The rules of the map.

Last updated July 28, 2026 · Applies to the Crowded iOS app and crowded.nyc

These terms are a deal between you and Crowded ("we"): you use the app honestly, and we run a map that stays honest for everyone. By using the Crowded app or this website, you agree to them. If you don't agree, don't use Crowded.

1. What Crowded is — and isn't

Crowded shows how busy places are, based on two sources it always distinguishes: live reports from people who are actually there, and predictions, which are labeled as predictions. Both are best-effort testimony about a fast-changing world, not a guarantee. A venue that was empty nine minutes ago can be packed now. Use Crowded to decide where to go — never as your only source for decisions involving safety, and never in an emergency.

2. Who can use it

You must be at least 13 years old to use Crowded. If venue categories shown in the app have their own age requirements (bars, clubs), those are between you and the venue — Crowded showing you a place is not an invitation to enter it.

3. Your account

Crowded creates an anonymous account on first launch; you can optionally attach a verified phone number for social features. You're responsible for what happens on your account and device. One account per person — don't create accounts to evade limits, cooldowns, or a suspension.

4. Ground rules

The whole product is other people trusting your report. So:

• Report honestly, from where you actually are. Don't falsify reports, spoof your location or GPS, or automate reporting.
• Don't manipulate crowd levels. If you own, work for, promote, or are paid by a venue, you may not use Crowded to make it — or a competitor — look busier or emptier. This is the one rule we care about most.
• Don't abuse the platform. No scraping or bulk collection of data, no reverse engineering, no probing or interfering with the service or other users' accounts.
• Keep your display name clean. Nothing unlawful, hateful, or impersonating someone else.

If you break these, we may remove content, void Cred, restrict features, or suspend or terminate the account — at our discretion, because the map's integrity comes first.

5. Cred and bounties

Cred is reputation, not currency. It has no monetary value, can't be bought, redeemed, transferred, or exchanged for anything, and we may adjust or revoke Cred that was earned through manipulation or error. Bounties are requests for a report at a venue; placing or fulfilling one is not a payment, a job, or an employment relationship — it's asking, and answering, "how crowded is it?"

6. Your content

You own your reports and profile information. You grant us a worldwide, royalty-free license to host, use, display, and aggregate them to operate and improve Crowded — including publishing aggregated, de-identified insights that can't be linked to you. This license ends for personal data when you delete your account (see the Privacy Policy); de-identified aggregates may persist.

7. Third-party data

Venue and map data come in part from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), the Overture Maps Foundation (CDLA-Permissive 2.0), and map rendering by Mapbox; venue images load from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. We don't control third-party content and can't promise it's accurate — a venue's hours, existence, or name may be out of date.

8. Our property

The app, this site, the Crowded name and wordmark, the crow, and everything we made are ours. We give you a personal, non-transferable license to use the app as intended, and nothing else.

9. Ending things

You can delete your account and data anytime, in the app (Settings → Delete Account & Data). We can suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms or harm the service. Sections that by their nature should survive termination (5–12) survive.

10. Disclaimers

CROWDED IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE," WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, AVAILABILITY, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. CROWD LEVELS ARE USER REPORTS AND PREDICTIONS ABOUT A CHANGING PHYSICAL WORLD; WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT ANY LEVEL, VENUE, OR OTHER INFORMATION IS ACCURATE OR CURRENT.

11. Limitation of liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, CROWDED AND ITS FOUNDERS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF — OR RELIANCE ON — THE SERVICE OR ANY INFORMATION IN IT, INCLUDING DECISIONS TO VISIT OR NOT VISIT ANY PLACE. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF $100 OR THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (CROWDED IS FREE, SO: $100).

12. Indemnification

You'll defend and hold us harmless from claims arising out of your violation of these terms or misuse of the service.

13. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict-of-law rules. Any dispute will be resolved in the state or federal courts located in New York County, New York.

14. Changes

If these terms change materially, we'll update the date above and note the change in the app. Using Crowded after a change means you accept it.

15. Contact

Questions: info@crowdednyc.com