1. The Basics
Welcome to Cohezy. Here is everything you need to know to get oriented and set up your social circles.
info Tips as You Go
As you explore the app for the first time, you'll notice light blue information banners at the top of certain screens. These give you quick, contextual tips for the page you're on.
Once you've got the hang of it, tap the 'X' to permanently dismiss any banner and reclaim your screen space.
dashboard Home Screen Layout
Your home screen has three key areas:
- Your Dashboard: A unified timeline of everything coming up — Cohezy events, personal reminders, and your synced Google/Apple Calendar, all in one place.
- The + Button: Your starting point for anything new. Create a group event, start a date poll, or lock in a personal appointment.
- The Toolbar: Quick access to your groups, personal reminders, and appointments.
group_add Organize Your Social Circles
We recommend creating groups that match how you actually socialize — Family, Game Night Crew, Hiking Buddies — so your invites always go to the right people.
Mix and Match: One person can be in as many groups as you like. Add them once, use them everywhere.
calendar_month Connecting Your Google/Apple Calendar
Linking your Google/Apple Calendar is what unlocks Cohezy's core scheduling magic. Once connected, Cohezy can automatically scan for times when everyone in a group is free — no polling required.
- 100% Private: Cohezy only reads whether a time slot is "Busy" or "Free." Your event titles, locations, and personal details are never shared with the group.
- Auto-Sync: When a plan is finalized, the event lands on your Google/Apple Calendar automatically.
Native Apple iCloud and Microsoft Outlook calendar support is in development. Non-Google users can still join groups, chat, and vote — or connect via a Google "Bridge" account.
Follow the Red Dot
Red dots throughout the app mean something needs your attention — an unanswered poll, a pending RSVP, or a message you haven't seen. Follow them and they disappear. No red dots means you're all caught up.
notifications_paused Smart Notification Throttling
Cohezy won't bury your lock screen when a group chat gets busy. We send you one alert to let you know activity is happening, then hold off until you've opened the app to catch up. Your phone stays calm.
2. Plan an Event
Cohezy gives you two ways to plan a get-together. The right choice depends on how much is already decided.
alt_route Choose Your Path: Pre-plan vs. Lock It In
- Pre-plan (Gather Input): You have an idea — "Cabin Weekend" or "Game Night" — but you need the group to weigh in on the when, the where, or the what. Start here to collect votes before committing to a date.
- Lock It In: The details are set — a restaurant reservation, a birthday party, a concert — and you just need to send official invites and track who's coming.
event_available Lock It In: Find Free Time First
If your group has their calendars connected, this is the fastest path to a finalized event.
- Scan the Group: From your group dashboard, use the calendar view to instantly see overlapping free time. Green slots mean everyone is available.
- Tap to Book: Tap any open slot (or manually enter a date), add your title and location, and send the invites.
- Track RSVPs: Guests are asked to respond Going, Maybe, or Can't Go. You always know your headcount.
forum Pre-plan: Gather Consensus on What, Where, or When
Use Pre-plan when you want the group's input before committing to anything. You can run polls on:
- Dates — propose a few options and see what works for the most people
- Locations — let the group vote between two restaurants or venues
- Activities — bowling or escape room? Let them decide
Once you have enough input, review the results, select the winning options, and hit "Lock It In" to send the official invites.
psychology Smart Context — We Remember for You
Cohezy learns as you plan. If you regularly host "Game Night," just start typing the title and the app will suggest your past locations and poll questions automatically. No re-typing the same details every month.
