hoopla.
The free app for family caregivers

Caring together, made simple.

Bring family, friends and neighbours into one circle. Everyone can see what’s needed and who’s doing it.

Coming soon to theApp StoreComing soon toGoogle Play
A mother and daughter cooking together in the kitchen

How it works

Sorted in three steps.

  1. 1Start a circleFive quick steps and your circle is ready.
  2. 2Invite your peopleA WhatsApp link, even for people without the app.
  3. 3Schedule what’s neededPeople tap I’ll do it when they can.

The app

This is what Hoopla looks like.

Four tabs: your circle, the schedule, stand-ins and your messages.

  • Mum’s circle in the app, with everyone who’s helping.
    CircleWho’s in the circle, at a glance.
  • The weekly schedule in the app, with tasks and who’s doing them.
    ScheduleWhat’s happening this week and who’s doing it.
  • Stand-ins in the app: your own stand-ins and when they’re coming, with people nearby below.
    Stand-insYour stand-ins, and who else is nearby.
  • Messages in the app, with the circle and one-to-one conversations.
    MessagesAll your conversations in one list.

What you can sort out

From the shopping to a cup of coffee.

Choose what’s needed and when: once, every week or every other week. Urgent? Pick As soon as possible and your whole circle hears straight away.

  • ShoppingA quick trip to the supermarket
  • WalkingA stroll round the neighbourhood
  • TransportTo the GP or the hospital
  • Keeping companyA cup of coffee and a chat
  • MealsCooking together or dropping off dinner
  • OtherSomething else? Just say so
Questions about support and benefits?The Guide in the app (in Dutch for now) explains the Wmo, the Dutch social support act, carer’s leave and more in plain language, with sources.

Who it’s for

One circle, a role for everyone.

You pick your role at the start. After that, the app only shows what matters to you, and nothing more.

  • Two people at a table with coffee, their hands touching
    Circle manager

    You look after someone

    You look after your mum, dad or partner. You set up the circle, schedule tasks and see at a glance who’s doing what.

    • Schedule and share out tasks
    • Message everyone in the circle
    • Bring in extra help when you need it
  • An older woman smiling in a living room
    Loved one

    You’re the one getting help

    You live at home and get a hand now and then. Today shows who’s coming, and one big button makes the call.

    • Large text if you want it
    • Arrange things yourself, or let someone else
    • Always know who’s coming
  • A young man helping an older woman, both laughing
    Buddy

    You help out nearby

    You live close by and like to help, as a volunteer. You’ll see circles near you right away and can ask to join the ones you choose.

    • You choose what and when
    • A reminder beforehand
    • Short courses in the app, in Dutch for now

Need an extra pair of hands?

Ask a local stand-in to help with the shopping, the garden or some company. You choose who, and you see the hourly rate up front.

Ask a stand-in

Got time to spare? Become a stand-in.

Student, retired or simply with time on your hands: help people nearby and earn a bit on the side. You set your own hourly rate and when you’re available.

Become a stand-in

Need more?

Ask a local stand-in.

Sometimes the circle isn’t enough, or you need some time off. Then you ask a stand-in in the same app: someone aged 18 or over from your area, earning a bit on the side. You see the hourly rate up front, pick a time and pay when you send the request. If the stand-in says no or doesn’t reply, you get your money back.

  • Only stand-ins who travel to your address
  • You choose who to ask
  • Cancelling costs nothing up to 24 hours beforehand
  • Every stand-in has had their identity checked first
  • Shopping
  • Cleaning and tidying
  • Garden
  • Odd jobs around the house
  • Company and walks
  • Walking the dog
  • Help with phone or computer
  • Going along to an appointment
  • Cooking
New · Stand-insSomeone nearby who can step in for a while.A student, someone retired or just someone with time to spare. You choose who to ask and see the hourly rate up front.

Safety

You decide who comes in.

You’re letting people into your home. So you choose who joins, and you only share your address after that.

  • ID check for stand-ins

    Stand-ins have their identity checked first. We delete the document after 30 days and keep only the result.

  • You choose who joins

    Buddies don’t have an ID check. You see their first name and photo and decide for yourself. A buddy only sees the exact address once they’re in the circle.

  • Location by neighbourhood

    On the map of your area, a location is accurate to about 1 kilometre. No closer.

  • Report and block

    Something not right? You can report it from anywhere in the app. The Hoopla team looks at every report.

Questions

What people often ask us.

Can’t see your question? Take a look at all the questions, or ask us in the app via Contact Hoopla.

Is the app really free?

Yes. Downloading it, starting a circle, inviting people and getting help from your circle cost nothing, and there’s no subscription. You only pay if you ask a stand-in. You pay in the app. A stand-in comes with a 7% service fee.

Does everyone in the circle need the app?

Anyone who picks up tasks does, because that’s where the schedule lives. You invite people with a WhatsApp link, even if they don’t have the app yet. The person the circle is for doesn’t have to do a thing: the circle manager sorts it out. If they’d like to follow along too, they can, with large text.

What’s a buddy?

Someone from your area who likes to help, as a volunteer. We don’t check a buddy’s identity: you choose who to let in. A buddy only sees the exact address once they’re in the circle.

What happens to our data?

Only the members of a circle see what goes on in it. Your exact address is only visible to those who need it: your circle, and a stand-in once they’ve said yes. Before that, a stand-in only sees the street and town, and everyone else only your rough area. We delete a stand-in’s identity document after 30 days and keep only the result of the check.

What’s a stand-in?

Someone aged 18 or over from your area who earns a bit on the side through Hoopla: a student, someone retired or anyone with time to spare. A stand-in helps with everyday things in and around the house and sets their own price and hours. You choose who to ask and make the arrangement with the stand-in directly; Hoopla just puts you in touch.

Start your circle today.

Coming soon to theApp StoreComing soon toGoogle Play