Coming Soon: Buy Nothing 3.0
Jan 14, 2026
Big things are coming to Buy Nothing.
In just a few days, we’re launching the most significant upgrade in our history: Buy Nothing 3.0 - a reimagined, purpose-built platform designed to make your Buy Nothing experience more seamless, safe, and impactful than ever before.
This upgrade to the mobile and web app is built on the love and learning provided by our 14 million members across 50 countries. We’ve spent months turning your feedback into reality, building the tools you told us you needed most.
Whether you are a long-time app user or a Buy Nothing Facebook group member exploring a new way to participate, your new home for giving and receiving arrives on iOS, Android, and web by the end of the month.
What’s New
For every member: More features, still free.
The heart of the Buy Nothing experience will always be free and accessible to all. For our entire community, we focused on five ways we're making your gifting experience more personal, more rewarding, and much simpler.
Find what you need with a simple, easy interface: We redesigned everything so you can focus on connecting with neighbors, not figuring out how the app works. A completely new look and feel makes navigating your neighborhood Gives, Asks, and Gratitude a joy.
Join Private Communities: Now you can find and join private groups tailored to your neighborhood and interests for a curated experience - right on the Buy Nothing platform.
Simplify how you choose who gets your gift: No more digging through comments. When you post a Give, you’ll see a clear list of everyone interested, making it simple to choose a recipient and track your history.
Never miss out on what you want: Search by your favorite categories and post types, and set Gift Type filters to find exactly what you’re looking for.
Share globally or locally – or both: You will have the power to decide. Share your post with your immediate neighbors and/or reach out to the global community.
For subscribers: Powered by you
We don’t sell your data or clutter your feed with ads. Instead, we’re powered by you. With Buy Nothing 3.0, a subscription does more than just support our mission — it unlocks a new suite of personalization and community features designed to make sharing and connecting easier, in addition to the subscriber features you know and love. Thanks for keeping the gifting movement growing!
Host Private Communities: Build and host your own private sharing circles for your neighborhood, workplace, school, or extended family.
Label Your BN Life: Create custom labels for your saved locations (e.g., “Home,” “Work,” “Parent’s House”) to manage gifting across your daily routine.
Custom Radii: Save unique viewing distances for up to five different locations, so you only see what’s relevant to where you are.
This is Your Movement
We’ve come a long way since 2013. Together as a community, we’ve built a movement that’s changing how the world consumes. We hope Buy Nothing 3.0 matches the beauty of your generosity.
Buy Nothing 3.0 is our commitment to a future where community and re-use triumph over algorithms and consumerism. Whether you join us from a Facebook group or you've been with us since day one, we look forward to inviting you to step into this new experience.
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about the launch and what it means for you. You’re welcome to reach out with any additional questions, and check back here for more information as we get closer to launch.
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Questions? We have answers!
Buy Nothing 3.0
Q: When will Buy Nothing 3.0 be available?
A: Buy Nothing 3.0 should arrive this month. We’ll update you here as soon as we have the exact date. You can also stay tuned at https://buynothingapp.com/ for our announcements.
Q: How do I update my Buy Nothing account to 3.0?
A: Our web app at https://buynothingapp.com will automatically update. For your mobile device, you will need to update the app at the App Store for IOS and Google Play for Android.
Q: As a subscriber, can I host more than one Private Community?
A: Yes, you can host as many as you’d like.
Q: Can I be a member of many private communities?
A: Yes, but your membership is ultimately up to the Host of that community.
Q: What tools will a Host of a Buy Nothing private community have?
A: Hosts will have full control over member management and the ability to post "Tips" and reminders in your group. As a Host, you’ll be invited into the Buy Nothing Host Hub, a private, global circle run by our founding team to help you collaborate on best practices with Hosts worldwide.
Buy Nothing 3.0 and Facebook Groups
Q: I’m in a Buy Nothing Facebook Group. If I switch to the Buy Nothing app, will I still have access to my current Buy Nothing Facebook Group community?
A: Absolutely. Your Facebook group isn’t going anywhere as long as your local admins choose to keep it active. We have heard from many Group Admins who want to migrate their groups to the Buy Nothing platform. We’re working on tools to make that transition as seamless as possible. For all our Facebook Group members, we hope Buy Nothing 3.0 serves as expansion rather than a replacement of your Buy Nothing experience. We want you to build community wherever you feel most at home!
Q: Can I be on both the Buy Nothing app and in a Buy Nothing Facebook group?
A: Yes! You are welcome to participate in both at the same time. Many neighbors find that using both platforms helps them connect with more people.
Q: Can Buy Nothing Facebook groups exist simultaneously with Buy Nothing Private Communities?
A: Yes! Both can exist simultaneously. Since not everyone uses the same technology, we support both Facebook groups and Buy Nothing Private Communities to ensure no one is left out. We encourage you to use whichever—or both—suits your needs.
Q: How will you encourage longtime Facebook group users to try the Buy Nothing app? Is the idea to move everyone there?
A: Our goal isn’t to force a move, but to offer a better way to share. While we love the foundations we built on Facebook, the Buy Nothing app is purpose-built for gifting. We’re encouraging members to try it because it simplifies the experience with features Facebook Groups cannot offer, such as:
Smart Pickup Tools: Built-in maps and saved addresses and instructions to make local gifting seamless.
Easy Organization: Mark items as "Gifted" or "Fulfilled" instantly.
Custom Filtering: Browse by specific categories like Baby Gear, Electronics, or Clothing.
Wider Reach: Connect with your neighbors in all of your communities and your areas of interest.
Ultimately, we want to make giving and receiving as accessible as possible. Whether you stay on Facebook or join us on the app, we’re just happy you’re part of the movement.
The Buy Nothing Project
Q: What was behind the decision to build an independent platform?
A: After 8 years of building thousands of groups on Facebook, and hearing feedback from community members who write to our Help Desk, it was clear we needed to build a platform customized for the gift economy. Tens of thousands of people were not on Facebook and wanted to participate in Buy Nothing. Building a bespoke Buy Nothing experience had been our dream and labor of love.
Q: How is Buy Nothing funded?
A: The Buy Nothing Project started as a Facebook Group in 2013. In 2023, as a Public Benefit Corporation and funded by family, friends, and our community, we launched the first version of the Buy Nothing platform. Unlike traditional social media, we don't sell your data or display ads. Instead, we sustain the business through member subscriptions and donations. These funds allow us to maintain our apps, develop new features, and support our volunteer-led teams. This model ensures that The Buy Nothing Project remains a "gift to the world" that is owned by its mission, not by corporate interests.