3. When to Use a Date Poll
Cohezy can find open time for your group automatically — but that only works when everyone has connected their calendar. A Date Poll is the right tool for the two situations where that isn't an option.
help_outline Find Free Time vs. Date Poll — Which Should I Use?
| Your Situation | Best Approach |
|---|---|
| Everyone in the group has connected their Google/Apple Calendar | Find Free Time |
| Some friends haven't connected their calendars yet | Date Poll |
| You've scanned calendars but can't find a slot that works for everyone — you need a compromise | Date Poll |
| You're inviting people outside of Cohezy via a link | Date Poll |
Think of Find Free Time as the goal — it's automatic and conflict-free. A Date Poll is your best tool when the group isn't quite there yet.
group_off Reason 1: Your Friends Aren't Connected Yet
If the people you want to invite haven't joined Cohezy or haven't linked their Google/Apple Calendar, there's no availability data to scan. A Date Poll closes that gap.
You propose a set of dates, share the link, and your friends vote on what works — even if they've never heard of Cohezy before. (See Section 4 for exactly what they'll experience.)
balance Reason 2: No Perfect Date Exists — Find the Best Compromise
Sometimes you scan the group's calendars and there's no time slot that works for absolutely everyone. Rather than picking a date arbitrarily, a Date Poll finds the option that works for the most people.
Use the Date Poll Scanner to propose a handful of your best candidates. The scanner can even check for calendar conflicts for connected members, flagging which options will cause issues for specific people before you send the poll.
how_to_vote How to Create a Date Poll
- From Create Event: When setting the time for a new event, choose the "Date Poll" tab instead of entering a specific date. Add your proposed options and create the event — votes will start coming in as guests respond.
- From an Existing Event: Already created an event without a firm date? You can add a Date Poll at any time from the event's polls section. Tap "Date Poll" to open the scanner and build your options.
- Reading the Results: As votes arrive, the event page shows a live tally. Once you're ready to commit, select the winning date and tap "Lock It In" to finalize and send calendar invites.
4. How Friends Join Without the App
When you invite someone who isn't on Cohezy, they get a link. Here is exactly what happens when they tap it — so you can set their expectations and know what to tell them.
link Two Types of Links
Cohezy sends two kinds of invite links depending on what you need from your guest:
- RSVP Link — Asks your guest to respond Going, Maybe, or Can't Go. Use this when the date is already set and you need a headcount.
- Vote Link — Takes your guest straight to an open poll (like a Date Poll) so they can weigh in before the date is decided.
Both links work the same way on their end — no app download required.
smartphone Step by Step: What Your Guest Sees
The link opens in their browser — no app store, no download prompt. Cohezy recognizes them by name if they've been invited before. If it's their first time, they'll see a simple screen asking them to confirm who they are.
They type their name (or email) and Cohezy matches them to their invite. Returning guests who've verified their email before are recognized automatically — they skip straight to the event.
They land directly on the event page with the RSVP or poll front and center. Their response is recorded in real-time — you'll see it update on your end immediately.
After responding, a prompt appears asking how they'd like to keep track of the event. They have three options — see below.
fork_right The Three Options After RSVP or Vote
Once your guest has responded, they're shown a short prompt: "How do you want to keep track of this event?" They have three choices:
mark_email_unread How the Email Verification Works
When a guest chooses to verify their email, here's what happens:
- They enter their email address and tap Join Event.
- Cohezy sends a verification link to their inbox — they just tap it to confirm.
- From that point on, any invite link you send them is recognized automatically. They go straight to the event without having to identify themselves again.
- When a date is finalized, their calendar invite is sent directly to their verified email.
visibility What Verified Guests Can See
A guest who has verified their email gets a lightweight, view-only version of Cohezy. They can:
- See all events they've been invited to in one place
- View event details, updates, and final dates
- Change their RSVP or vote on open polls
They cannot create their own events or groups. To do that, they'll need a full account — which they can upgrade to for free at any time.
5. Personal Calendar & Reminders
Cohezy isn't just for group planning. It's also a smart personal planner built for the moments that trip up every other calendar app.
manage_search Find Free Time (The "On the Phone" Lifesaver)
Ever freeze when a doctor's office asks "What does next Thursday look like for you?" Cohezy handles this in seconds.
- Check on the Fly: Tap "Check schedule & find free time" from any appointment or reminder creation screen.
