Zenly refugee home
Privacy-first map-social. No algorithm. No feed.

Zenly alternative: the map social network, rebuilt with a real game on top

When Snap shut down Zenly in February 2023, around 100 million users lost their map social network overnight, and nothing showed up to replace it. Snap Map is ephemeral. Find My is utility only. Life360 is family-tracking. MapRaiders rebuilds the map-as-social-network and puts a real game loop on top of it.

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“When Zenly shut down in 2023, around 100 million people lost their map social network. We rebuilt it.” – MapRaiders brand vision
What Zenly was

What Zenly was and why it mattered

Zenly was a real-time location-sharing app for friends. Live map, friends visible on it, with mood, battery, bumps. Snap acquired it and then shut it down in February 2023, citing strategic refocus.

The result was around 100 million displaced users, mostly in Gen-Z friend groups, who never found an equivalent replacement. Snap Map is feed-flavored and ephemeral. Find My is iOS-only utility. Life360 is family-tracking with paid tiers. None of them actually rebuilt the map-as-social-network.

What doesn't quite work

The Zenly alternatives that don't quite work

AppTypeMap-as-socialPrivacy modeGame loop
Snap MapEphemeral feed-on-mapHalf, feed-flavoredGhost modeNo
Find My (Apple)UtilityNoToggleNo
Life360Family-trackingNoPaid tiersNo
Discord botsDIY hackHackyVariableNo
MapRaidersMap-social + GPS MMO✓ fullGranular opt-inTerritory + Echoes + clans
Beyond Zenly

What MapRaiders adds beyond Zenly

Territory game loop

Friends on the map, plus a reason to walk: persistent land that actually belongs to you.

Echo audio layer

Drop voice notes at real locations for friends to find. The map gets sound, not just dots.

Organic clans

Friend groups turn into territorial alliances, co-defending shared neighborhoods.

Defense mini-games

Real-time interactions when territories clash, instead of just passive map presence.

Privacy-first

Privacy-first map social

The Zenly model defaulted to real-time location-sharing. MapRaiders rebuilds it on opt-in foundations:

  • No algorithm, no feed. The map is the interface. Nothing trends, nothing pushes.
  • Friend visibility is opt-in per friend. Granular controls. There's no “share with everyone” default.
  • Private mode. Hide your live location entirely and still claim territory and play.
  • No data selling. No ad-network SDKs, no Saudi sovereign-fund ownership. Independent US LLC.
FAQ

Common questions

Is MapRaiders a Zenly clone?
No. Zenly was real-time location-sharing for friends. MapRaiders is a GPS MMO with territory ownership and an Echo content layer. We share the map-as-social-network idea, but with a full game loop on top.
Can I see my friends' real-time location like in Zenly?
Yes. Friend visibility is opt-in per friend, with granular controls. You can also play in private mode (no visibility at all) and still claim territory.
Does MapRaiders share my location with strangers?
Never your real-time location. Only your territories, Echoes and clan membership are public. Live location is friend-only opt-in.
When did Zenly shut down?
Snap shut down Zenly in February 2023. Around 100 million users lost their map social network overnight, with no equivalent replacement.
Is MapRaiders safe for kids?
Ages nine and up, COPPA-aligned. Parental mode hides location from non-friends entirely.
From the founder
René Scafarti, Founder of MapRaiders
I played Pokémon GO for three years and eventually quit. The thing I was missing never showed up: real land instead of fleeting gym captures. When the Saudi acquisition hit in 2025 it was clear to me that the Niantic model wasn't heading anywhere I wanted to follow. So I'm building MapRaiders myself. No ads, no investor pressure, no required sub. My block is my playing field; yours is up for grabs.
René Scafarti
Founder, Scafa Investments LLC
From the closed beta
From the closed beta
★★★★★
My dog needs his two walks a day no matter what, so I just bring my block along now. Sounds silly, but I check every evening to see if it's still blue.
Ron C.
Dog owner · Stuttgart area, Germany
From the closed beta
★★★★★
I run every morning anyway, but now I'm also defending something. My Alster loop is mine and I want to keep it that way. Weird how much discipline that suddenly mobilizes.
Vivian N.
Runner · Hamburg area, Germany
From the closed beta
★★★★★
You leave a short audio clip at a doorway, and three days later somebody you don't know has found it. It feels weirdly intimate for a game.
Aljoscha P.
Urban explorer · Berlin area, Germany

Note: testers are internal beta participants from the closed beta. We use first name plus initial at their request, for privacy. The reviews you see here are translated from the German originals. Schema.org marks them with translationOfWork so the translation chain stays visible.

Deeper into the map

Related MapRaiders topics:

real territory game app all games like Pokémon GO compared map-based social media alternative Zenly alternative reviews see all beta reviews

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