How it works
Four steps, about ninety seconds
The distance between deciding to talk and actually talking is where most people give up, so we made it as short as we could.
- 01
Download and sign in
Install Neeli, sign in, and pick a nickname. That nickname is what listeners see — nothing else about you is shared with them.
Signing in takes a few seconds and does not ask for your phone number, your address or anything you would rather not hand over. You choose a nickname, and that nickname is the only thing a listener ever sees. You will be asked to confirm your date of birth, because Neeli is strictly for adults aged 18 and over.
- 02
Choose a listener who is free
Browse listeners who are online right now. Each profile shows a nickname, a short bio and the languages they speak, so you can pick someone you would actually feel comfortable talking to.
Neeli does not pair you with a random stranger. You see who is available, read what they have written about themselves, check which languages they speak, and decide. If someone does not feel like the right fit, you simply pick somebody else. Nobody is ever connected to you without you choosing them first.
- 03
Start the conversation
Call by voice or video — your choice, every time. You can start with a whole story, or with nothing more than 'today was hard'. Both are fine.
Audio-only means your camera never turns on. There is no script and no intake form: you do not have to explain your background, justify why something is bothering you, or arrive with a clear question. Listeners are trained to let you find your own way into it, and to stay quiet while you do.
- 04
End whenever you want
There is no minimum length and no script to finish. Hang up when you feel lighter, or when you simply want to stop. You can come back to the same listener later, or never again.
You are in control of the call from beginning to end. There is no minimum duration and no obligation to explain why you are ending it. If a conversation goes somewhere you are not comfortable with, end it and report it — that takes two taps, and a person reviews every report.
On the call
What a conversation is actually like
There is no intake form and no script. You do not have to give your background, justify why something is bothering you, or arrive with a clear question. Plenty of calls start with nothing more than “I do not really know where to begin.”
Listeners are trained to let you find your own way into it. That means silences are allowed. It means you will not be interrupted with advice you did not ask for, and you will not be told that somebody else has it worse.
Audio-only calls exist for a reason. Many people find it easier to say a hard thing when nobody can see their face, and choosing audio means your camera never switches on.
You can end the call at any moment, without explaining why. If a conversation goes somewhere you are not comfortable with, end it and report it — reporting takes two taps and every report is read by a person. See safety and privacy for what happens next.
Permissions
What the app asks for, and why
Each permission is requested at the moment it is needed, with an explanation. You can refuse or revoke any of them in your device settings.
| Permission | Why Neeli asks | If you refuse |
|---|---|---|
| Microphone | Two-way audio during a call | You cannot make or receive calls |
| Camera | Video calls, and the verification selfie if you apply to be a listener | Video calls are unavailable |
| Notifications | Ringing for an incoming call, and call-time alerts | You will miss incoming calls and alerts |
| Photos and media | Uploading a profile picture, and identity documents for listeners | You cannot upload images |
| Display over other apps | Showing the incoming-call screen when your phone is locked | Calls may only appear as a normal notification |
Neeli does not read your contacts, does not read your messages and does not collect your location. The complete, itemised list of what is collected is in the Privacy Policy.
Ready when you are
Download Neeli, pick someone who is free, and say the first honest sentence. The rest usually follows on its own.