- See What's Open: Toggle "Find Free Time" and set your preferred hours. Cohezy cross-references your synced calendars and highlights open blocks in green — zero conflicts.
- Book It: Read off your open times, agree on one, and tap "Book It" on the green block to save it instantly.
edit_calendar Book a Specific Time
When you already know the time and just need to get it on the calendar:
- Tap the + button and select Personal Appointment.
- Enter the title, date, time, and location.
- Cohezy immediately checks for conflicts with your existing calendar before you save — no surprises later.
snooze Personal Reminders & Smart Snooze
Cohezy's reminders follow you across devices and give you flexible snooze options right from the notification — no need to open the app.
- Quick Snooze: Tap Short or Long Snooze on the notification. You set both durations in Settings to match how you think.
- Custom Snooze: Tap "Custom..." and type anything in plain English — "4 hours", "5:00 PM", "July 3rd at 8 AM". Cohezy figures it out and reschedules without you opening the app.
- Cross-Device: Snooze or complete a reminder on your iPhone and it clears from your Android instantly. One swipe, not two.
add_link Linked Prep Tasks
Attach tasks directly to an event or appointment — like "Buy snacks for Game Night" or "Take Medication 6 hours before appointment." If the event gets rescheduled, your prep tasks automatically shift to maintain the right timing.
event_repeat Recurring Events & Tasks
Set events or tasks to repeat on flexible patterns — like "the last Friday of the month" or "every 3 weeks." Cohezy keeps your routines on track even when standard calendar apps fall short.
directions_car Add Commute Time
Once an event or appointment is set, you can add a commute block immediately before it. This marks you as Busy on your connected Google/Apple Calendar during travel, so no one double-books over your drive time.
6. Power Tools
Advanced features that apply across your events, appointments, and tasks.
psychology Smart Context (We Remember for You)
Cohezy learns as you go. If you regularly host "Game Night," start typing the title and the app automatically suggests your past locations and poll questions. No re-entering the same details every month.
preview Preview Your Invite Link
Before sending an invite link, you can preview exactly what your guests will see when they tap it. Look for the Preview option on the event page to walk through the guest experience yourself — no guessing required.
7. Settings & Preferences
Customize Cohezy to match your planning style and social rhythm.
manage_accounts Account & Subscription
Access your profile, manage your Cohezy Pro subscription, sign out, or delete your account.
calendar_month Calendar Connection
Connect your calendar here to enable free time scanning — both for finding your own open slots and for seeing overlapping availability across your group. You can connect via Google or Apple Calendar, or disconnect at any time without losing your events.
apple Connect Your Apple Calendar
Apple Calendar connects via a secure public iCloud link. It takes about a minute to set up and gives Cohezy the same free/busy visibility it gets from Google — without sharing any of your event details.
How to get your iCloud Calendar link:
- Open the Calendar app on your iPhone or Mac.
- Tap Calendars at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the Info (ⓘ) button next to the calendar you want to share.
- Turn on Public Calendar, then tap Share Link.
- Copy the link and paste it into Cohezy under Settings → Calendar Connection → Connect Apple Calendar.
Yes. Enabling this generates a randomized, unguessable private link — it does not make your calendar searchable online. Cohezy uses the link only to read "Free" or "Busy" blocks. The titles, locations, and details of your events are never read or stored.
tune Search & Planning Defaults
Tell Cohezy how you typically plan so it gives better suggestions:
- Default View: Daily, List, or Trip view — whichever fits how you think.
- Smart Filters: Turn on "Weekends Only" or "Everyone Free" to pre-filter group availability searches.
- Social Hours: Set your default time range (e.g., 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM) so Cohezy only looks for free time when you actually want to hang out.
dark_mode App Appearance
Lock the app to Light or Dark mode, or set it to "Auto" to follow your device's system settings.
notifications_active Notifications
Toggle push notifications for activity alerts (new messages, poll votes, RSVPs) independently from your personal reminder alarms. Silence the social noise without missing your own reminders.