Frequently Asked Questions

PortaDash is a free, crowd-sourced map that helps you find the nearest restroom or porta-potty — wherever you are. It combines OpenStreetMap data with community-added pins to give you the most complete picture of what's nearby.

Yes, completely free — and always will be. No ads, no subscriptions, no premium tiers. The app is funded entirely by optional "Buy Me a Coffee" donations from users who want to support the project.

PortaDash combines OpenStreetMap data (which covers permanent restrooms worldwide) with community-added pins. This means coverage is strongest in areas with an active community, but the permanent restroom layer gives you a useful baseline everywhere in the world.

Blue — permanent restrooms sourced from OpenStreetMap.

Orange — porta-potties and temporary facilities sourced from OpenStreetMap.

Red — community-added spots contributed by PortaDash users.

Blue and orange pins come from OpenStreetMap, which is maintained by a global volunteer community and is generally highly accurate for permanent facilities. Community (red) pins vary in accuracy depending on when they were added and whether they've been verified by other users.

Community porta-potty pins expire automatically to keep the map fresh. Event pins disappear after 3 days. Beach and park pins last 60–180 days depending on the type. Permanent restroom pins from OpenStreetMap do not expire.

Yes. Tap any pin to open the detail sheet, which shows accessibility features, wheelchair access, baby changing facilities, and paper supply status — where that information has been provided by the community.

Tap the + tab at the bottom of the app, then position the crosshair on the map over the location you want to mark. Fill in any details you know, then confirm. Your pin is live immediately.

Your pin appears on the map immediately and is visible to all users around the world. You also earn 10 points toward your community rank for contributing.

Yes. Tap any community pin you've added to open its detail sheet. From there you'll find options to edit the details or delete the pin entirely.

"Go Now!" instantly opens Apple Maps with turn-by-turn directions to the nearest restroom. It's designed for the moments when you need to move fast — no searching, no tapping around, just go.

Go Now! finds the nearest pin based on straight-line distance from your current location. If there aren't many pins in your immediate area, it may route you to something that's a bit further. Contributing more pins in your area helps everyone nearby.

Watch Mode sends nearby pins to your Apple Watch so you can see distance and direction at a glance — without taking your phone out. It's great for runs, hikes, or any situation where your hands aren't free.

No. Without an Apple Watch, Watch Mode still shows the nearest pin as a Live Activity on your iPhone Lock Screen — so you get at-a-glance info either way.

Watch Mode is designed to be efficient. It uses your existing location updates rather than running a separate GPS process, so the impact on battery life is minimal.

Yes. If your phone hasn't detected nearby pins for 4 hours, Watch Mode ends automatically to preserve battery life. You can always restart it manually.

You earn points by contributing to the community: adding new pins (10 points each), rating restrooms, verifying existing pins, and other in-app actions. The more you contribute, the faster you level up.

Ranks go from Rookie → Scout → Guardian → Legend. Your current rank is shown on your Profile tab. Each level reflects how much you've contributed to the PortaDash community.

No. Points accumulate permanently and are tied to your account. Nothing you earn is ever taken away.

No. PortaDash works fully anonymously out of the box — no sign-up required. You can find restrooms and contribute to the map without ever creating an account.

Signing in with Apple links your anonymous account to your Apple ID. This lets you restore your points and contributions if you switch devices or reinstall the app.

PortaDash collects your location (only while you're actively using the app) and the pins you add. We don't sell your data or use it for advertising. For full details, see the Privacy Policy.

The Activity feed shows you notifications whenever someone uses a pin you added, gives you a High Five, or interacts with your contributions. It's a way to see the real-world impact of what you've added to the map.

A High Five is a way to thank the person who added a pin that helped you find relief. When you tap a pin that saved the day, you can send the contributor a High Five — a small moment of community appreciation.

When you reach a milestone (like helping 100 people find a restroom), PortaDash generates a shareable card showing your contribution stats. You can share it on social media or just keep it as a personal badge of honor.

Yes. Go to Profile → Share Your Impact to bring up your most recent Impact Card at any time.

The best ways to support the project are: adding pins in your area, rating restrooms you visit, and — if you'd like to contribute financially — buying the developer a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/portadash.

Go to Profile → Send Feedback inside the app — it goes directly to the developer. You can also reach us at hello@portadash.com.

Absolutely. Every pin you add, every rating you leave, and every location you verify makes the map better for everyone. The product gets stronger as more people contribute — so jump in.