Getting Started With Howdlo: Your First 10 Minutes

Getting started with Howdlo is easy and straightforward. To begin, you can open the web app at https://web.howdlo.com in any browser, or download the app on your iPhone or iPad from the App Store. Android users can access the web app as well, and Howdlo is coming soon to the Google Play Store.

Once you've opened the app, you'll be prompted to sign in with a one-time code sent to your email address. This is a secure way to sign in without creating or reusing a password. If you're using a Google account or Apple ID, you can also sign in with those. A phone number is required when you sign up, but it's only used to help friends find you and match your contacts.

With your account set up, you can start exploring the app. The first thing you'll notice is the clean and intuitive interface. The app is divided into several sections, including Chats, Hangouts, Drops, and the Plaza. Let's take a closer look at each of these.

Chats

Chats are where you can have one-to-one or group conversations with friends and family. You can send photos, videos, and files, and even record voice notes. One of the unique features of Howdlo is the ability to send messages that disappear on a timer. This is a great way to share sensitive information or have a conversation that's only temporary. You can also use the @mention feature to reach someone in a group chat, even if they've muted the conversation.

In addition to disappearing messages, Howdlo also offers a range of other features to enhance your chat experience. You can use the long-press feature to forward a message to multiple chats at once, or to translate it into your own language. You can also use the photo or video feature to send a message that can only be viewed once.

Hangouts

Hangouts are communities you can create or join to connect with others who share similar interests. Inside a Hangout, you'll find text channels and voice lounges, as well as roles and permissions to help organize the community. You can customize the invite link and control who can join the Hangout. One of the unique features of Howdlo is the ability to go live in a Hangout channel, allowing you to broadcast your camera or screen to the whole room.

Drops

Drops are short posts that can hold several photos as a swipeable set. You can add a photo or video to a Drop, and even give it a look and fine-tune the brightness, contrast, and warmth. When you post a Drop, you can choose who gets to see it, and even set a timer for how long it's visible. This is a great way to share a photo or video with a specific group of people.

The Plaza & Finding Friends

The Plaza is a public square where you can find people worldwide. It's an opt-in feature, so you only appear there if you've switched yourself on. You can browse the Plaza with the search alone, and send a friend request to someone you'd like to connect with. You can also find people by syncing your contacts or adding someone by phone number.

Nearby

Nearby is a feature that shows you who's physically close to you. It's completely opt-in, and you only appear if you've turned on being visible in the Plaza and sharing your location. You can see who's around using a proximity radar or a plain list with the closest people first.

Boards

Boards are a great way to save notes, media, and dates in one place and find them again instantly. You can long-press a message to save it to a board, and even share it with others in the chat. Notes can carry a title and rich formatting, and media boards have their own "Add a photo or video" button.

Podcasts & Audiobooks

Howdlo has a built-in podcast and audiobook player that allows you to browse and listen to shows published by other users. You can even publish your own podcasts or audiobooks, and share them with others. Shows can also go live, allowing you to broadcast audio to the whole room.

The Planner

The Planner is a feature that lets you plan a trip, party, or project with others. You can create a plan with a title, cover photo, and date range, and even assign tasks to specific people. Plans can also hold spreadsheet-style grids for game line-ups, chore charts, or packing lists.

The Bots — Howdy

Howdlo has a built-in bot named Howdy that's available in every Hangout and chat. Howdy is a helpful assistant that can welcome newcomers, post reminders, and even grant reaction roles. You can also use Howdy to answer questions about the chat or Hangout, using only the chat's own messages.

Pricing

Howdlo is completely free, with no ads, no trackers, and no data selling. You can use all the features, including the Planner and Boards, without paying a dime. There are no paid plans or subscriptions, and you can even use the app on multiple devices.

Privacy & Safety

Howdlo takes your privacy and safety seriously. Your messages are protected by Latchline, which encrypts conversations in transit and at rest with a separate key. You can also sign in with a one-time code sent to your email address, or use your Google account or Apple ID. A phone number is required when you sign up, but it's only used to help friends find you and match your contacts.

Accessibility & Settings

Howdlo has a range of accessibility features, including larger text sizes, high contrast, and reduce motion. You can also use voice typing with three levels of assistance, from word-for-word to grammar and punctuation fixes. Backups are stored securely with your account, and you can delete your account and its content at any time.

Common Questions & Help

If you're having trouble signing in, try checking your spam folder or requesting a new code. You can also find someone by syncing your contacts or adding their phone number. If you can't find a chat on a new device, sign in with the same email address. And if you want to delete a message for everyone, use the unsend feature.