Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about FindSquad
General Questions
What is FindSquad?
FindSquad is an app for phones and the web that coordinates a volunteer search of an area using patent-pending sector division algorithms and real-time GPS tracking. It makes organizing and joining searches incredibly simple. People use it for:
A missing person
Call 911 first. Then give each volunteer a sector and see which ground has been walked.
A lost pet
Spread neighbors across streets, yards and trails instead of everyone checking the same block.
A lost item
Walk a field, yard or campsite in tight sectors for keys, a phone, a ring or a drone.
An evidence or line search
Small, tight sectors over a scene, photos in Squad chat, and an export when the search ends.
How much does it cost?
The app is FREE to download. Lost pet searches cost $3.99, lost item searches cost $4.99, and missing person searches cost $0.99. Volunteers never pay to join. Evidence searches are available for $19.99.
Why charge organizers but not volunteers?
Organizers get tremendous value from coordinating help when they're in a desperate situation. Volunteers are providing free labor to help their community - charging them would reduce participation and be ethically wrong. Our model ensures maximum volunteer participation while sustaining the platform.
How long do searches stay active?
Person searches: 7 days
Pet searches: 3 days
Item searches: 3 days
Evidence searches: 7 days
You can end a search early at any time by marking it as "FOUND".
Technical Questions
Do I need cell service during the search?
You need a data connection to create or join a search. After that, tracking keeps running without signal: your phone records the ground you cover and sends it when it reconnects, and the map of the search area is downloaded to your phone automatically so your sector stays visible offline. Chat and other people's live positions need a connection.
How big an area can I search?
Missing-person and lost-pet searches can cover up to 50 square miles. Lost-item and evidence searches use smaller, tighter sectors, because the thing you are looking for is close to where it was lost.
What are the search patterns?
We use a family of patent-pending search patterns — including grid, radial sector, expanding square, contour-following, urban block, shoreline, and a tight evidence grid — and the system automatically selects the best one based on terrain type and search type.
How accurate is the GPS tracking?
Typical smartphone GPS accuracy is 5-15 meters in field conditions — closer to 3-5 meters in open areas, and 10-30 meters under tree cover or near terrain. FindSquad is designed around these real-world limits: for evidence searches, we use tight search-path spacing and intentional overlap at sector boundaries to compensate for GPS uncertainty, rather than pretending the GPS is more precise than it is. For forensic-grade positioning, we recommend pairing FindSquad with external RTK GPS equipment.
What platforms does FindSquad support?
FindSquad runs on iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play) and the web at www.findsquad.app, where a squad lead can run a search from a computer while phones in the field record the ground they cover.
Payment Questions
Are there refunds?
Generally we do not offer refunds once a search is activated, except in cases of technical failures or duplicate charges. Contact findsquadapp@gmail.com if you experience issues.
Is there a subscription?
No. Each search is a one-time purchase by the person who starts it, and volunteers never pay. There are no recurring fees.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) and Apple Pay/Google Pay through our in-app payment processor.
Safety & Privacy
Is my location data private?
Yes. Your live location is only visible to participants in the search you joined, and the entire search — location history, chat, and photos — is permanently deleted within about 10 days of the search ending. We don't sell your data, we don't use your location for advertising, and we don't track you outside of an active search. Like any U.S. company, we can be legally compelled to disclose information — see our Privacy Policy for the full picture.
What if I join a search and feel unsafe?
Tap "Leave Search" and your location stops streaming immediately. The search's data is automatically deleted within about 10 days of the search ending, and you can delete your account and your data right away from Settings if you don't want to wait. There's also a "Report Search" button to flag suspicious searches so our team can intervene.
Can children use FindSquad?
Users must be 13 or older to use FindSquad, and users under 18 need a parent or guardian's consent. FindSquad is not directed to children under 13, and the app should not be used by or handed to a child under 13 — though kids are of course welcome to walk alongside a parent who is searching with their own device.
Do you work with law enforcement?
Not directly: FindSquad has no link to police or alert systems. We share exports and search data when law enforcement requests it with proper legal authority.