FoxTrail: Snap Explore Write
Leave Your Mark on the Map
Leave anonymous notes and real-time photos on the map, and read what people left nearby.
FoxTrail is a location-based notes app for iPhone. You leave a short note or a real-time photo at a real place, and other users can read it when they are physically nearby. Your display name is anonymous to other users, but the service still receives the location and time of each post.
FoxTrail screenshots
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What FoxTrail does
A location based note is attached to a place, not to a feed. You stand at a corner, a park or a station, write a short thought and leave it there for someone who walks by later. The note is useful only if you are close to it, which is what makes the idea feel local.
FoxTrail is built on this idea. Notes appear as markers on the map. To read one, you need to be physically near it. You can capture a photo inside the app at your current location, and the app does not use photos from your gallery. Notes fade over time, so the map stays current.
Anonymity has limits. Other users see a display identity, not your name. The service, however, receives coordinates, a timestamp and a device-scoped identifier with each post. The identifier supports rate limits, blocks and abuse reports. Think before you post, and never include a name, plate number or home address.
FoxTrail is for adults aged 17 and older. Our blog post on location-based notes explains how to write a good note for a place and how to keep your own privacy while you do it.
Features
Drop a note on the map
- Write at the real location where your note belongs.
- Choose from 11 vintage fonts and 14 colors for each note.
- Add one of 8 mood emojis to show the tone of the note.
Real-time photos
- Capture a photo in the app at your current location.
- Gallery uploads are not allowed, so every photo is a live capture.
- Pro members can share photos in chat.
Reading notes nearby
- Explore the map to find markers left by other users around you.
- You must be physically close to read a note.
- Night mode shows special notes that appear only after dark, with Pro.
Chat and safety
- Tap a note to open an anonymous chat with its author.
- Both users can choose to connect after chatting.
- Every note can be reported, and every author can be blocked.
Notes that fade
- Notes fade over time, with a default duration of 1 to 24 hours.
- Store items can extend a note to 7 days, 30 days, 1 year or forever.
- A 24-hour boost highlights your note for longer visibility.
Who it is for
- Good for adults who enjoy exploring a neighborhood on foot.
- Good for travelers who want short notes from people nearby.
- Good for writers and artists who like place-based prompts.
- Good for people who want to read local voices without a public profile.
Privacy
FoxTrail uses your location to show the map and to place notes, and it uploads the content you post. Other users see notes without your name, but the service stores coordinates, timestamps and a device-scoped identifier. Do not post anything that identifies you or other people.
Read the FoxTrail privacy policyPrice
FoxTrail is free to download. Pro is an optional weekly or monthly subscription that adds features such as more daily writes, night-mode writes and photo sharing in chat. Apple processes every payment, and you can cancel in your Apple account settings.
Terms of useFoxTrail questions, answered
Is FoxTrail an anonymous app?
Your display identity is anonymous to other users. The service is not anonymous, because each post carries coordinates, a timestamp and a device-scoped identifier. These support limits, blocks and reports. Read the privacy policy before you post anything.
Can I read notes from far away?
In the normal flow, no. The app computes nearness from your live location, so you must be physically close to a note to read it. If you turn off location access in iOS Settings, the map stops working.
How long do notes stay on the map?
Notes fade over time. The default duration is 1 to 24 hours. Store items can extend a note to 7 days, 30 days, 1 year or permanent visibility. A note you delete is removed from the map.
Who can use FoxTrail?
FoxTrail is rated 17+ and is not intended for anyone under 17. It carries user-generated content, so the app includes reporting and blocking. Reports are reviewed within 24 hours, and content that breaks the terms is removed.
Can I delete a note I posted?
Yes. A deleted note is removed from the map. Copies can remain briefly in backups, and content flagged in an abuse report may be kept longer where needed to act on the report or meet a legal request.
From our blog
- 6 min read
Anonymous Apps Safety Tips: What Stays Private
Anonymous apps safety tips: privacy habits, what a display name hides and what it does not, how reporting and blocking work, and FoxTrail's 17+ rating.
- 5 min read
How to Explore Your City on Foot: Routes and Prompts
How to explore your city on foot: walking routes, curiosity prompts, safety habits and a simple plan, with a FoxTrail option for notes you find nearby.
- 4 min read
Location-Based Notes and Photo Trails: A Practical Guide
Location-based notes and photo trails explained: how to attach notes and photos to places, keep them useful and private, and read notes left nearby.
- 5 min read
What to Write on a Location Note: Ideas by Place
What to write on a location note: ideas for cafes, parks and streets, a tone guide, what never to post, and short examples you can copy for FoxTrail.
Get FoxTrail free.
Free on the App Store for iPhone and iPad (iOS 15.0 or later). Android is coming soon.
