03

• Fixed a critical bug where the email verification button would go dark
  and become untappable, preventing new users from completing sign-up
• New welcome screen walks you through BearPool on first sign-up
• Empty home feed now shows a friendly illustration instead of a blank screen
• Fixed a bug where deleting your account could leave rides without a host
• Improved sign-up: inline password mismatch error and clearer duplicate
  account message
• Visual polish: consistent gold gradient across all main screens

### 1.1.0 — 2026-02-15

• Hosts can now delete rides
• Push notifications for ride chat messages
• System messages when members join or leave
• Ride chats are automatically archived 6 hours after the ride's start time and are viewable in the Chats tab under "Past Rides"
• Hosts can now delete rides
• Smoother chat experience
• Cleaner ride posting and profile viewing UI
• Bug fixes and performance improvements

### 1.0 — 2025-11-25

No release notes.

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-29.*
