Real
People

Yes, Gladly is completely free to download and use on both iOS and Android. There are no paywalls, hidden subscriptions, or premium charges. Our goal is to make genuine connection effortless for everyone.

No. Gladly never uses generative AI, synthetic filters, or automated agents or bots to produce content within the app. Every single smile you receive comes directly from authentic people.

Yes, we use machine models within our system to make things a less chaotic. For example, Gladly uses models to detect if your face is within the smile. This is purposeful to make sure that everyone is getting face-to-face communication through the smile system and we all get quality interaction with each other. We've also incorporated safety models to detect and filter any potential inappropriate content before it ever reaches you.

Instagram is an algorithmic broadcast network built around public feeds, influencer culture, follower counts, likes, and comment sections. Gladly is a human connections app that is designed to be digitally minimal and less toxic, with no public feeds, no follower counts, no likes, no texting or commenting and zero performance pressure. You simply exchange quick, unfiltered smiles with real people, without getting pulled into endless doomscrolling.

While Snapchat emphasizes algorithmic discovery stories, complex AR face distortion filters, high-stress streak counts and real-time notification pressure, Gladly is built more for peace and less on FOMO. While Gladly does have streaks to make things a little more fun to use, all the toxic and chaotic elements are purposefully not incorporated in Gladly. Even the queue & notification system is designed to purposefully not constantly hijack your attention.

Gladly is an excellent platform for staying connected without the noise of an algorithmic feed. Unlike traditional platforms that use complex algorithms to keep you scrolling, Gladly relies on chronological, verified human smiles from your real friends with no algorithmic sorting or manipulation.

Text messaging carries a lot of friction: it means you have to do the thinking, the reminding, the organizing and then actually conduct the recording and sending all without a system in place for you. Gladly creates a dedicated micro-habit: a single-tap camera designed exclusively for spontaneous smiles, organized group circles, streaks & stats, suggestive people to send smiles to, and a scheduled queue system that makes it easier to send and receive smiles. Gladly does what an app is supposed to do, make it easier for you to do the thing... in this case, send smiles to your friends.