# Near: Reach Someone Close — A line when words are hard

> Private messaging and journaling for close connections. (iPhone/iPad app by MARK DAVID CABUCO GAN.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/near-reach-someone-close/id6777351713 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [MARK DAVID CABUCO GAN](https://appshunter.io/developer/1885297047)
- Category: Lifestyle
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 26.0 · 196 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-08-21
- Data updated: 2026-09-06
- Monetization: freemium
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/near-reach-someone-close/id6777351713/reviews.md

## What is Near?

Some days you know who you want near, and not one word will come.

Near is for those days. It gives you a quiet way to send a small, deliberate line to someone you trust, without turning the moment into a feed, a dashboard, or a performance.

Reach is for the few people you hold closest. Each connection has one mutual one-to-one space. Either person can send a gentle line, write their own words, leave warmth in a few soft words or a short voice note, or leave a light on. Nothing is shared unless the sender deliberately sends it.

When someone answers, they tap back — and on your side, a light comes back: wordless, brief, felt more than read. No read receipts, no scores, no counts, no pressure to keep up.

Hold is the other side of Near: a private place for what is yours. It begins with today — once a day Near asks how today is, and you can answer or let it rest — then carries your earlier days, small comforts, and the things you choose to keep. Leave a page half-written and it waits as a held draft for next time. Hold is yours alone. It is not a sharing surface.

Supporter adds the Paint Box: mix your own washes with a thumb on the paper itself, pull color from a photo, and keep them on a shelf — for a page of your own, or a postcard from something you've already kept. It also adds your writing room: the paper, ink, and hand you choose, on every page you write and every entry you reread. Change the room any time — every page that follows it is re-papered, and a page you gave its own paper keeps it. Without Supporter, your pages rest on quiet Cream, and Cream is complete.

Near reflects what you choose. It never tells you what you are.

There are no streaks, no mood scores, no clinical scales, no ads, no tracking, no accounts, and no company backend. Near uses Apple frameworks and your own iCloud. Your private side stays private; your reach side only sends what you choose to send.

If a day is more than hard, Near keeps the people and resources you choose within reach. Near cannot assess urgency, diagnose, or decide what is needed. It simply helps you turn toward someone you trust.

Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

## Key features

- One-to-one private spaces
- Send text, voice notes, or light signals
- Personal journaling with drafts
- Creative paint box and writing tools
- No read receipts or pressure
- iCloud integration for privacy

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Near Supporter Yearly | $14.99 | per year |
| Near Supporter Monthly | $2.99 | per month |



## Frequently asked questions about Near

### What is Near?

Near is a private messaging and journaling app designed for intimate connections. It allows users to send gentle messages, voice notes, or light signals to a select few individuals without the pressure of social media feeds or read receipts.

### How does Near handle privacy?

Near prioritizes privacy by using Apple frameworks and iCloud, with no company backend or tracking. Messages are only shared when deliberately sent, and personal journal entries are kept private.

### What are the subscription options for Near?

Near offers a 'Near Supporter' subscription with monthly ($2.99) and yearly ($14.99) plans. The yearly plan includes a 7-day free trial. These subscriptions unlock features like the Paint Box and Writing Room.

### Does Near have ads?

No, Near is ad-free. The app explicitly states that it does not contain advertisements, ensuring an uninterrupted user experience.

### What age rating does Near have?

Near has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for young children and does not contain content typically restricted for older audiences.

### On which devices can I use Near?

Near is available on Apple devices, specifically supporting the Apple Watch and iPhone. This allows for convenient access and interaction across these platforms.

### How often is Near updated?

The latest version of Near is 1.4.0, last updated on August 31, 2026. This suggests a relatively recent update, indicating ongoing development and support.

### What makes Near different from other messaging apps?

Near focuses on deliberate, gentle communication with a limited circle, free from typical social media pressures like streaks, scores, or read receipts. It also integrates a private journaling feature called 'Hold'.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.4.0 — 2026-08-31

• Unlimited bonds: you can now keep as many people close as you need. The previous five-person limit is removed.
• Elastic foreground: your Reach room now brings your active and recent lines forward, keeping your full roster quiet and safe in the background.
• Inhabited rooms: a complete visual finish for your shared spaces, bringing a sense of presence to the room itself.
• Apple Watch complications & widgets: choose a room to keep on your watch face or home screen, so their presence stays with you throughout the ordinary day.
• Small shares: a simpler doorway for sending a quick photo or thought without stepping fully into the room.

### 1.3.0 — 2026-08-29

• Custom reach lines — create your own private shorthand phrases with someone you trust.
• Tap back answers the line they sent, in words that fit — shown before you send.
• Siri on Apple Watch & iPhone — reach someone you trust or check in with gentle voice phrases, hands-free.
• Night & Dusk dark presentation — living watercolor rooms shift gracefully into true dark chrome at sunset, keeping the evening quiet.
• First lines with invitations — send a deliberate first line alongside an invite link so connection starts the moment they arrive.
• Bilateral room warmth — living lamps now illuminate gently from either person's presence in your shared room.
• Quiet refinements — stationery permanence, disposable freewriting, and subtle room lighting polish.

### 1.2.0 — 2026-08-27

• Living Scenes now follow the sun — watercolor rooms shift quietly from dawn to dusk with your local daylight, calculated entirely on your device.
• Personal voice learning — Near learns the quiet words you keep most often, gently offering suggestions in your own tone. You can preview or turn this off anytime in Settings.
• Visual search details — photo search in Hold now tells you quietly whether a photo matched text within the picture or the scene itself.
• Tactile touches — subtle ink absorption when notes settle and deckled paper cards for kept memories.
• Performance and sync refinements across Reach and Hold.

### 1.1.1 — 2026-08-23

Fixed an issue where accepting an invitation from Messages could sometimes fail. Reaching out now connects reliably.

### 1.1.0 — 2026-08-22

• Living Scenes now follow the sun — watercolor rooms shift quietly from dawn to dusk with your local daylight, calculated entirely on your device.
• Personal voice learning — Near learns the quiet words you keep most often, gently offering suggestions in your own tone. You can preview or turn this off anytime in Settings.
• Visual search details — photo search in Hold now tells you quietly whether a photo matched text within the picture or the scene itself.
• Tactile touches — subtle ink absorption when notes settle and deckled paper cards for kept memories.
• Performance and sync refinements across Reach and Hold.

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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 2026-09-06.*