Questions about Phoo
Planning your first outing with Phoo? Here are the practical details.
What is Phoo?
Phoo is a toilet finder for iPhone, made for city breaks, family outings and the everyday out and about. Find nearby options and check available details about hours, fees, entry and facilities. Missing information is marked as unknown.
Is Phoo free?
Yes. Finding toilets, checking essential details and getting directions are free. No account or subscription is needed for those features, and there are no ads in the app.
Where does Phoo work?
Everywhere. Phoo finds nearby toilets wherever you are, so there is no coverage list to check before a trip. For 344 cities the website also has a written guide: the signs on the door, how to ask, and what a stop usually costs.
Do I need an account?
No. You can browse, filter, get directions and report a problem without signing in.
Do you know the opening hours for every toilet?
No. Some listings have no recorded hours, and Phoo marks those as unknown. When hours are available, the app checks them in the toilet’s local time zone. Listed hours help you plan, but they do not guarantee the door is open when you arrive.
Does Phoo work without a signal?
Some parts do. Cached listings from the last city you opened can be read offline, including any saved hours, fees and access details. Recent changes may be missing. Apple Maps imagery may not load offline, and walking route estimates and directions need a connection.
Where does the toilet data come from?
Mostly OpenStreetMap, used under the Open Database Licence (ODbL), with updates from people using Phoo. You can check a listing’s source and licence in the app.
Does Phoo track my location?
Phoo does not keep a movement history. Location access is requested while you use the app, and nearby listings are ranked on your phone. Walking route estimates use Apple Maps under Apple’s privacy terms. You can also search and move the map without sharing your location.
Do you use analytics?
The app does not use analytics. This website uses TelemetryDeck to count visits and selected interactions, such as opening a tool. No cookies are set for analytics. The privacy page explains what is sent and lets you switch analytics off. Global Privacy Control and Do Not Track are also respected.
How recent is the information?
Check the last-confirmed date and confidence information on the listing. Details can change after a visit, and some may still be unknown. Reports from people using Phoo help identify and correct outdated information.
Can I add a toilet or report a wrong one?
Yes. You can suggest a toilet or report a problem in the app without an account. Reports are checked against other evidence before a change is applied, so sending a report does not mean the listing changes immediately.
Does Phoo show wheelchair-accessible toilets?
Phoo shows recorded wheelchair-access information and excludes unknown access from the accessible filter. Check the individual details before choosing: an accessibility label does not describe every facility or confirm a step-free route to the entrance.
How is this different from searching a general map app?
Phoo brings the practical toilet details together: entry requirements, fees, available hours, facilities and when information was confirmed. It helps you assess a nearby option before setting off.
Is there an Android version?
There isn’t an Android version yet. Phoo is being built for iPhone.
Why is it called Phoo?
A little nod to the sound of relief. A short name for a very practical travel companion.