Questions
The short answers. Anything else, write to hello@getswearby.com.
What is SwearBy?
SwearBy is a free app for finding bars and restaurants through people you trust. You follow bartenders, sommeliers, chefs and friends with good taste, and the places they vouch for show up on your map with their notes: where to sit, what to order, what it's good for.
Can a bar or restaurant pay to be on SwearBy?
No. There are no ads, no sponsored places and no way to pay for a better spot on the map. A place is on SwearBy because someone vouched for it, and that's the only way in.
What's a vouch?
A vouch is someone saying "I swear by this place." It's a yes, up to four tags for what the place is good for (date night, late night, craft cocktails and so on) and an optional note. There are no star ratings.
Who are the tastemakers?
Anyone can vouch, but a lot of the map comes from people who work in the business: bartenders, sommeliers, chefs and food writers. People in the industry can get verified, so you know a pick comes from someone who does this for a living.
How do I find where bartenders actually drink?
Follow a few bartenders in your city on SwearBy and set the map to the people you follow. Their places show up with their faces on the pins and their notes on each spot.
How is SwearBy different from Beli?
Beli is built around scoring the places you've been and comparing lists with friends. SwearBy has no rankings or scores. It answers "where should we go tonight, and says who?" with picks from people whose taste you trust, a lot of them from people who work behind the bar or in the kitchen.
Is SwearBy free?
Yes. It's free on iPhone and Android. Get it here.
Where does SwearBy work?
Anywhere. You can vouch for any bar or restaurant on Google Maps. Right now it's deepest in Washington, DC, with New York next.
Can I bring my saved places from Google Maps?
Yes. Paste a list of places or import your Google Maps saved places, and they come in as a list. You vouch for the ones that earned it whenever you're ready.
Can I keep my profile private?
Yes. Make your profile private and you approve each person before they can see your places and lists.
How do I send my places to a friend?
Every list and profile has a link. Drop it in the group chat. Your friend can see the places on the web, and it opens in the app if they have it.
I work in the industry. How do I get verified?
Pick your job when you sign up, vouch for a few places, then email hello@getswearby.com and we'll verify you. More for bartenders, somms and chefs on the founding tastemakers page.