4thSpace
Your favorite places are more than locations. Join groups, discover events, and connect with people at the third spaces you already love — for free.
We built the antidote to digital isolation.
Technology has made us more connected digitally than at any point in history — and yet loneliness is at epidemic levels.
We built a platform designed with a single purpose: to get you off your phone and into the room.
Your first space is home. Your second is work. Your third space is where community happens. The fourth space is where you find your people.
41%
of adults say they feel lonely at least sometimes.
3 in 4
adults get together face-to-face with people they care about only twice a month or less.
For Users
Three steps from your couch to your community.
Discover
Browse the map to find third spaces near you — cafes, gyms, libraries, parks. See live activity as it happens.
Join
Save the third spaces you love. Join groups organized around shared interests — a group can span one space or many. RSVP to upcoming events.
Show Up
Check in when you arrive. Connect with people who are there. Build real friendships in the real world.
Third Spaces
The cafes, gyms, libraries, and bars where community happens.
Groups
Interest-based communities that can live across one or more third spaces.
Events
Organized by a group or hosted at a third space — discover what's on and RSVP.
Check-In
Let your community know you're here, right now.
For Third Space Owners
Your space is already a community hub. Give it a home on 4thSpace — free for users, powerful for owners.
Verify Ownership
Submit a claim with proof of ownership. Our team reviews it within 48 hours.
Unlock Dashboard
Gain access to your owner dashboard — announcements, analytics, and community tools.
Customize Your Page
Build a branded venue home page with photos, deals, pinned events, and more.
What you get
- Branded home page with photo carousel and custom blocks
- Announcements pinned to your space feed
- Deals and offers visible to checked-in guests
- Analytics on check-ins, event RSVPs, and engagement
- Direct reach to your space community
- Pinned events and featured groups on your page
- Community blast messages to your followers
Simple pricing for businesses
Always free for users. One plan for venue owners.
Business Plan
- Branded venue home page with photo carousel
- Announcements pinned to your venue feed
- Deals and offers visible to checked-in guests
- Events management and pinned events
- Featured groups on your page
- Community blast messages to your followers
- Analytics on check-ins, RSVPs, and engagement
- Multiple team members / designated admins
Frequently asked questions
- What is a third space?
- A third space is any place you go that isn't home or work — coffee shops, gyms, libraries, bars, parks, community centers. They're where community happens naturally. 4thSpace builds a social layer on top of these places so the people who already share them can connect, organize, and show up together more easily. If a space you frequent isn't listed yet, you can add it directly in the app. We rely on the community to help keep the map complete and up to date.
- What are groups?
- Groups are interest-based communities that live on top of third spaces. Think "morning runners at Prospect Park," "regulars at Webster Library," or "climbers at Brooklyn Boulders." A group can be tied to one specific space or span several — members decide where they meet. Groups have their own feed, events, and member list. Anyone can create a group; owners can make it public or keep it invite-only.
- How do events work?
- Events can be created in two ways: by a group ("Gay Gym Friends is hosting a Sunday workout") or by a third space directly ("The Waylon is hosting a trivia night"). Each event has a date, time, optional location, and an RSVP list so members can see who's going. You can browse upcoming events on the Discover tab filtered by Tonight, Tomorrow, or This Week.
- What is a check-in?
- A check-in is how you let your community know you're at a space right now. When you check in, your friends and group members can see you're there — and you can see who else is around. Check-ins are optional and expire automatically. They're designed to be low-pressure: a quick signal that you're present, not a permanent record.
- What are forums?
- Every third space has a forum — a local discussion board for the people who use that space. It's a place for regulars to post questions, tips, announcements, or just start a conversation. Forums are space-specific, so the conversation stays relevant to the people who actually go there.
- Are there community guidelines?
- Yes. 4thSpace is built around real-world community, and we take that seriously. All users agree to our community guidelines, which require respectful, good-faith participation. Harassment, hate speech, spam, and bad-faith behavior are not tolerated. Content can be flagged by any member and reviewed by our team. We reserve the right to remove content or accounts that violate our standards. The goal is a space where people genuinely feel welcome — in the app and in person.
- Why is it free for users?
- 4thSpace is completely free for everyday users. No ads, no data selling, no paywalled features. Our business model is simple: third space owners pay a monthly subscription to claim and manage their page. That gives them tools to brand their space, post announcements, pin events and groups, and see engagement insights — while users always participate within our shared community standards.
- How do I claim my third space as an owner?
- Submit a claim with proof of ownership — a business license, utility bill, or similar document. Our team reviews it within 48 hours. Once approved, you get access to your owner dashboard: engagement insights, announcements, a customizable page with photos and pinned content, and direct reach to the people who already love your space.
- How is 4thSpace different from other social platforms?
- Most social platforms are built to keep you scrolling. 4thSpace is built to get you off your phone. A few key differences: Place-first, not person-first. The organizing unit is a real-world third space — a gym, a library, a bar — not a personal profile or a follower count. You don't build an audience here; you build a local community. Presence over performance. There are no viral metrics, no algorithmic feeds optimized for maximum time-on-screen. Activity on 4thSpace is tied to showing up somewhere — check-ins, RSVPs, group meetups. The signal is real-world participation, not online output. Community over content. Groups and events exist around physical places and real schedules. The goal is a reason to meet in person, not a reason to keep posting. No strangers in your feed. Your feed reflects people and places you're actually connected to — groups you've joined, spaces you've saved, people you know. There's no recommendation engine surfacing content from people you've never met to maximize engagement.
- Is 4thSpace only on iOS?
- Right now, yes — 4thSpace is available on iOS. Android is on the roadmap. In the meantime, everything you need is in the iOS app.