WithMe supports two ways for a plan to travel: discovery and invitation.
Public plans can be found inside WithMe. Private plans move through secure app links. Privacy controls how people find the WithMe; it does not change the core flow. A host creates the plan, guests express interest, the host chooses who joins, and host selection confirms the WithMe.
Public WithMes
A public WithMe can appear in discovery surfaces for eligible people.
Public plans are useful when you want the app to help the right people find the plan. They work well for:
- meeting people nearby
- hosting a plan where you are open to interest
- creating a plan that can benefit from discovery
- letting recommendations and search surfaces help people find it
Public does not mean everyone will see everything. Visibility still depends on product rules, eligibility, privacy controls, blocked users, and other safety protections.
Private WithMes
A private WithMe is invite-led. It gives you the structure of WithMe without asking the plan to become broadly discoverable.
Private plans are useful when:
- you already know who you want to invite
- the plan is for a specific person or group
- you want the plan organized in WithMe without making it broadly discoverable
- you want to share the plan through text, chat, email, or another app
Private WithMes can be opened by invited people through a secure WithMe app link.
Secure App Links
A secure app link is a WithMe invite link that opens the plan in the app and carries the invite context with it.
The link is useful because the host can share the plan outside WithMe while keeping the plan itself private inside the product.
Read the full guide: Sharing Secure App Links.
Which Should I Choose?
Choose public when you want openness and discovery.
Choose private when you want a focused invite list and more control over how the plan spreads.
Both can still be real, intentional plans.
What Does Not Change
Whether a WithMe is public or private:
- the plan still needs a venue and time
- people still need enough context to decide whether they are interested
- the host still chooses who joins
- host selection still confirms the plan
- chat and updates help keep the plan moving after confirmation
Common Misunderstandings
Private does not mean fake or less important.
Private WithMes are first-class plans. They are simply discovered through invitation instead of public browsing.
Public does not mean uncontrolled.
Public WithMes still use product visibility rules, user context, and trust/safety protections.
An invite link is not a public listing.
Sharing a secure app link gives invited people a way to open the plan. It does not turn the WithMe into a broadly discoverable public plan.